Tamil copper-plate inscriptions - Revision history

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2025-10-23T21:25:46Z

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	{{~~refimprove~~\|date=June 2015}}		{{Short description\|Historical records of Tamil Nadu}}
			{{more citations needed\|date=June 2015}}
	{{Use dmy dates\|date=July 2020}}		{{Use dmy dates\|date=July 2020}}
	{{Use Indian English\|date=July 2020}}		{{Use Indian English\|date=July 2020}}
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	\|publisher=		\|publisher=
	\|accessdate=2007-03-14		\|accessdate=2007-03-14
	}}</ref> The grants range in date from the 10th century C.E. to the mid-19th century C.E. A large number of them belong to the [[pandyas]], the [[Cholas]] . These plates are valuable [[epigraphy\|epigraphically]] as they give us an insight into the social conditions of medieval South India; they also help us fill chronological gaps in the connected history of the ruling dynasties. For example, the Leyden grant (so called as they are preserved in the Museum of [[Leyden]] in [[Holland]]) of Parantaka Chola and those of [[Uttama Chola\|Parakesari Uttama Chola]] are among the most important, although the most useful part, i.e., the genealogical section, of the latter's plates seems to have been lost.		\|archive-date=3 February 2010
			\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100203131221/http://www.vedamsbooks.com/no48436.htm
			\|url-status=dead
			}}</ref> The grants range in date from the 10th century C.E. to the mid-19th century C.E. A large number of them belong to the [[pandyas]], the [[Cholas]] . These plates are valuable [[epigraphy\|epigraphically]] as they give us an insight into the social conditions of medieval South India; they also help us fill chronological gaps in the connected history of the ruling dynasties. For example, the Leyden grant (so called as they are preserved in the Museum of [[Leyden]] in [[Holland]]) of Parantaka Chola and those of [[Uttama Chola\|Parakesari Uttama Chola]] are among the most important, although the most useful part, i.e., the genealogical section, of the latter's plates seems to have been lost

	<!-- Doubtful copyright [[File:chola_copperplate.jpg\|thumb\|Copperplate inscription of Uththama Chola, 10th Century C.E.]]-->		<!-- Doubtful copyright [[File:chola_copperplate.jpg\|thumb\|Copperplate inscription of Uththama Chola, 10th Century C.E.]]-->

	'''South Indian inscriptions		'''South Indian inscriptions'''

	Most of the Tamil country inscriptions were written in Tamil, but beginning in the 6th century, both stone and copper-plate inscriptions were written in Sanskrit as well, some being bilingual.<ref name="tamil"/> Indian archaeologists have discovered hundreds of inscriptions during the last 120 years. Professor [[E. Hultzsch]] began collecting South Indian inscriptions systematically from the latter part of 1886 when he was appointed Epigraphist to the Government of Madras.		Most of the Tamil country inscriptions were written in Tamil, but beginning in the 6th century, both stone and copper-plate inscriptions were written in Sanskrit as well, some being bilingual.<ref name="tamil"/> Indian archaeologists have discovered hundreds of inscriptions during the last 120 years. Professor [[E. Hultzsch]] began collecting South Indian inscriptions systematically from the latter part of 1886 when he was appointed Epigraphist to the Government of Madras.
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	The ''Thiruvalangadu'' copperplates discovered in 1905 C.E. comprise one of the largest so far recovered and contains 31 copper sheets. The Thiruvalangadu plates contain text written in [[Sanskrit]] and [[Tamil language\|Tamil]]. These two seem to have been written at least a decade apart. These plates record a grant made to the shrine of the goddess at Tiruvalangadu by Rajendra Chola I. The list of the [[Legendary early Chola kings\|legendary Chola kings]] forms the preamble to the Sanskrit portion of these plates.		The ''Thiruvalangadu'' copperplates discovered in 1905 C.E. comprise one of the largest so far recovered and contains 31 copper sheets. The Thiruvalangadu plates contain text written in [[Sanskrit]] and [[Tamil language\|Tamil]]. These two seem to have been written at least a decade apart. These plates record a grant made to the shrine of the goddess at Tiruvalangadu by Rajendra Chola I. The list of the [[Legendary early Chola kings\|legendary Chola kings]] forms the preamble to the Sanskrit portion of these plates.

	<gallery class="center" caption="[[Vijayanagara Empire\|Vijaynagar]] Copper Plate Inscriptions at the Dharmeshwara Temple, Kondarahalli, [[Hoskote]]" mode=packed heights=200px>		<gallery class="center" caption="[[Vijayanagara Empire\|Vijaynagar]] Copper Plate Inscriptions at the Dharmeshwara Temple, Kondarahalli, [[Hoskote]]" mode="packed" heights="200px">
	File:Dharmeshwara Temple Plates.jpg\|Plate 1 and Back		File:Dharmeshwara Temple Plates.jpg\|Plate 1 and Back
	File:Dharmeshwara Temple Plates HT-34.jpg\|Plate 2<ref name=RiceIX>{{cite book\|last1=Rice\|first1=Benjamin Lewis\|title=Epigraphia Carnatica: Volume IX: Inscriptions in the Bangalore District\|date=1894\|publisher=Mysore Department of Archaeology\|location=Mysore State, British India\|url=https://archive.org/details/epigraphiacarnat09myso\|accessdate=5 August 2015}}</ref>		File:Dharmeshwara Temple Plates HT-34.jpg\|Plate 2<ref name=RiceIX>{{cite book\|last1=Rice\|first1=Benjamin Lewis\|title=Epigraphia Carnatica: Volume IX: Inscriptions in the Bangalore District\|date=1894\|publisher=Mysore Department of Archaeology\|location=Mysore State, British India\|url=https://archive.org/details/epigraphiacarnat09myso\|accessdate=5 August 2015}}</ref>
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	== A Chola inscription ==		== A Chola inscription ==
	A typical Chola copperplate inscription currently displayed at the Government Museum, [[Chennai's]], India, is dated c. 10th century C.E. It consists of five copper plates ~~string~~ in a copper ring, the ends of which ~~area~~ secured with a Chola seal bearing in relief, a seated tiger facing the right, two fish to the right of this. These three figures have a bow below, a parasol and two [[fly-whisk]]s (Champaran) at the top and a lamp on each side. Around the margin engraved in Grantha characters, "This is the matchless edict of ~~Kong~~ Parakesarivarman, who reached justice to the kings of his realm"…		A typical Chola copperplate inscription currently displayed at the Government Museum, [[Chennai]], India, is dated c. 10th century C.E. It consists of five copper plates stringed in a copper ring, the ends of which are secured with a Chola seal bearing in relief, a seated tiger facing the right, two fish to the right of this. These three figures have a bow below, a parasol and two [[fly-whisk]]s (Champaran) at the top and a lamp on each side. Around the margin engraved in Grantha characters, "This is the matchless edict of King Parakesarivarman, who reached justice to the kings of his realm"...

	A ~~portioned~~ of this inscription is in Sanskrit and the rest is in Tamil.		A portion of this inscription is in Sanskrit and the rest is in Tamil.

	The plates contain an edict issued by the Chola king Ko-Para-Kesarivarman alias [[Uththama Chola]], at Kachhippedu ([[Kanchipuram]]) at the request of his minister, to confirm the contents of a number of stone inscriptions, which referred to certain dues to be paid to the temple of [[Vishnu]] at Kachhippedu. Arrangements made for the several services in the temple are also described.		The plates contain an edict issued by the Chola king Ko-Para-Kesarivarman alias [[Uththama Chola]], at Kachhippedu ([[Kanchipuram]]) at the request of his minister, to confirm the contents of a number of stone inscriptions, which referred to certain dues to be paid to the temple of [[Vishnu]] at Kachhippedu. Arrangements made for the several services in the temple are also described.
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	*[[Laguna Copperplate Inscription]]		*[[Laguna Copperplate Inscription]]
	*[[Tamil bell]]		*[[Tamil bell]]
	*[[Tamil ~~Inscriptions~~ of Bangalore]]		*[[Tamil inscriptions of Bangalore]]
	*[[Vatteluttu]]		*[[Vatteluttu]]

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	==External links==		==External links==
	{{Commons category\|Copper plate Tamil language inscriptions}}		{{Commons category\|Copper plate Tamil language inscriptions}}
	* [http://inscriptions.whatisindia.com/ South Indian Inscriptions]		* [http://inscriptions.whatisindia.com/ South Indian Inscriptions] {{Webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120415023748/http://inscriptions.whatisindia.com/ \|date=15 April 2012 }}

	[[Category:Tamil inscriptions]]		[[Category:Tamil inscriptions]]
	[[Category:Chola Empire]]		[[Category:Chola Empire]]
	[[Category:~~Asian archaeology]]~~		[[Category:Types of archaeological artefact]]
	~~[[Category:Archaeological~~ artefact ~~types~~]]
	[[Category:Archaeology of India]]		[[Category:Archaeology of India]]
	[[Category:Historiography of India]]		[[Category:Historiography of India]]
			[[Category:Copper objects]]

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2021-05-17T08:11:59Z

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{{refimprove|date=June 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2020}}
'''Tamil copper-plate inscriptions''' are [[intaglio printing|copper-plate]] records of [[Land grant|grants]] of villages, plots of cultivable lands or other privileges to private individuals or public institutions by the members of the various South Indian royal dynasties.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.ciil-ebooks.net/html/iie/six.htm
|title=Nature and Importance of Indian Epigraphy - Chapter IV
|publisher=
|accessdate=2007-03-14
}}</ref> The study of these inscriptions has been especially important in reconstructing the history of [[Tamil Nadu]].<ref name="tamil">{{cite web
|url=https://www.vedamsbooks.com/no48436.htm
|title=History and Culture of Tamil Nadu : As Gleaned from the Sanskrit Inscriptions
|publisher=
|accessdate=2007-03-14
}}</ref> The grants range in date from the 10th century C.E. to the mid-19th century C.E. A large number of them belong to the [[pandyas]], the [[Cholas]] . These plates are valuable [[epigraphy|epigraphically]] as they give us an insight into the social conditions of medieval South India; they also help us fill chronological gaps in the connected history of the ruling dynasties. For example, the Leyden grant (so called as they are preserved in the Museum of [[Leyden]] in [[Holland]]) of Parantaka Chola and those of [[Uttama Chola|Parakesari Uttama Chola]] are among the most important, although the most useful part, i.e., the genealogical section, of the latter's plates seems to have been lost.



'''South Indian inscriptions

Most of the Tamil country inscriptions were written in Tamil, but beginning in the 6th century, both stone and copper-plate inscriptions were written in Sanskrit as well, some being bilingual.<ref name="tamil"/> Indian archaeologists have discovered hundreds of inscriptions during the last 120 years. Professor [[E. Hultzsch]] began collecting South Indian inscriptions systematically from the latter part of 1886 when he was appointed Epigraphist to the Government of Madras.

The earliest of the extant copperplate inscriptions date from the 10th century C.E. Of these, the Leyden plates, the Tiruvalangadu grant of [[Rajendra Chola I]], the [[Anbil, Tamil Nadu|Anbil]] plates of [[Parantaka Chola II|Sundara Chola]] and the [[Kanyakumari (town)|Kanyakumari]] inscription of [[Virarajendra Chola]] are the only epigraphical records discovered and published so far that give genealogical lists of Chola kings.

The ''Thiruvalangadu'' copperplates discovered in 1905 C.E. comprise one of the largest so far recovered and contains 31 copper sheets. The Thiruvalangadu plates contain text written in [[Sanskrit]] and [[Tamil language|Tamil]]. These two seem to have been written at least a decade apart. These plates record a grant made to the shrine of the goddess at Tiruvalangadu by Rajendra Chola I. The list of the [[Legendary early Chola kings|legendary Chola kings]] forms the preamble to the Sanskrit portion of these plates.

<gallery class="center" caption="[[Vijayanagara Empire|Vijaynagar]] Copper Plate Inscriptions at the Dharmeshwara Temple, Kondarahalli, [[Hoskote]]" mode=packed heights=200px>
File:Dharmeshwara Temple Plates.jpg|Plate 1 and Back
File:Dharmeshwara Temple Plates HT-34.jpg|Plate 2<ref name=RiceIX>{{cite book|last1=Rice|first1=Benjamin Lewis|title=Epigraphia Carnatica: Volume IX: Inscriptions in the Bangalore District|date=1894|publisher=Mysore Department of Archaeology|location=Mysore State, British India|url=https://archive.org/details/epigraphiacarnat09myso|accessdate=5 August 2015}}</ref>
</gallery>

== A Chola inscription ==
A typical Chola copperplate inscription currently displayed at the Government Museum, [[Chennai's]], India, is dated c. 10th century C.E. It consists of five copper plates string in a copper ring, the ends of which area secured with a Chola seal bearing in relief, a seated tiger facing the right, two fish to the right of this. These three figures have a bow below, a parasol and two [[fly-whisk]]s (Champaran) at the top and a lamp on each side. Around the margin engraved in Grantha characters, "This is the matchless edict of Kong Parakesarivarman, who reached justice to the kings of his realm"…

A portioned of this inscription is in Sanskrit and the rest is in Tamil.

The plates contain an edict issued by the Chola king Ko-Para-Kesarivarman alias [[Uththama Chola]], at Kachhippedu ([[Kanchipuram]]) at the request of his minister, to confirm the contents of a number of stone inscriptions, which referred to certain dues to be paid to the temple of [[Vishnu]] at Kachhippedu. Arrangements made for the several services in the temple are also described.

Uththama Chola was an uncle and predecessor of [[Rajaraja Chola I]].

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

== See also ==
*[[Indian copper plate inscriptions]]
*[[Indian inscriptions]]
*[[Laguna Copperplate Inscription]]
*[[Tamil bell]]
*[[Tamil Inscriptions of Bangalore]]
*[[Vatteluttu]]

== References ==

* Tamil And Sanskrit Inscriptions Chiefly Collected In 1886 - 87, E. Hultzsch, Ph.D., Published by Archaeological Survey of India, New Delhi
* Government Museum, Chennai, India - http://www.chennaimuseum.org

==External links==
{{Commons category|Copper plate Tamil language inscriptions}}
* [http://inscriptions.whatisindia.com/ South Indian Inscriptions]

[[Category:Tamil inscriptions]]
[[Category:Chola Empire]]
[[Category:Asian archaeology]]
[[Category:Archaeological artefact types]]
[[Category:Archaeology of India]]
[[Category:Historiography of India]]