Omgodu Grant of Vijaya-Skanda-Varman 2–Year 33.
This grant of village Omgodu-grama was issued by Maharaja Vijaya-Skandavarman, from his camp Tambrapa, and was registered in the Karmma-rashtra as a sattvika-gift(i.e. A gift without returns) to Golasarman of the Kasyapa-gotra, a student of two Vedas and well versed in the six Angas, in recognition of his learnings.
The practice of endowing such satvik gifts, had been continuing from ancient times, down the centuries. The inscription also provide us information about the qualifications of individuals, who were considered worthy to receive land or a village, based on their education.
Provenance: From an unknown place in Narasaraopet taluk of the Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh.
Script: Brahmi of southern class.
Language” Sanskrit.
References: H.Krishna Sastri, Ep IND, XV, pp-246-52.
Footnote 1.
The Pallava dynasty to which Vijaya-Skanda-Varman 2, belonged, ruled from their capital at Kanchi (conjeeveram), the Tonds-mandalam and the Andhra country from 3rd to
the 9th century A.D. Their origin is obscure. It is stated in the Rayakota copper-plates that Asvatthaman,
the Brahmana founder of the race, married a Naga woman and had by her a son, called scandasishya. (see Ep.Ind,V, pp-52) 0ther copper-plates (e.g S.I.I, pp-355, vv.16 and 17) call this son Pallava, after whom the Family
came to be known as Pallava. Like the Kadambas of Vanavasi, the Nolambas of Mysore, the Matsyas, of 0ddavadi,
(or Oddadi) and other similar dynasties, the Pallavas appear to have been the progeny of Brahmanas from their
Dravidian spouses. (For references, see Ep.Ind, pp.246, nn.4- 7) They are, however, referred to, in an early
Kadamba record of the 6th century A.D. as Kshatriyas, who performed Vedic sacrifices. It is deduced from three
early Prakrit records (viz. two Conjeeveram grants of Siva-skanda-varman, the first issued as Yuva-maharaja i.e. before accession (Ep-Ind. VI, pp.84, Supra IV, 21) and the other mentioning Sata-hani-Rattha, issued after accession
(Ep.IndI,I, pp.2f) and the Myakadoni grant of 2nd century A.D. in which also Satavaghani- hara is mentioned
indicate the political succession of the Andhras, or Satavahanas, by the Pallavas of Kanchi. Early Pallava period also belong the plates (Infra IV, 24, Ep.Ind, VIII, pp143ff) discovered from Gunapadeya, Guntur district, dated in the reign of Vijaya-Skanda-Varman
and isaued by charudevi the queen of Yuvamaharaja, Vijaya-Buddha-Varman and the mother of Buddhyankura Vishnugopa, of Kanchi, whom Samudragupta clams to have captured and then released (Allahabad Pillar Inscription, Supra, II, 5) also appears to be an early Pallava king. Several later Pallava kings are known to have borne this name.
Shortly afterwards, about 350 AD the Pallavas were dispossessed of Kanchi presumably by the Kadambas, from
whom it appears, the cholas captured it A comparison of the genealogical lists given in the sanskrit charters leads us to reconstruct it as under
1. simhavarman – 1
2. Kumara-vishnu 1
3. Siva skanda-varman, son of Skanda-varman -1
4. Vira-varman, son of Siva-skanda-varman
5. Vijaya-skanda-varman
or skanda-varman 2, ( son of Vira-varman )
6. Simhavarman 2, son of Vijaya-skanda-varman.
7. Vishnugopavarman, son of Vijaya-skanda-varman.
8. Simhavarman 3, son of Vishnu-gopa-varman.
Kanchi Branch.
9. Kumara-vishnu, son of Vijaya-skanda-varman.
10. Buddha-varman, son of Kumara-vishnu.
11. Kumara-vishnu 2, son of Buddha-varman.
Footnote 2.
1. On the left margin.
2. Krishna Sastri,
But it is dimly visible, over the following tva.
3. The same as Kamma-nadu of later inscriptions, identical with the northern portion of Nellore district and a
part of the present Guntur district. Omgodu, as also perhaps Tambrapa and Palakkada, Menmatur a and
Dasanapura may have been located in the northern part of Nellore district.
English Translation of the inscription.
Peace ! From the victorious Tambrapa-sthanaa.
The Ayuktakas incharge of the Karma state and (the residents of the village of Omgodu be told on the orders of Maharaja Sri- Vijaya-Skanda-Varman, who understood the meaning the conclusions (verdict) and the gist of all the sastras who was devoted to the service of the gods and the Brahmanas, whose collection of religious
merit was increasing day by day, by numerous gifts of cows, gold and farmland etc, who was steadfast in his resolves, who was adorned with the approved conduct, who possessed
good character, and who was the son of sriviravarman to whom a circle of kings had submitted on account of (his)
valour (and) who possessed fame and majesty in consequence of victories, won in many battles, who (i.e. Sri – Vijaya-Skanda-Varman,
was the grandson of Maharaja Sri-skanda-varman, who attained
kingship with his own prowess and possessed a rich store of
(regal) power consisting of enthusiasm (or morale), majesty
(prabbu-sakti) and good councel, and who was the great grandson of Maharaja Sri-Kumara-vishnu of Bharadvaja gotra and Pallava race and was the performer of the asvamedha
sacrifices:-
This village Omgodu is given as a virtuous (sattvika) gift, with the eighteen kinds of exemptions
making it a brahma-deya village (i.e. an agrahara), excluding the
ploughed fields reserved for the main maintenance of the temple.(lit god) to this Kasyapa (Brahmana) Gola-sarman, well versed in two Vedas and the six angas (of the Veda). Therefore, it should be invested with all the (customary) immunities. He
that transgresses our command, shall deserve appropriate punishment.
In the thirty third, 33rd, victorious (regnal) year, in the third, 3rd, fortnight of autumn, (hemanta) on the thirteen
day this charter was written. In this context two verses are
quoted:
(Here follow two of the customary verses).
Footnote 3.
Sattvika gift is defined in the Bhagavadgita, XVII, 20, as the one given to a deserving person at a right time and place, without receiving a benefit in return.
But on the authority of Monier
Williams, Krishna Sastri (EP-Ind,
XV, pp. 250, n.,4) assigns this word, the meaning,
An offering or oblation, (without pouring water)
2. The number of Pari-haras are mentioned in Hira-hadagali
plates of Siva-skanda-varman (Ep.Ind, I, pp.6 and supra, IV, 22, LL.31-35.)