The first epigraphic evidence of Sati is found in which of the following inscriptions?

Correct option is A

The correct answer is (A) Eran Pillar inscription of Bhanugupta

Explanation:
• The Eran Pillar inscription (located in Madhya Pradesh) is dated to 510 CE, during the reign of the Gupta king Bhanugupta.
• It records that a general named Goparaja died in a battle against the Hunas, and his wife committed Sati (self-immolation) on his funeral pyre.
• While the custom of Sati might have existed in tradition or mentioned in literature earlier, this is the very first 'epigraphic' (inscribed on stone/metal) proof discovered in India.
• This inscription is critical for historians tracing the social history of women and the evolution of religious customs in the late Gupta period.

Information Booster:
• Sati was eventually abolished by Lord William Bentinck in 1829 with the help of Raja Ram Mohan Roy.
• The Eran inscription also provides information about the Huna invasion under Toramana.

Additional Knowledge:
• Junagadh inscription (Option B): Famous for the history of the Sudarshana Lake and Rudradaman’s military achievements.
• Allahabad Pillar (Option C): Known as the 'Prayag Prashasti', composed by Harisena, it details Samudragupta’s conquests.
• Madhuban inscription (Option D): Provides information about the genealogy of the Pushyabhuti dynasty and Harsha’s land grants.