Epigraphia Indica Vol 32

Author(s): D C Sircar, B Ch Chhabra,
Publisher: Archaeological Survey of India

Page 56

No. 3-KALEGAON PLATES OF YADAVA MAHADEVA
(2 Plates)
D. G. KOPARKAR, AHMEDNAGAR
Kālēgāon where the grant was discovered is situated on the southern bank of the Gōdāvari about sixteen miles east of Nevasã in the Ahmednagar District, Bombay State. The following account of Kālēgāon is found in the Gautami-māhātmya section of the Brahma Purāna. Saramā, the divine bitch, had two pups whom Yama fondled. She used to guard the sacrificial cows of the gods. The demons once enticed her with sweet words and bribes and stole away the cattle of the gods. Brihaspati came to know Sarama's disloyal behaviour and informed Indra about it. The latter in anger kicked her and she vomitted milk, a direct evidence of her faithlessness. Indra cursed her to go to the mortal earth. The two pups of Sarama approached Yama, their master, for help and he sought the advice of his father, the Sun, in the matter of getting the curse lifted. The Sun directed him to go to the Dandaka forest, bathe1 in the Gautami (Gōdāvari) and worship Brahman, Vishņu, Surya and Siva. Yama with the dogs did as directed and Sarama recovered from the effect of the curse. The place where Yama performed penance is called Yamatirtha and Siva is said to be present there under the name Yamesvara. It is believed to be a holy place having power to relieve men of all sins committed by themselves and their forefathers. Yamesvara is now known as Kālēsvara. The village seems to have been originally called Kalagrama, then Kälugaṁva and lastly Kālēgāon.
Kālēgaon was granted as an Inam to Rāvaji Mahādēva Vyasa by the Peshwa Bālāji Bājīrāva in 1756 A.D. In recognition of his integrity in submitting true accounts of the possessions of even those who lost their lives in the struggle, Rāvaji received a big prize. Out of it, he built the holy Kusavarta at Tryambakesvara. Kālēgaon continued as a hereditary Inăm till August 1955 with 181-5 acres of unarable and 2854-17 of arable land and a total assessment of Rs. 3,004.
Among the old sites in the village are the Waḍa of the Jahagirdar, the Kālēsvara temple (said to have been built by Shri Panse, a former Jahagirdar of Tuljapur), the dilapidated Gadhi of the Panses and a bastion and an extensive plinth of a building built after the Hēmāḍpanta style. This last site is locally known as madh, from Sanskrit matha, 'monastery, school'. Between the remains of the Gadhi on the one hand and the bastion on the other goes the trodden path which at this point is inclined. Heavy monsoon showers washed away the earth on the path and there was exposed to view, on the 22nd September 1955, a nicely chiselled slab of stone. The villagers dug out the slab and were surprised to hear a metallic sound from its interior when it was turned upside down. Or examination they found that the huge slab consisted of two pieces firmly joined together to form something like a safe. It was opened in the presence of the Panchas and three massive copper plates, strung on a stout copper ring bearing seal, were discovered inside the stone covers. The upper stone measures 1' 10"x1' 3-5"x7" and has a hollow (4.5" in depth) carved in it, while the lower measures 2'x1' 4-5"x7" with a similar hollow 1.5" deep. The plates measure 1' 3"x11" X.25" each and the three of them weigh 41, 41 and 4 seers respectively. They are made thicker
1 Even now the villagers point out one deep pool in the river-bed known as Kälyä doha or Kajali doha where Kala or Yama is believed to have bathed.
* Brahma Purana, Anandaérama ed., 131, 50-51.
⚫ An official report on this discovery was made by the village Patel to the Mamlatdar of Nēväsä and tho finds were first taken to Nevāsā and then transferred to the Collector's Office. [The plates are now in the office of the Director of Archives, Government of Bombay.-Ed.]
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