The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has uncovered a Sanskrit inscription on a rock located outside Gilgit in Pakistan-Occupied Jammu & Kashmir.
Written in Brahmi script, the inscription is believed to date back to the 4th century CE. According to ASI’s epigraphy director, K Muniratnam Reddy, the inscription reads: “Pushpasingha, for the merit of his guru (name partially lost), installed a Mahesvaralinga.” The inscription was first shared with the ASI by Shiv Pratap Singh from Rajasthan, who had photographed it, leading to its decoding.
Experts note that there have been previous instances of Sanskrit inscriptions being discovered in Pakistan.
Five months ago, the ASI deciphered a Sanskrit inscription sent from Pakistan. The fragmentary inscription, etched on a slab, was discovered near Peshawar. According to Reddy, it was written in Sanskrit using Sharada script from the 10th century CE. Although damaged and incomplete, the inscription appears to reference Buddhist Dharini (chants), with line six mentioning “Da (Dha) rini,” Reddy noted.
Meanwhile, the Uttar Pradesh administration has initiated the renovation and excavation of the ancient “Mrityu Kup” (Well of Death) at Kot Purvi, situated within the Sambhal Kotwali police station area. The initiative is part of a larger effort to identify and restore wells that are believed to have religious and spiritual significance.
This month, a four-member team from the ASI conducted a survey of the newly discovered Shri Kartik Mahadev Mandir, along with five pilgrimage sites (‘teerths’) and 19 wells (‘koops’) in the region. Speaking to reporters, Sambhal District Magistrate Rajender Pensiya stated, “The ASI team began the survey in the morning and continued until 3:30 pm. During this time, they surveyed five pilgrimage sites, 19 wells in Sambhal, and the newly discovered Shri Kartik Mahadev Mandir.”
