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

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EPIGRAPHIA INDICA
[VOL. XXXIII
Saka 724, the date of the Manne plates (first set). But from the recent discovery of the Jharikā grant of Saka 725 using the earlier draft, it has been shown that the Manne plates which are dated one year earlier i.e. Saka 724) and in which the later draft is used should be regarded as spurious. Therefore, the earliest record to use this new draft is the Nēsarikā grant of Saka 727. It follows that Govinda finished his campaigns in the north as well as south before Saka 727, the date of the Nēsarka grant, if we follow the usual criterion of ascertaining the chronology of his campaigns by the appearance of the earlier and later drafts. From the wellknown verse nītvā Sribhavanē, etc., found in this later draft, we learn that, from Sribhavana (identified with modern Sarbhon in Broach District) where he had spent the rainy season, Govinda III marched with his forces to the banks of the Tungabhadrā and, staying there, captured the fortune of the Pallavas. This shows that Govinda conducted his southern campaign from the banks of the Tungabhadrā. This is corroborated by the fact that when the Jharikā grant was issued, the royal camp was on the bank of the river Tungabhadrā near Alampur, and that the inscription under review also states that the king had fixed his encampment on the bank of the same river. Evidently all the abovementioned three references to the royal encampment on the bank of the river Tungabhadrā point to the same event in Govinda's southern campaign. It appears that this expedition commenced from the date of the Jharikā grant (November 803 A.D.) and was not yet complete on the date of the present inscription (April, 804 A.D.). However, it must have been completed soon after the date of the present record, since the Nēsarikā grant, dated 21st December 805 A.D., was issued when the king was apparently on his way back to his capital.
The chronology of the southern campaign detailed above would show that Govinda's northern conquests were completed before November 803 A.D., the date of the Jharikā grant. As indicated above, Govinda III marched quickly from Sribhavana to the banks of the Tungabhadrā as if to suppress some sort of revolt from the south. In this connection, it is interesting to note that the Añjanavati plates, dated in June 800 A.D. (Saka 722), were issued from Govinda's capital at Mayūrakhandi and, as already indicated, use the earlier draft. It is therefore reasonable to conclude that the northern campaign of the king must have been conducted between June 800 A.D., the date of the Añjanavati plates, and November 803, the date of the Jharikā grant. One may, however, ask why this northern expedition is not referred to in the Jharikā grant. But, as already stated, the king was still engaged in his southern expedition on the date of this grant and even some time thereafter as proved by the inscription under study and he could only prepare the new draft incorporating his exploits in the north as well as in the south sometime before issuing the NēBarikā grant in December 805 A.D.
The village or locality called Mudumbe cannot be identified.
1 Above, Vol. XXIII, p. 297. In his latest contribution on the subject, Altekar also adopts the same view. Cf. The Age of Imperial Kanauj, p. 8.
Ibid., Vol. XXXII, p. 169. [The reason cited cannot be regarded as enough for characterising the Manpo plates as spurious. For & CBBB of this kind among the records of the Eastern Ganga monarch Anantavarman Chodaganga, see above, Vol. XXVIII, p. 239, where I suggested an unnecessary correction. Ed.]
Below, Vol. XXXIV, Part III. [The Nēsarika grant or any other record of Govinda III does not mention Chakrāyudba, though according to the Sanjan plates of Amoghavarsha I he surrendered to Govinda III along with his ally Dharmapala. Some of the conclusions of Mirashi and others thue appear to be based on argumentum ex silentio.-Ed.]
Cf. above, Vol. VI, p. 244, verse 18.
[The absence of reference to the northern campaign in the Jhariki grant of 803 A.D., before which it must have been completed as indicated by the issue of the charters of the period between 802 and 805 A.D. from the southern camps, makes Dr. Gai's explanation rather doubtful. Govinda III was not actually fighting with the Pallaves on the Tungabhadra and the officers with him could have drawn up the new draft in any of his camps if he so desired. -Ed.]