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APRIL, 1876.)
INSCRIPTIONS FROM KÅVI.
109
INSCRIPTIONS FROM KÂYİ.
BY G. BUHLER. Some months ago Rosaheb Gopalji G. De- Bession of by the caste of the Kapilas. During sai, Deputy Educational Inspector, Bharuch, sent the times of the Musalman rule, in the reign me impressions of two copper-plates, of which of Mahmud Bigarhê, the Kapilas were sorely he had obtained the temporary loan, when visit- oppressed. A portion of the community fled to ing on his official tour the ancient town of Gangå sågara in Bengal, and took away two Kå vi, situated not far from the Gulf of Cam- of the plates. The others remained in Kavl. bay, a few miles to the south of the river A few years ago, when a late Mansiff of JamMahi. He informed me that, besides the two busar and Raosaheb Mohanlal Ranchhoddas, specimens sent, there were several other grants Deputy Educational Inspector of Surat, visited in the possession of the Kapila Brahmans the town, some of them were lent to the former of that town. I soon ascertained that one of the gentleman, and were forwarded for inspection impressions had been taken from the second half to Mr. Justice Newton.t of a grant issued by king Jayabhata of the The plates are now held in great reverence. Gurjar dynasty, the father of Srimat Their possessors refuse to sell them at any Dada or Dadda, whose grants have been de- price. But it would seem that formerly they ciphered by Professors Dowson and Bhandarkar; were not esteemed so highly. For No. 2 has while the second showed the well-known genea- lost a large circular piece out of the centre, logy of the Chaluky a kings of Anahilla- which, the owners say, was cut out in order to pathaka or Anhilvad-Pathan. As shortly mend a copper pot that had lost its bottom. The afterwards I was obliged to visit Amod and Kapilas suppose that all the plates were issued Jambasar in the course of my official tour, I by a king called Munjor Munja, who, accordused this opportunity for spending a day at ing to their tradition, was cured of leprosy by Kåvi, and for looking personally after the plates bathing in the water of the Påtâla Gangå, raised and the antiquities of the place. After a consider by their heros eponymos Kapila, and that they able amount of palavering, and a certain show contain something in their favour. In confirmaof resistance, which are de rigueur in dealings tion of their statement they appeal to their between inquisitive antiquarians and Orientals, Mahatmya, which celebrates the glories of the the Bhattas of the Kapila Brahmans allowed Kapila Kshetra, the coast between the themselves to be persuaded by Râosaheb Gopalji Narmada and the Mahisagara. The latter work, and myself to hand over five copper-plates, viz. : of which I got the loan for a few hours, confirms, 1. The second half of a grant of Jayabhata however, a portion of their story only. It deof Bharuch,
scribes the foundation of the Kapila caste by 2, 3, and 4. Three plates (the second of which is the Rishi, who is said to have assembled two thou
inscribed on both sides) with a grant of a sand learned followers of each of the four Vedas, Rashtrakata king, called Govinda and to have thus established a new caste. It also råja,
contains the story of the raising of the water of 5. A grant of one of the Chalukya kings the Pâtâla Ganga, which is said to have been
of Anhilvad-Pathan, probably of Abhaya- brought to the Righi in a small cup by the king pâla.
of the Nagas, and afterwards to have increased The history of these plates is stated to be as through the power of Kapila's tapas. It finally follows:-Five or six hundred years ago a small mentions that by its means & king was cared of tank, or receptacle for water, attached to the out- leprosy ; but his name appears to have been side of a house behind a temple of Gangesvara Karkataka (or something like it, the MS. Mahadeva at Kavi was cleaned, and, among being nearly illegible in the passage), and there the rabbish at the bottom, seven inscribed cop- is no mention of his having granted SÅsanas to per-plates were found. These were taken pos- the Kapila community. The sequel will show
• Written in Jane 1875.
are the least interesting and worst preserved pieces in the + From RAosheb Mohanlal's statements I gather that collection. No. 2 bears trace of having had the letters Nos. 9 and 6 only were prodaood and sent to Bombay. They'filled in with ink to make them more legible.
