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202
EPIGRAPHIA INDICA
31 [mva](samvatsara-sata-dvaya-shōda (da)s-ōttare 261 svamukh-ājñayā
śāsa
32 nama(nam) Gunag-opadhyayen-ötkirppañ-cha Matra (tri) chandra-na[ma](m-ā)kshaśālikēn=ēti mava [*]
[VOL. XXXI likhitam-idam
B. Plates of Vajrahastadeva
These plates were also discovered at Andhavaram. The set consists of three plates of which the first and the last are engraved on one side only, while the second on both the sides. Examination of the plates shows that they had an earlier inscription on them which was completely erased before the present inscription was engraved. But the surface was not smoothened before engraving the later record and this has caused considerable difficulty in deciphering it. The edges of the plates have been raised into rims. The plates are of a fairly uniform size measuring 7" by 3" and about " thick at the edges. The longer sides have a slight inward curve. The plates were strung on a solid copper ring" thick and fairly circular in shape with a diameter of 4". The two ends of this ring are secured under a circular bronze seal, 21" in diameter. On this seal are seen the figures of a couchant bull with the crescent on the top, a conch in the rear and a lotus bud with its stalk in a vertical position in front. Below the bull are the figures of an elephantgoad, a small circular diso divided into eight sectors, probably a representation of the sun, and a purna-ghata. All these figures are cast in high relief. The ring with the seal weighs 94. tolas while the three plates together weigh 186 tolas.
The script of the inscription is old Nagari and bears close resemblance to that of the Ponduru plates of Vajrahasta and the Chicacole plates of Madhukamarnava. The language is Sanskrit and the record is all in prose. As regards orthography, the sign of v is used for b (cf. savda in line 11) and rarely that of for s (cf. sima in line 26). The usual imprecatory and benedictory verses are conspicuous by their absence in this record.
The charter was issued from Dantipura. It records the gift of the village of Gōshṭhavada or Gōṭhavada in the Kroshtukavartani vishaya by Vajrahasta, son of Kämärņņava, to Maḍapa Bhimana, son of Dhandanayaka of Vemma-kula. The date and the purpose of the grant are not stated in the record. The charter, however, may be assigned to the 10th century on palaeographic grounds. The inscription contains the usual prasasti of the Eastern Ganga family to which the donor belonged. The gift village was declared out of bounds for the police and military personnel and exempted from all kinds of taxes.
Like the present plates, the Ponduru plates also mention one Vajrahasta as the son of Kāmārṇava. According to B. V. Krishnarao" and others, the Ponduru plates which belong to Vajrahasta II, are dated in year 500. The donor of the present record may be identified with Vajrahasta II, son of Kāmārņava I.
The gift village Goshṭhavada or Gōṭhavada appears to be identical with Gottivaḍa in the Srikakulam Taluk of the District of that name. This, however, cannot be verified as its boundaries are not specified.
1[The reading is 21[6*].-Ed.]
The intended reading of this expression might be evam-ēva.
[It seems that it was the text of the present record which was cancelled.-Ed.]
JAHRS, Vol. XI, pp. 8 ff.
Ibid., Vol. VIII, pp. 180 ff.
JAHRS, Vol. IX, pp. 23 ff. 'Ibid., p. 32.
Cf. above, Vol. XXVI; p. 332.
