Epigraphia Indica Vol 34

Author(s): D C Sircar
Publisher: Archaeological Survey of India

Page 58

No. 61
MALLAR PLATES OF JAYARAJA, YEAR 9 however, does not olearly explain why the writing of all the lines upto line 23 was also beaten in and re-engraved. Possibly a re-engraved passage was re-erased in lines 10-11.
The object of the grant, issued by king Jayardja from Sarabhapura, is to register the gift of the village Mökkoppika situated in Nagaróttara-patta by Vatsa to two Brāhmapas named Mahē varasvāmin and Rudrasvämin, both belonging to the Bahvricha bakha and the Bhär. GAVA götra. Rudragvāmin is further described as Sabara-bhogika which suggests either that he hailed from an administrative division (bhoga) called Sabara or that he was the jāgirdār enjoying a locality called Sabara.
It is stated that Vatsa made the grant (atisrishtaka) and that the creation of the rent-free holding was ratified (anumõdita) by the king. Vatsa has been called hadappagrāha which is no doubt the same as hadappaggahamatya as read by Dr. D. C. Sircar in the Kanukollu plates of the Salankāyana king Nandivarman I. Dr. Sircar takes it to stand for Sanskrit hrita-pragräh-āmātya, i.e. an officer in charge of the seizure of stolen goods and draws our attention to the yukta in charge of pranasht-ādhigata-dravya as known from the Manusmriti and to the police officer inentioned a8 Chaurõddharanika in later inscriptions. Vatsa was thus an officer in king Jayarāja's service. The householders of the gift village were asked to pay the usual dues to the donees and the future kings were requested to protect the grant. The charter was issued on the 6th day of the month of Jyēshtha in the year 9 of Jayarāja's reign. The plates were engraved by Achalasirihs who was also the engraver of Jayaraja's other charters.
The importance of the charter, issued in the king's 9th regnal year, lies in the fact that it offers the latest date of his reign so far known, his other charters being issued in his 5th regnal year. The rule of Jayarāja lasting for about 9 years may be assigned to the middle of the sixth century.
Of the geographical names, Sarabhapura, the early capital of the family, has been tentatively located near modern Sirpur, the ancient Sripura which was the later capital of the family, in the Raipur District of Madhya Pradesh. The discovery of most of the charters issued from Sarabhapure near about Sirpur has lent colour to this view. The fact, however, that two different persons were respousible for engraving the charters of Sudēvarāja issued from Sarabhapura and Šripura may go against it. Of Nagaröttara-patta and Mökkēppikā, the first was probably a district situated to the north of the capital city of Sarabhapura. They remind us of the names of modern Nargoda and Mopka, both about 10 miles from Bilaspur. Sabarabhöga likewise reminds us of Seorinarayan or Savarinārāyana, supposed to indicate the existence of Sabaras (Savaras) in the area.
TEXT
First Plate
1 Svasti [l*] Sarabhapurât dvi(vi)kkram-õpunata-såman(ma)nta-makuta -chūdē(da)mani.
prabha2 prasēk-ambu-dhauta-pāda-yugalo ripu-vilāsini-simaṁ(ma)nt-oddharaņa-hētu1 Above, Vol. XXXI, p. 6, note 9.
See, above, Vol. XXXIII, p. 166.
• See above, Vol. XXXI, p. 104. Cf. tho Sirpur (above Vol. XXXI, pp. 108 ff.) and the Kanvatal (ibid., 1. 314 ff.) plates of Sudēvarkja, both insued in his 7th regnal year.
From impressions.
Tho word does not oocur in the text of the other grants of Jayarāja. • The other grants of Jayaraja havo "ambubhiradhaula.