Amaravati Art in the Context of Andhra Archaeology
by Sreyashi Ray chowdhuri | 2018 | 90,477 words
This page relates ‘Epigraphs from Amaravati (d) The Tulakica or Banker’ of the study on Amaravati Art in the Context of Andhra Archaeology, including museum exhibitions of the major archeological antiquities. These pages show how the Buddhist establishment of Amaravati (Andhra Pradesh) survived from 4th century BCE to 14th century CE. It includes references and translations of episodes of Buddha’s life drawn from the Avadanas and Jatakas which are illustrated in Amaravati art.
Epigraphs from Amarāvatī (d) The Tulakica or Banker
Another social group Tulakica made gift to the great monument of Amarāvatī. However, there is some controversy regarding the term. Luders read it as Tulakacha, the inhabitant of Tulaka but Chanda thinks it doubtful. Sivaramamurti considers Tulakica as the person whose work is to weigh. It might mean a banker. An inscription of a Tulakica may be taken note of.
Text:-
sa Tulakicas gahapatisa Kubulasa putasa Budhino bhāriyāya
Tukāya saputikaya sabhaginikāya patodeya dhāmmaṃ.[1]
Translation:-
Pious gift of a slab (pata) by Tukā, the wife of Budhi, the son of the householder Kubula, a Tulakica with her son and sister.
Note:-
This inscription helps us to understand that Tuka, the wife of gahapati Budhi makes donation with her son and daughter.
The involvement of the seṭṭhis in the refurbishment of the monument in the form of donations is also mention worthy.
Text:-
i) Chadakicasa seṭhipamukhasa
ii) bhadaniga ma sa suci
iii) dānaṃ.[2]
Translation:-
Gift of a crossbar of the righteous townfolk of Chadākica headed by merchants (Seṭṭhi).
Note:-
The inscription refers to the gift of crossbar of the town folk of Chadākica headed by the merchant.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Chanda Ramprasad, 1919-20, Op.cit, No 34, p 269. Sivaramamurti C, Op.cit, No. 104, pp 298-299.
[2]:
Sivaramamurti, Ibid, No. 87, p 294, Lüders H, Op.cit, No. 1261, pp 149-150 Burgess Jas, Op.cit, No. 196, p 39.