Inscription of Mahanavika

Written by Alok Mohan on July 26, 2022. Posted in Uncategorized

Inscription number 176
Ghantasala Stone Slab Inscription of Mahanavika (Sivaka’s wife)
Provenance: Ghantasala village, Kitana district,. 21 Kilometres from
west of Masulipatam, Andhra Pradesh.
Script: Brahmi of about 1st and 2nd century A D.
The script Brahmi is, very similar to the scripts of the inscriptions found else where especially of King Purnavarman.
Language: Prakrít
Ghantasala is one of the Holy relic Buddhist sites of Andhra Pradesh.
It is a village in district Krishna Andhra Pradesh. It is among several rare and reputed center for buddhist sculptures, in India. This site is very important for the study of evolution of Budhism and Saanatna dharma culture as it was an important religious centre of South Asia. The stupa at Ghantasala, has a circumference of 112 feet and a height of 23 feet. Once, It was also a flourishing town of international trade activities. We can establish various links between trade, hinduism and buddhism also from this important site.

The Buddhist relics and the Hindu structures at the place reveal its past glory. Carved limestone columns belonging to pillared halls associated with Buddhist monastic establishments (2-3rd centuries BC ) have been discovered here.
The ruined Maha Chaitya or stupa that was excavated here is of a unique design. A cube of solid bricks is set in the centre, inscribed with 12 constellations of the zodiac.
The chaityas had a texture and size unique to the Satavahana times and had separate dwelling places for Buddhist monks in the complex. All walls were found to have beautiful plastering with superfine lime mortar. A three-dimensional limestone carved structure, embellished on the dome portion of the stupa had two garland bearers, a dhamma chakra and a miniature stupa on a throne in the middle. Objects such as a four-by-three-feet ‘Purna Kalasa’ containing lotus flowers, indicating the birth of Gautama Buddha were also discovered here.

References: J.Ph. Vogel, Ep. Ind., XXVII pp-4, E.
Footnote1
1. Paleographicaly the writing is definitely earlier than tbe script employed in the inscriptions of the Ikshvaka dynasty from Jaggayapeta and Nagarjunkonda.
Some lettes like are particularly
noteworthy for their resemblance to the Asokan Script.
The inscription may even be earlier than the lst century AD.
2. From the facsimile in Ep.Ind., XXVII, Pl.E.
3. Another Mahanavika Buddhagupta is known from an
inscription discovered in 1834 near a ruined Buddhist temple in the Wellesley province of Malaya, and presented
to Asiatic Society of Bengal and perhaps preserved in
the Indian Museum, Calcutta.
These inscriptions provide
interesting evidence of the sea-faring activities of ancient Indians.
Vogel suggests that the intended expression, possibly,
was Utara-duhutaya (= Skt. : i.e. of the
daughter of Uttara’. But the Writing is clear and legible.

Footnote 2
1. Vogel sa-patilkaya, translated as together with her husband.
2. In three other inscriptions found from Ghantasala,
(Ep.Ind. XXVII, pp.3. inscriptions AB and C mention the name of the city. where stood the Buddhist Chaitya
on whose pillars these inscriptions were engraved, as Kantakasola in Ukhasri-vardhamana.
This Kanta must be identified
with Ghantasala, the find-shot of the inscription and
most probably the Kantakossyla of Ptolemy ( VII,1,15)
who gives its co-ordinates as 134°30 ‘East and 11 °30 North.
Ptolemy also nentions (VII.1.93) Bardamana among the
inland towns, positioned 136°15 I East, and 15° 15I North., which.therefore, cannot be identified without ukhasiri-vadhamana. Kantakasola as a place name also occurs in a long Inscription on the floor of an apsidal temple (Chetiyaghara) at Nagarjunikonda.
Among the pious foundations due to the upasika Bodhisiri, this record
mentions Kamtakasole mahachetiyasa puva-dare sela-mandavo.. i.e. at Kantakasola, a stone pavilion, at
the eastem gate of the Great Chaitya. Ep. Ind. XX, pp-22, text 1.3).
English Translation of the inscription
This ayaka (entrance) pillar is the pious gift of the house wife Uttaradatta siddharthamitra, the wife of
the Master-Mariner, Sivaka, the son of the householder Savara,
together with her sons, her daughter and friends and advisors.

Alok Mohan

The admin, Alok Mohan, is a graduate mechanical engineer & possess following post graduate specializations:- M Tech Mechanical Engineering Production Engineering Marine engineering Aeronautical Engineering Computer Sciences Software Engineering Specialization He has authored several articles/papers, which are published in various websites & books. Studium Press India Ltd has published one of his latest contributions “Standardization of Education” as a senior author in a book along with many other famous writers of international repute. Alok Mohan has held important positions in both Govt & Private organisations as a Senior professional & as an Engineer & possess close to four decades accomplished experience. As an aeronautical engineer, he ensured accident incident free flying. As leader of indian team during early 1990s, he had successfully ensured smooth induction of Chukar III PTA with Indian navy as well as conduct of operational training. As an aeronautical engineer, he was instrumental in establishing major aircraft maintenance & repair facilities. He is a QMS, EMS & HSE consultant. He provides consultancy to business organisations for implimentation of the requirements of ISO 45001 OH & S, ISO 14001 EMS & ISO 9001 QMS, AS 9100, AS9120 Aero Space Standards. He is a qualified ISO 9001 QMS, ISO 14001 EMS, ISO 45001 OH & S Lead Auditor (CQI/IRCA recognised certification courses) & HSE Consultant. He is a qualified Zed Master Trainer & Zed Assessor. He has thorough knowledge of six sigma quality concepts & has also been awarded industry 4, certificate from the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation Knowledge Hub Training Platform  He is a Trainer, a Counselor, an Advisor and a Competent professional of cross functional exposures. He has successfully implimented requirements of various international management system standards in several organizations. He is a dedicated technocrat with expertise in Quality Assurance & Quality Control, Facility Management, General Administration, Marketing, Security, Training, Administration etc. He is a graduate mechanical engineer with specialization in aeronautical engineering. He is always eager to be involved in imparting training, implementing new ideas and improving existing processes by utilizing his vast experience.