Consider the following statements about votive inscriptions in the second century BC:
1. They record gifts made to religious institutions
2. They tell us about the idea of transference of the meritorious results of the action of one person to another person
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Question

Consider the following statements about votive inscriptions in the second century BC:

1. They record gifts made to religious institutions

2. They tell us about the idea of transference of the meritorious results of the action of one person to another person

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Prepp Team · Accepted Answer

Understanding Votive Inscriptions in Ancient India

Votive inscriptions from the second century BC are valuable historical sources that provide insights into the religious, social, and economic life of ancient India. These inscriptions are typically found on donations made to religious establishments like stupas, monasteries, and temples. Let's examine the statements provided regarding these votive inscriptions.

Analysis of Statement 1: Recording Gifts to Religious Institutions

The first statement says that votive inscriptions record gifts made to religious institutions. This is a fundamental characteristic of votive inscriptions. The term "votive" itself relates to a vow or a gift made in fulfillment of a vow. Donors, who could be kings, queens, guilds, monks, nuns, or common people, would record their donations on stone, pillars, or on the donated objects themselves (like railings, sculptures, etc.). These records explicitly mention the gift (e.g., donation of a pillar, a railing, a cave dwelling) and the religious institution or deity to which it was made (e.g., to the Buddha, to a Sangha, to a temple). Therefore, statement 1 is correct.

Examples of such gifts recorded in votive inscriptions include:

Donations of architectural components to stupas (like Bharhut or Sanchi).
Grants of cave dwellings to monastic orders.
Gifts of images or sculptures.
Sometimes, donations of money or land, though less common in early inscriptions than physical objects.

Analysis of Statement 2: Idea of Transference of Meritorious Results

The second statement claims that votive inscriptions tell us about the idea of transference of the meritorious results of the action of one person to another person. This concept, particularly prominent in Buddhism, is indeed reflected in many votive inscriptions from this period, especially Buddhist ones. Donors often state that the merit gained from their donation (a meritorious action) should accrue not just to themselves but also to their family members, teachers, or even all sentient beings. This shows a belief that the spiritual benefits of a good deed could be shared or transferred.

Phrases like "for the welfare and happiness of..." or "may the merit be for..." followed by the names of relatives or a broader group, are commonly found in these inscriptions, indicating this practice of merit transference. This concept was a significant aspect of religious practice, allowing individuals to perform good deeds not only for their own spiritual progress but also for the benefit of others.

Therefore, statement 2 is also correct as votive inscriptions from the second century BC often contain expressions related to the transference of merit.

Conclusion on Votive Inscriptions

Based on the analysis of both statements:

Statement 1 is correct because votive inscriptions inherently record gifts to religious institutions.
Statement 2 is correct because these inscriptions often express the desire to transfer the merit gained from the donation to others, illustrating the concept of merit transference.

Both statements accurately describe aspects commonly found in votive inscriptions from the second century BC.

Statement	Analysis	Correctness
1. They record gifts made to religious institutions	Votive inscriptions are records of donations to religious bodies.	Correct
2. They tell us about the idea of transference of the meritorious results	Many inscriptions mention sharing the merit of the donation with others.	Correct

Since both statements are correct, the correct option is the one indicating "Both 1 and 2".

Revision Table: Key Facts on Votive Inscriptions

Feature	Description
Period	Primarily studied here is the second century BC, but they exist across different periods.
Content	Records of donations (gifts) by individuals or groups.
Purpose	To gain religious merit, fulfill vows, and sometimes for commemoration.
Recipient	Religious institutions, deities, or monastic orders (e.g., Buddhist Sangha, Jaina monasteries, Hindu temples).
Donor Types	Kings, queens, princes, merchants, guilds, monks, nuns, common people.
Concept Reflected	Transference of merit to family, teachers, or all beings (common in Buddhist inscriptions).

Additional Information on Ancient Indian Epigraphy

Epigraphy is the study of inscriptions. Inscriptions are writings carved on hard surfaces like stone, metal, pottery, etc. They are crucial primary sources for reconstructing the history of ancient India because they provide direct evidence about political events, administration, society, economy, and religion.

Types of Inscriptions: Besides votive inscriptions, other types include royal proclamations (like Ashokan edicts), प्रशस्ति (eulogies of rulers), commemorative inscriptions, and land grants.
Languages: Early inscriptions in India were often in Prakrit (dialects like Brahmi) and sometimes Greek or Aramaic (in the Northwest). Later, Sanskrit became prominent.
Scripts: The Brahmi script is the most common script for early inscriptions in most parts of India. Kharosthi script was used in the Northwest.
Historical Significance: Inscriptions help us trace dynastic histories, understand administrative structures, learn about religious practices and beliefs, study economic transactions (like guilds and taxes), and understand social hierarchies. Votive inscriptions, in particular, shed light on the piety of the population, the popularity of different religious cults, and the economic support religious institutions received.