PATRONAGE ISSUES AT KARLA

Podhi or water harvesting at Karla

CHAITYA HALL
Traders or merchants
 Inscription No. 1 and 4 mention donations
by merchants
 Left end of the verandah- Sreshthi
Bhutapala had donated the Sila-ghara i.e.
the chaitya griha which is mentioned as the
most excellent one in Jambudvipa.
CHAITYA HALL
Traders or merchants…..
 Inscription No. 4- inscribed over the
right doorway refers to a gandha-vanika
or perfumer who donated the door of
the Chaitya griha (ghara mugha)
YAVANAS AS DONORS….
 Inscription No. 7 Yavana
Simhadhaya- hailing from
Dhenukakata donated a pillar

 Inscription No. 10. Dhamma Yavana

hailing from Dhenukakata donated
the fourth pillar to the left
Mitradeva son of Rishabhadatta
 Inscription no. 11
Rishabhadatta or Ushavadatta son
in law of Nahapana also hailed
from Dhenukakataka
Mitradeva donated a pillar
Women as donor
 Bhikhuni or Nun Ashadhamita-
Inscription no. 12 inscribed on the belt
(patta) of the base of the great arch

 She also had donated at Kuda and

there she is mentioned as the disciple
of Paduminika.
Inscription no. 18 -Women as
donor
 Railing (vedika) is the gift of or
donation of the Bhikhuni Koti the
mother of ghunika and this was made
by Nandika.
 Here thus we also get the name of a
sculptor Nandi or Nandika
(Nandikena katam) who sculpted the
railing of this verandah.
Left of the central door inscription
no. 18
Women as donor
 Inscription no. 5 mentions that:
 Bhayila mother of grihastha Mahadeva
donated the pillar in the verandah in front
of the main door.
 On the same pillar is another inscription
engraved below inscription no. 5
 Inscription no. 6 which mentions the
donation of a carpenter (vadhakina) Svami
who also hailed from Dhenukakataka
The wood work was done by
carpenter Svami
Relic pillar at Karla
Relic pillar inscription No. 9
 This pillar containing relics (sarira
stambha) is the gift of the preacher
Satimita of the Dharmuttariya sect
hailing from Surparaka or Sopara

 Sopara was an important centre of the

Dharmuttariya sect.
..Bhikhu or Monk as donor
 Bhadasamana Sanskrit Bhadrasramana
donated two mithuna sculptures

 Inscriptions no. 15 and 16

Monk as donor
 Monk Indradeva donated the elephant
sculptures and the rail mouldings
Maharathis Donors
Lion pillar is the gift of Maharathi
Gotiputra Agnimitra
Maharathi- Inscription no. 14
 Maharathi Vasishthiputra Somaeva son
of Koshikiputra Mitradeva
 Gave to the community of Valuraka i.e.
Valuraka samgha of the Valuraka caves
a village with all the taxes
 This inscription gives the ancient name
of Karle as Valuraka.
Royal Donations
 Ushavadata son in law of Nahapana
donated a village named Karajika to
support the ascetics at Valuraka
without any distinction of sect , to
those who come here for varshavasa.
 Prasasti: 300,000 cows, gold, who
contributed to the making of a tirtha at
Banasa, 16 villages to the devas and
brahmanas, eight wives, also fed
annually a 100,000 brahmanas
Royal donation…
 Mahasamghikas dwelling in the
Valuraka caves were given the Karajika
village in the Mamala district.
 From the victorious camp(?)
 Deed was executed by Sivaskandagupta
in the year 14
 Karajika donated twice- Saka
Satavahana conflict ?
Royal Donation..
 Vasisthiputra Pulumavi 24th year
 Donation of a lay worshipper
Harapharana son of Setapharana living
in Abulama gave a nine celled hall to
the universal samgha as special
property of the Mahasamghikas.
 It has also been mentioned as the pious
gift of Budharakhita’s mother
DONORS – HAILING FROM….
SOCIAL STATUS AND
PROFESSION OF DONORS