VANAPALLI PLATES OF ANNA-VEMA.
.......(Line 57.) And Râmachandra has said :―
........[Another of the customary verses.]
......(V. 28.) Victorious is the illustrious Trilôchanârya, the excellent poet, the ornament of
a race of poets, who composed the edict (concerning) Immaḍilaṅka, which had been granted
by king Ana-Vêma.
......(V. 29.) Victorious is the poet, who was born from a race of poets, whose brilliant
career is a blessing for the world, who is learned in the doctrine (âgama) of Śiva, who is the
favourite of Śâradâ (Sarasvatî), (and) the stringing of whose words exhibits (i.e resembles)
the sweet-sounding spray of drops of the impetuous Mandâkinî (Gaṅgâ), which dances on the
coil of the matted hair of the great dancer (Śiva).
......(Line 65.) (Obeisance to) the blessed Tripurântaka (Śiva) ! The signature (vrâlu) of
Ana-Vêmu.
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No. 11.— COCHIN PLATES OF BHASKARA RAVIVARMAN.
BY E. HULTZSCH, PH.D.
......Two editions of this inscription appeared in the year 1844, one by Dr. Gundert,1 the great
Malayâḷam scholar who died only a few months ago in his native country, Würtemberg, and the
other by the late Mr. Ellis.2 To Mr. Ellis’ paper Sir (then Mr.) Walter Elliot added a tracing
of the original copper-plates. In 1859 Kookel Keloo Nair published his own version of Dr.
Gundert’s translation.3 Dr. Burnell next gave a translation which was based on the two first
versions, and which was accompanied by a bronzed reproduction of the original.4 Lastly, Mr.
Logan”s work on Malabar contains a reprint of Dr. Gundert’s translation.5 His Highness the
Second Prince of Travancore, who takes a warm interest in historical research, was good enough
to send me a set of fresh impressions, from which the Plate at page 72 was prepared. The
subjoined transcript and translation, though containing little new, will be welcome to those
who are unable to use Dr. Gundert’s and Mr. Ellis’ papers. The transcript follows that by
Dr. Gundert.6 The translation also agrees generally with Dr. Gundert’s, though, in a few cases,
Mr. Ellis’ explanations were adopted as more probable.
......The original of the inscription is in the possession of the Jews at Kochchi (Cochin). It is
engraved on two copper-plates ; the second side of the second plate is blank. A hole for the ring
on which the plates must have been strung, is visible on the impression of each plate ; but I
have no information if this ring is still preserved and if it bears a seal. The character which
is chiefly used in the document, is the Chêra-Pâṇḍya (Vaṭṭeluttu) alphabet. The only letter
of this alphabet which calls for a special remark, is y. This letter has, throughout the plates,
the same shape as in the Tirunelli grant ;7 but once, in vâyanattâlum (line 7), the totally
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......1 Madras Journal of Literature and Science, Vol. XIII. Part i. pp.135 ff.
......2 ibid. Part ii. pp. 1 ff.
......3 ibid. Vol. XXI. p.42 f.
......4 Ind. Ant.Vol. III. p. 334.
......5 Malabar, Vol. II pp. cxv ff.
......6 The readings irukkumadu and perumadu (line 14), uḍaiyu (l. 16), and Vêṇâpali (l. 21 f.) agree with Mr.
Ellis’ text. For the numerous misprints in Dr. Gundert’s paper, not the author, but the editors of the Madras
Journal must be held responsible. One of these misprints, Coḍunrílúr (p. 120), has crept into Hobson-Jôbson, p. 211, s.v. Cranganore ; the correct from Koḍuṅṅallûr is given in Dr.Gundert’s Malayâḷam Dictionary, p. 303.
......7 See the facsimile Plate in the Ind. Ant. Vol. XX. p. 290 f.
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