Junagadh Rock Inscription
Junagadh Rock Inscription is a series of royal inscriptions on the sacred Girnar rock at Junagadh, Gujarat, India.
Overview
The Junagadh Rock Inscription comprises multiple inscriptions from different periods carved on a single rock face near the Girnar hill. The most famous is the inscription of Rudradaman I (c. 150 CE), one of the longest and most well-preserved Sanskrit inscriptions of ancient India.
Historical Context
The rock bears inscriptions from the Mauryan period (Ashoka’s Major Rock Edicts), the Western Kshatrapas (Rudradaman I), and the Gupta period (Skandagupta). Rudradaman’s inscription records his repair of the Sudarshana Lake, an irrigation reservoir originally built by the Mauryans. Skandagupta’s inscription (c. 450 CE) describes his victory over the Hunas.
Features/Significance
Rudradaman’s inscription is a landmark in Sanskrit literary history, demonstrating that Sanskrit was used for official purposes by non-Brahmanical rulers. The inscription contains information about ancient Indian irrigation, geography, and royal genealogy. Skandagupta’s inscription is one of the earliest Gupta documents of the Hun wars.
Modern Status
The inscriptions are protected by the Archaeological Survey of India and are accessible to visitors at the Girnar hill complex. They remain key sources for the political and linguistic history of western India.
Verification Notes
- ASI site code: GUJ-JNG-1
- Multiple inscriptions spanning Mauryan to Gupta periods
- Rudradaman’s inscription: c. 150 CE in chaste Sanskrit