461:
209:), usually record grants of land or lists of royal lineages carrying the royal seal, a profusion of which have been found in South India. Originally, texts were recorded on palm leaves, but when the records were legal documents such as title-deeds they were etched on a cave or temple wall, or more commonly, on copper plates which were then secreted in a safe place such as within the walls or foundation of a temple, or hidden in stone caches in fields. Plates could be used more than once, as when a canceled grant was overstruck with a new inscription. These records were probably in use from the first millennium.
476:
299:, individually or collectively. The inscriptions followed a standard formula of identifying the royal donor and his lineage, followed by lengthy honorifics of his history, heroic deeds, and his extraordinary personal traits. After this would follow the details of the grant, including the occasion, the recipient, and the penalties involved if the provisions were disregarded or violated. Although the profusion of complimentary language can be misleading, the discovery of copper plate inscriptions have provided a wealth of material for historians.
403:
213:
391:
174:
584:
186:
422:(implying repeated copying and recopying) or through oral transmission, making direct dating impossible. External chronological records and internal linguistic evidence, however, indicate that extant works were probably compiled sometime between the 4th century BCE and the 3rd century CE. Epigraphic attestation of Tamil begins with rock inscriptions from the 3rd century BCE, written in
161:, and suggest that the party claiming ownership of or rights to donated resources would be obligated to show their plates to the state authorities if challenged. As an additional indicator of the legitimacy of the endowment, it was not uncommon for donors to clasp the plates together with a ring bearing the donor's
1030:
The 'Sasan' lands were granted to temples and members of certain castes such as
Brahmans ,Charans...They were for all practical purposes in perpetuity and were held rent free. Usually the ancient practice of issuing a copper plate, on which the conditions of grant, the names of the grantor and
1155:
Dating of Indian literature is largely based on relative dating relying on internal evidences with a few anchors. I. Mahadevan’s dating of
Pukalur inscription proves some of the Sangam verses. See George L. Hart, "Poems of Ancient Tamil, University of Berkeley Press, 1975,
341:
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. The study of these inscriptions has been especially important in reconstructing the history of
362:
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
1143:
In southern states, every inscription of an early date and majority even of modern-day inscriptions were written in
Sanskrit...In the Tamil country, on the contrary, all the inscriptions belonging to an early period are written in Tamil with some
1010:...medieval period in Mewar, about twelve percent of the land went into the hands of Brahmins and Charans. Their villages were now regarded as the tamba-patra (the State order issued on the copper plate) villages and were exempted from revenue...
413:
Unlike the neighbouring states where early inscriptions were written in
Sanskrit and Prakrit, the early inscriptions in Tamil Nadu used Tamil along with some Prakrit. Tamil has the extant literature amongst the
250:
copper-plate inscriptions (c. 1st century CE or earlier) are among the earliest known instances of true copper plates being used for writing in the Indian subcontinent. These plates are not proper
261:
king
Ehuvala Chamtamula. The oldest known copper-plate charter from northern India is probably the Kalachala grant of Ishvararata, dated to the late fourth century on palaeographic basis.
1337:
288:
period have been found in North India. The use of copper plate inscriptions increased and for several centuries they remained the primary source of legal records.
220:
A group of nine inscribed copper plates has been identified by Shinde in 2014 as the oldest such objects in the Indian subcontinent. They date to the
224:
era, and contain inscriptions up to 34 characters long. Their place of origin unknown. They are thought to have been used for copper plate printing.
783:
701:
165:. As instruments of state expansion, the durability and easy retrievability of the copper plates was crucial to consolidating newly settled lands.
375:
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.
460:
908:
1233:
Iravatham
Mahadevan (2003). Early Tamil Epigraphy from the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D. Cambridge, Harvard University Press.
1201:
1045:
1362:
1320:
1003:
891:
838:
475:
257:
The oldest known copper-plate charter from the Indian subcontinent is the
Patagandigudem inscription of the 3rd century CE
1061:
967:
622:
Collections of archaeological texts from the copper-plates and rock-inscriptions have been compiled and published by the
346:. 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
418:, but dating the language and the literature precisely is difficult. Literary works in India were preserved either in
951:
619:
and several other Indian languages). Because copper does not rust or decay, they can survive virtually indefinitely.
178:
325:
1025:
British
Paramountcy in Rajputana: A Case Study of Relation of the Sirohi State with the British, 1823-1905 A.D.
686:
681:
623:
563:, awarded by Bhaskara Ravi Varman I Perumal (962-1019 A.D.), is a Sasanam outlining the grant of rights of the
1372:
1357:
500:
302:
121:
and society of the Indian subcontinent in the 1st millennium CE, and in particular to the early history of
805:
691:
284:, which have been dated to 444 according to a 2004 Indian newspaper report. Rare copper plates from the
390:
706:
235:
and is likely a precursor to the later copper-plate inscriptions. It is written on a small plaque of
696:
402:
1367:
1138:
522:
518:
451:
435:
134:
1165:
George Hart, "Some
Related Literary Conventions in Tamil and Indo-Aryan and Their Significance"
918:
676:
313:
114:
23:
1342:
1310:
1213:
879:
828:
125:
and the subcontinent. For instance, between the 8th and 10th centuries CE, authorities on the
281:
51:
419:
122:
541:, the date of which has been determined with accuracy. It is engraved on copper plates in
8:
600:
592:
560:
510:
482:
466:
415:
379:
355:
243:
190:
43:
27:
1191:
Nilakanta Sastri, K.A. (1955). A History of South India, OUP, New Delhi (Reprinted 2002)
1132:
664:
31:
882:. In Alessandro Bausi; Christian Brockmann; Michael Friedrich; Sabine Kienitz (eds.).
434:, a work on poetics and grammar which describes the language of the classical period,
1316:
1107:
1042:
999:
947:
887:
834:
534:
202:
110:
78:
35:
1087:"History and Culture of Tamil Nadu : As Gleaned from the Sanskrit Inscriptions"
153:
As legal documents, historians liken Indian copper plate engravings to a modern-day
795:
118:
717:
212:
1049:
1023:
993:
550:
306:
258:
221:
39:
830:
The
Archaeology of Early Historic South Asia: The Emergence of Cities and States
784:"A New Type of Inscribed Copper Plate from Indus Valley (Harappan) Civilisation"
194:
117:, the copper plates are invaluable tools for scholarly research in the general
67:
1065:
971:
431:
1351:
572:
530:
526:
447:
427:
232:
228:
162:
126:
47:
280:
words are used to describe land boundaries, are the Tumbula inscriptions of
423:
372:
285:
55:
1134:
A comparative grammar of the Dravidian or South-Indian family of languages
1086:
382:
Tamil Copper Plate Inscriptions at the Dharmeshwara Temple, Kondarahalli,
568:
291:
Most copper plate inscriptions record title-deeds of land-grants made to
59:
1109:
Epigraphia Carnatica: Volume IX: Inscriptions in the Bangalore District
564:
542:
503:, a lost set of copper plates awarded to Knai Thoma and his followers (
343:
338:
173:
583:
913:
800:
359:
347:
334:
309:
86:
34:, however the vast majority of recovered plates were produced in the
264:
Some of the earliest authenticated copper plates were issued by the
185:
616:
454:) on copper plates, known as Cheppeds, or Royal Grants or Sasanam.
273:
63:
770:, The Penguin History of Early India: From the Origins to AD 1300.
744:, The Penguin History of Early India: From the Origins to AD 1300.
305:
have a unique collection of about 3000 copper plates on which the
216:
Copper plates. Mature Harappan period, 2600–1900 BC (Shinde, 2014)
1338:
A new copper-plate grant of Harsavardhana from the Punjab, year 8
711:
504:
490:
Iravikorthan Sassanam, awarded by Shri Veera Raghava Perumal (in
383:
368:
296:
277:
269:
265:
251:
247:
154:
129:
granted special rights and concessions to the community known as
1112:. Mysore State, British India: Mysore Department of Archaeology
661:
657:
653:
588:
554:
538:
364:
351:
292:
236:
98:
74:
1043:
Epigraphical lore of Tirupati published in Saptagiri magazine.
884:
Manuscripts and Archives: Comparative Views on Record-Keeping
546:
514:
90:
545:
and signed by 25 witnesses. Names of fifteen of them are in
1209:
603:
are the royal records of grants engraved on copper-plates (
158:
94:
82:
859:
826:
1294:
Thapar, Aśoka and the Decline of the Mauryas,2014, pp. 10
847:
1062:"Nature and Importance of Indian Epigraphy - Chapter IV"
992:
Trikha, Madhav Hada Translated by Pradeep (2020-12-07).
880:"Indian Copper-Plate Grants: Inscriptions or Documents?"
227:
The Sohgaura copper-plate inscription, inscribed in the
446:
Between the eighth and tenth centuries, rulers on the
137:) which were recorded on copper plates referred to as
26:. The practice was widespread and long-running in the
1180:
Companion Studies to the History of Tamil Literature
599:
One of the most important sources of history in the
450:
awarded various rights and privileges to Nazranies (
438:
between the 5th century BCE and the 2nd century CE.
276:. An example of early Sanskrit inscription in which
73:The copper plates can survive intact indefinitely:
16:
Historical legal records of the Indian subcontinent
782:Shinde, Vasant; Willis, Rick J. (8 October 2014).
319:
181:, the earliest known of its kind, 3rd century BCE
1349:
877:
833:. Cambridge University Press. pp. 212–215.
702:History of metallurgy in the Indian subcontinent
1031:grantee were engraved was given to the grantee.
268:dynasty kings in the 4th century, and are in
1308:
1172:
906:
865:
853:
781:
968:"Nature and Importance of Indian Epigraphy"
946:. New York: Grove Press. pp. 155–157.
649:inches high × 1/10 (to 1/16) inches thick.
537:. It is the first important inscription of
507:) sometime between the 4th and 9th century.
430:. The earliest extant literary text is the
1185:
441:
254:, unlike later copper-plate inscriptions.
104:
1194:
1124:
799:
1167:Journal of the American Oriental Society
1159:
1130:
582:
211:
184:
172:
42:which registered and recorded an act of
937:
935:
656:(322–185 BCE) record which refers to a
97:does, but rather develops a protective
1350:
1099:
991:
900:
30:; it may date back to as early as the
1079:
1021:
827:F. R. Allchin; George Erdosy (1995).
1105:
941:
932:
746:Penguin Books, 2002. 295-96 and 339.
738:
736:
734:
567:and 72 other properietary rights to
1343:Vaisnavism in Upper Mahanadi Valley
1169:, 94:2 (Apr-Jun 1974), pp. 157-167.
629:The copper plate is approximately 9
513:, awarded in 849 CE by the King of
316:and his descendants are inscribed.
13:
1272:(Malayalam), Volume I. p. 105-109.
371:) of Parantaka Chola and those of
231:, may date to the 3rd century BCE
66:essential to the operation of the
50:or donation, typically of land or
14:
1384:
1331:
731:
358:kings. These plates are valuable
179:Sohgaura copper plate inscription
1208:. UCLA International Institute,
917:. Chennai, India. Archived from
909:"Ancient inscriptions unearthed"
660:. It is one of the very few pre-
474:
459:
401:
389:
20:Indian copper plate inscriptions
1301:
1288:
1275:
1262:
1249:
1236:
1227:
1149:
1054:
1036:
1015:
985:
960:
652:The Sohgaura copper-plate is a
517:, Ayyan Atikal Tiruvatikal, to
331:Tamil copper-plate inscriptions
326:Tamil copper-plate inscriptions
320:Tamil copper-plate inscriptions
1283:Orthodox Christianity in India
1270:History of the Marthoma Church
1206:The Language Materials Project
871:
820:
775:
762:
749:
687:Jewish copper plates of Cochin
682:Laguna Copperplate Inscription
624:Archaeological Survey of India
529:in the 5th regnal year of the
148:
1:
1363:Archaeological artefact types
1137:. Trübner & co. pp.
1106:Rice, Benjamin Lewis (1894).
724:
491:
501:Thomas of Cana copper plates
303:Tirumala Venkateswara Temple
111:primary historical documents
7:
1285:. p. 85, 126, 127, 444-447.
1244:Syrian Christians of Kerala
907:N. Havalaiah (2004-01-24).
886:. De Gruyter. p. 389.
757:Syrian Christians of Kerala
692:Quilon Syrian copper plates
670:
10:
1389:
323:
168:
1131:Caldwell, Robert (1875).
878:Emmanuel Francis (2018).
772:Penguin Books, 2002. 409.
707:South Indian Inscriptions
626:during the past century.
578:
481:The inscription from the
426:, an adapted form of the
24:engraved on copper plates
697:Thiruvalla copper plates
337:copper-plate records of
115:archaeological artifacts
1315:. Motilal Banarsidass.
667:inscriptions in India.
452:Saint Thomas Christians
442:Copper plates of Kerala
373:Parakesari Uttama Chola
135:Saint Thomas Christians
105:Historical significance
1178:Kamil Veith Zvelebil,
677:Early Indian epigraphy
596:
595:copper plate of 949 CE
314:Tallapaka Annamacharya
217:
198:
182:
54:. The plate contained
1309:D. C. Sircar (1996).
1022:Kumar, Vijay (1991).
586:
511:Tharissapalli Chepped
420:palm leaf manuscripts
282:Western Ganga Dynasty
215:
188:
176:
1373:Archaeology of India
1255:A. Sreedhara Menon.
123:Christianity in Asia
38:. The plates were
1358:Indian inscriptions
1281:Cheriyan, Dr. C.V.
942:Keay, John (2000).
601:Indian subcontinent
593:Harsola copperplate
561:Jewish Copper Plate
467:Tharisapalli plates
416:Dravidian languages
239:(a copper alloy).
193:, 1st century BCE (
191:Taxila copper plate
28:Indian subcontinent
1048:2003-02-16 at the
998:. Vani Prakashan.
597:
218:
199:
183:
145:("Royal Grants").
32:3rd millennium BCE
22:are legal records
1322:978-81-208-1166-9
1246:(1970). p. 32-33.
1005:978-93-89915-90-7
893:978-3-11-054139-7
866:D. C. Sircar 1996
854:D. C. Sircar 1996
840:978-0-521-37695-2
759:(1970). p. 32-33.
535:Sthanu Ravi Varma
523:Syrian Christians
91:exposed to oxygen
79:non-ferrous metal
36:1st millennium CE
1380:
1326:
1312:Indian Epigraphy
1295:
1292:
1286:
1279:
1273:
1266:
1260:
1253:
1247:
1240:
1234:
1231:
1225:
1224:
1222:
1221:
1212:. Archived from
1198:
1192:
1189:
1183:
1176:
1170:
1163:
1157:
1153:
1147:
1146:
1128:
1122:
1121:
1119:
1117:
1103:
1097:
1096:
1094:
1093:
1083:
1077:
1076:
1074:
1073:
1064:. Archived from
1058:
1052:
1040:
1034:
1033:
1028:Books Treasure.
1019:
1013:
1012:
989:
983:
982:
980:
979:
970:. Archived from
964:
958:
957:
944:India: A History
939:
930:
929:
927:
926:
904:
898:
897:
875:
869:
863:
857:
851:
845:
844:
824:
818:
817:
815:
813:
804:. Archived from
803:
801:10.5334/aa.12317
779:
773:
766:
760:
753:
747:
740:
648:
647:
643:
638:
637:
633:
615:means copper in
521:, the leader of
496:
493:
478:
463:
405:
396:Plate 1 and Back
393:
1388:
1387:
1383:
1382:
1381:
1379:
1378:
1377:
1348:
1347:
1334:
1329:
1323:
1304:
1299:
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1293:
1289:
1280:
1276:
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1228:
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1173:
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1154:
1150:
1129:
1125:
1115:
1113:
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1100:
1091:
1089:
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1071:
1069:
1060:
1059:
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1050:Wayback Machine
1041:
1037:
1020:
1016:
1006:
990:
986:
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954:
940:
933:
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922:
905:
901:
894:
876:
872:
864:
860:
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848:
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825:
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811:
809:
808:on 21 July 2018
780:
776:
767:
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750:
741:
732:
727:
673:
645:
641:
640:
639:inches long × 3
635:
631:
630:
587:Paramara ruler
581:
515:Venadu (Quilon)
494:
485:
479:
470:
464:
444:
436:dated variously
409:
406:
397:
394:
328:
322:
259:Andhra Ikshvaku
222:Mature Harappan
205:inscriptions (
171:
151:
107:
58:information on
40:legal documents
17:
12:
11:
5:
1386:
1376:
1375:
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1368:Copper objects
1365:
1360:
1346:
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1333:
1332:External links
1330:
1328:
1327:
1321:
1305:
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1261:
1259:(1999). p.54.
1257:Kerala History
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995:Meera Vs Meera
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868:, p. 107.
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742:Thapar, Romila
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573:Ousepp Irabban
558:
553:, and four in
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473:
471:
465:
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440:
411:
410:
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398:
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360:epigraphically
324:Main article:
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195:British Museum
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1216:on 2007-10-11
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953:0-8021-3797-0
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921:on 2004-02-18
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495: 774 CE
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207:tamarashasana
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163:personal seal
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127:Malabar Coast
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85:or otherwise
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1302:Bibliography
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1268:N.M. Mathew
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