Pawāyā Gupta image inscription explained

The Pawāyā image inscription is an epigraphic record documenting the dedication of a Vaiṣṇava image. It dates to the circa fifth century CE.

Location

Padmavati (Padmavati Pawaya) was a large city-site located in Gwalior District, Madhya Pradesh, India. The current location of the inscription is not recorded.

Publication

The inscription was first published by M. B. Garde in 1914-15. It was subsequently listed by H. N. DvivedI and M. Willis.^[1]

Description and Contents

The inscription is engraved on the pedestal of an image and records the dedication.

Metrics

The record is not metrical.

Text

Garde suggested the reading: namo bhagvate vi [-]m [pra]tima sthāpita bhagava(to).

Translation

Salutation to Vishnu, having installed the image.

See also

• Indian inscriptions
• Padmavati Pawaya

Notes

1. Gwalior State, Archaeological Report for VS 1971/AD 1914-15, number 31; Dvivedī, Gvāliyar rājye ke abhilekh (VS 2004): number 711; Michael D. Willis, Inscriptions of Gopakṣetra (London, 1996).