Halsi Plates

Written by Alok Mohan on October 10, 2022. Posted in Uncategorized

Inscription number 24
Halsi (Kapoli) Plates of Asankita-varman (Regnal) Year 5..
Provenance: Halsi, Khan pur taluk, Belgaum district, Karnataka.
Script: Southern Brahmi of 6th or 7th Century A.D.
Language: Sanskrit.
References: A.M. Annigeri, Ep.Ind, XXXI, pp-234-36.
The charter purports to record the gift of the village of Vamsavataka situated in the tract of Sollunduraka-seventy in Palasika-vishaya to Nagasarman of the Harita gotra, who was endowed with all the qualities of a Brahmana. The gift was made with the approval of Maharaja Asankitavarman of the Bhoja family by the chief Elakella of the Kaikaya lineage for the merit of both. The executor of the grant was the Maharaja himself. The record is dated in the 5th regnal year of the Bhoja king Asankitavarman and the gift is stated to have been registered on the full-moon day of Jyoshtha.
The Bhoja ruler Asankita-varman and Elakella who must have been a feudatory may be placed approximately in the sixth or seventh century. King Asankitavarman is described as a great devotee of Siva. If this king is identical with his namesake of the Hiregutti inscription, he has to be regarded as tolerant towards Buddhism. Elakolla, the donor who belonged to the Kaikaya lineage, is known for the first time from the present record. The Kaikeya family, however, is known from several epigraphs. The Halmini inscription of Kadamba Kakusthavarman refers to a fight of the Kadambas with the Kekayas and Pallavas. Kadamba Koishnavarman I married a Kaikeya princess. Prabhavati, queen of Kadamba Mrigesavarman and mother of Ravivarman, belonged to the Kaikeya lineage. The Kaikeya family also figures in later inscriptions such as the Haldipur plates of Gopaladeva and the Kekkar inscription” of Anneyarasa of the eighth century. In regard to the geographical names in the record, the village of Vamsavataka may be identified with Kapoli from where the plates were unearthed. Sollunduraka-seventy remains to be located. It seems to have comprised an area of the Khanapur and Halyal Taluks.

First plate
Footnote-1
1. Annigeri calls these as “Kapoli” plates” and gives
Kapoli, a neighbouring village in the same taluk as the find-spot. But on a later verification D.C. sircar,
the editor of the Ep.Ind., XXXI, found that the original find-spot was Halsi. Subsequently the plates were taken
to Kapoli by B.K. Desai for decipherment.
2. From the facsimile in Ep.Ind., XXXI, facing pp.233 and 236.
3. Expressed by the spiral symbol, which some read as siddham.
Second plate first side.
Footnote-2.
1. Annigeri identifies Asankitavarman of the present plates with his namesake of Hiregutti plates, on the
ground that the seals of both bear identical figures of an elephant (cf. Ep.Ind. XXVIII, pp.70 ff.). But
the editorial note initialled P.B.D. (EP.Ind., XXXI, pp.235, n.2) rejects this identification on the ground that the seal is of respective records and their
paleography are different. The characters of the present record are box-headed while those of the
Hiregutti plates are not.P.B.D. considers Asankita-varman of Hiregutti plates to be a predecessor of his namesake of the present plates.
2. The word is evidently required before
It seems to have been omitted through oversight.
3. Kailkeya family is referred to in several epigraphs;
see MysArch.Rep.1910-11, p-35, 1936, pp.72 f, Ep.Ind. VI, pp.18 XXI, pp-173, XXVIII, pp.75, Progress of Kannada Research in Bombay Province, 1941-46, pp-5.
Second plate second side.
Footnote-3.

1. Annigeri treats Vamsavataka as the name of the donated village and saptati as a term denoting a territorial division.But names of villages ending a
in numerals, such as Chaturasiti are known from other inscriptions.
2. Panga may be derived from the Kannada base pangu, meaning
obligation. Panga occurs in many Telugu inscriptions.
(cf. S.I.I., X, Nos. 257, 405, 422 etc.). Brown’s Telugu-English Dictionary explains it as 1/4 of the
Produce collected in ancient times by the government, as tax from lands of gods and Brahmanas. It’s modification
as panga occurs in Kadamba records of a later period.
English Translation of the inscription.

Om ! Seen. At the command of Maharaja Asankita-varman,
who by favouring it by his birth, has adorned the family of the Bhojas, who are like lotuses in the round lake that is
the surface of the whole earth who is the sole abode of the gems
of all the kingly qualities, who is a devout worshipper of Siva and who is protecting (the land) in the fifth year of
(his) reign flourishing with victories and wealth, the (present, and future Bhogikas, Ayuktakas, sthayins and others be instructed thus.
On the full-moon day of (the month of) Jyeshtha, a bamboo-grove in the (village of) Sollunduraka-saptati in the
district (vishaya) of Palasika has been granted with libation
of waters, free from all imposts by Elakella, who was born in Kaikeya family for increasing ours and his own
religious merit, to this Nagasarman, who possesses all the
qualities of a Brahmana and belongs to Harita gotra.
We have also approved it. Knowing thus, nobody, whether of our own
family or some one else, should confiscate (it). Whosoever
confiscates this (gift) shall incur five great sins.
Further, Lord Manu has said,
(Here a customary verse has been quoted).
The executor (of the grant) is the Maharaja himself
Written by Madhavadeva, the son of the Bhogika Govinda and the drafter of royal charters. Hail.
(Divakara is the engraver)
1. Divakara appears to be the name of the engraver of the record.

Alok Mohan

The admin, Alok Mohan, is a graduate mechanical engineer & possess following post graduate specializations:- M Tech Mechanical Engineering Production Engineering Marine engineering Aeronautical Engineering Computer Sciences Software Engineering Specialization He has authored several articles/papers, which are published in various websites & books. Studium Press India Ltd has published one of his latest contributions “Standardization of Education” as a senior author in a book along with many other famous writers of international repute. Alok Mohan has held important positions in both Govt & Private organisations as a Senior professional & as an Engineer & possess close to four decades accomplished experience. As an aeronautical engineer, he ensured accident incident free flying. As leader of indian team during early 1990s, he had successfully ensured smooth induction of Chukar III PTA with Indian navy as well as conduct of operational training. As an aeronautical engineer, he was instrumental in establishing major aircraft maintenance & repair facilities. He is a QMS, EMS & HSE consultant. He provides consultancy to business organisations for implimentation of the requirements of ISO 45001 OH & S, ISO 14001 EMS & ISO 9001 QMS, AS 9100, AS9120 Aero Space Standards. He is a qualified ISO 9001 QMS, ISO 14001 EMS, ISO 45001 OH & S Lead Auditor (CQI/IRCA recognised certification courses) & HSE Consultant. He is a qualified Zed Master Trainer & Zed Assessor. He has thorough knowledge of six sigma quality concepts & has also been awarded industry 4, certificate from the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation Knowledge Hub Training Platform  He is a Trainer, a Counselor, an Advisor and a Competent professional of cross functional exposures. He has successfully implimented requirements of various international management system standards in several organizations. He is a dedicated technocrat with expertise in Quality Assurance & Quality Control, Facility Management, General Administration, Marketing, Security, Training, Administration etc. He is a graduate mechanical engineer with specialization in aeronautical engineering. He is always eager to be involved in imparting training, implementing new ideas and improving existing processes by utilizing his vast experience.