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{{Use Indian English|date=January 2020}}
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'''''Epigraphia Carnatica''''' is a set of books on [[epigraphy]] of the [[Mysore State|Old Mysore]] region of [[India]], compiled by [[Benjamin Lewis Rice]], the Director of the Mysore Archaeological Department.<ref name="fl">{{cite web |title=Preserving inscriptions digitally |url=http://www.flonnet.com/fl2223/stories/20051118000607600.htm |work=The Frontline, Volume 22 - Issue 23, Nov. 05 - 18, 2005 |author=Parvathi Menon |accessdate=2008-03-07 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080220183957/http://www.flonnet.com/fl2223/stories/20051118000607600.htm |archivedate=2008-02-20 }}</ref> Over a period of about ten years between 1894 and 1905, Rice published the books in a set of twelve volumes. The books contain the study of about 9000 inscriptions from [[lithic core|lithic]] surfaces and [[intaglio printing|copper plate]]s, which were found in the region.<ref name="fl"/> Apart from the original inscription, an English translation and a Roman transliteration are also provided.

==History==
Benjamin Lewis Rice was born in [[Bangalore]] in 1837. His father was a Christian [[missionary]] and head of the Bangalore [[parish]].<ref name="jk">{{cite web|url=http://www.kamat.com/jyotsna/blog/blog.php?BlogID=495|work=Kamat.com|title=B.L. Rice - Father of Kannada Epigraphy|accessdate=2008-03-07}}</ref> After completing his education in [[England]], Rice returned to serve as the principal of Central School in Bangalore. He was also appointed as a secretary of the education commission. When he toured the countryside as an education inspector, he came across various inscriptions. He was interested in epigraphy and he took the help of his assistants to edit, translate and transliterate about 9000 inscriptions.<ref name="jk"/> When in 1886, the British made him the head of the Department of Archaeology, he started work towards publishing his epigraphical study and brought out a series of twelve volumes entitled ''Epigraphia Carnatica''.<ref name="jk"/> Rice also wrote a book called ''The History of Mysore and Coorg from Inscriptions'' which is based on ''Epigraphia Carnatica''.{{citation needed|date=July 2020}}

==Compilation==
''Epigraphia Carnatica'' contains a study of inscriptions from 3rd century AD until the 19th century. These inscriptions belonged to different dynasties that ruled this region such as [[Chola]]s, [[Kadamba Dynasty|Kadamba]]s, [[Western Chalukya]]s, [[Hoysala]]s, [[Vijayanagara Empire|Vijayanagar]] kings, [[Hyder Ali]] and his son [[Tipu Sultan]] and the Mysore [[Wodeyar]]s.<ref name="fl"/> The inscriptions found were mainly written in [[Kannada language]] but some have been found to be written in languages like [[Tamil language|Tamil]], [[Sanskrit]], [[Telugu language|Telugu]], [[Urdu]] and even [[Persian language|Persian]].<ref name="fl"/>

==Publishing==
After the set of twelve volumes had been published by Rice, R. Narsimhachar, who succeeded Rice as the head of the archaeological department, found another 4000 inscriptions. M.H. Krishna, after his excavations at [[Chandravalli]] and [[Brahmagiri archaeological site|Brahmagiri]], discovered 2000 inscriptions and published these discoveries as the volumes 13, 14 and 15 of ''Epigraphia Carnatica''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kannadasiri.kar.nic.in/archaeology/eng/introduction.htm|work=Directorate of Archaeology and Museums, Government of Karnataka|title=Introduction|accessdate=2008-03-07}}</ref> However, by 1950, the volumes were out of print. In 1972, the Department of Kannada at [[Mysore University]] undertook the task of reprinting the volumes, but could bring out only six volumes. The Southern Regional Centre of the Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR) under the chairmanship of Professor S. Settar wanted to create a digitized version of the volumes. Settar donated his personal copies of ''Epigraphia Carnatica'', which were scanned and released as a CD-ROM in 2005.<ref name="fl"/>

==Volumes==
In the preface of each volume is found a description about the publication and its contents, persons involved, and/or struggles, some of which owing to a change of staff,<ref name="ec-v13-p1-1934" /> a post-war retrenchment,<ref name="ec-v14-1943" /> etc.

From 1886 to 1905 [19 years], [[B. Lewis Rice]] published the first twelve volumes in multiple parts as fourteen books, followed by a revision of ''Vol. I'' in 1914 with 75 additional inscriptions, bringing to light nearly 5,000 inscriptions of the 8,869 he collected over the course of 22 years.<ref name="ec-v1-1914" /><ref name="ec-v1-1972" />

In 1923, R. Narasimhachar published a revised and enlarged edition of Rice's ''Vol. II'', which contains 356 new inscriptions (500 total) with translations ranging from AD 600 to 1889.<ref name="ec-v2-1923" />

Rice's intention was to publish ''Vol. XIII'' as an index to his publications, so in 1934, [[M. H. Krishna|Dr. M. H. Krishna]], with the help of [[K. Rama Rao]], M. C. Srinivasa Iyengar, and R. Narasimhachar, published part one of ''Vol. XIII: General Index'', covering letters 'A' to 'K' of Rice's 1st editions.<ref name="ec-v13-p1-1934" />

In 1943, [[M. H. Krishna|Dr. M. H. Krishna]] published a ''Vol. XIV'' supplement for Rice's ''Vol. V'', which contains texts and translations of about 750 inscriptions, new and revised, collected between 1906 and 1914 in the old Mysore District which included the present Mandya District.<ref name="ec-v14-1943" />

In 1955, [[K. A. Nilakanta Sastri|Prof. K. A. Nilakanta Sastri]] published a ''Vol. XVI'' supplement for Rice's ''Vol. XII'', which contains new inscriptions collected by Mr. R. Narasimhachar between 1906 and 1922 in the Tumkur District and has transliteration of about 270 inscriptions.<ref name="ec-v16-1955" />

In 1965, Dr. M. Seshadri published a ''Vol. XVII'' supplement for Rice's ''Vol. X''.<ref name="ec-v17-1965" /> In 1970, he also published a ''Vol. XVIII'' supplement, which revised and added a few new additions to Rice's ''Vol. VII'' and ''Vol. VIII''.<ref name="ec-v18-1970" />

In 1972, a 3rd revised edition to Rice's ''Vol. I, 2nd ed.'' was published, which contains 32 new inscriptions.<ref name="ec-v1-1972" />

In 1987, R. Narasimhachar published the second part of ''Vol. XIII: General Index'', covering letters 'L' to 'Z' of the first twelve volumes.<ref name="ec-v13-p2-1987" />

Volumes 1 to 12:
* {{H:title|dotted=yes|Vol. 1|Vol. I}}: [[Kodagu district|Coorg]] Inscriptions. (Rice, 1886).<ref name="ec-v1-1886" /> (Rice, 1914, 2nd ed.).<ref name="ec-v1-1914" /> (1972, 3rd ed.).<ref name="ec-v1-1972" />
* {{H:title|dotted=yes|Vol. 2|Vol. II}}: Inscriptions at [[Sravanabelagola|Sravana Belgola]]. (Rice, 1889).<ref name="ec-v2-1889" /> (Narasimhachar, 1923, 2nd ed.).<ref name="ec-v2-1923" />
* {{H:title|dotted=yes|Vol. 3|Vol. III}}: Inscriptions in the [[Mysore District]], Part I. (Rice, 1894).<ref name="ec-v3-1894" />
* {{H:title|dotted=yes|Vol. 4|Vol. IV}}: Inscriptions in the [[Mysore District]], Part II. (Rice, 1898).<ref name="ec-v4-1898" />
* {{H:title|dotted=yes|Vol. 5|Vol. V}}: Inscriptions in the [[Hassan District]], Part I. (Rice, 1902).<ref name="ec-v5-p1-1902" />
* {{H:title|dotted=yes|Vol. 5|Vol. V}}: Inscriptions in the [[Hassan District]], Part II. (Rice, 1902).<ref name="ec-v5-p2-1902" />
* {{H:title|dotted=yes|Vol. 6|Vol. VI}}: Inscriptions in the [[Chikkamagaluru district|Kadur District]]. (Rice, 1901).<ref name="ec-v6-1901" />
* {{H:title|dotted=yes|Vol. 7|Vol. VII}}: Inscriptions in the [[Shimoga District]], Part I. (Rice, 1902).<ref name="ec-v7-1902" />
* {{H:title|dotted=yes|Vol. 8|Vol. VIII}}: Inscriptions in the [[Shimoga District]], Part II. (Rice, 1904).<ref name="ec-v8-1904" />
* {{H:title|dotted=yes|Vol. 9|Vol. IX}}: Inscriptions in the [[Bangalore District]]. (Rice, 1905).<ref name="ec-v9-1905" />
* {{H:title|dotted=yes|Vol. 10|Vol. X}}: Inscriptions in the [[Kolar District]]. (Rice, 1905).<ref name="ec-v10-p1-1905" />
* {{H:title|dotted=yes|Vol. 10|Vol. X}}: Inscriptions in the [[Kolar District]], Part II. (Rice, 1905).<ref name="ec-v10-p2-1905" />
* {{H:title|dotted=yes|Vol. 11|Vol. XI}}: Inscriptions in the [[Chitradurga district|Chitaldroog District]]. (Rice, 1903).<ref name="ec-v11-1903" />
* {{H:title|dotted=yes|Vol. 12|Vol. XII}}: Inscriptions in the [[Tumkur District]]. (Rice, 1904).<ref name="ec-v12-1904" />

Volumes 13 to 19:
* {{H:title|dotted=yes|Vol. 13|Vol. XIII}}: General Index, Part I [A–K for Vols. I–XII, 1st ed.]. (Krishna, 1934).<ref name="ec-v13-p1-1934" />
* {{H:title|dotted=yes|Vol. 13|Vol. XIII}}: General Index, Part II [L–Z for Vols. I–XII, 1st ed.]. (Narasimhachar, 1987).<ref name="ec-v13-p2-1987" />
* {{H:title|dotted=yes|Vol. 14|Vol. XIV}}: Supplementary Inscriptions in the [[Mysore district|Mysore]] and [[Mandya district|Mandya]] Districts. (Krishna, 1943).<ref name="ec-v14-1943" />
* {{H:title|dotted=yes|Vol. 15|Vol. XV}}: Supplementary Inscriptions in the [[Hassan District]] [Vol. V]. (Krishna, 1943).<ref name="ec-v15-1943" />
* {{H:title|dotted=yes|Vol. 16|Vol. XVI}}: Supplementary Inscriptions in the [[Tumkur District]] [Vol. XII]. (Sastri, 1955).<ref name="ec-v16-1955" />
* {{H:title|dotted=yes|Vol. 17|Vol. XVII}}: Supplementary Inscriptions in the [[Kolar District]] [Vol. X]. (Seshadri, 1965).<ref name="ec-v17-1965" />
* {{H:title|dotted=yes|Vol. 18|Vol. XVIII}}: Supplementary Inscriptions in the [[Shimoga District]] [Vols. VII and VIII]. (Seshadri, 1970).<ref name="ec-v18-1970" />
* Vol. ?: Supplementary Inscriptions in the [[Bangalore District]] [Vol. IX]. (Planned).<ref name="ec-v14-1943" /><ref name="ec-v15-1943" />

==References==
{{Reflist|refs=
<ref name="ec-v1-1886">{{ Cite book |author-last=Rice |author-first=B. Lewis |author-link=B. Lewis Rice |year=1886 |title=Epigraphia Carnatica |series=Mysore Archaeology Survey |volume=Vol. I: [[Kodagu district|Coorg]] Inscriptions |page=Preface}}</ref>

<ref name="ec-v1-1914">{{Cite book |author-last=Rice |author-first=B. Lewis |author-link=B. Lewis Rice |year=1914 |orig-year=1st ed. 1886 |title=Epigraphia Carnatica |series=Mysore Archaeology Survey |volume=Vol. I: [[Kodagu district|Coorg]] Inscriptions |edition=2nd |location=Madras |publisher=Government Press |page=Preface}}</ref>

<ref name="ec-v1-1972">{{Cite book |author-last=Rice |author-first=B. Lewis |author-link=B. Lewis Rice |year=1972 |orig-year=1st ed. 1886 |title=Epigraphia Carnatica |series=Mysore Archaeology Survey |volume=Vol. I: [[Kodagu district|Coorg District]] |edition=3rd |location=Manasa Gangotri |publisher=Mysore University Printing Press |pages=11–14 (Preface)}}</ref>

<ref name="ec-v2-1889">{{Cite book |author-last=Rice |author-first=B. Lewis |author-link=B. Lewis Rice |year=1889 |title=Epigraphia Carnatica |series=Mysore Archaeology Survey |volume=Vol. II: Inscriptions at [[Sravanabelagola|Sravana Belgola]], a chief seat of the Jains |location=Bangalore |publisher=Mysore Government Central Press |page=Preface}}</ref>

<ref name="ec-v2-1923">{{Cite book |author-last=Narasimhachar |author-first=R. |year=1923 |orig-year=1st ed. 1889 |title=Epigraphia Carnatica |series=Mysore Archaeology Survey |volume=Vol. II: Inscriptions at [[Sravanabelagola|Sravana Belgola]] |edition=2nd |location=Bangalore |publisher=Mysore Government Central Press |pages=i-iii (Preface)}}</ref>

<ref name="ec-v3-1894">{{Cite book |author-last=Rice |author-first=B. Lewis |author-link=B. Lewis Rice |year=1894 |title=Epigraphia Carnatica |series=Mysore Archaeology Survey |volume=Vol. III: Inscriptions in the [[Mysore District]], Part I |location=Bangalore |publisher=Mysore Government Press |page=Preface}}</ref>

<ref name="ec-v4-1898">{{Cite book |author-last=Rice |author-first=B. Lewis |author-link=B. Lewis Rice |year=1898 |title=Epigraphia Carnatica |series=Mysore Archaeology Survey |volume=Vol. IV: Inscriptions in the [[Mysore District]], Part II |location=Bangalore |publisher=Mysore Government Press |page=Preface}}</ref>

<ref name="ec-v5-p1-1902">{{Cite book |author-last=Rice |author-first=B. Lewis |author-link=B. Lewis Rice |year=1902 |title=Epigraphia Carnatica |series=Mysore Archaeology Survey |volume=Vol. V: Inscriptions in the [[Hassan District]], Part I |location=Mangalore |publisher=Basel Mission Press |page=Preface}}</ref>

<ref name="ec-v5-p2-1902">{{Cite book |author-last=Rice |author-first=B. Lewis |author-link=B. Lewis Rice |year=1902 |title=Epigraphia Carnatica |series=Mysore Archaeology Survey |volume=Vol. V: Inscriptions in the [[Hassan District]], Part II |location=Mangalore |publisher=Basel Mission Press}}</ref>

<ref name="ec-v6-1901">{{Cite book |author-last=Rice |author-first=B. Lewis |author-link=B. Lewis Rice |year=1901 |title=Epigraphia Carnatica |series=Mysore Archaeology Survey |volume=Vol. VI: Inscriptions in the [[Chikkamagaluru district|Kadur District]] |location=Bangalore |publisher=Mysore Government Central Press |page=Preface}}</ref>

<ref name="ec-v7-1902">{{Cite book |author-last=Rice |author-first=B. Lewis |author-link=B. Lewis Rice |year=1902 |title=Epigraphia Carnatica |series=Mysore Archaeology Survey |volume=Vol. VII: Inscriptions in the [[Shimoga District]], Part I |location=Bangalore |publisher=Mysore Government Central Press |page=Preface}}</ref>

<ref name="ec-v8-1904">{{Cite book |author-last=Rice |author-first=B. Lewis |author-link=B. Lewis Rice |year=1904 |title=Epigraphia Carnatica |series=Mysore Archaeology Survey |volume=Vol. VIII: Inscriptions in the [[Shimoga District]], Part II |location=Bangalore |publisher=Mysore Government Central Press |page=Preface}}</ref>

<ref name="ec-v9-1905">{{Cite book |author-last=Rice |author-first=B. Lewis |author-link=B. Lewis Rice |year=1905 |title=Epigraphia Carnatica |series=Mysore Archaeology Survey |volume=Vol. IX: Inscriptions in the [[Bangalore District]] |location=Bangalore |publisher=Mysore Government Central Press |page=Preface}}</ref>

<ref name="ec-v10-p1-1905">{{Cite book |author-last=Rice |author-first=B. Lewis |author-link=B. Lewis Rice |year=1905 |title=Epigraphia Carnatica |series=Mysore Archaeology Survey |volume=Vol. X: Inscriptions in the [[Kolar District]] |location=Mangalore |publisher=Basel Mission Press |page=Preface}}</ref>

<ref name="ec-v10-p2-1905">{{Cite book |author-last=Rice |author-first=B. Lewis |author-link=B. Lewis Rice |year=1905 |title=Epigraphia Carnatica |series=Mysore Archaeology Survey |volume=Vol. X: Inscriptions in the [[Kolar District]], Part II |location=Bangalore |publisher=Mysore Government Central Press}}</ref>

<ref name="ec-v11-1903">{{Cite book |author-last=Rice |author-first=B. Lewis |author-link=B. Lewis Rice |year=1903 |title=Epigraphia Carnatica |series=Mysore Archaeology Survey |volume=Vol. XI: Inscriptions in the [[Chitradurga district|Chitaldroog District]] |location=Bangalore |publisher=Mysore Government Central Press |page=Preface}}</ref>

<ref name="ec-v12-1904">{{Cite book |author-last=Rice |author-first=B. Lewis |author-link=B. Lewis Rice |year=1904 |title=Epigraphia Carnatica |series=Mysore Archaeology Survey |volume=Vol. XII: Inscriptions in the [[Tumkur District]] |location=Bangalore |publisher=Mysore Government Central Press |page=Preface}}</ref>

<ref name="ec-v13-p1-1934">{{Cite book |author-last=Krishna |author-first=Dr. M. H. |author-link=M. H. Krishna |year=1934 |title=Epigraphia Carnatica |series=Mysore Archaeology Survey |volume=Vol. XIII: General Index, Part I [A–K for Vols. I–XII, 1st ed.] |location=Bangalore |publisher=Government Press |page=Preface}}</ref>

<ref name="ec-v13-p2-1987">{{Cite book |author-last=Narasimhachar |author-first=R. |year=1987 |title=Epigraphia Carnatica |series=Mysore Archaeology Survey |volume=Vol. XIII: General Index, Part II [L–Z for Vols. I–XII, 1st ed.] |edition=Rev. |location=Bangalore |publisher=Mysore Government Central Press |page=Preface}}</ref>

<ref name="ec-v14-1943">{{Cite book |author-last=Krishna |author-first=Dr. M. H. |author-link=M. H. Krishna |year=1943 |title=Epigraphia Carnatica |series=Mysore Archaeology Survey |volume=Vol. XIV: Supplementary Inscriptions in the [[Mysore district|Mysore]] and [[Mandya district|Mandya]] Districts |location=Mysore |publisher=Government Branch Press |pages=1–2 (Preface)}}</ref>

<ref name="ec-v15-1943">{{Cite book |author-last=Krishna |author-first=Dr. M. H. |author-link=M. H. Krishna |year=1943 |title=Epigraphia Carnatica |series=Mysore Archaeology Survey |volume=Vol. XV: Supplementary Inscriptions in the [[Hassan District]] [Vol. V] |location=Mysore |publisher=Government Branch Press |pages=1–2 (Preface)}}</ref>

<ref name="ec-v16-1955">{{Cite book |author-last=Sastri |author-first=Prof. K. A. Nilakanta |author-link=K. A. Nilakanta Sastri |year=1955 |title=Epigraphia Carnatica |series=Mysore Archaeology Survey |volume=Vol. XVI: Supplementary Inscriptions in the [[Tumkur District]] [Vol. XII] |location=Mysore |publisher=Government Branch Press |page=Preface}}</ref>

<ref name="ec-v17-1965">{{Cite book |author-last=Seshadri |author-first=Dr. M |year=1965 |title=Epigraphia Carnatica |series=Mysore Archaeology Survey |volume=Vol. XVII: Supplementary Inscriptions in the [[Kolar District]] [Vol. X] |location=Mysore |publisher=Government Text Book Press |page=Preface}}</ref>

<ref name="ec-v18-1970">{{Cite book |author-last=Seshadri |author-first=Dr. M |year=1970 |title=Epigraphia Carnatica |series=Mysore Archaeology Survey |volume=Vol. XVII: Supplementary Inscriptions in the [[Shimoga District]] [Vols. VII and VIII] |location=Mysore |publisher=Government Text Book Press |page=Preface}}</ref>
}}

==External links==
*[https://archive.org/search.php?query=epigraphia+carnatica&and%5B%5D=collection%3A%22robarts%22&and%5B%5D=collection%3A%22toronto%22&sort=-date Scanned Epigraphia Carnatica volumes available at the Internet Archive]. Full scans from Canadian libraries of volumes 1-13.1, 14–16.
*[https://archive.org/stream/epigraphiacarnat04mysouoft#page/n5/mode/2up Epigraphia Carnatica], online copy of the 1898 edition, volume II. (archive.org)
* [http://idb.ub.uni-tuebingen.de/diglit/EC Epigrāphiya Karnāṭaka (University of Tuebingen)] Full scans of volumes 1-12, 15–17.

[[Category:History of Karnataka]]
[[Category:Indian inscriptions]]
[[Category:Indian non-fiction books]]
[[Category:Inscriptions]]

Epigraphia Carnatica - Revision history

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