Page:The Origin of the Bengali Script.djvu/105

Rh There are only three short votive inscriptions and one copper plate grant which can safely be referred to the 10th century A.D.:

1. The Dinājpur pillar inscription Ś. 888 + 78 = 966 A.D.

2. The Nālandā image inscription of Gopāla II—the year 1.

3. The Bodh-Gayā image inscription of Gopāla II.

4. The Bāngarh (Dinājpur) grant of Mahīpāla I.

The last one is included in this list because:

1. We know from the Imadpur image inscriptions that Mahīpāla I reigned at least 48 years.

2. We know from the Tirumalai inscription that the Northern conquest of Rājendra Coḷa I was completed before his 12th regnal year i.e. 1023–4 A.D.

3. The Sārnāth inscription of Mahīpāla I is most probably a posthumous one. So is the date V.E. 1083 = 1026 A.D. The brothers Sthirapāla and Vasantapāla probably finished the work started by Mahīpāla I.

4. There is barely room for two syllables between the words "Samvat" and lguna. The second of these must be read Phā, the first syllable in the name of the month Phālguna and so there can have been only one numeral to express the year.

Consequently we find that the Bāngarh (Dinājpur) grant of Mahīpāla must be assigned to the latter half of the 10th century A.D.

In the Dinājpur pillar inscription we find that:—

1. The upper curve of Ga has given place to a straight line from the left end of which hangs a curved line ending