Epigraphia Indica Vol 12

Author(s): Sten Konow
Publisher: Archaeological Survey of India

Page 53

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EPIGRAPHIA INDICA.
(VOL. XII.
That the forms Kalatsūri, Kalaohuri, Kalachuri, Katachchuri and Kalachohuri are identical and are applied to the same family has been shown by Dr. Fleet. This Buddharaja of the Vadnēr plates, I need hardly say, is the Buddharāja mentioned in the Sarsavni plates in the Nerår plates, and in the Mahakata or Makuteśvara column inscription. The Vadner grant is of importance inasmuch as it is the earliest known grant of Buddharajá Katachcburi, the Sarsavņi plates being issued in 361 of the Kalachuri era. Only two grants, excluding the present one, issued by the old Kalachuris who ruled over the Nasik and other districts and, roughly, over Central India, and who appear to be the imperial dynastys, were up till now known to us. It may, however, be remarked that these ancient Kalachuris are also referred to in the Aihole inscription, the Nerür plates, and the Sänkhöda plate of Santilla. The geographical names given throw some light on the question about the area over which the dynasty exercised power. I may here note that the power of the Kalachuris was not crushed though Buddharaja was defeated by Mangalisa. His Sarsavņi and Vadnēr plates prove this, being both posterior to the Makatēśvara inscription.
The Vadnor grant was issued while Buddharāja's victorious camp was pitched at Vidiga. The purpose for which it was made, is the usual one, vis., to provide for the five great sacrifices bali, charu, vaivadēra, aganihotra and for others. The name of the donee is Bodhasvämin, of the Vajasanoya-Madhyandina school, who was a resident of Vatanagara and belonged to the Kaśyapa-gotra.
The object of the grant is described in exactly the same way as in the Sarsavņi plates. The village granted in the latter is first defined with regard to the district and bhoga to which it belongs, and then described as being situated near another locality, apparently one that was better known. After this follows the name of the village. Similarly in our grant, we are first told that the village belonged to the Vatanagara bloga? and was situated near Bhattaürikā. Then follow, in the place where the name of the village is given in the Sarsavņi plates, the words Koniyanini esha grāmus.8 The village has accordingly been designated, not by a proper name, but at a village of koniyas. Who these koniyas were, I cannot say with confidence. I feel however inclined to agree with Mr. Bhandarkar, who thinks that they may be the Kolis of the present day.
Of these localities Vatanagara is donbtless Vadnēr-usually called Bahirobacho Vadněr to distinguish it from other villages of the same name-in the Chandvad Talukā of the Nasik District, where the plates were discovered. It was the head quarters of the bhöga of the same name. The Marathi form of Sanskrit vaļa is vad and nagara would regularly become nēr, just as in Pimpalner, from Pippalanagara, and Champāner from Champūnagara. Bhattaürikā may possibly be Bhätgaon about nine miles from Vadněr. Bhatta becomes that according to a well-known rule: a double consonant in Prākṣit is replaced by a single consonant, and the preceding vowel, if short, is lengthened. Of. Marathi bhāt, Präkfit bhatta rice; Marathi sat, Präkfit satta, seven. As an instance of the omission of the second part of the name of a village or town, we may.compare Kondoramanya in the Mahakūta column inscription, the very record of Buddharaja's defeat, which is evidently the modern Kendür. Again we know that the modern Jedda may be connected with the Jedugür of the Balagámve inscription of Vinayaditya, We can quote many instances where pur or gaon is added to the name of a town or & village, to which we find no equivalent expression in the inscriptions. Vidiga is probably the
1 Ind. Ant., Vol. XIX, p. 16.
Ind. Ant., Vol. VII, p. 161. See DE. Bhandarkar, Ind. Ant., Vol. XL, p. 20.
• Ep. Ind., Vol. VI, pp. 1 ff. Ind. Ant., Vol. VII, pp. 161 ff.
. Ep. Ind., Vol. II, pp. 28 ff. 1 C/. the use of the word bhöga in the Stari grant of Vishnuvardhana, Ind. Ant., Vol. XIX, PP. 309 ff. . cf. Kumarina da lisha grāmaḥ in the Sarsavņi grant, L 20. Ind. Ant., Vol. XIX, pp. 146 t.