The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has recently decoded two ancient Sanskrit inscriptions from Vietnam and Nepal, shedding light on India’s historical cultural and geopolitical influence in Southeast Asia and the Himalayan region between the 3rd and 6th centuries CE.
The first inscription was found on a ring in southern Vietnam, dating back to the 3rd century CE. The inscription, carved in Sanskrit and Brahmi characters, reads "Jeshthamitrasya," indicating ownership by an individual named Jeshthamitra.
K Muniratnam Reddy, the chief of ASI’s epigraphy division, explained that this inscription highlights India’s cultural influence, with the Brahmi script being a precursor to many scripts across India and Southeast Asia. The ring was sent for decoding by Shiv Pratap Singh, a resident of Rajasthan.
The second inscription was discovered on a Shivling base in Mahadevtar village, located in Sindhupalchok district, Nepal. This inscription, dating to the 6th century CE, is written in Sanskrit and late Brahmi characters.
It begins with an invocation to Lord Shiva and mentions Bhimagupta and his son Devagupta, who were likely members of the Lichhavi dynasty.
The inscription commemorates the installation of the Shivling by Devagupta in honour of his parents. Professor Diwakar Acharya from the University of Oxford had submitted the inscription for decoding.
According to Reddy, "These discoveries underscore India’s historical cultural and spiritual bonds with neighbouring regions and Southeast Asia, shedding new light on the spread of Indian scripts and religious traditions."
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