________________
242
EPIGRAPHIA INDICA.
Vol. XXV.
Kanchipuram, to three Brāhmans named Sõ(Śro)triya-Kramavittan, Mundaya-Kramavittan and Pallaya-Kramavittan of the Atrēya-götra and Bahudhänya (Bodhayana)-sūtra and of the lineage of a certain Rishikēśava (Hrishikēša)-Bhatta of Chērām, on the occasion of the Uttarayana-Sankranti. This document is of interest as being the first copper-plate charter of this king.
For a study of Chola seals' we have so far five specimens and the one attached to the present plates, therefore, forms a useful addition. Of these, the seals attached to the two sets of Leiden plates, Madras Museum, Anbil and the present Charila plates, have the same objects represented on them, while the seal of the Tiruvālangüdu plates exhibits a few more emblems. In shape, however, the two Leiden seals are slightly more ornate, being lotus-like in shape, while the rest are circular; but this may be due only to a difference in the work of the designer. In the Chårāla seal the Chola emblem, the tiger, is seated in the proper right side and facing towards the left, instead of the right as in the other cases. The animal is delineated with claws drawn out, leaving no room for doubt as to its identity, and the two fish are also clearly portrayed. But in point of finish and neatness of execution, the two Leiden seals are the best. The tiger, the pair of fish and the bow are well-known emblems of the Chola, Pandya and Chêra dynasties respectively, and the juxta
The seals of the early copper-plate grants contain only the birdas of kings, such as Tribhuvan kusa, Visha. masiddhi, Prabhu meru, eto. The three early copper-plate grants of the Pandyas have no seals, and we do not know what legend, if any, this dynasty had used. The Pallava seal of Nandivarman III (8. I. I., Vol. II, p. 501) has defaced legend in the Annahabh metre running round its margin. In the Vijayanagara, Nayaka and Sētnpati copper-plate grants, the respective sign-manuals of the dynasty were engraved at the end of the documents them. selves and not on the seals. The Choļa seals, however, have one full verse in the Anushtabh metre engraved on them. The formal verses of the tour kings Sundara-Chöln, Uttama Chola, Rajendra-Chola and Kulõttunga-Chola I are reproduced below for purposes of easy reference. Of these, the text of the legend on the neal of the Madras Museum plates of Uttama Chola is given here for the first time. (a) Sundara-Cha
Sacratit)-ciávambhara-netram Taksini-jaya-[*2*]rrukan disanath safatam órimad- Rajakesarivarmmara[m] l1
(Anbil Plates). (6) Uttama Chola
Nytyändi khaanani kurulanan chakrabhaibh pita Maanane bhāpatērilat Parakčaricarmapabil
-(Madras Museum Plates). (c) Rajaraja I
A stone record of this king opens with the following verse, which is likely to be found graved on the seals of his copper-plate grants. Etat viéra-rripa-freni-mauļi-mål-Spalafilam anam Rajanijasyu Rajakësurinarnawah !
-(8.1.1., Vol. II, No. 1). (d) Rajendra-Chola--
Rajad nijanya makuja-steri-ratndahu NAM elad=Rajendra-Chofasya Paraksarivarm manabl
-Tiruvalangadu Plates). The seal of the larger Leiden plates has also this verse engraved on it. On the analogy of the form
of the legend of the present seal which is also reproduced in II. 189 to 191 of the text and the fact that legends on circular muals have probably to be read clockwise beginning from the centre of the top. the two lines of the verse given above, Vol. XXII. p. 213, have to be
interchanged. (e) buldttunga-Chola
Punyam kahópiirara-soba-chnida-rat niya INI! eri-Kuláltunga-Chofanya Rajakesaricarmona nahi
-(Smaller Leiden Platek). Here also the lines of the verso as read in above, Vol. XXII, p. 267, have been interchanged. . It may be noted that king Virarijëndra claims to have set up pillars of victory (nya-bhudratlan) at several plans with the emblem of the er engraved on them (8. 1. 1., Vol. III, p. 67). The Mahendragiri inscription of Rajendra-Chola I (No. 396 of 1896) bas also the figure of a tiger seated in front of two fish carved near it.
