Ponnuturu Plates of Samantavarman (Ganga) year 64.
Inscription number 42.
Ponnuturu Plates of Samantavarman (Ganga) year 64.
Next king in the Ganga dynasty lineage, who issued this grant was Samantavarman, in the year 64 (562 CE) Samantvarman, like his predecessor, assumed the title of
Trikalingadhipati.
The Eastern Ganga kings ruled over Kalinga and maintained a firm grip on Kalinga and established an era of their own, which was used in their official charters for over five centuries, however their rule was restricted on the south by the Eastern Chalukyas and on the north by the
Sailodbhavas.
king Harshadeva defeated the Gangas during eighth century CE. Nagabhata, the Pratihara king, conquered Kalinga
and Andhra in the early ninth century CE.
Around the middle of the ninth
century, the Eastern Gangas were briefly ruled by the Bhaurna Karas, and in the second half of that century, the Eastern Chalukyas claimed supremacy over Kalinga.
The Eastern Gangas were briefly ruled by the Somavamsis in the late
tenth century CE, and Indraratha served as governor of Kalinga before being
crowned king at Yayatinagara around 1000 CE Vajrahasta V, who ascended to
the throne of Kalinga in 1038 CE and established that territory as an
independent and powerful entity, brought an end to the Somavamsi supremacy
over the Eastern Gangas. Despite their fortunes fluctuating, Vajrahasta V
abolished the Ganga era and instituted the Soka era, which wos adopted by all
subsequent Ganga kings.
Provenance: Ponnuturu village on the northern bank of the river vamsadhara, Patapatnam taluk Vishakhapatanam
district, Andhra Pradesh.
Script: Early southern type of Brahmi, known as the Kalinga variety of Telugu-Kannada alphabet.
Language: Sanskrit.
References:- M. Somasekhara sarma, Ep.Ind. XXVII, pp.216-20.
Footnote 1.
1. After the Jir-jingi plate of Indra-varman (supra,IV,41)
these are the earliest known Ganga dynasty grants. Kings Prasasti developed gradually till it attained
a standardised form in the plates of Hastivarman.
After him, his model was followed by his successors.
2. From the facsimile in Ep.Ind, XXVII, between pp. 218 and pp.219.
3. Expressed by a symbol.
4. Normally, the word जय or विजय is prefixed to the name of the capital city and hence it would appear that
this charter was issued from the Victorious city of Srinivasa. However, I have accepted sarma’s view that
Saumyavana was the name of the city because a saumyapura, known from Kondedda grant of Dharma-Rajadeva of sailodbhava family (Ep.Ind,. XIX, pp.269,
text 1,42) But I doubt that the saumuavana of Pandava vanavasa in mahabharata, can be identified with the present one.
Footnote 2.
1. Gokarna is the name of a place of pilgrimage in the south, sacred to siva.
2. It may be noted that except Indravarman of the Jirjingi
plates (Supra,IV, 41) and Samantavarman of the present one, no other early Ganga king, claims the title, Trikalingadhipati.
3. The exact location of Daghapanchali vishaya is not known. In Ganga records some other vishaya-names ending in panchali are found, e.g. Koroshodaka-panchali (Ep.,Ind.XXI, pp.24. Supra,IV, 16, L2)
Devanna-panchali (Ind.Ant, XXVI, pp.134,) Pushyagiri-panchali Ep.Ind,. XXVI. pp.63) and chikhali-panchali
J.A.H.R.S, X. pp.165).
4. Somasekhara sarma ventures the suggestion that Pratishtha-pura may be a sanskritised form of a desi name like
Peruru, the Word Peru being equivalent to the sanskrit word Pratishtha.
The tendency of sanskritisation of ordinary village names prevailing in early times in Kalinga is proved by the Brihattproshtha grant of Umavarman
(Ep Ind, XII, pp.4 ff. and plate)
English Translation of the inscription
By constant obeisance and service and the like to the Lord of Gokarna (i.e. Siva) who lives on the excellent peak of the Mahendra mountain, is the cause of the existence, creation and the dissolution of the world, bears incomplete (i.e,a single digit of the) moon as his crest and is the father of the animate and inanimate world, commands the aggregate of
all the householders residing in Pratishthapura in the district
of Daghapanchali. Be it known to you that on being advised by (our) maternal uncle, Adityaraja, we have on the occasion of the vernal equinox (uttarayana) granted with libation of water, this Village (of Pratishthapura), exempt of all taxes and making into an agrahara for as long as the duration of the moon, the
sun and the stars, for the increase of religious merit of mother, father and myself, to Yajnasarman, Gaurisarman,
Agnisarman and Omasarman. All of the Vatsa gotra and students
of the Vajasaneya sakha (of the white Yajurveda). On learning
this, you should present him the appropriate share and benefits.
And of the future kings, he (samantavarman) orders his own
descendants and advises, others in the matter of protecting this righteous gift that having obtained the earth
through righteousness, heritage or valour, the kings should
preserve this lawful gift.
Further,
O Kings, be not apprehensive of missing the Fruit (i.e.
reward for this meritorious deed) because of it being another’s
gift. As compared to one own gift, the reward for preserving another’s gift is eternal.
Further, there are verses sung by Vyasa (in support of the above contention)
Here follow three of the customary verses).*
This is the thirteenth day of the bright fortnight of the month of Pausha of the flourishing and victorious sixty fourth
Year of the dynastic reign. The deliverer (i.e. executor) of
the King’ s order was Adityavarman And this (charter) was recorded and engraved by vinayachandra, the son of Bhanuchandra.
This is an order of illustrious samantavarman, who is
the autumnal (i.e. bright) moon in the firmament of the Ganga
Dynasty, is the chastisor of enemies, and possesses radiating
lustre. The year 64. the 28th day of Pausha.
Footnote 3.
Note that the 13th day of the bright fortnight, is identical with the 28th day of the month of Pausha.
The luner month was reckoned Purnimanta in this as well
as the other early Ganga records cf. the Urlam plates of the eighth tithi of the dark fortnight
of Karttika is equated with the eighth tithi of the same month) and the Tekkali plates of Devendravarman (where the luner eclipse is recorded on the 30th of Maghas see
I.H.Q. X pp,8. 300 ff)
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