Which one of the following inscriptions records the history of a guild of silk weavers?
- A.The Hathigumpha inscription
- B.The Mandasor inscription
- C.The Kudumiyamalai inscription
- D.The Udayagiri Cave inscription
Correct answer
Explanation
The correct answer is B, The Mandasor inscription. This fifth-century Sanskrit inscription from Mandasor in western Madhya Pradesh tells how a guild of silk weavers migrated from Lata (south Gujarat) to Dashapura and built a temple of the Sun.
The inscription, composed by the poet Vatsabhatti, is dated to 436–37 CE, when the temple was built under Kumaragupta I and the local ruler Bandhuvarman, and it adds that the guild repaired the temple in 473–74 CE. It describes how members of the guild took up other trades such as archery, astrology and storytelling, which shows how guilds (shrenis) changed with time. It is a key source on crafts, trade and urban life in the Gupta age.
A is wrong because the Hathigumpha inscription at Udayagiri near Bhubaneswar records the deeds of King Kharavela of Kalinga. C is wrong because the Kudumiyamalai inscription in Pudukkottai, Tamil Nadu, is known for recording music notation. D is wrong because the Udayagiri cave inscriptions near Vidisha record Gupta-period gifts and the reign of Chandragupta II.
Exam tip: Mandasor = silk weavers’ guild and Sun temple; Hathigumpha = Kharavela; Kudumiyamalai = music.
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