Epigraphia Indica Vol 33

SR No.: 032587
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: D C Sircar
Publisher: Archaeological Survey of India
Publication Year: 1959
Total Pages: 514
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 29 MB

Page 452

No. 60-BRITISH MUSEUM PLATES OF GOVINDA II, SAKA 726
G. 8. Gai, OOTACAMUND
(Received on 31.7.1959) The inscription was published by Fleet in Indian Antiquary, Vol. XI, pp. 125—27 and Plates. The findspot of the plates is unknown. They appear to have been deposited in the British Museum along with the other epigraphical collections bequeathed by Fleet.
The set consists of three plates, each measuring about 5.75" long and 2.5' broad. The ring attached to the plates is .25" in thickness and 2.5" in diameter. The circular seal fixed to the ing is about 1.5' in diameter and has, in relief on a counter sunk surface, a much worn representation of Garuda, sitting cross-legged on a lotus and facing full front. The first and the last plate are engraved on one side only while the second plate has writing on both sides. Though the plates are corroded here and there, the writing is very well preserved. The first plate and the second side of the second plate have each 6 lines of writing whereas the first side of the second plate and the third plate have 4 and 3 lines respectively. Thus there are 19 lines altogether.
The characters are early Kannada Telugu and are regular for the period to which the record belongs. Of the initial vowels a occurs in line 16, i in lines 12 and 13 and e in lines 2, 9 and 11. Dravidian is found in lines 1, 10 and 18 and I in lines 1. 7 and 9. Final n is met with in line 15 and final ? in lines 5 and 6. L is written either with a curve inside the letter as in lines 4, 8, 10, etc., or with a curve outside as in lines 9 and 19. Bis of the box type (cf. lines 3, 5, 8, 9, etc.) and kh of the cursive variety of lines 2 and 19). There is no distinction between medial e and è or o and 0. As regards orthography, the consonant following r is generally doubled (cf. lines 1, 6, 9, etc.). There are certain orthographical errors like s used for 6 (line 2), bh for b (line 2), b for v (line 14), etc.
The language is Kannada prose except the imprecatory verses and a sentence at the end referring to the composition of the record, which are in Sanskrit.
The inscription is interesting in more than one respects. It is the shortest of the copperplate inscriptions of Govinda III discovered so far. Besides being the only copper-plate grant of the Rāshtrakūta dynasty which is written in the Kannada language, it is one of the earliest copper plate inscriptions in that language. The form of the record resembles rather that of the stone inscriptions of the dynasty than that of the copper-plate grants. There is no invocatory verse at the beginning and the inscription straightway begins with the date-portion as in the case of the stone inscriptions. Neither the genealogical account of the ruling king is given noi is the grant addressed to the feudatory officials as is generally found in the case of the copper-plate grants. The present inscription is the only record mentioning the name of the Pallava adversary of Govinda III as Dantiga, i.e., Dantivarman (761-812 A.D.):
Prof. V. V. Mirashi's view (above, Vol. XXIII, p. 206 and note 4) that the absence of the genealogical section in these plates is due to the fact that they were not issued from the capital of the king is not cons incing. There are numerous instances of copper-plate grants which were issued from places other than the capitals and yet contaic the genealogical section. Cf. the copper plate grants issued by Chalukya Vijayāditya (696-733 A.D.) from the following places away from his capital at Bidāmi: Rāsēnanagara (Ind. Ant., Vol. IX, pp. 125 ff.), Karahatnagara (above, Vol. X, pp. 146 ff.), Eläpura (Ind. Hint. Quart., Vol. IV, pp. 425 ff.) and Kuhundinagara (A. R. Ep. 1934-36, App. A. No. 22). The Rashtrakuta king Govinda III himself was encamped at a place called Süguturu at the time of issuing the Nesarikå grant (below, Vol. XXXIV, Part III.)
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