Epigraphia Indica Vol 13

Author(s): Sten Konow, F W Thomas
Publisher: Archaeological Survey of India

Page 16

EPIGRAPHIA INDICA.
VOLUME XIII.
No. 1.-TRIPLICANE PLATES OF PANTA-MAILARA, DATED SAKA-SAMVAT 1350, IN THE REIGN OF DEVARAYA II.
BY T. A. GOPINATHA RAO, M.A., TRIVANDRUM.
The subjoined inscription is engraved on five copper-plates, strung together by a ring which bears no seal. The set belongs to the house of Kavibhushanam Tatacharya of Triplicane and was kindly secured for me by my friend, Mr. M. K. Nārāyanasami Ayyar, B.A., B.L., High Court Vakil, Madras. I edit the inscription from the original as also from impressious prepared under my supervision.
The writing begins on the second side of the first plate and ends on the first side of the last plate. The shape of the plates is the same as in the Vijayanagara ones of a similar period; they have a curved top, with a hole in the centre for the ring. The plates are numbered consecutively on the back of each plate with Telugu-Kannada numerals, which are engraved to the left of the ring-hole: but in the case of the fifth, or the last plate, the numeral five is engraved on the first side. The alphabet of the record is Telugu and the language partly Sanskrit and partly Telugu. The latter is employed in describing the boundaries, etc. of the village granted. At the end is engraved the word Sri Virupaksha, the sign-manual of the kings of the first Vijayanagara dynasty. The engraving has been done satisfactorily and the record is in an excellent state of preservation.
The inscription belongs to the reign of Devaraya II of the first Vijayanagara dynasty. His genealogy is traced as follows:
Harihara II T Devaraya I 1 Vijaya-Bukka F Pratapa-Devariya II.
While the king was seated on the throne of his ancestors at Vijayanagara, his feudatory, Panta-Mailara, requcsted his sovereign to be pleased to grant the village of Takkellapaḍu
B