The Badali Inscription of Samvat 84
Summary
The Badali Inscription of Samvat 84, discovered in 1912 by G.H. Ojha near the village of Badali in the district of Ajmer, is a significant lithic record in Brahmi script. The author, Ram Ballabh Somani, discusses the inscription's debated dating and interpretation, focusing on the arguments of scholars such as G.H. Ojha, K.P. Jayasawal, R.B. Pandey, and D.C. Sircar. Ojha, Jayasawal, and Pandey argue for a pre-Mauryan date, interpreting the inscription as "vira raya bhagavate caturasiti va (se)," meaning it was engraved 84 years after the death of Lord Mahavira. In contrast, Sircar and others dispute this, suggesting the inscription belongs to the Sunga period, possibly under King Bhagavata, and that the term "caturasiti" might indicate geographical limits rather than a date. The central debate concerns the reading of the first letter, which Ojha interprets as "vi" with a long medial "i," Jayasawal as "vi" with a vowel mark, and Sircar as a compound "dva." Somani rejects Sircar's reading and the scribal error theory, concluding the letter is "vi." The inscription's purport is unclear, but it mentions Sali Malini, possibly associated with Madhyamika near Chittor, and may refer to the construction of a Jaina structure. While the inscription's connection to Jainism is supported by the word "vira," its specific date remains unresolved, possibly using the Mahavira Nirvana era or an unknown local era. Somani emphasizes the need to study the inscription without preconceived notions, noting that the absence of early records for the Mahavira Nirvana era does not preclude its use.
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Conclusion
The Badali inscription, a fragmented lithic record from Northern India, remains a subject of scholarly debate regarding its date and historical context. While some scholars, notably G.H. Ojha, interpret it as a pre-Mauryan record using the Mahavira Nirvana era, others, such as D.C. Sircar, argue for a later Sunga period date based on palaeographic and epigraphic conventions. The inscription's reading of the first letter as "vi" rather than a compound "dva" further complicates its chronological placement. The text's content, mentioning a figure named Sali Malini and the term "vira," strongly suggests a Jaina connection, possibly commemorating the construction of a religious structure. However, the specific era referenced—whether the Mahavira Nirvana era or an unknown local era—remains uncertain. Consequently, the inscription's exact dating and its broader implications for early Indian epigraphy and Jain history remain unresolved, necessitating further study.