“During my stay at Srinagar in the summer of 1900, I read some specimen of the dramatics and Kavya literature with the assistance of Pandit Nityanand Shastri, recommended to me by Dr. Aurel Stein, Principal of the Madersa College, at Calcutta and better than any one else acquainted with the learned class of Kashmir. I found Pandit’s help very useful and in any way I can strongly recommend him to any European colleague who might visit the capital of Kashmir.” - J. Ph. Vogel.

(in a document dated July 31, 1900.) NS Mss, Nityanand Shastri Library Collection.

“Pandit Nityanand Shastri was first sent to me by Dr. Stein. Afterwards I only invited him for Sanskrit study.”
- J. Ph. Vogel.

(in a document dated August 4, 1900.) NS Mss, Nityanand Shastri Library Collection.

Thus began their journey together on the epigraphical work that Vogel carried out between 1902 to 1908 at Chamba. The work involved evaluation of rock inscription that were archaic and incomplete. The annotated editions of Rajatarangini, both in Sanskrit and English were one of the main guides to Vogel in the course of his own researches in Chamba. Thus it was no small satisfaction to Vogel to continue in Chamba the work so splendidly inaugurated in Kashmir by Stein. The importance of Chamba inscriptions lay in the fact that while the Rajatarangini imparted life to them, they in turn confirmed the trustworthiness of the great historian Kalhana.

Vogel’s attention to the antiquities of Chamba was drawn by Stein’s great friend Thomas Arnold who then held the post of professor at Government College, Lahore. Making inquiries into the antiquities of Chamba, Vogel succeeded in recovering 130 inscriptions. The collection of these were safely lodged in the local museum which was opened on September 14, 1908, and named as Sir Bhuri Singh Museum in recognition of the vigorous support, His Highness of Chamba lent to such an effort to preserve the past record of his state. Aurel Stein was privileged to attend the inaugural function of the museum. Among the inscriptions studied included the very important ones , namely the Sarahan Prasasti and that of the Devi- ri- Kothi. Of these writes Vogel, “ I know of no Indian inscriptions in which true human sentiment finds so eloquent an expression as in these two, alas, but irreparably mutilated fountain slabs.

Opening of the Bhuri Singh Museum, Chamba (Aurel Stein, 3rd from left, sitting) (J.Ph. Vogel, 8th from left, sitting)

Nor would it be easy to point to another group of epigraphical records in which the feminine element is so prominent as in these two.”

Vogel assessed the Sarahan Prasasti inscription in 1905 It was located in the village temple of Sarahan on the bank of Sal rivulet. But the dilapidated condition of the inscription presented an epigraphical problem . Vogel placed it before Nityanand who subsequently investigated the problem. Of the broken and missing parts restored in the inscription, Vogel recorded, “ I have restored these in accordance with conjecture made by Pandit Nityanand Shastri of Srinagar, Kashmir. Here I believe the restoration may be regarded as certain.”

In the same year Vogel inspected a stone inscription in the temple of goddess Camunda Devi in the valley of Ber Nala. The inscription was badly damaged. The surface had peeled off. Some portions were lost in the middle while the end lines were completely destroyed. Confronted with such a riddle Vogel yet again traced his steps to Nityanand.