| The Aphsad and
Shahpur inscriptions, along with the Mandar Hill and Deoghar inscriptions definitely
indicate Adityasena's sovereignty in eastern Bihar and the South. Numerous images have
inscriptions too, as, for instance, the Kurkihar images. There is no doubt that these
inscriptions are of great value and will yield rich historical material. It will be of some interest to note that a close scrutiny will
reveal that many purely Buddhist images are now worshipped as Hindu Gods, though in
iconographic details they do not conform to those of the latter deities. Big statues of
the Buddha in Gaya district are worshipped as Vairabah or as other deities of the Hindu
pantheon, while at Koluha (Hazaribagh district) Jain images are worshipped as Hindu
deities. The famous image worshipped as Ugratara at Maheshi village, referred to in the
text, is really not the image of Ugratara. Iconographic tradition would have it that
Ugratara has a fearful attitude with a garland of human heads on her neck and with her
feet resting on a dead body. The image at Maheshi temple does not show any of these
details. |
