Palaeography as Found in Buddhism
Summary
Dinanath Sharma argues that palaeography, or the system of writing, was prevalent in India long before the era of Lord Buddha, countering the Western claim that Indians lacked a historical writing tradition and relied solely on oral recitation. The author presents evidence from Buddhist texts and historical inscriptions to support this antiquity. Inscriptions such as the Erana Mudra Viruda, the Bhattiprolu Casket, the Taxla Mudra Brahmi Biruda, the Mahasthana Prastara Abhilekha, the Sohagaura Tamrapatta Inscription, the Piparahava Bauddha Kalasha Inscription, and the Badali Inscription are cited as proof of early writing. The article also references the Sanyuktagama on birch bark from the 4th century A.D. and palm-leaf and paper manuscripts to demonstrate the survival of written materials. Buddhist texts, including the Digha Nikaya and the Vinaya Pitaka, mention palaeography in the context of monastic rules, games like Akkharika, and the registration of thieves known as Likhitako Choro. The Upali Daraka Vatthu describes how Upali’s parents considered teaching him writing and mathematics but chose the Buddhist path instead. Numerous Jataka tales, such as the Katahaka Jataka, the Mahasutasoma Jataka, the Kama Jataka, and the Ruru Jataka, illustrate the use of writing for personal letters, royal decrees, and recording wealth. The author extends the argument to the Vedic period, citing references in the Rgveda, the Aitareya Brahmana, and the Atharvaveda to gambling dice and written marks. The Yajurveda mentions accountants, the Samaveda details large numerical calculations, and the Mahabharata describes Lord Ganesha writing for Vyasa. Kautilya’s Arthashastra explicitly references learning script and using letters for official communication. Finally, Panini’s Ashtadhyayi contains numerous words related to books and scripts, and Yaska’s Nirukta lists many predecessor etymologists, further proving the deep antiquity of Indian palaeography. Foreign accounts by Huen Tsang, Alberuni, Nearchus, Megasthenes, and Quintus Curtius are also cited to reinforce this conclusion.
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Conclusion
The article demonstrates that palaeography in India predates the Buddha and is deeply rooted in ancient Vedic traditions, directly challenging the Western misconception that Indians lacked a historical sense and relied solely on oral recitation. Through an analysis of early Buddhist inscriptions, such as the Erana and Piparahava epigraphs, alongside references in Buddhist texts like the Vinaya Pitaka, the author establishes a widespread and established writing system during the 6th century BCE. The implications of these findings are profound, as they indicate that writing was a common practice utilized for diverse administrative, educational, and religious purposes long before the Mauryan era. Ultimately, this evidence necessitates the acceptance of a highly developed indigenous scriptology, proving that the foundational texts of Indian civilization, including the Vedas and the Mahabharata, could not have been composed or preserved without a pre-existing, sophisticated system of writing.