Inscription of Mrigesavarman

Inscription number 55.

Copper Plate Inscription of Mrigesavarman. (Regnal) year 2.

(450 to 475 A.D. )

Mrigesavarman was the eldest son and successor of santivarman

and the grand son of Kakustha-varman.

who was born to King Bhageerath, the third ruler of the Kadamba dynasty. 

Consequent to  his death, the Kadamba kingdom was divided between his progeny. One of Kakusthavarma’s sons, Santivarman, succeeded his father at Banavasi and ruled over the northern part of the Kadamba realm.

Santivarman was a great conqueror.

He had to face the hostilitied of the Pallavas. His kingdom was divided into two consequent to the death of his father and the southern districts came under the rule of his younger brother Krishnavarma.

This Krishnavarma, however, fought the Pallavas, and was defeated and killed in battle and his son Vishnuvarman became a subordinate ally of the Pallavas. Mrigesavarman, the son of Santivarman tried his best to turn the tables on the Pallavas but could not, however his son Ravivarman was more successful than his immediate predecessor and he brought about the re-unification of the Kadamba kingdom.

Provenance: Former Mysore state, Karnataka.

Exact find spot not known.

Script: Box-headed variety of Southern Brahmi.

Language: Sanskrit.

References: G. S. Gai,  Ep.Ind, XXXV,

 pp.151-52.

Footnote 1.

1. From the facsimile in Ep-Ind XXXV.

 2.    चर्चा =  repetition of a word (Particular in reciting the Veda)

English Translation of the inscription.

Success! 

In the victorious city of Vaijayanta.

The tenth tithi of fourth fortnight of Hemanta (autumn) of the

ever victorious year two of the pious Maharaja, the illustrious

Vijaya Siva Mrigesvarman of the family of the Kadambas, who

regularly recites the vedic verses, who is the son of Hariti and is of Manavya lineage and who was anointed as a

result of contemplation of Lord Mahasena, Kartkikeya and

the group (his six) mothers. On this aforesaid date, the

pious Maharaja Mrigesvarman, who is extremely religious, who is ever engaged making multifarious charities, who descended from very pure paternal and matern al lineages, and

who acquired virtuous qualities in numerous previous births, gave, for his own well-being and prosperity, with all immunities and according to the laws applicable to gifts to Brahmanas, in the Antarmalaya state a pukkolli field upto the water channel on the boundaries of the hamlets, Koguli and Poguya and another pukkolli field on the boundaries of Velpalli and Pottara also

upto the water-channel, to the two Brahmanas of Bhargava gotra,

namely Rudrarya and Nandyarya, who are possessed of the virtues of their own class.whosoever protects (this gift) he shares the fruit of this virtuous deed whosoever confiscates, he joins the great sins.

(Here follows one of the usual benedictory verses)