Eran Stone Pillar
Eran Stone Pillar is a Gupta-period stone pillar with inscriptions at Eran (ancient Airikina), Sagar District, Madhya Pradesh, India.
Overview
The Eran Stone Pillar is a monolithic sandstone pillar at Eran (ancient Airikina), Sagar District, Madhya Pradesh, India. Its principal inscription, in the name of the Gupta king Bhanugupta, dates to approximately 510 CE and records the death in battle of the general Goparaja and the sati of his wife.
Historical Context
The pillar was discovered during archaeological excavations at Eran in the 19th century. The main inscription commemorates Goparaja, a general of Bhanugupta, and the sati of his wife. Another famous inscription from the Eran site documents the Huna ruler Toramana. Eran was an important Gupta-period town with a large temple complex.
Features/Significance
The pillar contains one of the earliest epigraphic references to the practice of sati, dating to 510 CE. The inscriptions provide information about Gupta military history and the Huna invasions of central India. The pillar also features a large monolithic boar (Varaha) sculpture, one of the largest in India.
Modern Status
The pillar and associated archaeological remains are protected by the Archaeological Survey of India. Eran is an active excavation site with ongoing research into Gupta-period material culture.
Verification Notes
- ASI site code: MP-SGR-3
- Gupta inscription dated 510 CE (reign of Bhanugupta)
- Contains earliest sati reference in Indian epigraphy