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EPIGRAPHIA INDICA.
(VOL. III.
1307. We do not know from other sources that, at this time, he had already extended his dominions to that part of the country. The earliest inscriptions of Harihara II. that have hitherto been discovered in the south, are dated in Saka-Samvat 1315. Consequently, it is at least doubtful if the date of the Alampundi plate can be looked upon as genuine. If the weekday were mentioned in the date, it could be verified by an expert, and the result of such verification would help considerably in deciding whether the grant is gengine or not. The omission of the week-day and of the names of the donees may also be urged against the genuineness of the document. The orthographical as well as calligraphical mistakes in which this small inscription abounds, and the uncouth language and construction which, to a casual reader, render it difficult to say who the actual donor was,- Harihara, Virupaksha, or Jannambika, - are other facts which may be urged against the genuineness of the plate. On the other hand, we cannot definitely pronounce the inscription to be a forgery, because the date, Saka-Samvat 1305 (for 1307), actually falls into the reign of Harihara II., who, in verse 4, is spoken of as if he was living at the time of the grant. In spite of the doubts which may thus be reasonably entertained as to its genuineness, the grant is interesting as the first known copper-plate inscription in Grantha characters, professing to belong to the Vijayanagara dynasty.
The object of the grant, Alampundi, is identical with the village in which the plate is still preserved. Âlampûndi was situated in the district of Cheñchi, which formed part of the country of Palakunrakkóttam, which was also called after Chimkapura (v. 9). According to Mr. Crole's Chingleput Manual, page 438, Palakanrakkôttam was situated in the North Arcot district. But the present inscription shows that a portion of the South Arcot district was also included in this kõttam. Chiņkapura is probably the same as Sir.gavaram near Gingee in the Tindivanam tålaka (No. 146 of the Taluk Map), and Cheñchi is a Sansksitised form of Señji, vulgo Gingee, the site of a well-known hill-fort. The boundaries of Alampûndi were :- In the east, Tápriêntala; in the north, the Veganadi (river); in the west, Saktimangala; and in the south, Mâbhuvillienatala. Of these, Saktimangala has to be identified with Sattiyamangalam (No. 84 on the Taluk Map), which is situated to the south-west of Alampûņdi. The northern boundary, the Veganadi, does not retain its old name. On the Tindivanam Taluk Map there is a river marked as flowing to the north of Alampûndi, but its name is given as Varahanadi. The same river is mentioned in the Manual of the South Arcot District, where another name of the river is also given, vit. the Gingee, which is evidently derived from the town of Gingee, close to which the river flows in its lower course. Consequently, the Veganadi of the inscription has to be identified with the Vardhanadi of the Taluk Map. Tånrientala is a Sanskritised form of the Tamil name Tânri-êndal, which means '& hill on which tånri trees grow. The last portion of the name of the southern boundary, énatala, is also a corruption of the Tamil word endal, 'a hill.' But neither Tågri-endal nor Mâbhuvilli-êndal can be traced on the Taluk Map.
In the Manual of the South Arcot District, the colophon Sri-Harihara is explained as the signature of king Harihara II. As, however, all other Vijayanagara grants conclude with the name of some god as Virupaksha, Venkatéia or Ráma, it is preferable to explain the colophon Sri-Harihara as denoting the tutelar deity of king Virupaksha, who made the grant.
TEXT.3
First Side 1 * [*] at [TW] ETT a vyforum 2 @ [1] fecraticua fara : Unfort [ne]
ante, p. 116.
The carliest dato hitherto discovered for Harihara II. is Šaka-Samvat 1301, and the latest 1321; ante. pp. 116 and 117.
3 From ink-impressions, received from the Editor. Rend xfi.
