Consider the following statements about votive inscriptions in the second century BC : 1. They record gifts made to religious institutions 2. They tell us about the idea of transference of the meritorious results of the action of one person to another person Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

Votive inscriptions from the second century BCE are short records primarily documenting gifts made to religious institutions like Buddhist stupas [3]. These inscriptions, found at sites such as Sanchi and Bharhut, mention the names and occupations of diverse donors, including artisans, merchants, and monks [2]. Statement 1 is correct as they explicitly record these endowments [3]. Statement 2 is also correct; in the context of early Indian Buddhism, these donative acts were rooted in the concept of 'punya' (merit). Votive inscriptions often reflect the belief that the merit gained from a pious deed could be transferred to others, such as parents or teachers, to ensure their spiritual well-being. This practice of merit transference became a central feature of Buddhist epigraphy, bridging individual acts of charity with collective spiritual goals. Thus, both statements accurately describe the nature and purpose of these historical records.

Sources

1. [2] THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART I, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 4: Thinkers, Beliefs and Buildings > 7. Stupas > p. 97
2. [3] https://ia802907.us.archive.org/28/items/in.ernet.dli.2015.56640/2015.56640.Memoirs-Of-The-Archaeological-Survey-Of-India-No1-5_text.pdf