SOUTH-WESTERN INDIA.
THE BHOJAS.
Goa was ruled by various sanatna dharma rulers. They were: the Bhojas, Satavahanas, Kshatrapas, Abhiras, Traikutakas of Konkan, Kalachuris, Mauryas of Konkan, Chalukyas of Badami, Shilaharas, Goa Shilaharas, Kadambas, Vijayanagara etc.
King Devaraya is the earliest known ruler of the Bhoja dynasty of Chandrapur. He may be placed somewhere in the 4th century AD.
A number of Copper-plates found in Goa assigned to 4th to 7th century A.D. reveal names of following few other Bhoja Kings.
Devaraja
Asankita
Asankitavarman
Kapalivarman
Prithvimallavarman
Chetasadevi (Prithvimallavarman’s mother)
Shatrudamana (Prithvimallavarman’s brother)
Bhoja dynasty ruled, parts of Goa as well as Karnataka, from 3rd century AD to the 6th century in feudal allegiance to the Maurya empire. The Bhoja seat of power was located at Chandrapura or Chandraura (Modern Chandor.
The earliest available references to Bhoja empire is found in Bhavishya Purana. They are connected to the Yadavas from Dwarka and were followers of Sanatana Dharma
Goa Plates of Bhoja – Prithivimallavarman.
Inscription number 21. – Regnal Year 2.
Provenance: Goa. Exact find-spot not known.
Script: Southern Brahmi of late sixth century and early 7th century A.D. The letters are surmounted by small hooks
Language: Sanskrit.
References: G.S. Gai, Ep.Ind., XXXIII, pp.61-63.
Footnote-1
1. From the facsimile in Ep.Ind., XXXIII, Pl.I, A. facing pp.62 of the six known plates of the dynasty, the siroda plates of Devaraja, assignable to the 4th
century A.D. on palaeographical grounds, are the earliest.
The other plates are: Hiregutti plates of
Asankita (Ep.Ind.. XXVIII, pp.70 ff.), Arga plates of Kapali-varman (Ibid.. XXXI, pp.232-34) infra III, 23, and kapoli(Hiy)
plates of Asankitavarman,(Ibid. , pp.234-36,infra III, 24, since they do not mention their ancestry, their mutual
relationship cannot be determined, nor can we be sure if the Asankitavarman in the teo plates, is the same person. These plates give us five names of Bhoja kings.
English Translation of the inscription.
Seen !
From the victorious Vrishabhinikheta, At the command of Prithivimallavarman of the Bhoja family, the present and
future (officers, namely) the Bhojaka, the Ayuktaka, the Sthayin etc., in the village of Bhagalapallika in the country of Kupalapakatahara, be told that we have, on the request of our brother satrudaman, and for the increase of religious merit of our mother, chetasadevi, given with (libation) of water, the £field under cultivation, bounded by a string of blue hills (or named, Niladamavapraka) exempt with all the immunities, to the Brahmana Madhavarya of Agnivesya gotra. So
knowing thus, nobody should cheat (i.e. deprive him) . Beset by the infirmities of passion, enmity. greed, infatuation
intoxication and jealousy whosoever, whether from amongst our
family or an outsider, destroys (this gift), he shall be united with the five great sins and minor sins.
The charter-plate was given in the first flourishing year, on the thirteenth day of the bright half of Jyeshtha.
In this respect the order was from his {king’s mouth. It is a gift from Chetasadevi, daughter of Nellika. Written by Devasarmacharya of Bharadvaja gotra.
Footnote
Since the order was issued to subordinate officers, without any reference to any suzerain, it is
clear that Prithivimallavarman was an independent ruler, though no title, such as Maharaja is applied to his name.
None of the places mentioned in this
charter has been identifed.
Inscription number 22.
Goa Plates of Bhoja Prithivimallavarman
— (Regnal) year – 25.
Provenance: Goa.
Exact find-spot not known.
Script: Southern Brahmi of the late 6th or early 7th century A.D.
Language: Sanskrit.
References: G.S. Gai, Ep.Ind., XXXIII, pp.63-64.
Footnote-1
1. From the facsimile in Ep.Ind., XXXIII, Pl.II, B facing pp.64.
2. This word is superfluous.
3. Read
4. Khajjana, apparently is the same as the modern Marathi and Konkani word Khajan, meaning a rice field created out of the nullah of a sea-shore by putting
embankments after the ebb_tide.
English Translation of the inscription.
Seen From the Victorious Prithiviparvata. At the command of Prithivimallavarman of the Bhoja family, the present and future (officers, namely) the Bhojaka, the
Ayuktaka, the sthayin etc. stationed) in the village Malara,
in the country of Kupalakata, be told that for the sake of increasing the pile of virtue for ourself, we have granted
wth ( libation of) water, the rice-field
(called) Kapoti on the boundary of this village, to this Brahmana
Danarya, of Bharadvaja gotra and a descendant of Agnivesa.
Knowing this, nobody should cheat (i.e. deprive fraudulently).
whosoeverhere, over powered with passion, enmity, greed,
intoxication, jealousy etc. causes cheating (i.e. deprives
him fraudulently) he shall be united with the five great sins and the minor sins. The well situated in the rice-field,
is also given to the Brahmana. The charter was granted in the year 25, on the 15th day of the bright half of sravana. And this was written by Buddhadasa of Kamboja gotra and the
executor in this matter was Nidhivara.
The dimensions of the field and the boundaries are:
To the east is a rock, to the south also is a rocky path,
to the west is (the locality called) Vesimika, to the north is the river. There is no fraud. The land measuring is —
The grant on the boundary
of Malara has been made by us.
Footnote-1
1.कूपक: Possibly was meant.
2. वेसिमीका may be a Prakritism of Sanskrit वेश्मिका = hutment.
3. six vertical lines stand for the final stop.
4. This and other geographical names in the grant cannot be identified. However, there is a village Malowi in
Goa territory, sounding like Malara of the grants and Prithvi-parvata may be a new name, given after the name of the ruler.