Visnu (With Special Reference to Epigraphy and Coins)

Visnu is the object of worship as the Supreme Deity of Vaisnavism, which is one of the most important cult that came into existence some centuries before the Christian Era. A study of epigraphical evidence discloses a variety of names and attributes of Visnu known throughout north India. He has been called Visnu and Vasudeva in the Gujarat-Saurashtra region; Purusottama, Rajivalochana and Upendra in central India; and Narayana, Trivikrama and Chaturbhuja in eastern India. In the Upper Ganga valley region, he is addressed as Adikesava and Chandra-madhava. With the elaborate nomenclature, the attribute of the god are equally impressive in number and variety. The chakra, kaustubha, Garuda and sankha which are very often in the inscriptions described are traditionally associated with Visnu.
The book is mainly concerned with the historical development and mythological associations of Visnu. Though his presence is too conspicuous in ancient Indian art and literature, but the profile of the Visnu provided by the epigraphical annals has its own importance. The accounts that follows, provide glimpses into the adoration of the God Visnu, in a somewhat chronological order, as available in the epigraphical annals from earliest times. There are almost fifteen hundred (1500) inscriptions belonging to second century BCE to twelfth century CE, cover the entire geographical limits. These inscriptions have been issued by the royal authority and private donors. Invariably they indicate the name of ruling authorities and the common people, the occasion, the purpose of the grant and also usually the date on which the record was incised.

About the Author

Dr Suman Jain is a Professor in Palaeography and Epigraphy in the Department of Ancient Indian History, Culture and Archaeology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi. She did Ph.D. from Banaras Hindu University in 1992. During her student life and as a research scholar, she had earned many distinctions and fellowships. She began her career as Lecturer in the Department of Ancient Indian History and Culture, Vasant Kanya Mahavidyalaya, affiliated to B.H.U. in 1993 and joined Banaras Hindu University as Lecturer in Palaeography and Epigraphy in 1996. She is actively involved in many research activities and regularly participate in seminars and conferences. She has many research papers in various journals and four books on palaeography and epigraphy to her credit. She is a life member of the Executive Council of Numismatic Society of India; Women Polytechnic Institute, Allahabad; Chairperson of Jan Shikshan Sansthan, Mirzapur and President of ABISS (Varanasi Zone), Uttar Pradesh. Currently, she is engaged in a project work on ‘Tathagataguyaka - A Lost Buddhist Manuscript’ under the scene sponsored by the Indian Council of Historical Research, New Delhi.