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No. 16-GADIVORE GRANT OF SHASHTHADEVA (II), KALI YEAR 4357
(1 Plate)
G. S. GAI, OUTACAMUND
(Received on 25.9.1958)
The subjoined grant is published, with the kind permission of the Government Epigraphist for India, from a set of photographs, obtained in his office in November 1949.1 The plates were reported to have been discovered at Bandora in Goa territory.
The set consists of three plates, each measuring approximately 9 inches long and 6.35 inches high. The first and the third plates are engraved on the inner side only while the second plate has writing on both the sides. There are altogether 57 lines which are distributed as follows: I-14 lines; II-15 lines on each side, and III-13 lines. The writing is fairly well preserved. It is stated that there was a seal affixed to the ring of the plates bearing the name of the king Shashṭhadeva and the figure of a lion which was the emblem of the family."
The characters are Nagari of the 13th century A. D. Of initial vowels, a is found in lines 6, 18, 39, 41 and 53; a in line 45; iin lines 4, 6, 13, 33 and 46; u in lines 5, 25 and 26; and ē in line 36. Final t which is written like tu occurs in lines 3, 48 and 58 while final k written as ku is found in line 15. B is distinguished from v by a small dot inside the loop.
In respect of orthography, it may be noted that v is used for b in lines 3 and 5 while b is used for v in lines 12, 22, 40, 43 (twice), 44, 45, 47, 49, 51 and 56. Anusvära for final m is found in lines 4, 26, 29, 53, etc. The proper name Jayakēsin is consistently spelt as Jayakësin in lines 9, 10, 16 and 19. The word viśruta is wrongly spelt as viérita in line 6.
The language of the record is Sanskrit. Lines 1-36 are in verse except the opening words om namaḥ Sivaya; lines 36-45 are in prose and again lines 45-57 are written in verse, excepting a prose passage in lines 49-50. There are 31 verses in all.
The grant opens with a salutation to Siva followed by a stanza in adoration of the same god under the name of Saptakōtisa. Verses 2-3 refer to the birth of Trilochana-kadamba, also called Jayanta, the mythical progenitor of the Kadamba family. Verse 4 states that in this family were born many kings. Verses 5-6 mention the kings Gühala (I), Shashtha (I), Jayakeáin (1), Vijaya (1) and Jayakēsin (II) who was the son of Vijaya (I) and is called Konkan-adhisa. It may be noted that Gühala II Tribhuvanamalla, who was the elder son of Jayakeéin I, is omitted in the genealogy though it is known that he actually ruled. Verse 7 states that Jayakēsin II married Mailala-mahādēvi, the daughter of Permadi, i.e. the Western Chalukya king Vikramaditya VI (1076-1125 A.D.). To them were born Permadi and Vijaya, according to verse 8. From verse 9, we learn that this Vijaya or Vijayaditya (II) was a younger brother of Permadi while verse 10 praises his valour in a conventional manner. Verse 11 introduces Jayakēsin (III), son of Vijayaditya. Verse 12 praises his fame and verse 13 states that his wife was Mahādēvi. Verse 14 speaks of their son called Tribhuvanamalla. Verses 15-18 are devoted to the conventions! praise of Tribhuvanamalla while verse 19 informs us that to this king and his wife Manikā lāvī was born Shashṭhadeva (II), the donor of the present grant. Verses 20-23 contain conventiona? praise of this Shashṭhadeva. In the following passage in prose (lines 36-37), he is called paśchimasamudradhisa, 'the lord of the Western Ocean'. There is no indication that Shashthadeva acknowledged the suzerainty of any overlord.
1 The grant is registered as No. 12 of App. A in A. R. Ep., 1949-50.
Ibid., p. 5.
Cf. Above, Vol. XXX, pp. 71 ff.
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