The Sanskrit liṅga pedestal inscriptions produced in the Kathmandu Valley during the Licchavi period between 466 and 645 CE are the earliest dated sources for local Śaiva religious activities. This article aims at a comprehensive survey and analysis of this group of inscriptions, examining (1) their material aspects and locations, (2) donative patterns and related social and economic features, such as the prominent agency of merchants and women of high rank, and (3) religious concepts linked to the spiritual and soteriological reasons for establishing the liṅga s, as expressed in the donative formulas. In addition, these formulas will be compared to contemporaneous prescriptive literature (e.g. the Śivadharmaśāstra ) as well as to Buddhist donative practices. As will be shown, the Pashupatinath temple emerged as a key site in the propagation and shaping of liṅga worship, with the accumulation of wealth and related socio-religious activities contributing to the appearance of local Pāśupata groups and the elevation of Pashupatinath’s status to that of a national shrine.

中文翻译：

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加德满都谷地早期 Śaivism 地层

公元 466 年至 645 年的 Licchavi 时期在加德满都谷地生产的梵文 liṅga 基座铭文是当地 Śaiva 宗教活动的最早来源。本文旨在对这组铭文进行全面的调查和分析，考察（1）它们的物质方面和位置，（2）捐赠模式和相关的社会和经济特征，例如商人和上层妇女的显着代理， (3) 与建立 liṅga s 的精神和救赎原因相关的宗教概念，如捐赠公式中所表达的。此外，这些公式将与同时代的规范性文献（例如 Śivadharmaśāstra）以及佛教捐赠实践进行比较。正如将要展示的那样，