In this article a brief account of of Inscriptions of Pali District is given. The area, under reference, extends from Pali city to Desuri via Khoda, Khadgura, Jawali (Railway Station), Nadol and Narlai and from Mundara to Bali via Latara and Sewadi.
Inscriptions of Pali District throw some light on the political and cultural history of Rajput rulers of this area.
In Pali city the inscription of Kumarpal Chalukya, bearing the date V.S. 1209 and reported in P. R.A. S. W. R. C 1907-08 P 45 and ‘Glories of Marwar’ P. 57.
A Jain inscription of V.S. 1128, Asadh, 8th day of the bright half, Thursday ia located at the pedestal of the image of Aditya Nath in Navalakha temple’. It refers ‘Pallika’ for Pali.
Near Rodava ‘bavari’ an inscription of V. S. 1777 Vaisakh, 13th day of the bright half, Sunday, puts one Naharkhan in Rathoda family. It is incised on a slab 32x 17 sq. inches with letters 1×0.5 sq. inches, contains seven lines.
Some other inscriptions could also be noticed as an inscription of V.S.1457 Vaisakh Sudi 7 at Gauriji temple.
Other Inscriptions of Pali District bearing the date V. S. 1655 and 1718 are located at Pataleshwar temple and another one of V. S. 1886 at Rodava teavari (well).
Four undated inscriptions in the village Khoda at the right of the main gate of the Jain temple, located in the middle of the market.
In village Khadagura two Sati tablets, bearing the date V. S. 1819 and in Jawali five Sati tablets of the same period could be noticed.
Nadol was the capital town of the Chahamans of Marwar. It is most prospective site for excavation. The river bed, mounts and antiquitities are the main features.
A copper plate inscription, bearing the date V. S. 1238 Vaisakh, 8th day of the bright half, Saturday is incised on two separate plates of 5×3.2 sq. inches, connected with a copper ring. The first plate contains eleven and the second twelve lines with letters 0.5×0.1 sq. inches.
These plates have been discovered while digging and leveling the ground, near the hospital. It was preserved in Panchayat. It states a gift made by some mahajans of ‘Simpati’ Village, present Sewadi which is connected with Nadol by the river ‘Nadol’ and whose another name ‘Shatvalika’ appears in an inscription of V.S. 1035 Jestha, Sunday, the 13th day of the dark half, obtained from Mahavir temple in the village Sewadi.
Another copper plate inscription bearing the date V. S. 1544 Kartik 12th day of the bright half. It states some gift, made by Maharajadhiraj Ganga Singh. It mesures 7.8×4.7 sq. inches and contains twelve lines with the mark ‘Sahi’ ot its vertex.
Three inscriptions, containing almost the same text and bearing the date V. S. 1666, incised on the two pillars of the hall and at the back of the dome of the Nil Kantha temple. They are reported in P. R.A. S. WC 1908-09 P) 45.
Scores of beautiful Jain images are lying in open sun, uncared, at the river lied in some forms, bearing fine letters of V. S. 1169. Baboya temple, the most uncared for, though the department of archaeology declared it a national monument.
It contains three important inscriptions, bearing the dates V. S. 1147, 1198 and 1200 respectively, incised on the pillars of the inner hall of the temple. They have been reported and edited by Dr. Bhandarkar in E.R.I. Vol. IX and XI under his reference ‘Chahamans of Marwar’.
Padmaprabhu temple contains senal Jain figure inscriptions, reported and edited in P. R.A. S. WC 1907-08, 08-09, Jain Lekha Sangrah, Prachin Jain Lekh Sangrah, Earliest inscription dates back to V. S. 1215 Vaisakh Sudi 10; reported in P.R.A. S. WC 1908-09 P 46. Inside the temple Charbhuja.
An inscription of V. S. 1573 is incised on a pillar. I could notice some Sati tablets, bearing the date V. S. 1778, at the tank, situated towards the south of the town.
The inscription of Kelhana, bearing the date V. S. 1228 has been reported by Dr. Bhandarkar in E. I. Vol. XI, p. 48. Its language is pure Rajasthani. It is incised on a slab, measuring 66 x 10 sq. inches with letters covering 60×4.5; 4.5 sq. inches, lying in the ruins of the temple of Tokariya Mahadeva.
Adinath temple, located at the top of a hill, contains an inscription of V. S. 1686, Vaisakh, Saturday, the 8th day of the bright half. It is reported in P. R.A. S. WC 1808-09 on page 41.
The temple of Adinath, situated in the market contains the only inscription of Rayamal, bearing the date V. S. 1557, incised on a pillar of the inner hall of the temple. Inscriptions of V. S. 1189, 1200 and 1202 was found in this temple but now it is not available in the temple.
An inscription of V. S. 1195 at the temple of Neminath is also can’t be traced now. One Sati tablet is available bearing the date V. S. 1671.
At Sewadi, Mahavira temple contains nine inscriptions which have been reported and edited by Dr. Bhandarkar in E. I. Vol XI.
An inscription, bearing the date V. S. 1035, Jestha, 13th day of thh dark half, Sunday incised on the ‘paduka’ of Shankhesvar Parsvanath. It mentions ‘Shatavatika’ as referred alone for present Sewadi and ‘Bhattarak Shri Vijaya prat Shri Vijaya Rajye’.
Besides the reported inscriptions of V.S. 1167, 1172 and 1251, an inscription of V. S. 1297, Jestha Thursday 2nd day of the bright half is incised at the ‘Chajja’ of Sumatinath. It measures 36×3 inches with letters 0.5 x 0.1 sq. inches and contains four lines. It does not mention any name of the King but states the performance of ‘Deva Kulika’ or devasthan or deual by a family on the said date.
Another inscription, bearing the date V. S. 1321, Chaitra, 2nd day of the dark half mentions the name of Chachidadeva as ruler.
This article ‘ Inscriptions of Pali District ‘ is Based on the information given in a research paper “A Survey Report of the Epigraphs in Pali District ” presented by Dr. Ram Chandra Rai.
