Reinventing Hindu India -Part 1 by Cdr Alok Mohan

 

There is only one God. Hindu India accepted each God as a reincarnation of the Supreme ie the God. If you observe an Ocean, you will see so many small, medium and big waves?  Where have they come from ? Until they appear as waves we call them a wave, then they merge again into the Ocean, All the waves are similar. How many waves are there totally in the Ocean? Can we really  count? So is the case of various paths leading to God or one may say that there are  crores of Gods or messengers of Gods  ie not only a few  crores but entire population on Earth may be considered  Gods ie billions of Gods. How many ? We really do not know. All that exists in Universe is nothing but part and parcel of the cosmic force or the God or the Brahman. So, the thought, the mind, the thinking, the dream, the dreamer, the Miserliness, The Bravery, the Timidness, the Knowledge, the Education, The ignorance, The arrogance, The innocence, The Sickness, The Health, The body, The house we live in, The garden (Vana Devata), The satisfaction, The dissatisfaction, The happiness, The unhappiness etc so many things , all things in the life are vitally important and seen as Gods. This is nothing but the expression that every thing in the universe is God, All animate & Inanimate Things or beings are God. there is nothing that is not God. Therefore to understand the concept of God and our origin, this is important to know about our ancestors. Reinventing Hindu India is a humble effort to rediscover about  our Gods &  our ancestors  & go back  to the ancient times  and know what had really happened to our ancestors ie our Gods, a few centuries back.  We shall start our journey from Maharashtra ie the lands of Hindu pride ie the heart of hinduism. 

 Maharashtra/Goa –  

 

There are several  evidences which led  historians to believe that  the Guptas were the original inhabitants of that region of northeastern India. However some other believed that their home land was Murshidabad, bengal.

Chandragupta I, who is mentioned as Maharajadhiraja, he and his son Ghatotkacha are referred to in some inscriptions as Maharaja At the beginning of the 5th century the Guptas established and ruled a few small Hindu kingdoms in Magadha and around modern-day Bihar.  Ghatotkacha  (reigned c. 280–319 CE), had a son named Chander gupta  Chandragupta was married to Kumaradevi, ai Lichhavi princess—the main power in Magadha. With a dowry of the kingdom of Magadha (capital Patliputra) and an alliance with the Licchavis of Nepal, Chandragupta set about expanding his power, conquering much of Magadha, Prayga and saketa. He established a realm stretching from the Ganges river to Prayaga by 321 CE. He assumed the imperial title of Maharajadhiraja. He expanded his empire through marriage alliances.  Samudragupta  Parakramanka succeeded his father in 335 CE, and ruled for about 45 years, until his death in 380 CE. He took the kingdoms of Ahichchatra and Padmavati early in his reign. He then attacked the Malwas, the Yaudheyas, the Arjunayanas, theMadurasand theAbhiras, all of which were tribes in the area. By his death in 380, he had incorporated over twenty kingdoms into his realm and his rule extended from the Himalayas to the river narmada  and from the Brtahmaputra and Yamuna. He gave himself the titles King of Kings and a World Monarch.  He performed Ashwamedha yajna in which a horse with an army is sent to all the nearby territories of friends and foes. Samudragupta was not only a talented military leader but also a great patron of art and literature. He conquered what is now kashmir and Afganistan enlarging the empire.

According to the Gupta records, amongst his manns, Samudragupta nominated prince Chandra Gupta II, born of queen Dattadevi, as his successor. Chandra Gupta II,Vikramaditya (the Sun of Power), ruled from 375 until 415. Chandra Gupta II also married to a Kadamba princess of Kuntala region and a princess of Naga lineage (Nāgakulotpannnā), Kuberanaga. His daughter Prabhavatigupta from this Naga queen was married to Rudrasen II the Vakataka ruler of Deccan.  His son Kumaragupta I was married to Kadamba princess of Karnataka region. Emperor Chandra Gupta II expanded his realm westwards, defeating the Saka Western Kshtrapas of Malwa Gujrat and Saurashtra  in a campaign lasting until 409, but with his main opponent Rudrasemha III defeated by 395, and crushing the Bengal (Vanga) chiefdoms. This extended his control from coast-to-coast, established a second capital at Ujjain  and was the high point of the empire.

Despite the creation of the empire through war, the reign is remembered for its very influential style of Hindu art, literature, culture and science, especially during the reign of Chandra Gupta II. Some excellent works of Hindu art such as the panels at the Dashavatara Temple in Deogarh  serve to illustrate the magnificence of Gupta art. Above all it was the synthesis of elements that gave Gupta art its distinctive flavour. During this period, the Guptas were supportive of thriving Budhist and Jain  cultures as well, and for this reason there is also a long history of non-Hindu Gupta period art. In particular, Gupta period Buddhist  was to be influential in most of East and Southeast Asia. Many advances were recorded by the Chinese scholar and traveller Fa-hien in his diary.

The court of Chandragupta was made even more illustrious by the fact that it was graced by the Navaratna (Nine Jewels), a group of nine who excelled in the literary arts. Amongst these men was the immortal Kalidasa whose works dwarfed the works of many other literary geniuses, not only in his own age but in the ages to come. Kalidasa was particularly known for his fine exploitation of the shringara (romantic) element in his verse.

Chandragupta II’s ascent to power and rule has been a source of inspiration for many popular stories and books.

Fahien, a Chinese  Budhist , was one of the pilgrims who visited India during the reign of Gupta emperor Chandergupta II . He started his journey from China in 399 CE and reached India in 405 CE. During his stay in India up to 411 CE, he went on a pilgrimage to Mathura Kannauj, Kapilavastu, Kushinagar, Vaishali, Patliputra, Kashi and Rajgriha. and  and made careful observations about the empire’s conditions. Fa Hien was pleased with the mildness of administration. The Penal Code was mild and offences were punished by fines only. From his accounts, the Gupta Empire was a prosperous period, until the Rome-China trade axis was broken with the fall of the Han dynasty, the Guptas’ did indeed prosper. His writings form one of the most important sources for the history of this period.

Chandragupta II was succeeded by his second son Kumaragupta I  born of Mahadevi Dhruvasvamini. Kumaragupta I assumed the title, Mahendraditya. He ruled until 455. Towards the end of his reign a tribe in the Narmada valley, the Pushyamitras, rose in power to threaten the empire.

Silver coin of the Gupta King Kumargupta I  AD (414–455) (Coin of his Western territories, design derived from the western satraps.  Skandguta, son and successor of Kumaragupta I is generally considered to be the last of the great Gupta rulers. He assumed the titles of Vikramaditya and Kramaditya. He defeated the Pushyamitra threat, but then was faced with invadingHephthalites or “White Huns”, known in India as the Sweta Huna, from the northwest. He repulsed a Huna attack c. 455 CE, But the expense of the wars drained the empire’s resources and contributed to its decline. Skandagupta died in 467 and was succeeded by his agnate brother Purugupta 

A study of the epigraphical records of the Gupta empire shows that there was a hierarchy of administrative divisions from top to bottom. The empire was called by various names such as Rajya, Rashtra, Desha, Mandala, Prithvi and Avani. It was divided into 26 provinces, which were styled as Bhukti, Pradesha andBhoga. Provinces were also divided into Vishyas and put under the control of the Vishayapatis. A Vishayapati administered the Vishaya with the help of the Adhikarana (council of representatives), which comprised four representatives: Nagarasreshesthi, Sarthavaha, Prathamakulike and Prathama Kayastha. A part of the Vishaya was called Vithi. There were also trade links of Gupta business with the Roman empire;

Scholars of this period include Vrahmihira Aryabhata, who is believed to be the first to come up with the concept of zero, postulated the theory that the earth moves round the sun  and studied solar and lunar eclipses Kalidas, who was a great playwright, who wrote plays such as Shakuntla which is said to have inspired Goeeth  and marked the highest point of sanskrit literature is also said to have belonged to this period. The famous sushruta samhita, which is a Sanskrit redaction text on all of the major concepts of ayurvedic medicine with innovative chapters on surgery, dates to the Gupta period. Chess  is said to have originated in this period, where its early form in the 6th century was known as caturanga , which translates as “four divisions of the military ie  infantry cavalry Elephants and Chariotry  – represented by the pieces that would evolve into the modern pawn, knight, rook, and bishop, respectively. Doctors also invented several medical instruments, and even performed operations. The Indian numeralss  which were the first position base to 10 numeral systems  the world originated from Gupta India.

During the Gupta period, It was discovered that  the earth is round and rotates about its own axis. He also discovered that the Moon and planets shine by reflected sunlight. Instead of the prevailing cosmogony in which eclipses were caused by pseudo-planetary nodes Rahu and Ketu  he explained eclipses in terms of shadows cast by and falling on Earth. Prabhavati was a 4th-century regent of the western Indian Vakataka  dynasty. Prabhavati was the daughter of a Naga dynasty princess from northern India, who was wife of Gupta Emperor Chander Gupta II when the Naga lands were overrun by Gupta soldiers. Recognized as an heiress of Chandragupta, Prabhavati was married to the Vakataka king. When the Vakataka king died shortly after the wedding, Prabhavati took the reins of government and ruled for over 20 years, allying the Vakataka state closely with Gupta interests

Pune Copper Plate Inscription of Prabhavati Gupta – Regnal Year – 13 – Language Sanskrit

Script: Nail headed variety of the late Brahmi of the southern class (with some peculiarities of northern class) of 5^th century AD

 The legend on the seal clearly indicates that Prabhavati Gupta received the royal power apparently as regent. Hence the year given on the seal must be her own regnal year. It is interesting

 to note that in her 13^th regnal year her eldest son diwakar asena who had at least two brothers younger to him, were not invested with royal power, although he could be minor at this date.

The Vākātaka Empire was a royal Indian dynasity that originated from the deccan in the mid-third century CE. Their state is believed to have extended from the southern edges of Malwa and Gujrat in the north to the Tungabhadra river in the south as well as from the Arabian Sea in the western to the edges of Chhatisgarh to the east. They were the most important successors of the Satavahnas on the deccan and contemporaneous with the Guptas in northern India.The Vākātakas, like many coeval dynasties of the Deccan, claimed Buddhist origin. Little is known about Vindhyaśakti (c. 250–270 CE), the founder of the family. Territorial expansion began in the reign of his son Pravarasena I. It is generally believed that the Vākātaka dynasty was divided into four branches after Pravarsena I. Two branches are known and two are unknown. The known branches are the Pravarpura-Nandivardhana branch and the Vatsagulma branch. The Gupta emperor Chandergupta II married his daughter into Vakataka royal family and with their support annexed Gujrat from the Saka Satraps in fourth century CE. The Vakataka power was followed by that of the Chalukyas of Badami in Deccan.The Vakatakas are noted for having been patrons of the arts, architecture and literature. They led public works and their monuments are a visible legacy. The rock-cut buddhist viharas and chaityas of Ajanta caves was built under the patronage of Vakataka Emperor Harishena A yuvraj Diwakar is mentioned as an author in the Sadukti Karomrata.

The plates were found with copper smith of Pune, who originally belonged to Ahmad Nagar. They appear to have been heirloom in the family for several generationsFrom the Facsmile in Ep.Ind,XV facing p.42, the isht deva of Vakataka was Siva. But prabhavati inherited bhagwatism , who had made bhagwatism or vaishnavism very popular in India, even the southern parts by 5^th century Ad. Many inscriptions of this period begin with Vaishnava invocation. “Jitam Bhagwata’ ef Pallava grants of simhavarnman II and his ancestors (infra vol IV 25-30) and grants of Madhava and of Western Ganga Dynasity (infra IV, S1 S2) It may however be noted that even Prabhavatis son, Pravarasena II continued the family allegiance to Siva (See his chanmak grant of the year 18, infra, Vol III Inscription no.4Prabhavatigupta, the daughter of the Maharajadhiraja Devagupta, the glorious, who, through possessing the favour of God Shambhu, is as virtuous as one belonging to the Krita age,  who is the ornament of the lineage of the Vakatakas.The city Nandivardhan has been identified with modern Nandardhan near Ramtek, in Nagpur District MP The city is mentioned in Kothuraka grant of of Pravarasena II regnal year 2 ( .ind.XXVI,pp159 f.) and Rithapur plates of Bhavadattavarman (ibid.XIX. p 100) Also infra III,160 It can not be identified identified with Nagardhan in the same neighborhood (The first king among the Guptas in her Rithpur

The title of Chandergupta I was MaharajadhirajaThough in the genecology’s of his successors’ inscriptions, he is eulogized as (Chirotannashvomethahatton” and his Asvamedhatype of coins hearing the legend “Ashvod-prakarmah: are known, It is no where claimed that he performed many Asvamedhas. It should also be noted that the usual epithets of Samudragupta invariably found in official Gupta records are transferred here to Prabhavatiguptas father  The evidences indicate that the rulers of Maharashtra were Hindus.  More gold and silver coins of Chandra Gupta II have been discovered than those of his father, Samudra Gupta, or of his son, Kumara Gupta I. The most important innovations introduced by Chandra Gupta II were in the coinage of the country. His coins are characterized by considerable originality. The throned goddess is now replaced by purely Indian type of goddess seated on a lotus. His other types are the couch type, the umbrella type, the simha-parakrama type and original horseman type. Chandra Gupta II is also responsible for the introduction of a currency of silver and copper coins, the former being considerably extended by Kumara Gupta I and Skanda Gupta. Fa Hien’s statement that cowries were the only articles used in buying and selling, though of great numismatic interest, has to be taken to be referring to petty transactions. The inscriptions mention the suvarnas and dinaras which were generously distributed by the Gupta sovereign among his people. Chandra Gupta II had, besides Prabhavatigupta, two or three children from his chief Queen, Dhruvadevi. Kumara Gupta, his eldest son, succeeded him on the throne, while Govinda Gupta, and perhaps also Ghatotkaca Gupta were appointed viceroys to rule over certain provinces in his vast empire. Certain mediaeval chieftains of Kanarese districts claimed descent from Chandra Gupta II. The origin of this tradition is to be traced back to some unrecorded adventures of Vikramaditya in the Deccan.Chandra Gupta II had become the master practically of the whole of Northern India, after having exterminated the Scythians of the Punjab, the north-west frontiers and Western India. Through the matrimonial alliance with the Vakatakas, he had neutralized the only rival power in India. He wielded, in fact, complete domination even over the Vakataka territory, as shown above.He was unquestionably the paramount sovereign of India in his times. The latest date of Chandra Gupta II, which is given in the Sanci pillar inscription, viz, 412- 13 AD, and the earliest date of his successor, Kumara Gupta I, mentioned in the Bilsad stone pillar inscription, viz., 415-16 AD, would indicate that Chandra Gupta II died and was succeeded by his eldest son, Kumara Gupta It sometime between 413 and 415 AD. We know from Sanchi Stone inscription of Chandergupta II year 93 (Supra II, 12)that he had a favorite alias Devaraja. Thew present inscription read with chammak grant of Pravarasena II (Infra III, 4) It is clear that Devegupta mentioned as Prabhavatis father in the latter inscription was identical with Chandergupta II and is not to be identified with Devgupta of the later gupta dynasty. Note that Prabhavati gupta uses not only the cognomen and the gotra of her parents , instead of her husbands, but also she gives pride of place of her parental genealogy. Apparently it was due to the great power and prestige of the Gupta emperors that makes her assert her descent from them not because of any injunctions of Dharamshastras, which Sircar (Sel.incs.I,P436 n.9) discusses in this context.

As per the second plate, The district is also known from the kothuraka grant (Ep.Ind XXXI, PP158 f) It is identified as the Hingerghat tehsil of the Wardha district. Hinganghat is possibly corrupted from (Udduunguna) The History of Wardha dates back to prehistoric period. It has a unique place in the Indian Natural History.. It was included in the empire of Mauryas Sungas Satyavahnas and Vakatakas. Modern Pavanar  was once the capital of the Vakataka dynasty. Vakatakas were contemporary of Imperial Guptas. The daughter of Chandragupta II (Vikramaditya) was married with Vakataka ruler Rudrasena. The period of Vakatakas was the 2nd to 5th centuries AD and their empire stretches from Arabian sea in west to Bay of Bengal in east, Narmada river in north to Krishna-Godavari delta in south. Later on, Wardha was ruled by Chalukyas, Rashtrakutas Yadavas & Bahamni sultanate and Marathas. Raja Buland Shaha of Gonds, Raghuji of Bhonsale was the prominent rulers in Medieval period. Nearby 1850s Wardha, fell into the hands of British.

The word “Datti” means  Gift.   According to the then custom

Apporva Dattya  relates to the things which were not previously granted.   Srishtha “Bhat” term   probably meant a policeman- (Chhatra Literally an umbrella bearer) Appears to be the leader of a posse of bhatas Presumably Chhatra & Bhat found compounded with Bhat in other records.  It is pertinent to mention here that Datia had formerly been a state in the bundelkhand region.The ruling family were Rajputs of the Bundela clan. They descended from a younger son of a former raja of Orchha. The state was administered as part of the Bundelkhand agency of Central India. It lay in the extreme north-west of Bundelkhand, near Gwalior, and was surrounded on all sides by other princely states of Central India, except on the east where it was bordered upon the United Provinces. It was second highest in the rank of all the Bundela states after Orchha.

Gupta empire maintained a very large army consisting of 500,000 infantry, 50,000 cavalry, 20,000 charioteers and 10,000 elephants along with a powerful navy with more than 1200 ships. Chandragupta II controlled the whole of the Indian subcontinent; the Gupta empire was the most powerful empire in the world during his reign, at a time when the Roman empire in the west was in decline.

Army troops used to move in two phases  referring to the needs of kings touring officers or Army According to Mirashi, Cha = Grass for the horses of touring officers   ”Asan Charman” =Hides for their seats, Adgar = Charcoal for their cooking. Elsewhere we also have “Aprampra-balivardad-grahan Apramparah” = Free from customary obligations. Moist commodity, Minerals, were called  Alavan-klin-klin kreni. During these troop movements,  the villagers were expected to provide Sacrificial Animals to the King.  Paar referred to free ferrying in some records and “Asan” = encamping – the two phases Pashu Medhya – “Nidhi” referred to  Treasure- Trove or unclaimed wealth “Upnidhi” = Surface finds But according to the Vishnu Samhita III 36, 39 “Nidhi” is wealth whose owner is not known and upnidhi = Sealed deposit.  “Klript” = possibly a fixed tax “Upklript” = Occasional or Casual taxes According to Mirashi “ Krliptop klript” = with minor or major taxes of other records  

The Imperial Guptas could have achieved their successes through force of arms with an efficient martial system. Historically, the best accounts of this period has not  come from the Hindu India themselves but from the Chinese and Western observers. However, a contemporary Indian document, regarded as a military classic of the time, the Siva-Dhanur-veda, offers some insight into the military system of the Guptas.

The Guptas seem to have relied heavily on infantry archers, and the bow was one of the dominant weapons of their army. The Hindu version of the longbow was composed of metal, or more typically bamboo, and fired a long bamboo cane arrow with a metal head. Unlike the composite bows  of Western and Central Asian foes, bows of this design would be less prone to warping in the damp and moist conditions often prevalent to the region. The Indian longbow was reputedly a powerful weapon capable of great range and penetration and provided an effective counter to invading horse archers. Iron shafts were used against armored elephants and fire arrows were also part of the bowmen’s arsenal. India historically has had a prominent reputation for its steel weapons. One of these was the steel bow. Due to its high tensility, the steel bow was capable of long range and penetration of exceptionally thick armor. These were less common weapons than the bamboo design and found in the hands of noblemen rather than in the ranks. Archers were frequently protected by infantry equipped with shields, javelins, and longswords. The Guptas also had knowledge of siegecraft, catapults, and other sophisticated war machines.

The Guptas apparently showed little predilection for using horse archers, despite the fact these warriors were a main component in the ranks of their Scythian, Parthian, and Hepthalite (Huna) enemies. However, the Gupta armies were probably better disciplined. Able commanders like Samudragupta and Chandragupta II would have likely understood the need for combined armed tactics and proper logistical organization. Gupta military success likely stemmed from the concerted use of elephants, armored cavalry, and foot archers in tandem against both Hindu kingdoms and foreign armies invading from the Northwest. The Guptas also maintained a navy, allowing them to control regional waters. 

The collapse of the Gupta Empire in the face of the Huna onslaught was  not directly due to the inherent defects of the Gupta army, which after all had initially defeated these people under Skandagupta. More likely, internal dissolution sapped the ability of the Guptas to resist foreign invasion, as was simultaneously occurring in Western Europe and China.

Indian Inscriptions Volume III

Research/Translatory Work

 

 

Maharashtra/Goa

 

Pune Copper Plate Inscription of Prabhavati Gupta – Regnal Year – 13 – Language Sanskrit

Script: Nail headed variety of the late Brahmi of the southern class (with some peculiarities of northern class) of 5^th century AD

 

1. The legend on the seal clearly indicates that Prabhavati Gupta received the royal power apparently as regent. Hence the year given on the seal must be her own regnal year. It is intresting to note that in her 13^th regnal year her eldest son diwakar asena who had atleast two brothers younger to him, were not invested with royal power, although he could be minor at this date.

(See HCIP Classical age P.180) A yuvraj Diwakar is mentioned as an author in the Sadukti Karomrata.

2. The plates were found with copper smith of Pune, who originally belonged to Ahmad Nagar. They appear to have been heirloom in the family for several generations.

1. From the Facsmile in Ep.Ind,XV facing p.42

2. In the left margin on the level between lines 3-4

3. The isht deva of Vakataka was Siva. But prabhavati inherited bhagwatism , who had made bhagwatism or vaishnavism very popular in India, even the southern parts by 5^th century Ad. Many inscriptions of this period begin with Vaishnava invocation. “Jitam Bhagwata’ ef Pallava grants of simhavarnman II and his ancestors (infra vol IV 25-30) and grants of Madhava and of Western Ganga Dynasity 9infra IV, S1 S2) It matu however be noted that even Prabhavatis son, Pravarasena II continued the family allegiance to Siva (See his chanmak grant of the year 18, infra, Vol III Inscription no. 4)

1. Nandivardhan has been identified with modern Nandardhan near Ramtek, in Nagpur District MP The city is mentioned in Kothuraka grant of of Pravarasena II regnal year 2 (Ep.ind.XXVI,pp159 f.) and Rithapur plates of Bhavadattavarman (ibid.XIX. p 100) Also infra III,160 It can not be identified identified with Nagardhan in the same neighborhood (The first king among the Guptas in her Rithpur

2. In fact the title of Chandergupta I was Maharajadhiraja

3. Though in the genecology’s of his successors’ inscriptions, he is eulogized as (Chirotannashvomethahatton” and his Asvamedhatype of coins hearing the legend “Ashvod-prakarmah: are known, It is no where claimed that he performed many Asvamedhas. It should also be noted that the usual epithets of Samudragupta invariably found in official Guopta records are transferred here to Prabhavatiguptas father

1. We know from Sanchi Stone inscription of Chandergupta II year 93 (Supra II, 12)that he had a favorite alias Devaraja. Thew present inscription read with chammak grant of Pravarasena II (Infra III, 4) It is clear that Devegupta mentioned as Prabhavatis father in the latter inscription was identical with Chandergupta II and is not to be identified with Devgupta of the later gupta dynasty.

2. Note that Prabhavati gupta uses not only the cognomen and the gotra of her parents , instead of her husbands, but also she gives pride of place of her parental genealogy. Apparently it was due to the great power and prestige of the Gupta emperors that makes her assert her descent from them not because of any injunctions of Dharamshastras, which Sircar (Sel.incs.I,P436 n.9) discusses in this context.

Second Plate

1. The district is also known from the kothuraka grant (Ep.Ind XXXI, PP158 f) It is identified as the Hingerghat tehsil of the Wardha district.

2. Pathak & Dikshit

Hinganghat is possibly corrupted from (Udduunguna)

 

3. “Datti” = Gift – Apporva Dattya – According to the custom this relates to the things which were not previously granted

4. Better – Srishtha

5. “Bhat” is probably a policeman- (Chhatra Literally an umbrella bearer) Appears to be the leader of a posse of bhatas Presumably Chhatra & Bhat found compounded with Bhat in other records.

 Better Chamadgharah: Alavan-klin-klin kreni = moist commodity, Khanaka- Minerals,

Charatan=pasturage, according to fleet or as Sircar suggests , Char = free movement

Paar= free ferrying in some records and “Asan” = encamping – the two phases referring to the needs of kings touring officers or Army According to Mirashi, Char = Grass for the horses of touring officers   ”Asan Charman” =Hides for their seats, Adgar = Charcoal for their cooking. Elsewhere we also have “Aprampra-balivardad-grahan Apramparah” = Free from customary obligations

 

2. Pashu Medhya – Sacrificial Animals that the villagers were expected to provide to the King

3. “Nidhi” = Treasure- Trove or unclaimed wealth “Upnidhi” = Surface finds But according to the Vishnu Samhita III 36, 39 “Nidhi” is wealth whose owner is not known and upnidhi = Sealed deposit

4. “Klript” = possibly a fixed tax “Upklript” = Occasional or Casual taxes According to Mirashi “ Krliptop klript” = with minor or major taxes of other records

Seal ; This is the enemy – chastising command of the mother of the heir-apparent, who is the ornament of the vakatakas and Who has obtained royal dignity in due succession

In margin- seen

L1 Success Victorious is the lord Vishnu Hail from Nandi Vardhana

L11-7 There was a maharaja Sri Ghatotkacha, the first king among the Guptas. His noble son was Maharaja

1. “utkattitam” = Engraved

Sri Chandragupta – His son was Maharajadhiraja

Sri Samudragupta – Who was performer of many asvamedha sacrifices : who was the daughters son of the Lichchhavis and who was begotten on the Chief queen Kumaradevi. His noble son accepted or favored by his majesty was Maharajdhiraj Sri Chander Gupta who was a matchless warrior on the earth. Who was the exterminator of all the kings; whose fame was tested by waters of all the four oceans; Who was the giver of many thousands of crores of cows and gold and who was the devout worshipper of Lord Vishnu

L1.7-13: His daughter Dhraha gotra and begotten on the illustrious chief queen Kubernaga (herself) born in the Naga family; the illustrious Prabhavati Gupta, who is the chief queen of Maharaja Shri Rudrasena (II) of the vakatakas and the mother of the heir apparent Sri Divakarsena ; and who is ornament to both the families and is extremely devoted to the Lord Vishnu – after announcing her well being commands the Brahmins and other house holders of the village in the unguna village in the supratishta ahara and located to the eastern side of the village Vilavinaka to the southern side of village shirsha, to the Western side of Kadapinjana and to the northern side of sidivivarka:-

 L1.13-15 Be it known to you that we have for the enhancement of our religious merit bestowed this village as a fresh grant with liberation of water on ( this) the twelfth ( day) of the bright (half) of (the month) of Karttika; after having first offered it at the feet of Lord Vishnu upon Acharya Chanalasvamin a devotee of Lord Vishnu. For this reason you should carry out all injunctions with proper deference.

L1.15-18 And here in wew confer the exemptions incident to a agrahara (Village) belonging to a community of Chaturvidyas as approved by the earlier kings viz the village is out of bounds for police men and umbrella bearers or police officers ; is free from the obligation to provide to the state right of improvement and encampment of troops, hides, charcoal,moist commodities and minerals; free from the obligations to provide sacrificaial animals; free from the demands of flowers and milk, with right to treasure troves and other unclkaimed wealth and free from fixed and casual tax.

Evidently Chaturvaidyas means those well versed with four vedas

 L1.18-20 So this grant should be protected and increased by future kings. Whosoever disregarding our charter shall make or cause to make the slightest obstruction here, him, on being reported by Brahmnas, we will arrest and punish.

L1.18-21 In this context there is a verse sung by vyasas :- here a customary imprecatory verse is quoted

L.22 And this charter is written in the thirteenth year engraved by Chakardasa.

2. Rithapur Copper – Plate inscription of Prabhavati Gupta of the time of Pravarsena II – Regnal Year 19

Province: Rithapur (Riddhapura) Amraoty District Maharashtra

 Script : Box headed variety of Late Brahmi of the southern class of the 5^th Century AD

Language Sanskrit

Metres: V1

ReferencesY R Gupta Journal and Proceedings of ASB NS XX pp 58 ff DC Sircar Sel INSS I pp 439-42

Note that this record is later in date than the chammak plates issued by Pravarsena II in his 18 th regnal year (Infra III,4)

 Second Plate – First Side

1. From the facsimile in J.P.A.S.A.B., N.S. XX.

2. Ramagiri is identified with modern Ramtek near Nagpur. The God Ramagiri Swamin at Ramtek must have been a form of Vishnu the isht devta of Prabhvati most probably Rama, to whom the place continues to be sacred even today.

 It appears the brothers Damodarsena and Pravarsena ruled after one after the other. At the time of death of their father Rudesena II, both were minors an eventuality necessitating the regency of Prabhavati Gupta foir at least 13 years. The Rithapur grant was issued when her younger son, Praversena, had completed more then 18 years rule and she had completed a century of life. Thus she was 82, when Praversen II ascended the throne. Since the child bearing age of a woman ends before 50, Praversena must be over 32 at the time. Even if Rudersena II died soon after the birth of Praversena II we have to account for 32 years of rule, of which Prabhavatis regency accounts for 13 years and we have to assign the intervening 19 years to Divakersenas rule. In reality, however the gap between Rudersenas death and Praversenas ascent to throne may have been more then 50 yearsgiving Divakersenaa reign of nearly 40 years. Hence we can not accept the suggestion of Sircar that : “it is not altogether impossible that 5the brothers were ruling different parts of of the kingdom at the same time and that as the lannd granted fell in the kingdom of Pravarsena, his regnal year was recorded. See also his other arguments (Sel.Inss.,I,PP.440,n.2) ) It is note wothy that even in this vakataka grant the Gupta kings are given the higher title of Maharajadhiraj while vakatake kings reveive the lower designation Maharaj, showing that the latter functioned under a subordinate alliance with the Guptas. Extension of Gupta hegemony to the far south is also injdicated by the existence of the dynasity – Guttas –Guptas) of Guttal, in the Darwar district and the story of the connection of a daughter of Chandragupta II with Srisaila and the Satara hoard of more then one thousand coins of Kumargupta I.

(V V Mirashis suggestion (Comprehensive History of Ind. 1981 p 137 and n 53) that Pravarsen was the coronation name of Damodarsena)

Second Plate Second Slide

Gupta: Div – and Pottra. V V Mirashi, ( Notes on D.R. Bhandarkars inscriptions of the early Gupta Kings (PP 48-49) explains “Tagr-varsh-shat-jeev-putr-poutra” as “She whose sons and grand sons will live for more then a hundred years” It does not appear plausible. Why only for more then 100 years why not 1000 years. The adjectives “jeevsuta and jeevputra” (= jeevatsutra & jeevatputra occur else where in prescriptions in the sense “She whose son or sons are alive.

See also Ep.ind.,VIII p 73; Ep.ind.XXIX p139 and XXXIV p 241

 

2. Identified with Asatnagar in the Elichpur district Maharashtra. It was situated along the road leading to or named after Kasika. Sircar reads Kausikmarga and suggests that it is the name of the region and doesnot mean a road here

3. “Brree” was originally engraved instead of Brra

4. Read “ta-putr-poutranam”

5. I.e. a house Inivesena0 complete with inner ladies apartments (abhyantpur= antahpur)

 

 

 

Third Plate Second Slide

 

1. Bhuktkabhog-kshetram -= The field that they already enjoy

2. Same as snidhih sopnidhih: vishti = Forced labor. For other immunities see notes on Pune plates of Prabhavato Gupta above (Supra III,1,ll 17-18 notes)

 English Translation

L.1       Om ! Vistopry to the Lord (Vishnu)

From near the feet of the divine Lord of Ramagiri

L1.1-13   There was Maharaj Sri Ghatotkacha, the first king among the Guptas. His son was Maharaj Sri

 

1. Better Dushkritam ! Iti !

2. Read Rajyam Prashastah or Rajya Prashasan ) Svaatsre akonvinshtitam. The form vishintim is also possible (vishanti manam yatya sah vishanti ma ) But it is not found in the usage except in the Prakrit

3. Gupte   (Vavendswami)

 Chandrgupta

His son accepted at his feet by him, was Maharaja Sri SamudraGupta, Who was the daughter’s son of Lichchhavis, begotten on the chief queen, kumradevi. His son accepted at his feet was Maharajadhiraja Sri Chandergupta, who was the giver of many thousand crore of cows and gold acquired by lawful means; who was the exterminator of all kings; who was the matchless warrior on the earth; who was a devout worshipper of the devine Vishnu and who was begotten on the chief queen prabhavati-gupta, who is of Dharna gotra; Who was begotten on kubernagadevi born in the naga family; who is an ornament to both the dynasties; who has been leading queen of Rudrasen (II) of the vakataka fanmily; who is the mother of Maharaja Sri Damodarsena and Pravarsena II ; who is devoted to the feet of the (Divine) Bhagvat; who is above a hundred years in age and has living sons and grand sons – After mentioning her well being, commands the villagers led by Brahmins and the village Mahattaras in Asvatthanagara located on the road of Kasika:-

L1.13-16   For the purpose of increasing our religious merit for this world and the next , we have bound down 9ie granted) by this Copper plate charter with

 

Pp19 liberation of water, the field that was already being enjoyed by him and four home steads for cultivators together with a house with ladies inner apartments; to the brahmins of Parasara gotra And of Taittiriya Sakha (Of the Yajurveda) along with their sons and grandsons also.

L1.16-21 And we grant for this (gifted field ) appropriate exemptions and restrictions assign4ed to the villages of the communities “Chaturvedins” as were approved by former kings. These are (as follows), are free from taxes, out of bounds for regular and irregular soldiers, free from obligation of supplying flowers and milk, free from the obligation of supplying fodder, (Chara) Seats, hides and charcoal ( to passing troops) free from the obligation to supply salt, moist and purchasable commodities and minerals, exempted from all types of forced labor, with the right to hidden treasures and deposits, together with the right to fixed and other miscellaneous taxes, to be enjoyed for as long as the moon and the sun endure and inheritable by sons & grand sons.

L1.21-24 : Obstruction (During the enjoyment of the field) should not be caused by any one (rather) it should be protected or increased. And he who ignoring our charter puts even a

Small obstruction or causes one, to be put him on being reported by the Brahmins, We shall arrest and punish.

L1.24-29 In this honoring of religious persons, we are not mentioning the gifts, care and nursing by many past kings to avoid repetition of meritorious deeds. We are commanding present people who have been made to submit by persistent determination and valour. And in this context a verse sung by Vyasa is the authority

(Here an imprecatory verse is quoted)

 

 

L1.29-31 In the 19^th year of   reign of Maharaja Sri Pravarsena (II) of the Vakataka family, on the 12^th day of the bright fortnight of the lunar month of karttika

L.31 The Dutaka is Devanandasvamin written by Prabhusimha

 Two incomplete grants of Pravarsena II from Wardha District – Regnal year 11 (of second grant)

4. Provenance: Belora Arvi Tehsil, Wardha District Maharashtra

Script: Box headed variety of Brahmy

Language: Sanskrit

Refrences: V V Mirashi, Ep.Ind- XXIV, pp. 260–67

 

1. The two sets of A and B were found in the possession of N H Jane of Belora. Originally each of the two sets had three plates of which only two each have survived. The last plate of set A and the first of set B are missing. All the four plates are palimpsests showing clear traces of earlier letters, which were beaten in before incising the present charters. Set B records the grant of two villages one of which had already given by the same king to the same donee by set A giving the impression that the set B is a forgery made with the purpose of adding another village to the original grant. But there was no need of replacing the third plate of the first set. Also the formation of letters and occurrence of same orthographical pecuilarities and grammatical mistakes in both the records make it highly probabale that both the grants were written by same clerk in the secreteriate of the Vakatakas. Senapati Chitravarman mentioned in set B, continued to hold office till atleast the 18^th year of Pravarsena II (C.I.I, III p-240 infra II,4, P60). These facts indicate its genuineness. It appears that on a request from the donee to issue him a consolidated charter for the grants the Set B was issued.

 From the Facsimiles in Ep.Ind,XXIV, facing p.264, for set A and facing p 266 for set B

1. Nandivardhan is most probably identical with the Nagardhan ( Also called Nandardhan) near Ramtek as suggested by Hiralal9 Ep.IX, P 43)

2. This mark of punctuation and several others in the text of both the sets are superfluous

 

Second Plate Second Slide

 

1. The mark of punctuation is superfluous

2. Sailpura has been identified with salbardi situated in the midst of hills about 24 Kms east of Ladki.It is an ancient place where some old caves and hot springs are located. Asi the chief town of Bhukti may be identified with Ashti, about 16 kms south east of Belora. Mahallalata or the larger lalata may be represented by Ladki or Ghat Ladki in th43e Morsi Taluk of Amraoti district about 29 km N.W. of Belora. The smaller Lalata of times may be the same as the modern Ladegaon on the left bank of Wardha, about 32 kms south of Belora.

 Set A

English Translation The text of the seal and of L1.1-12 is identical with the corresoponding text in the chamak plates of Pravarsena II. For translation of this section See Chamak Plates above)

1. This mark of punctuation is superfluous

2. Perhaps this town received its name from a shrine of Sivacalled Pravaresvara installed by Pravarsena and named after himself.

3. The stop is indicated by two concentric circles with horizontal arms on either side.

 L1.12-14 At the command of Param Maheshvara Maharaja Sri Pravarsena II, the village Mahallalata in the ASI bhukti on the road tyo Sailapura, has been granted to the Brahmna Suryasvamin of Kasyapa Gotra and Taittiriya sakha and a resident of Praveresvara-shadvinisati-vataka.

 

L1.14-16 Wherefore all our officers appointed on supervisory assignments and the high born officers incharge of conveying orders and regular soldiers and their leaders be commanded with the already announced orders.

L1.16-18   Be it known to you that for the increase of our piety, life strength, victories and royal fortune in this world and for our welfare in this and the next world and for favoring ourselves, this village has been granted with liberation of water as a fresh gift and as a religious endowment conducive to victory.

1. “Chhatrah” is variously interpreted as irregular soldiers or officer in charges of soldiers or as the umbrella holders (from Chhatra=umbrella)

Incomplete grants of Praversena II from Wardha District – Regnal Year 11- Set B

Second Plate First Slide

 Since Set B is almost a verbal copy of Set A it is evident that the missing first plate carried the first six lines of the text as in Set A

 Pp 29

Second Plate Second Slide

Perhaps identical with Dighi on the left bank of the Wardha about 48 Kms from Ashti. Pakkana can not be identified.

TO BE CONTINUED