Shankha Lipi: The Script of Devotion

Shankha Lipi inscriptions from Akhnoor and Bhaderwah in Jammu and Kashmir reinforce the notion that these towns were active pilgrimage centers between the 4th and 7th centuries CE.

(Kashmir Rechords Desk)

Shankha Lipi, also known as “Conch Script” or “Shell Script,” refers to ornate spiral characters believed to be derivatives of the Brahmi script. These characters resemble conch shells (Shankhas) and have been discovered in inscriptions across north-central India, dating back to the 4th to 8th centuries CE. Notably, Shankha Lipi inscriptions have been found in the Akhnoor and Bhaderwah regions of Jammu and Kashmir, indicating that these areas were significant pilgrimage centers in ancient times.

Characteristics and Distribution

The ornate, ciphered spiral characters of Shankha Lipi are thought to belong to a new script family derived from Brahmi. In addition to Akhnoor and Bhaderwah, inscriptions have been uncovered in Bihar, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat, and even in Java and Borneo, Indonesia. Prominent sites include the Mundeshwari Temple in Bihar, the Udayagiri Caves in central India, Mansar in Maharashtra, and Junagarh in Gujarat. These inscriptions were typically engraved on temple pillars, freestanding columns, and rock surfaces, often at sites with prominent cave shrines.

Shankha Lipi was not used for lengthy texts but primarily for denoting names, auspicious symbols, or a combination of both. The characters were usually of similar or slightly larger size than Brahmi letters. However, some inscriptions, such as those at the Udayagiri Caves, feature gigantic letters several meters high. The use of Shankha Lipi on small stones found in Akhnoor—now housed in the Dogra Art Museum, Jammu—and stone boulders near Bhaderwah further underscores its historical significance in the region.

Historical Significance in Jammu and Kashmir

Archaeological evidence from Manda, Akhnoor, unearthed in the 1960s, suggests that Jammu was exposed to early writing systems in the subcontinent. Shankha Lipi inscriptions from Akhnoor and Bhaderwah reinforce the notion that these towns were active pilgrimage centers between the 4th and 7th centuries CE. Dr. Lalit Gupta, a noted scholar and art critic, posits that these inscriptions were used by pilgrims to record their visits, further affirming the historical importance of Ambaran (Akhnoor) and Bhaderwah as sacred sites.

Research on Shankha Lipi

The first comprehensive study of Shankha Lipi was conducted by Richard Salomon, who classified it as a derivative of Brahmi that had evolved into a distinct script family. Salomon found sufficient characters in Shankha Lipi to represent the syllables of Sanskrit and tentatively assigned sounds to some characters. Later, Prof. B. N. Mukherjee proposed a system of decipherment, suggesting that Shankha Lipi was an ornamental adaptation of Brahmi. Most inscriptions date to the Gupta period and typically feature individual names, akin to ornamental signatures.

Jammu’s Brahmi Inscriptions

Jammu has also yielded significant Brahmi inscriptions. The Bathastal inscription, discovered in 1921 by R. C. Kak, dates to the 3rd to 5th centuries CE and is considered one of the oldest Brahmi inscriptions in the region. Scholars have compared it to coins of Indo-Bactrian kings and inscriptions from neighboring areas.

Another noteworthy inscription is the Bhaderwah Cave Inscription, located inside the Gupt Ganga shrine on the banks of the Neru River. Identified as the longest Brahmi inscription in the region, it is one of the oldest from the Himalayan valleys of the Chenab region. Additionally, a Brahmi inscription has been found on an iron trident at the Sudhmahadev Shiva temple.

Cultural Ties and Initiatives

The Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR), under the Ministry of Education, is actively promoting a project titled “Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh Through the Ages.” This initiative highlights the age-old cultural ties of Jammu and Kashmir with the rest of India, emphasizing findings like Brahmi and Shankha Lipi inscriptions. Such efforts underscore the region’s rich historical and cultural heritage, fostering a deeper understanding of its contributions to India’s ancient past.