Tamil copper-plate inscriptions: Difference between revisions
→See also: abc |
No edit summary |
||
(15 intermediate revisions by 12 users not shown) | |||
Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{ |
{{more citations needed|date=June 2015}} |
||
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}} |
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}} |
||
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2020}} |
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2020}} |
||
Line 12: | Line 12: | ||
|publisher= |
|publisher= |
||
|accessdate=2007-03-14 |
|accessdate=2007-03-14 |
||
}}</ref> The grants range in date from the 10th century C.E. to the mid-19th century C.E. A large number of them belong to the [[pandyas]], the [[Cholas]] . These plates are valuable [[epigraphy|epigraphically]] as they give us an insight into the social conditions of medieval South India; they also help us fill chronological gaps in the connected history of the ruling dynasties. For example, the Leyden grant (so called as they are preserved in the Museum of [[Leyden]] in [[Holland]]) of Parantaka Chola and those of [[Uttama Chola|Parakesari Uttama Chola]] are among the most important, although the most useful part, i.e., the genealogical section, of the latter's plates seems to have been lost |
}}</ref> The grants range in date from the 10th century C.E. to the mid-19th century C.E. A large number of them belong to the [[pandyas]], the [[Cholas]] . These plates are valuable [[epigraphy|epigraphically]] as they give us an insight into the social conditions of medieval South India; they also help us fill chronological gaps in the connected history of the ruling dynasties. For example, the Leyden grant (so called as they are preserved in the Museum of [[Leyden]] in [[Holland]]) of Parantaka Chola and those of [[Uttama Chola|Parakesari Uttama Chola]] are among the most important, although the most useful part, i.e., the genealogical section, of the latter's plates seems to have been lost |
||
<!-- Doubtful copyright [[File:chola_copperplate.jpg|thumb|Copperplate inscription of Uththama Chola, 10th Century C.E.]]--> |
<!-- Doubtful copyright [[File:chola_copperplate.jpg|thumb|Copperplate inscription of Uththama Chola, 10th Century C.E.]]--> |
||
'''South Indian inscriptions |
'''South Indian inscriptions''' |
||
Most of the Tamil country inscriptions were written in Tamil, but beginning in the 6th century, both stone and copper-plate inscriptions were written in Sanskrit as well, some being bilingual.<ref name="tamil"/> Indian archaeologists have discovered hundreds of inscriptions during the last 120 years. Professor [[E. Hultzsch]] began collecting South Indian inscriptions systematically from the latter part of 1886 when he was appointed Epigraphist to the Government of Madras. |
Most of the Tamil country inscriptions were written in Tamil, but beginning in the 6th century, both stone and copper-plate inscriptions were written in Sanskrit as well, some being bilingual.<ref name="tamil"/> Indian archaeologists have discovered hundreds of inscriptions during the last 120 years. Professor [[E. Hultzsch]] began collecting South Indian inscriptions systematically from the latter part of 1886 when he was appointed Epigraphist to the Government of Madras. |
||
Line 24: | Line 24: | ||
The ''Thiruvalangadu'' copperplates discovered in 1905 C.E. comprise one of the largest so far recovered and contains 31 copper sheets. The Thiruvalangadu plates contain text written in [[Sanskrit]] and [[Tamil language|Tamil]]. These two seem to have been written at least a decade apart. These plates record a grant made to the shrine of the goddess at Tiruvalangadu by Rajendra Chola I. The list of the [[Legendary early Chola kings|legendary Chola kings]] forms the preamble to the Sanskrit portion of these plates. |
The ''Thiruvalangadu'' copperplates discovered in 1905 C.E. comprise one of the largest so far recovered and contains 31 copper sheets. The Thiruvalangadu plates contain text written in [[Sanskrit]] and [[Tamil language|Tamil]]. These two seem to have been written at least a decade apart. These plates record a grant made to the shrine of the goddess at Tiruvalangadu by Rajendra Chola I. The list of the [[Legendary early Chola kings|legendary Chola kings]] forms the preamble to the Sanskrit portion of these plates. |
||
⚫ | |||
<center> |
|||
⚫ | |||
File:Dharmeshwara Temple Plates.jpg|Plate 1 and Back |
File:Dharmeshwara Temple Plates.jpg|Plate 1 and Back |
||
File:Dharmeshwara Temple Plates HT-34.jpg|Plate 2<ref name=RiceIX>{{cite book|last1=Rice|first1=Benjamin Lewis|title=Epigraphia Carnatica: Volume IX: Inscriptions in the Bangalore District|date=1894|publisher=Mysore Department of Archaeology|location=Mysore State, British India|url=https://archive.org/details/epigraphiacarnat09myso|accessdate=5 August 2015}}</ref> |
File:Dharmeshwara Temple Plates HT-34.jpg|Plate 2<ref name=RiceIX>{{cite book|last1=Rice|first1=Benjamin Lewis|title=Epigraphia Carnatica: Volume IX: Inscriptions in the Bangalore District|date=1894|publisher=Mysore Department of Archaeology|location=Mysore State, British India|url=https://archive.org/details/epigraphiacarnat09myso|accessdate=5 August 2015}}</ref> |
||
</gallery> |
</gallery> |
||
</center> |
|||
== A Chola inscription == |
== A Chola inscription == |
||
A typical Chola copperplate inscription currently displayed at the Government Museum, [[Chennai |
A typical Chola copperplate inscription currently displayed at the Government Museum, [[Chennai]], India, is dated c. 10th century C.E. It consists of five copper plates stringed in a copper ring, the ends of which are secured with a Chola seal bearing in relief, a seated tiger facing the right, two fish to the right of this. These three figures have a bow below, a parasol and two [[fly-whisk]]s (Champaran) at the top and a lamp on each side. Around the margin engraved in Grantha characters, "This is the matchless edict of King Parakesarivarman, who reached justice to the kings of his realm"... |
||
A |
A portion of this inscription is in Sanskrit and the rest is in Tamil. |
||
The plates contain an edict issued by the Chola king Ko-Para-Kesarivarman alias [[Uththama Chola]], at Kachhippedu ([[Kanchipuram]]) at the request of his minister, to confirm the contents of a number of stone inscriptions, which referred to certain dues to be paid to the temple of [[Vishnu]] at Kachhippedu. Arrangements made for the several services in the temple are also described. |
The plates contain an edict issued by the Chola king Ko-Para-Kesarivarman alias [[Uththama Chola]], at Kachhippedu ([[Kanchipuram]]) at the request of his minister, to confirm the contents of a number of stone inscriptions, which referred to certain dues to be paid to the temple of [[Vishnu]] at Kachhippedu. Arrangements made for the several services in the temple are also described. |
||
Line 48: | Line 46: | ||
*[[Laguna Copperplate Inscription]] |
*[[Laguna Copperplate Inscription]] |
||
*[[Tamil bell]] |
*[[Tamil bell]] |
||
*[[Tamil |
*[[Tamil inscriptions of Bangalore]] |
||
*[[Vatteluttu]] |
*[[Vatteluttu]] |
||
Line 62: | Line 60: | ||
[[Category:Tamil inscriptions]] |
[[Category:Tamil inscriptions]] |
||
[[Category:Chola Empire]] |
[[Category:Chola Empire]] |
||
[[Category:Asian archaeology]] |
|||
[[Category:Archaeological artefact types]] |
[[Category:Archaeological artefact types]] |
||
[[Category:Archaeology of India]] |
[[Category:Archaeology of India]] |
Latest revision as of 22:42, 5 May 2024
This article needs additional citations for verification. (June 2015) |
Tamil copper-plate inscriptions are copper-plate records of grants of villages, plots of cultivable lands or other privileges to private individuals or public institutions by the members of the various South Indian royal dynasties.[1] The study of these inscriptions has been especially important in reconstructing the history of Tamil Nadu.[2] The grants range in date from the 10th century C.E. to the mid-19th century C.E. A large number of them belong to the pandyas, the Cholas . These plates are valuable epigraphically as they give us an insight into the social conditions of medieval South India; they also help us fill chronological gaps in the connected history of the ruling dynasties. For example, the Leyden grant (so called as they are preserved in the Museum of Leyden in Holland) of Parantaka Chola and those of Parakesari Uttama Chola are among the most important, although the most useful part, i.e., the genealogical section, of the latter's plates seems to have been lost
South Indian inscriptions
Most of the Tamil country inscriptions were written in Tamil, but beginning in the 6th century, both stone and copper-plate inscriptions were written in Sanskrit as well, some being bilingual.[2] Indian archaeologists have discovered hundreds of inscriptions during the last 120 years. Professor E. Hultzsch began collecting South Indian inscriptions systematically from the latter part of 1886 when he was appointed Epigraphist to the Government of Madras.
The earliest of the extant copperplate inscriptions date from the 10th century C.E. Of these, the Leyden plates, the Tiruvalangadu grant of Rajendra Chola I, the Anbil plates of Sundara Chola and the Kanyakumari inscription of Virarajendra Chola are the only epigraphical records discovered and published so far that give genealogical lists of Chola kings.
The Thiruvalangadu copperplates discovered in 1905 C.E. comprise one of the largest so far recovered and contains 31 copper sheets. The Thiruvalangadu plates contain text written in Sanskrit and Tamil. These two seem to have been written at least a decade apart. These plates record a grant made to the shrine of the goddess at Tiruvalangadu by Rajendra Chola I. The list of the legendary Chola kings forms the preamble to the Sanskrit portion of these plates.
- Vijaynagar Copper Plate Inscriptions at the Dharmeshwara Temple, Kondarahalli, Hoskote
-
Plate 1 and Back
-
Plate 2[3]
A Chola inscription
[edit]A typical Chola copperplate inscription currently displayed at the Government Museum, Chennai, India, is dated c. 10th century C.E. It consists of five copper plates stringed in a copper ring, the ends of which are secured with a Chola seal bearing in relief, a seated tiger facing the right, two fish to the right of this. These three figures have a bow below, a parasol and two fly-whisks (Champaran) at the top and a lamp on each side. Around the margin engraved in Grantha characters, "This is the matchless edict of King Parakesarivarman, who reached justice to the kings of his realm"...
A portion of this inscription is in Sanskrit and the rest is in Tamil.
The plates contain an edict issued by the Chola king Ko-Para-Kesarivarman alias Uththama Chola, at Kachhippedu (Kanchipuram) at the request of his minister, to confirm the contents of a number of stone inscriptions, which referred to certain dues to be paid to the temple of Vishnu at Kachhippedu. Arrangements made for the several services in the temple are also described.
Uththama Chola was an uncle and predecessor of Rajaraja Chola I.
Notes
[edit]- ^ "Nature and Importance of Indian Epigraphy - Chapter IV". Retrieved 14 March 2007.
- ^ a b "History and Culture of Tamil Nadu : As Gleaned from the Sanskrit Inscriptions". Retrieved 14 March 2007.
- ^ Rice, Benjamin Lewis (1894). Epigraphia Carnatica: Volume IX: Inscriptions in the Bangalore District. Mysore State, British India: Mysore Department of Archaeology. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
See also
[edit]- Indian copper plate inscriptions
- Indian inscriptions
- Laguna Copperplate Inscription
- Tamil bell
- Tamil inscriptions of Bangalore
- Vatteluttu
References
[edit]- Tamil And Sanskrit Inscriptions Chiefly Collected In 1886 - 87, E. Hultzsch, Ph.D., Published by Archaeological Survey of India, New Delhi
- Government Museum, Chennai, India - http://www.chennaimuseum.org
External links
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)