The Gadwal Copper Plates: A Chalukya Decree from 674 CE
📍 Discovery: Gadwal, Jogulamba Gadwal.
👑 King: Vikramaditya I of the Western Chalukyas of Badami.
🗓️ Date: 25th April 674 CE (Full moon of Vaisakha, 20th regnal year).
📜 Language/Script: Sanskrit, in Telugu-Kannada script.
🏛️ The Artifact
- Three copper plates, strung on a ring, sealed with a running boar (Varaha) emblem.
- Weight: 160 tolas. Excellent preservation.
⚔️ The Historical Punch
Issued from Uragapura on the banks of the Kaveri River, during a military campaign in the Chola province. The inscription boasts of Vikramaditya I's victories:
- ✅ Defeat of the Pallava kings Narasimhavarman I, Mahendravarman II & Paramesvaravarman I.
- ✅ Capture of Kanchi (Kanchipuram), the Pallava capital.
- ✅ Titles claimed: Anivarita (Unopposed), Rajamalla (Kings' Wrestler).
🎁 The Grant
Requested by: Queen Ganga-Mahadevi.
Given to: Three Brahmins (Kanha Sarman, Padammasvamin, Konnasarman).
Gift: 50 nivartanas of land each in the village of [Chedu]lli, plus measures of paddy.
✍️ The Officials
- Composed by: Mahasandhivigrahika (Minister) Jayasena.
- Executed by: Kundasvamin.
💡 Why It Matters
- Key source for Chalukya-Pallava war chronology.
- Shows the reach of Chalukya arms deep into the Tamil south.
- Exemplifies the land-grant (brahmadeya) system for political integration.
- A masterpiece of Sanskrit panegyric on copper.
#IndianHistory #Chalukyas #CopperPlateInscription #MedievalIndia #Epigraphy #VikramadityaI #Pallavas #Sanskrit
Comments
Post a Comment