India Flag Government of India
BharatSHRI
Bharat Shared Repository of Inscriptions

Inscriptions

Primary source to reconstructing our indian history

Inscriptions are writings engraved on stone, metal, terracotta, and other durable materials. They are among the most authentic sources of Indian history, recording events, grants, administration, religion, and social life exactly as they were documented at the time.

How Inscriptions Are Documented

1. Village to village survey

Conducting epigraphical survey on the basis of historical potentiality of the places / villages in different parts of the country.

2. Surface Cleaning

Gentle cleaning to remove dust and deposits without harming the inscription.

3. Photography

High-resolution and raking-light photography for visual documentation.

4. Estampage Preparation

Paper impressions taken to capture exact script details.

5. Transcription & Study

Decipher , transcribe and scholarly analysis.

6. Digitisation

Archiving inscriptions digitally for research and public access.

Taking ink Impressions

Stone inscription documentation
Site identification & surface cleaning
High-resolution photography
Estampage preparation
Script reading & transcription
Digitization & archival use

Classification of Inscriptions

Inscriptions record political authority, religious belief, social memory, and material culture.

Ancient inscription
Royal edicts
Charters on copper plates and other metals
Private donations
Memorial inscriptions – Hero‑stone / Sati‑stone
Relic caskets
Label inscriptions describing sculptural panels
Pilgrim and traveler's records
Literary compositions
Seals and sealings
Coins