A Study of the Communicative Meanings of the Symbol of the Fish in Brahmi Inscriptions during the Prakit Age

Abstract

The symbol of the fish has been socialised as an ancient communication symbol in the East. In Eastern countries as well as in many South Asian countries, ancient records contain the fish symbol, and evidence for the fish symbol is also found in Sri Lankan ancient writings. This research examines the communicative nature of the fish symbol that can be identified in Sri Lanka Brahmi Inscriptions. The objectives of this research are to find out what is the local interpretation of this symbol of the fish, which shows an international expansion, and to understand the hidden writing system of civilisation. The research problem is to investigate the local interpretation of the fish symbol depicted in Sri Lankan inscriptions. Therefore, since inscriptions are the appropriate source for exploring the communicative meaning of the Sri Lankan fish symbol, the Brahmi inscriptions composed in the Prakit period are selected as the research sample of this research. Subject to a qualitative research method, field study, interviews, and primary literature study related to this subject were used as the primary sources. Books and research work have been used as the secondary sources and magazines and newspapers have been used as the tertiary sources. By collecting and analysing data through these methods, it is possible to understand the local communication of the fish symbol depicted in the Brahmi inscriptions. Prakrit era inscriptions record the fish as a single symbol in the form of a non-Brahmi symbol and the form of multiple symbols mixed with other non-Brahmi symbols. Accordingly, there are several possible interpretations of the fish symbol. The single fish symbol represents the Dharmaraja dynasty that ruled the Ruhunu area and the dual symbols of fish and garadi fence represent the local royal dynasty of “ Dama” and the family name of “ Gamani”. Their common name was Kataragama Kshatriyas. Therefore, it is possible to think that the fish symbol has been used as the official logo of Rohana to show his identity. This confirms that a local dynasty used this fish symbol. Accordingly, by studying Sri Lankan inscriptions, it is possible to understand the usage of the fish symbol in Sri Lanka.