Epigraphia Indica Vol 28

Author(s): Hirananda Shastri
Publisher: Archaeological Survey of India

Page 98

No. 9)
MADANPUR PLATE OF SRICHANDRA ; YEAR 44 unpublished) Dhulla plate of this king are concerned, the draft seems to be almost identical, the latter having only s ninth verse added to it which is the seventh one of the Kedārpur plate mentioned above. These three plates come from the Dacca District. The Edilpur and Kedärpur plates which belong to the Faridpur District have greater affinity between themselves with regard to these eulogistic verses. The opening verse in honour of the Buddhist triratna (the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha) is, however, common to all the five plates of Srichandra, hitherto discovered.
Our grant is dated the 44th year, evidently referring to the regnal year of the king, and the 28th day of the month of Mārgga (sirsha], i.e. November December. This date is followed by the abbreviated forms of two official endorsements, viz., Mahäsā ni anu ni Mahā(ksha ?) which indicate 'approved by the Mahāsāndhivigrahika and then by the Mahākshapatalika'.
The object of the inscription is to record the grant of rent-free land measuring 8 dronas exceeded by 8...., in a locality called Vangasāgara-sambhāņdāriyaka in Yölāmandala (mentioned also in the Dhulla plate'), situated in the Pundrabhukti (i.e., Pundravardhanabhukti), by the Paramasaugata Paramësvara Paramabhattaraka Mahäräjädhiräja, the glorious
richandradēva who meditated on the feet of his father, Mahārājādhirāja Trailokyachandradēva, to a Brāhmaṇa, named Sukradēva, son of Hara, grandson of Varäha, and greatgrandson of Mahädēva who was himself born in the family of three somapitin Brāhmaṇas, named Makha, Rama and Dhruva, having the three wellknown pravaras. The gotra, vēds and sākha of the family are, however, not mentioned. The grant was issued from the royal victorious camp (or capital) situated at Vikramapura. The king dedicated the grant in the name of Lord Buddha-bhattaraka, after having bathed on the Agastitsitiyā day, for the sake of enhancing the merit and fame of his parents and of himself.
A summary of the historical information that can be gathered from the plate may be given here for ready reference. King Srichandra calls himself a Saugata and all the charters issued by him bear the royal seal containing the emblem of the Buddhist dharmachakra and describe with devotion, in the opening verse, the Buddhist “three jewels", the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. The next verse describes the place of origin of the Chandras who possessed vast fortunes, enjoyed by them at a locality called Rðhitagiri. Bengal scholars differ in their view regarding the identification of this place-name. Some take it to be Rohtasgarh in the Shahabad District of Bihar and others headed by Dr. N. K. Bhattasali suggest it to refer to the Lalmai Hills, situated west of Comilla in East Bengal. So it remains yet a question as to whether the Chandras emigrated to Eastern Bengal from outside, or were original inhabitants of that part of Bengal. It appears, however, that the first nobleman in the dynasty, named Parnachandra, became very famous; his name could be "read on the pedestals of images and on (stone) pillars of victory and copper-plates in which new epigraphs were inscribed.” Such is his description in verse 2 of this inscription. This description and the reference in verse 2 of the Kedārpur plate to Pūrmachandra's parasol, in the form of the canopy of dust raised by his vanguards, being resorted to by his enemies, make it possible to presume that in his own land he behaved like an independent ruler, though not declared as a formal king. The next two verses (vv. 3 and 4) disclose the fact that Pūrņchandra's illustrious son, Suvarnachandra, was known in the world as Bauddha. So it is clear that he was the first in the dynasty to embrace Buddhism. He also is not described in the inscription as having ruled as a king. His son, Trailokyachandra, with his title Mahārājādhirāja mentioned in all the records became the first independent king, ruling probably from Vikramapura as the capital of his kingdom.
1 Inscriptions of Bengal, Vol. III, pp.165-6. • History of Bengal, Vol. I (Published by Daoon University, 1943), p. 194.