Phan Dung Inscription

Name other

์N.M. 38, K. 1155

Script

Post-Pallava

Date

15th Buddhist century

Language

Sanskrit

Face/Line

1 face ; contains 10 lines of writing

Material

red sandstone

Form

Bai Sema, damaged

Size

62 cm. height ; 36 cm. width ; 12.5 cm. thick

Found at

Ban Phan Dung, Phan Dung Locality, Kham Thale So District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province

Exhibited

Maha Wirawong National Museum, Nai Mueang Locality, Mueang District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province

Description

The first two lines of the inscription mention the humbleness shown to Lord Śiva who is worshipped by those observing Brahmanism. The next two lines mention a sage, probably referring to Śrīvatsa whose name is clearly written in the following two lines, who had ordered the construction of Harihara along with other holy sculptures at the dwelling place of ascetics on the mountain with strong water currents, which probably refers to a mountain with a waterfall. The next two lines read that Śrīvatsa presented material offerings, including food and daily necessities, to the place as well as some people to help take care of the place and wait on the ascetics. These two lines also say that ascetics built this dwelling place thanks to the abundant water resources, as well as constructing the sculpture of Phra Sugata. The next two lines mention two Brahmins named Srī Dhīdharmmātaka and Svāmīśrīśiñjara who had been practicing asceticism and yoga meditation. The last two lines, which are very significant, talk about the construction of the sculpture of Phra Sugata in the city. Due to dilapidation that has caused the following sentences in the first line to disappear, it is not known who was responsible for the construction of the sculpture, be it Śrīvatsa, ascetics, Brahman Srī Dhīdharmmātaka or Svāmīśrīśiñjara, and also the name of the city can’t be identified. The last line of writing on this stele, specifies the date of the construction in this city; that is, Saturday, on the 8th day of the waxing gibbous moon, in the 1st lunar month, during the year 751 (1372 B.E.)

Reference

Edited by : The Inscriptions in Thailand Database Project Staffs (2553 B.E.), SAC, from :
Cha-em Kaeokhlai, “Inscription of Śrīvatsa's sculture construction, inscribed in Pallava script, Sanskrit language,” Silpakorn 31, 5 (November-December 2530) : 91-96 (in Thai).

Illustrations

Rubbing inscription picture from : Department of Oriental Languages, Faculty of Archaeology, Silpakorn University, 2545 (Record Number : CD; INS-TH-04, File Name; NM_017)