Indian Antiquary Vol 17

Author(s): John Faithfull Fleet, Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 16

THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[JANUARY, 1888.
which I am doubtful. The term bhúmi or bhú varman to be another name of Salavahana, I take to be a measure of superficial area, and the husband of Rardhâ and father of Somafrom line 19 it is clear that the bhumi or bhú varmadêva. The temple to which this chief was sub-divided into four máshaka. Bat I do part of the grant was made, I would suggest not see the exact force of the term sit prefixed to be the temple of Lakshmi Narayana, to Vhumi and bhi in lines 16, 17, and 18; and, "referred to the time of Raja Sala Varmma," similarly, I cannot explain the term ashtapra. which is mentioned in Archæol. Survey of harika which occurs twice in line 18, and again India, Vol. XIV., pages 113 and 114, and below in line 31 ; nor the phrase sakhilari which, to judge from the legend mentioned pakhilam in line 20.--As regards the territorial by Sir A. Canningham, appears to have namos, it appears that the realm of Sômavar- been devoted to the worship of Vishnu and maddva was divided into mandalas, and that Siva. the names Kuloți, Mangala, Vata, Bhadra. The second portion of the inscription, from varma, Sarihala, Dhalyaka, and Maigala, denote Atra punar api likhyatê in line 28 up to the certain sub-divisions of the three mandalas end, is dated ten years later than the preceding Panthila, Tâvasaka, and Parakamata mention portion, i.e. in the 11th year of the reign of ed. The remaining terms Supakira-suram. Asatadáva, on the 12th of the light half (?) bhata, Chhônnðraka-goshthika, etc., I would of Bhadrapada, and it records various minor rogard, judging merely from the wording alterations of the previously recorded grant, of the text, as names of villages. But the main import of which appears to be that, on the very imperfect maps at my disposal I instead of the four bhimashaka in Mangala, have not been able to identify any of the in the Parakamata mandala mentioned before, places or districts enumerated, with the excep- four other bhumashaka were given to the temtion of Bhadravarma, which would seem to be ple of the two gods Vishnu and Sive, and that the Bhadrwar of the mape, to the north-west one bhi of land in Ghalahana, in the Panthila of Chambi.-Finally, as regards this portion mandala, was given to the before-mentioned of the inscription, I would draw attention to the fact that the owners of the land concerned, | The whole grant bears the subscription : where they are mentioned at all, are not called "the own hand of the illustrious somavarby their own proper names, but described as madeve; the own hand of the illustrious the sons of their respective fathers-Denna-sata, Åsatadáva."
the son of Dånna,' Ramajjèya-sata 'the son of I may add here that, together with the Ramajjèya,' etc. The same practice is observed above inscription, Mr. Fleet has sent to me two in the concluding portion of the inscription, impressions of another Chamba copper-plate lines 29 and 31.
inscription, also received from Sir A. CunningOf the 15 bhími of land described, two ham, which will be referred to in notes 31 Thamashaka or half a bhumi, according to lines and 32 below. This inscription also is on a 21-24, were granted by the king, as an agrahara, single plate, measuring 10" by 74". It consists to a temple of Vishnu erected in honour of (?) of 16 full lines and one short line, engraved on the maharajaputra, the illustrious Asata (P); the proper right margin, and containing the and the remaining land, as well as the subscription of the grantor. Its characters yearly contribution of grain, was given, as an are virtually the same as those of the grant agrahára, jointly to the gods Vishņu and Siva, here edited. It is throughout in prose, and it who must have been worshipped in one temple, records, in Sanskpit which is not always corthe former in honour of the illustrious Lak- rect, that the devont worshipper of Brabman, shmanavarman, and the latter, an image of the mahdrája, the illustrious Bhotavarmadeva, whom had been set up by the queen Rardha, who meditated on the feet of the parama. in honour of the illustrious Salakaravarman. bhattaraka, the maharajddhiraja, the illustrious The first line of the verse (line 23) in Manikyavarman, and who was the son of the which the two gods are mentioned, is not paramabhatárika, the maharajri, the illustriquite clear to me; as regards the remain ous Ju[raP]radevi, from his residence at ing portion of the verse, I take Salkkara- Chanpaka, granted certain lands belonging to