Epigraphia Indica Vol 25

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

Page 34

No. 3.] A GRANT OF THE WESTERN CHALUKYA VIJAYADITYA: SAKA 653.
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No. 3.-A GRANT OF THE WESTERN CHALUKYA VIJAYADITYA: SAKA 653. By S. C. UPADHYAYA, M.A., LL.B., BOMBAY..
This set of three copper-plates was presented by the Bombay Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society to the Archaeological Section of the Prince of Wales Museum, Bombay, and is now exhibited in the Epigraphical Gallery.
These plates have not been published so far nor have they been noticed anywhere. Their authenticity is, however, unquestionable and therefore they are taken up for publication in this journal.
Each plate is 10"x5" in size. The whole grant runs into 45 lines. A circular hole with a diameter of about " is found in all the three plates. There is neither any ring nor any Royal seal attached to the set at present. The first and third plates are written on one side only while the second plate is inscribed on both the sides. As regards orthography the record has no peculiarity worth mentioning.
Vijayaditya, the donor of the present grant, seems to have ascended the throne in 618-619 Saka as the Badami Sanskrit and Kanarese inscription is dated Saka 621, in his third regnal year.1 The present grant was made in his 36th regnal year when 653 Saka had passed. His reign seems to have ended in 654-655 Saka as his son Vikramaditya II issued from Raktapura a grant in his 2nd regnal year in 656 Saka expired.2
The donation was made on the full-moon day of Vaisakha to Bhavasvami-Bhatta of the Visvamitra-gōtra, who was well versed in the Vaidika literature and who was the son of Pasupatiśarman and grandson of Yajñaśarman. The donation was of a village (?) in a certain vishaya3. The grant was issued from the victorious camp at Raktapura.
The writer was Niravadya-Punyavallabha. We know that in the reign of Vinayaditya the Mahāsāmdhivigrahika was one Rama-Punyavallabba. But in the reign of Vijayaditya there was one Niravadya-Pandita alias Udayadeva-Pandita, a Jaina to whom Vijayaditya granted a village. Niravadya-Pandita who was of the Mula-Sangha was the spiritual guide of Vinayaditya."
The inscription opens with Srasti followed by a verse in praise of the Boar incarnation of Vishņu. Then it successively refers to the famous Manavya-gōtra, the descent from Hariti of the Chalikyas who were guarded by the Seven Mothers, the receipt of a banner bearing the figure
1 Ind. Ant., Vol. X, p. 60.
Ibid., Vol. VII, p. 104.
[According to my reading of lines 35-37 the name of the village granted would be Tärävadra which was situated in Telläd-ähāra, a district in Navasari-vishaya. I read the portion as follows:
35 भवस्वामिभट्टाय नवसारिविषये तेनादाहार
36 कोच त्यातलादपढमत्याणवेसीमा ग्रामाणां मधे
तारा[[व]द्रमा
37 मग्राम (मी) वाप्युद्यमने विजयादित्येन दत्त: etc.-N. L. R.]
This Raktapura was a famous place in the times of the Western Chalukya kings. Vinayaditya issued a grant from this place. Cf. Ind. Ant., Vol. VII, p. 112. Vikramaditya II issued one more grant in 656 Saka, cf. ibid., p. 104.
Ind. Ant., Vol. VI, p. 85.
Ibid., Vol. VII, p. 112.
[The late Prof. Pathak has suggested (above, Vol. X, p. 15) that the name Niravadya, which seems to have been a biruda, originally of Vijayaditya, was assumed by the writer of his grants.-N. I. R.]