Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-42gr6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-20T05:58:39.728Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Merchant groups in early medieval Bengal: with special reference to the Rajbhita stone inscription of the time of Mahīpāla I, Year 33

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2013

Ryosuke Furui
Ryosuke Furui*
Affiliation:
Institute for Advanced Studies on Asia, The University of Tokyo
*
furui@ioc.u-tokyo.ac.jp
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Recent epigraphic discoveries shed new light on merchant groups in early medieval Bengal, a region whose history in the period from the mid-sixth to the thirteenth centuries is shrouded in obscurity. The present article attempts to provide a better delineation of this history with additional information from new inscriptions, and presents a transcription, translation and discussion of the Rajbhita stone inscription which records the activity of an association of merchants called vaṇiggrāma. The history of merchant groups in early medieval Bengal can be delineated as a process of the ruralization of urban elites in its early phase, and of the organization of merchants located in rural space towards specialized groups comparable to jātis in its later phase. The new inscriptions enable us not only to fill gaps with new information, but also give us perspectives from which we can go beyond unilineal simplicity.

Keywords

BengalEarly medievalPālasEpigraphyMerchantsVaṇiggrāma
Type
Articles
Information
Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies , Volume 76 , Issue 3 , October 2013 , pp. 391 - 412
Copyright
Copyright © School of Oriental and African Studies 2013 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Adachi, Kiroku (ed. and tr.). 1942. Daitou Saiiki Guhou Kousou Den (Biography of Eminent Monks Who Searched for the Law in the Western World during the Reign of Great T'ang Dynasty) (reprint 1984). Tokyo: Iwanami Shoten.Google Scholar
Ahmad, S. Maqbul (tr.). 1989. Arabic Classical Accounts of India and China. Shimla: Indian Institute of Advanced Study.Google Scholar
Banerjee, P. 1975. “Some inscriptions from Bihar”, Journal of Ancient Indian History (JAIH) 7/1–2, 1973–74: 102–11.Google Scholar
Banerji, R. D. 1915. “The Pālas of Bengal”, Memoirs of the Asiatic Society of Bengal 5, 43–113.Google Scholar
Basak, R. G. 1915–16. “Silimpur stone-slab inscription of the time of Jayapala-deva”, Epigraphia Indica (EI) 13 (reprint 1982), 283–95.Google Scholar
Bhattacharya, Gouriswar. 1999. “Nalanda Vāgīśvarī and Mandhuk Gaṇeśa: are they of the same period?”, Journal of Bengal Art (JBA) 4, 373–80.Google Scholar
Bhattacharya, Gouriswar. 2007a. “Rajbhita (Greater Dinajpur District, Bangladesh) stone slab inscription of the time of Mahipala (I), Regnal Year 33”, lecture delivered at the Centre for Archaeological Studies and Training, Eastern India on March 8, 2007. Kolkata.Google Scholar
Bhattacharya, Gouriswar. 2007b. “The British Museum stone inscription of Mahendrapāla”, South Asian Studies (SAS) 23, 69–74.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bhattacharyya, S. C. 1984. “Mainamati copper plate of Vīradharadeva”, JAIH 15/1–2, 1983–84, 17–28.Google Scholar
Bhattacharya, S. C. 2007. “The Jagajjibanpur plate of Mahendrapāla comprehensively re-edited”, JAIH 23, 2005–06, 61–125.Google Scholar
Bhattasali, Nalinikanta. 1923–24. “Some image inscriptions from East Bengal”, EI 17 (reprint 1983), 349–62.Google Scholar
Bhattasali, Nalinikanta. 1925–26. “The Ghugrahati copper-plate inscription of Samachara-Deva”, EI 18 (reprint 1983), 74–86.Google Scholar
Bloch, T. 1906. “Excavations at Basarh”, Archaeological Survey of India Annual Report (ASIAR) 1903–04 (reprint 1990). Delhi: Swati Publications, 79–122.Google Scholar
Chakrabarti, Kunal. 2001. Religious Process: The Purāṇas and the Making of a Regional Tradition. New Delhi: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Chakravarti, Ranabir. 2008. “Three copper plates of the sixth century AD: glimpses of socio-economic and cultural life in western India”, in Raven, Ellen M. (ed.), South Asian Archaeology 1999: Proceedings of the Fifteenth Conference of the European Association of South Asian Archaeologists, held at the Universiteit Leiden, 5–9 July, 1999. Groningen: Egbert Forsten, 395–9.Google Scholar
Chowdhury, A. M. 1967. Dynastic History of Bengal (c. 750–1200 A.D.). Dacca: Asiatic Society of Pakistan.Google Scholar
Dikshit, K. N. 1938. Excavations at Paharpur Bengal. (Memoirs of the Archaeological Survey of India 55.) (Reprint 1999). New Delhi: Archaeological Survey of India.Google Scholar
Furui, R. 2007. “Rural society and social networks in early Bengal from the fifth to the thirteenth century A.D.”, Unpublished PhD thesis, Jawaharlal Nehru University.Google Scholar
Furui, R. 2011a. “Indian Museum copper plate inscription of Dharmapala, Year 26: tentative reading and study”, SAS 27/2, 145–56.Google Scholar
Furui, R. 2011b. “'Panchrol (Egra) copperplate inscription of the time of Śaśāṅka: a re-edition”, Pratna Samiksha: A Journal of Archaeology, New Series 2, 119–30.Google Scholar
Furui, R. 2011c. “Rangpur copper plate inscription of Mahīpāla I, year 5”, JAIH 27, 2010–11: 232–45.Google Scholar
Furui, R. 2013. Forthcoming. “Finding tensions in the social order: a reading of the Varṇasaṃkara section of the Bhaddharmapurāṇa”, in Ghosh, Suchandra, Bandyopadhyaya, Sudipa Ray, Majumdar, Susmita Basu and Pal, Sayantani (eds), Revisiting Early India: Essays in Honour of D. C. Sircar. Kolkata: R. N. Bhattacharya.Google Scholar
Ganguly, D. C. 1931–32. “Saktipur copper-plate of Lakshmanasena”, EI 21 (reprint 1984), 211–9.Google Scholar
Ghosh, A. 1939–40. “A bronze image inscription from Nalanda”, EI 25 (reprint 1985), 334–5.Google Scholar
Goswami, K. G. 1948. Excavations at Bangarh (1938–41). Calcutta: University of Calcutta.Google Scholar
Griffiths, Arlo. 2009. “Sūrya's Nāgas, Candra's square seat and the mounted bull with two guardians: iconographical notes on two Khmer illustrated stela inscriptions”, in Mevissen, Gerd J. R. and Banerjee, Arundhati (eds), Prajñādhara: Essays on Asian Art, History, Epigraphy and Culture in Honour of Gouriswar Bhattacharya. New Delhi: Kaveri Books, 466–78.Google Scholar
Gupta, P. L. 1965. Patna Museum Catalogue of Antiquities (Stone Sculptures, Metal Images, Terracottas and Minor Antiquities). Patna: Patna Museum.Google Scholar
Haque, Enamul and Gail, Adalbert J. (eds), Haque, Enamul, Gail, Adalbert J., Bhattacharya, Gouriswar, Mevissen, Gerd J. R., Johne, Isabell and Reitz, Falk (comp.). 2008. Sculptures in Bangladesh: An Inventory of Select Hindu, Buddhist and Jain Stone and Bronze Images in Museums and Collections of Bangladesh (up to the 13th Century). (Studies in Bengal Art 8.) Dhaka: The International Centre for Study of Bengal Art.Google Scholar
Hazra, R. C. 1963. Studies in the Upapurāṇas, Vol. 2. Calcutta: Sanskrit College.Google Scholar
Hok, M. Monirul and Kuddus, M. Abdul. 2005. “Prathama Mahīpāler Rājabhiṭā Śilālipi: Pāṭhoddhāra o Biśleṣaṇa”, IBS Journal 13, 1412 BS, 7–18.Google Scholar
Husain, Mahdi (tr. and comm.). 1953. The Rehla of Ibn Battuta: India, Maldive Islands and Ceylon. Baroda: Oriental Institute.Google Scholar
I-Ching (tr. Lahiri, Latika). 1986. Chinese Monks in India: Biography of Eminent Monks Who Went to the Western World in Search of the Law During the Great T'ang Dynasty. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass.Google Scholar
Jain, V. K. 1990. Trade and Traders in Western India (AD 1000–1300). New Delhi: Munshiram Manoharlal.Google Scholar
Kosambi, D. D. 1955. “Dhenukākaṭa”, Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bombay (New Series) 30/2, 50–71.Google Scholar
Kosambi, D. D. 1959. “Indian feudal trade charters”, Journal of the Economic and Social History of the Orient, 2/3, 281–93.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lal, Hira. 1909–10. “Two Kuruspal inscriptions of Dharana-Mahadevi of the time of Somesvaradeva”, EI 10 (reprint 1984), 31–4.Google Scholar
Li, Rongxi (tr.). 2002. “The journey of the eminent monk Faxien: translated from the Chinese of Faxian (Taishō Volume 51, Number 2085)”, in Lives of Great Monks and Nuns (BDK English Tripiṭaka 76–III, IV, V, VI, VII). Berkeley: Numata Center for Buddhist Translation and Research, 2002, 155–214.Google Scholar
Maitreya, A. K. 1912. Gauḍalekhamālā (reprint 2004). Kolkata: Sanskrit Pustak Bhandar.Google Scholar
Maity, S. K. 1970. Economic Life in Northern India in the Gupta Period (Cir. A.D. 300–550) (2nd ed.). Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass.Google Scholar
Majumdar, N. G. 1919. “Patna Museum inscription of Jayasena”, Indian Antiquary 48, 43–8.Google Scholar
Majumdar, N. G. (ed.). 1929. Inscriptions of Bengal Containing Inscriptions of the Candras, the Varmans and the Senas, and Īśvaraghoṣa and Dāmodara. Rajshahi: Varendra Research Society.Google Scholar
Majumdar, N. G. 1933–34. “Irda copper-plate of the Kamboja King Nayapaladeva”, EI 22 (reprint 1984), 150–9.Google Scholar
Mirashi, V. V. (ed.). 1977. Corpus Inscriptionum Indicarum Vol. VI: Inscriptions of the Śilāhāras. New Delhi: Archaeological Survey of India.Google Scholar
Misra, Pramatha Nath and Majumdar, R. C.. 1951. “The Jājilpārā grant of Gopāla II, Year 6”, Journal of the Asiatic Society, Letters (JASL) 17/2, 137–45.Google Scholar
Mitra, Debala. 1983. Ratnagiri (1958–61). (Memoirs of the Archaeological Survey of India 80.), vol. 1. New Delhi: Archaeological Survey of India.Google Scholar
Kazutoshi, Nagasawa (ed., tr. and annot.). 1996. Hokkenden Yakuchu Kaisetsu: Hokusou-bon, Nansou-bon, Kourai Daizoukyou-bon, Ishiyamadera-bon Yonshu Eiin To Sono Hikaku Kenkyu (The Biography of Fa-hien, translation, annotation and exegesis: a Comparative Study on the Four Photo Prints from the Copies of Northern and Southern Sung, Korean Tripitaka and Ishiyamadera Temple). Tokyo: Yuzankaku.Google Scholar
Prasad, Pushpa. 1973. “Jhansi inscription of Viravarma, V.S. 1318”, EI 40/2, 87–90.Google Scholar
Rahman, Mukhlesur. 1998. Sculpture in the Varendra Research Museum: A Descriptive Catalogue. Rajshahi: Varendra Research Museum, University of Rajshahi.Google Scholar
Ramesh, K. V. 1986. “Three early charters from Sanjeli in Gujarat”, EI 40/5, 175–86.Google Scholar
Ray, Krishnendu. 2008. “A note on some aspects of the Rajbhita stone slab inscription of the time of Mahipala I, regnal year 33”, Proceedings of the Indian History Congress 69, 139–48.Google Scholar
Ray, Krishnendu. 2009. “Socio-economic and cultural study of the Rajbhita (Greater Dinajpur District, Bangladesh) stone slab inscription of the time of Mahipala (I), regnal year 33”, JBA 13–14, 2008–09, 271–7.Google Scholar
Sanderson, Alexis. 2004. “The Śaiva religions among the Khmers (Part I)”, Bulletin de l'École française d'Extrême-Orient, 90–91, 2003–04, 349–462.Google Scholar
Sanderson, Alexis. 2009. “The Śaiva age – the rise and dominance of Śaivism during the early medieval period”, in Einoo, Shingo (ed.), Genesis and Development of Tantrism. Tokyo: Institute of Oriental Culture, University of Tokyo, 41–349.Google Scholar
Shastri, Haraprasad (ed.). 1974. Br̥haddharmapurāṇam (2nd ed.). Varanasi: Krishnadas Academy.Google Scholar
Sircar, D. C. 1943. “Nārāyaṇpur Vināyaka image inscription of King Mahīpāla. Regnal year 4”. Indian Culture 9, 1942–43, Miscellanea, 121–5.Google Scholar
Sircar, D. C. 1949. “Two pillar inscriptions”, Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Bengal, Letters 15/1, 5–8.Google Scholar
Sircar, D. C. 1949–50. “Three inscriptions from Valgudar”, EI 28 (reprint 1985), 137–45.Google Scholar
Sircar, D. C. 1952. “Pāla rule in the Tippera district”, The Indian Historical Quarterly (IHQ) 28, 51–7.Google Scholar
Sircar, D. C. 1953. “Notes and queries”, IHQ 29, 294–303.Google Scholar
Sircar, D. C. 1953–54. “Charter of Vishnushena, Samvat 649”, EI 30 (reprint 1987), 163–81.Google Scholar
Sircar, D. C. 1954. “Vaṅgīya Sāhitya Pariṣad plate of Viśvarūpasena”, JASL 20/2, 201–8.Google Scholar
Sircar, D. C. 1959–60. “Bhaturiya inscription of Rajyapala”, EI 33 (reprint 1987), 150–4.Google Scholar
Sircar, D. C (ed.). 1965. Select Inscriptions Bearing on Indian History and Civilization Vol.1: From the Sixth Century B. C. to the Sixth Century A. D. (2nd ed.). Calcutta: University of Calcutta.Google Scholar
Sircar, D. C. 1971. Studies in the Geography of Ancient and Medieval India (2nd ed.). Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass.Google Scholar
Sircar, D. C. 1973. Epigraphic Discoveries in East Pakistan. Calcutta: Sanskrit College.Google Scholar
Sircar, D. C. 1977. Early Indian Numismatic and Epigraphical Studies. Calcutta: Indian Museum.Google Scholar
Sircar, D. C. 1982. Pāla-Sena Yuger Baṃśānucarita. Calcutta: Sahityaloka.Google Scholar
Sircar, D. C. (ed.). 1983. Select Inscriptions Bearing on Indian History and Civilization Vol. 2: From the Sixth to the Eighteenth Century A.D. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass.Google Scholar
Sircar, D. C. 1986. “Lucknow museum copper-plate inscription of Surapala I, regnal year 3”, EI 40/1, 1973, 4–16.Google Scholar
Spooner, D. B. 1917. “Excavations at Basarh”, ASIAR 1913–14 (reprint 1990). Delhi: Swati Publications, 98–185.Google Scholar
Tarkaratna, P. (ed.) 1907 (1314 BS). Br̥haddharmapurāṇa (reprint 1989 [1396 BS]). Kolkata: Nabbharat Publishers.Google Scholar
Trivedi, H. V. (ed.) 1978. Corpus Inscriptionum Indicarum Vol. VII (in Three Parts): Inscriptions of the Paramāras, Chandēllas, Kachchapaghātas and Two Minor Dynasties. Pt. 2. New Delhi: Archaeological Survey of India.Google Scholar
Vidyavinoda, V. V. 1913–14. “Two inscriptions from Bodh-Gaya”, EI 12 (reprint 1982), 27–30.Google Scholar
Walsh, E. H. C. 1937. “Virakal and Sati memorial stones at Buddhpur and Burām”, The Journal of the Bihar and Orissa Research Society 23/4, 429–43.Google Scholar
Yamazaki, Toshio. 1982. “Some aspects of land-sale inscriptions in fifth and sixth century Bengal”, Acta Asiatica 43, 17–36.Google Scholar