Sonal G.

Inscriptions are writings or symbols that convey a messege, that are carved, or `inscribed` into non paper, generally hard surfaces such as stone, wood or metal. You often find them on the walls of temples, ancient relics etc. They have furnished us with the names of kings. Sometimes together with their dates and other necessary particulars and have recorded many important events of history". Inscriptions have made vast contributions in the knowledge of history of ancient India. Their weight can never be over-emphasised. It is highly regrettable that knowledge cannot be gained of the period prior to 3rd century B.C. These inscriptions furnishes one with valuable information regarding the dynasties of kings together with their dates, social, political and religious conditions of the contemporary period. Subjugations of kings, magnitude of their kingdoms etc. is other useful data which are deduced from the inscriptions. A bunch of them are remembrances, celebratory or donative. They owe their beginning to some specific events. These inscriptions are imprinted on rocks, stones, iron pillars, caves, bronze, copper and on terracotta seals. Due to they being imprinted on stones and metals, they could not be fiddled with and hence still contains what was originally written on them. They, therefore, provide genuine information and also assists to test the records, which are found written in books.