This stone inscription is a fragmentary Sanskrit epigraph incised in Nāgarī characters on a broken stone slab discovered near temple ruins in Besani, Panna, Madhya Pradesh. Comprising six extant lines that suffer from damage at the bottom and sides, the record was initially noticed by A. Cunningham and later examined by F. Kielhorn. The inscription dates to Āshāḍha śuḍdha 3, Kalacuri year 958 which corresponds to 31st May 1207 CE.
The principal surviving portion of the inscription consists of accounting entries documenting cash receipts denominated in drammas from various named and unnamed local individuals. Specifically, thirty drammas were received from the sūtradhāra Jagadeva, followed by an additional ten drammas from a donor whose name is no longer preserved. Further contributions include ten drammas each collected from Pūjā and Vandadhali, together with a single dramma obtained from Rauka. Owing to the destruction of the lower portion of the stone slab, the ultimate corporate, architectural, or ritual purpose for which these funds were collected remains entirely unknown.
Editor's Comment:1. samvat 958 prathamāṣāḍha su di 3
2. sūtradhāra jagadeva gṛhītadrammāḥ 30 tathā
3. gṛhītadrammāḥ 10 pūjagṛhītadrammāḥ 10
4. tathā vandadhāli gṛhītadrammāḥ 10 rau-
5. kāgṛhītavrammāḥ…………………..
6. .karharā……………………..
[The lower part of the stone is broken off and lost].
The year 958, the month first Āṣāḍha, the bright (fortnight), the (lunar) day 3.
From the Sūtradhāra Jagadeva 30 drammas have been taken. Similarly (from …………..) 10 drammas have been taken; (and) from Puja 10 drammas have been taken. Similarly from Vandadhāli 10 drammas have been taken. From Raukā 1 dramma has been taken ……………….
| Date: | 31st May 1207 CE (Āshāḍha śuḍdha 3, varṣa 958) |
| Place: | Besani, Panna, Madhya Pradesh |
| Donor: | Multiple contributors including the sūtradhāra Jagadēva, Puja, Vandadhāli, and Raukā |
| Language: | Sanskrit |
| Script: | Nāgarī |
| Purpose: | To record monetary contributions received from various individuals |
| Provenance of inscription: | Besani, Panna, Madhya Pradesh |
| Type of Inscription: | Stone Inscription |
| Source: |
Bibliography & Research
Cunnigham, A. (1924). Archaeological Survey of India Reports, Vol XXI, pp. 101-103.
- Kielhorn, F. (1888). The Epoch of the Kalachuri or Chedi Era. Indian Antiquary, Vol XVII, pp. 215-221.
- Mirashi, V. V. (Ed.). (1955). Corpus Inscriptionum Indicarum Inscriptions of the Kalachuri Chedi Era. In (Vol. Vol 4 (Part 1), lxvii-cviii and 368-369. Archaeological Survey of India.