Context:
Central government’s move to change the reference from ‘President of India’ to ‘President of Bharat’ on official G20 summit invitations.
References of word “Bharat”:
- Bharat appears as a lineage entity is in Panini’s Ashtadhyayi
- Refers to a gotra in the eastern part of northern India excluding the eastern most region.
- A tribe mentioned in Rigveda where their territory is recognised as Kuru.
- Patanjali’s Mahabhashya written during the Sunga dynasty
- 1st Recorded Use of ‘Bharatvarsha’ –
- Evidence – Hathigumpha inscription (1st century CE)
- Note: ‘Bharatvarsha’ did not encompass Kalinga or the region of Orissa.
- 2nd mention of ‘Bharatvarsha’ –
- Vishnu Puran – Land located north of the ocean and south of the snowy mountains as Bhāratam.
- Bharat as ‘mata’ – Unabimsa Purana by the Bengali author Bhudev Mukhopadhyay.
The name “Hindush” was prominently featured in the Naqsh-e Rostam inscription by the Persian emperor Darius.
Hathigumpha Inscription (Elephant Cave inscription):
- 17-line Prakrit inscription inscribed in Brahmi script.
- Location – Odisha
- Inscribed by – Jain king Kharavela (Kalinga kingdom)
- Contains a biographical narrative of a ruler from ancient India’s eastern area.
Kharavela was the best-known king of the Mahameghavahana dynasty and he was well versed in the ‘Gandharva Veda’ or the arts and sciences of music.
Source: Livemint
Previous Year Question
In which of the following relief sculpture inscriptions is ‘Ranyo Ashoka’ (King Ashoka) mentioned along with the stone portrait of Ashoka?
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2019 Prelims]
(a) Kanganahalli
(b) Sanchi
(c) Shahbazagrhi
(d) Sohgaura
Answer: (a)
