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EPIGRAPHIA INDICA
(VOL. XXVIII
The charter is dated in the year 4248 of the Yugābda, i.e., the Kaliyuga era. The second (inc., the hundred) figure in the date resembles the Telugu and English numeral 3 and is found in Indian epigraphs and manuscripts to indicate 3 in some cases but 2 in others. Some inscriptions of the Ganga king Narasimha II (circa 1278-1305 A. D.), however, show beyond doubt that this was the form of 2 and not of 3 in medieval Orissa. Thus the year corresponds to A. D. 1147-8. The astronomical details relating to the date and occasion of the grant in lines 12-15 show that the grant was made on the occasion of a lunar eclipse on Friday, the day of the full moon of Mägha, in the 24th regnal year of the king who issued the charter. The date of the grant was therefore Friday the 6th February A. D. 1148, although Swamikannu Pillai's Indian Ephimeris does not recognise any lunar eclipse on that day.
The inscription records the grant of one-half of the village called Valigrāma, situated in the Varttani vishaya forming part of the Jhādakhanda desa, by Arkābvaradēva, son of Pramāạidēva and grandson of Guņārņavadēva who is described as a member of the Ganga family and a devotee of Mahësvara (Siva) and is styled Paramabhatļāraka. The grant was made in favour of a Brāhmana named Vriddhikarabarman, son of Madhukarabarman and grandson of Jivakaraśarman, who was a student of the Kāņva branch of the Yajurvēda. The donee belonged to the Parādara götra and originally hailed from the Madhyadēša. The occasion of the grant is said to have been the lunar eclipse on the date referred to above, when King Arkēsvara, accompanied by his chief queen Sriyādēvī, came from the Hingulā kațaka to the banks of the Rishikulyā apparently for a bath in the waters of the river. It is well known that the Dharmasastras enjoin a purificatory bath after the solar and lunar eclipses as well as the offering of gifts, especially to Brāhmanas, on the occasion. It is said that on the occasion of solar and lunar eclipses the bath in the waters of any pool or river is as meritorious as one in the holy waters of the Ganges. It is not known whether the use of the rather unusual Kaliyuga era, instead of the Ganga or the Saka era, had anything to do with the special importance attached by the king and the queen to the auspicious occasion of the grant. The kataka (camp or town) of Hingula, where the king and queen must have been residing, was apparently not far from the banks of the Rishikalyā river. The grant was made on the occasion of the lunar eclipse jointly by the royal consorts and, in lines 39-40, it is specifically said to have been approved of by both the queen Sriyādēvi and the king Arkēsvaradēva. It is interesting in this connection to note that the aim of the grant was not only the usual "increase of the merit and fame of my own self as well as of my parents", but also the increase of the progeny such as sons, grandsons, etc. (putra-pautr-ādi-santati-vivriddhayē)". The half of the village that was granted was made free from the obligation of paying revenue and was Andowed with a támra, i.e., tämra-säsana or charter, which was incised for the purpose and “was free from all troubles", meaning apparently that the charter carried the usual privileges of enjoying the land without obstacles. The privileges specified in the record included the donee's right of enjoying the half of the village together with land and water, with fish and tortoise, with trees, shrubs and creepers as well as with hidden treasures and unclaimed wealth (8a-nidhi 8-Opanidhika). The land was also made free from the entry of chatta (or chăța) and bhaga, usually interpreted by scholars as regular and irregular soldiers, but possibly meaning actually constables
1 CF. Bühler, Indian Palaeography, Table No. IX, lines viii, I and xii of the chart showing figures of the decimal notation ; Ojha, Palaeography of India (in Hindi), Plate LXXII (a), LXXVI (a and b).
# See J. A. 8. B., Vol. LXV, Part i, 1896, Plate X, margin. The figure 3 in medieval Orlagan records sometimes resembles Dāvanāgart ? ; of. op. cit., Plate XII, margin. For the numerical figures, see also Mazumdar Orions in the Making, Plate between pp. 202 and 203, line 22, where, however, 3 is properly written as in Davantgart. The views expressed in J.O.R., Vol. XVII, PP. 216.7 are due to confusion.
Cf. qaotations in the Sabdakalpadruma, 8. v. grahanam: chandra-riya-grald andmesh Arddha-dama-jap Aditam käryäni mala-mäst=pi nityam naimittikarh tatha || Also sarvath badmi-samar danau warok Vydag, vama dvijab arvath Ganga-saman=toyan grahand v ara sah layal
