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The Indian Analyst
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South Indian Inscriptions |
EPIGRAPHIA INDICA
BILAIGARH PLATES OF KALACHURI PRITHVIDEVA ; in line 3. The sign for ṇ is invariably the one made up of three vertical stokes, the first being curved at the lower end. Y as the second component of a conjunct letter looks more like p. The use of b proper is detected in two places, viz., babhūvar- in line 6 and babhūva in line 13. This b is almost like p except that its box is more angular at the bottom.[1] In regard to orthography, with the exception of the two instances noted above, b is invariably substituted by v. S is used for ś in some cases ; e.g., sudhyati and prasasti in line 34. The consonant following r is generally doubled, there being a few exceptions ; e.g., Kārttavīrya in line 3, sau(śau) rya in line 6 and sūrya in line 27. The language is Sanskirt and the composition, except for the salutation to Brahman in the beginning and the date at the end, is in verse. There are 24 verses in all and they are duly numbered. Like other inscriptions of the Kalachuris of Ratanpur, the epigraph opens with an obeisance to Brahman and recounts the genealogy of the family commencing with the sun god. Pṛithvīdēva II, son of Ratnadēva II, is the last king eulogised (verse 11), and to his regin the record pertains. Verses 1-10 with the exception of one narrating the exploit of Kārtavīrya against Rāvaṇa,[2] which is omitted, are identical with those in other charters of the family.[3] Next comes the description of a distinguished family of learned Brāhmaṇas of the Vatsa gōtra (verses 12-15). Three members of this family are described ; viz., Hārūka, his son Jīmūtavāhana, and the latter’s son Dēlhūka. In regard to Dēlhūka we are told that he was a master of the Sākaṁbharī Vidyā and that learning the secret of this lore from him, the famous feudatory chief Brahmadēva vanquished all his enemies on the fields of battle. The object of the epigraph is to register the gift of the village Paṁḍaratalāi situated in the Evaḍi maṇḍdala, made in favour of Dēlhūka by Pṛithvīdēva II ( (verse 16). Verses 17-22 contain the usual exhortations for the protection of such gifts and the imprecation. The charter was drafted by Malhaṇa son of Śubhaṁkara, who was learned and had earned reputation on account of his many compositions (verse 23). The copper material was put into shape by Vāmana. The record was written on the plates by the son of Kīrti and engraved by the son of Lakshmīdhara (verse 24).
The date as cited in the last line (line 36), is Saṁvat 896, evidently referring to the Kalachuri era. After these numerals are engraved the three aksharas, a mi nē, the significance of which is not clear.[4] In line 27 there is a statement to the effect that the grant was made on the occasion of the solar eclipse. If we take 247-48 A.C. as the beginning of the era, K. 896 would correspond to 1144 A.C. In this year there was a solar eclipse on December 26, Tuesday, in the Pūrṇimānta month of Māgha. We may note the occurrence of solar eclipses in the Pūrṇimānta month of Āshāḍha in the following two years, viz., on June 22, Friday, 1145 A.C., and on June 11, Tuesday, 1146 A.C. The Rājim stone inscription of this king’s reign is dated K. 896, Māgha śu. 8, Wednesday, and this date has been shown to correspond regularly to January 3, 1145 A.C. by Kielhorn.[5] In view of the identical Kalachuri year cited in these two epigraphs, it seems reasonable to assume that December 26, 1144 A.C. is the date of the present inscription. Verse 11 narrates an historical event relating to Pṛithvīdēva II, when it states rather poetically that, by crushing Chakrakōṭa, he made the illustrious Gaṅga king feel frightfully anxious, since the _________________________________________________
[1] Compare similar form and use of b occurring in the Daikonī plates of this same king, above, Vol. XXVIII,
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