Two-Sovereign Inscriptions of Mewar—their Methodological Contribution
Summary
Tewari addresses the methodological problem of inscriptions that name two sovereigns. Such two-sovereign inscriptions are rare, so he analyses examples from Mewar. The Rawat Bhana cenotaph inscription of Jiran (1654 V.S.) lists both Emperor Akbar and Rana Amar Singh. Another two-sovereign inscription from the Satrunjaya temple at Palitana is summarised, as is a Ranapur inscription mentioning Rana Kumbhakarna and another ruler. Tewari proposes several explanations: the second ruler may be an overlord, a former lord of recently conquered territory, a ruler to whom loyalty has shifted, an independent contemporary, or simply a neighbour. He argues that context must decide, since analogies can be misleading and not all cases imply vassalage. The paper critiques simplistic reasoning and stresses careful reading of epigraphs in light of political history.
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Conclusion
Tewari’s study emphasises that inscriptions mentioning two sovereigns must be interpreted with caution. He analyses examples from Mewar and shows that dual mention can signify overlordship, territorial change, loyalty shift, independence or simple contemporaneity. By rejecting arguments by analogy, he urges epigraphists to consider historical context before assigning hierarchical relationships. The paper contributes to a nuanced methodology for understanding complex political inscriptions.