Vazhappally copper plate - Revision history

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	'''Vazhappally copper plate''' (c. 750 — 850 AD,~~<~~ref name=":0" /~~>~~ c. 882/83 AD ?~~<~~ref name=":28" /~~>~~) is a copper plate inscription in the [[Old Malayalam\|Malayalam language]] from [[Vazhappally]], [[Kottayam district\|Kottayam]], in the state of [[Kerala]], south India.~~<~~ref name=":1"~~>~~{{cite book \|last1=Narayanan \|first1=M. G. S. \|author-link1= \|url=https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/Perum%C4%81%E1%B8%B7s_of_Kerala/0YDCngEACAAJ?hl=en \|title=Perumals of Kerala \|date=2013 \|publisher=CosmoBooks \|isbn=9788188765072 \|location=Thrissur (Kerala) \|page= \|pages=63–64 and 435 \|orig-year=1972}}~~<~~/ref~~><~~ref name=":02"~~>~~{{cite journal \|last1=Veluthat \|first1=Kesavan \|year=2017 \|title=The Temple and the State in Medieval South India \|url=https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/2348448917693729 \|journal=Studies in People's History \|volume=4 \|pages=15–23 \|doi=10.1177/2348448917693729 \|s2cid=158422635 \|doi-access=\|url-access=subscription }}~~<~~/ref~~>~~ It is dated to the twelfth [[regnal year]] of the medieval Chera ruler of Kerala, [[Rajashekhara (Chera king)\|Rama Rajasekhara]] (fl. c. 871 AD).~~<~~ref name=":28"~~>~~{{Cite book \|last=Devadevan \|first=Manu V. \|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=exzhDwAAQBAJ&q=The+%E2%80%98Early+Medieval%27+Origins+of+India \|title=The 'Early Medieval' Origins of India \|publisher=Cambridge University Press \|year=2020 \|isbn=9781108494571 \|pages=128 \|chapter=Changes in Land Relations and the Changing Fortunes of the Cēra State}}~~<~~/ref~~>~~		'''Vazhappally copper plate''' (c. 750 — 850 AD,<ref name=":0" /> c. 882/83 AD ?<ref name=":28" />) is a copper plate inscription in the [[Old Malayalam\|Malayalam language]] from [[Vazhappally]], [[Kottayam district\|Kottayam]], in the state of [[Kerala]], south India.<ref name=":1">{{cite book \|last1=Narayanan \|first1=M. G. S. \|author-link1= \|url=https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/Perum%C4%81%E1%B8%B7s_of_Kerala/0YDCngEACAAJ?hl=en \|title=Perumals of Kerala \|date=2013 \|publisher=CosmoBooks \|isbn=9788188765072 \|location=Thrissur (Kerala) \|page= \|pages=63–64 and 435 \|orig-year=1972}}</ref><ref name=":02">{{cite journal \|last1=Veluthat \|first1=Kesavan \|year=2017 \|title=The Temple and the State in Medieval South India \|url=https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/2348448917693729 \|journal=Studies in People's History \|volume=4 \|pages=15–23 \|doi=10.1177/2348448917693729 \|s2cid=158422635 \|doi-access=\|url-access=subscription }}</ref> It is dated to the twelfth [[regnal year]] of the medieval Chera ruler of Kerala, [[Rajashekhara (Chera king)\|Rama Rajasekhara]] (fl. c. 871 AD).<ref name=":28">{{Cite book \|last=Devadevan \|first=Manu V. \|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=exzhDwAAQBAJ&q=The+%E2%80%98Early+Medieval%27+Origins+of+India \|title=The 'Early Medieval' Origins of India \|publisher=Cambridge University Press \|year=2020 \|isbn=9781108494571 \|pages=128 \|chapter=Changes in Land Relations and the Changing Fortunes of the Cēra State}}</ref>

	The copper plate documents a temple committee resolution regarding a land grant for daily worship in the temple.~~<~~ref name=":1" /~~>~~ The amount of paddy available from the granted land in two seasons is estimated to be over 12,200 kilograms (or around 12 tons).~~<~~ref name=":28" /~~>~~		The copper plate documents a temple committee resolution regarding a land grant for daily worship in the temple.<ref name=":1" /> The amount of paddy available from the granted land in two seasons is estimated to be over 12,200 kilograms (or around 12 tons).<ref name=":28" />

	== Contents ==		== Contents ==
	The record is engraved on a single copper plate (with five lines on each side) in an early form of Malayalam, using the [[Vattezhuthu script\|Vattezhuthu (script)]] with necessary [[Grantha script\|Grantha]] characters. The contents of the plate are incomplete.~~<~~ref name=":1" /~~>~~ It was discovered by V. Srinivasa Sastri from Thalamana Illam near [[Changanassery]].~~<~~ref name=":0"~~>~~{{Cite journal \|editor-last=Rao \|editor-first=T. A. Gopinatha \|title=An Inscription of Rajasekhara \|journal=Travancore Archaeological Series \|publisher=Government of Travancore \|volume=2 \|issue=2 \|pages=8–14}}~~<~~/ref~~>~~ The plate is currently owned by Muvidathu Madham, [[Thiruvalla]].~~<~~ref name=":1" /~~>~~		The record is engraved on a single copper plate (with five lines on each side) in an early form of Malayalam, using the [[Vattezhuthu script\|Vattezhuthu (script)]] with necessary [[Grantha script\|Grantha]] characters. The contents of the plate are incomplete.<ref name=":1" /> It was discovered by V. Srinivasa Sastri from Thalamana Illam near [[Changanassery]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal \|editor-last=Rao \|editor-first=T. A. Gopinatha \|title=An Inscription of Rajasekhara \|journal=Travancore Archaeological Series \|publisher=Government of Travancore \|volume=2 \|issue=2 \|pages=8–14}}</ref> The plate is currently owned by Muvidathu Madham, [[Thiruvalla]].<ref name=":1" />

	The inscription begins with the invocation "Namah Shivaya" ("Respect to Lord [[Shiva]]"), instead of the usual medieval Chera invocation "Swasti Sri" ("Hail! Prosperity!")~~<~~ref name=":1" /~~>~~ In the record, king Rajasekhara is described with the titles "Sri, Raja Rajadhiraja, Parameswara Bhattaraka, Rajashekhara Deva", and "the Perumal Atikal".~~<~~ref name=":1" /~~>~~ The copper plate documents a temple committee resolution by the Thiruvatruvay Pathinettu Nattar and the Urar of Vazhappally, in the presence of king [[Rajashekhara (Chera king)\|Rajasekhara]], regarding a land grant for daily worship in the temple.~~<~~ref name=":1" /~~><~~ref name=":28" /~~>~~ The inscription also prescribes fines for those who obstruct daily worship in the temple. Notably, it mentions a coin called the "dinara".~~<~~ref name=":1" /~~>~~		The inscription begins with the invocation "Namah Shivaya" ("Respect to Lord [[Shiva]]"), instead of the usual medieval Chera invocation "Swasti Sri" ("Hail! Prosperity!")<ref name=":1" /> In the record, king Rajasekhara is described with the titles "Sri, Raja Rajadhiraja, Parameswara Bhattaraka, Rajashekhara Deva", and "the Perumal Atikal".<ref name=":1" /> The copper plate documents a temple committee resolution by the Thiruvatruvay Pathinettu Nattar and the Urar of Vazhappally, in the presence of king [[Rajashekhara (Chera king)\|Rajasekhara]], regarding a land grant for daily worship in the temple.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":28" /> The inscription also prescribes fines for those who obstruct daily worship in the temple. Notably, it mentions a coin called the "dinara".<ref name=":1" />

	The [[Vatteluttu\|Vattezhuthu characters]] in the Vazhappally copper plate are noted for their similarity to those in the Madras Museum Plates of Jatila Varman Parantaka Pandya.~~<~~ref name=":0" /~~>~~ The Grantha characters in the plate exhibit a later form compared to the Kasakudi and other early [[Pallava dynasty\|Pallava]] grants.~~<~~ref name=":0" /~~>~~ The plate also resembles [[Quilon Syrian copper plates]] (mid-9th century AD), another early Chera record, in both script and language.~~<~~ref name=":1" /~~><~~ref name=":0" /~~>~~ Medieval Chera king Rajasekhara is commonly identified by scholars with [[Cheraman Perumal Nayanar]], the venerated [[Shaivism\|Shaiva]] ([[Nayanars\|Nayanar]]) poet-musician.~~<~~ref name=":2"~~>~~{{Cite book \|url=https://global.oup.com/academic/product/a-concise-history-of-south-india-9780198099772?cc=us&lang=en& \|title=A Concise History of South India: Issues and Interpretations \|publisher=Oxford University Press \|year=2014 \|isbn=978-0-19-809977-2 \|editor-last=Karashima \|editor-first=Noboru \|pages=143–44 \|chapter=States in the Deccan and Kerala}}~~<~~/ref~~>~~		The [[Vatteluttu\|Vattezhuthu characters]] in the Vazhappally copper plate are noted for their similarity to those in the Madras Museum Plates of Jatila Varman Parantaka Pandya.<ref name=":0" /> The Grantha characters in the plate exhibit a later form compared to the Kasakudi and other early [[Pallava dynasty\|Pallava]] grants.<ref name=":0" /> The plate also resembles [[Quilon Syrian copper plates]] (mid-9th century AD), another early Chera record, in both script and language.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" /> Medieval Chera king Rajasekhara is commonly identified by scholars with [[Cheraman Perumal Nayanar]], the venerated [[Shaivism\|Shaiva]] ([[Nayanars\|Nayanar]]) poet-musician.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book \|url=https://global.oup.com/academic/product/a-concise-history-of-south-india-9780198099772?cc=us&lang=en& \|title=A Concise History of South India: Issues and Interpretations \|publisher=Oxford University Press \|year=2014 \|isbn=978-0-19-809977-2 \|editor-last=Karashima \|editor-first=Noboru \|pages=143–44 \|chapter=States in the Deccan and Kerala}}</ref>
	[[File:Vazhappally copper plate (plate 1, side 1) replica, Aksharam Museum Kottaya.jpg\|center\|thumb\|661x661px\|Vazhappally copper plate (plate 1, side 1) replica]]		[[File:Vazhappally copper plate (plate 1, side 1) replica, Aksharam Museum Kottaya.jpg\|center\|thumb\|661x661px\|Vazhappally copper plate (plate 1, side 1) replica]]
	[[File:Vazhappally copper plate (plate 1, side 2) replica, Aksharam Museum Kottayam.jpg\|center\|thumb\|661x661px\|Vazhappally copper plate (plate 1, side 2) replica]]		[[File:Vazhappally copper plate (plate 1, side 2) replica, Aksharam Museum Kottayam.jpg\|center\|thumb\|661x661px\|Vazhappally copper plate (plate 1, side 2) replica]]
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	== References ==		== References ==
	~~<~~references /~~>~~		<references />

	== External links ==		== External links ==

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{{Use dmy dates|date = January 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date = January 2020}}
[[File:Vazhappally copper plate (9th century AD).jpg|thumb|446x446px|Vazhappally copper plate (9th century AD)]]
'''Vazhappally copper plate''' (c. 882/83 AD<ref name=":28">{{Cite book|last=Devadevan|first=Manu V.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=exzhDwAAQBAJ&q=The+%E2%80%98Early+Medieval%27+Origins+of+India|title=The 'Early Medieval' Origins of India|publisher=Cambridge University Press|year=2020|isbn=9781108494571|location=|pages=128|chapter=Changes in Land Relations and the Changing Fortunes of the Cēra State}}</ref>) is a copper plate inscription in [[Old Malayalam|Malayalam language]] from [[Vazhappally]], in the state of [[Kerala]], south India.<ref name=":12">Narayanan, M. G. S. Perumāḷs of Kerala. Thrissur (Kerala): CosmoBooks, 2013. 435.</ref><ref name=":02">Veluthat, Kesavan. "The Temple and the State in Medieval South India." ''Studies in People’s History'', vol. 4, no. 1, June 2017, pp. 15–23.</ref> Recent scholarship puts the date of the plate in c. 882/83 AD.<ref name=":3">'Changes in Land Relations during the Decline of the Cera State,' In Kesavan Veluthat and Donald R. Davis Jr. (eds), ''Irreverent History:- Essays for M.G.S. Narayanan,'' Primus Books, New Delhi, 2014. 58.</ref>

The inscription is engraved on a single copper plate (with five lines on both sides) in an early form of [[Old Malayalam|Malayalam]] in Vattezhuthu script with some Grantha characters. The contents of the plate are incomplete.<ref name=":12" /> The inscription was discovered by V. Srinivasa Sastri from Talamana Illam near [[Changanassery]].<ref name=":23">Rao, T. A. Gopinatha. ''Travancore Archaeological Series'' (Volume II, Part II). 8-14.</ref> The plate is owned by Muvidathu Madham, [[Thiruvalla]].<ref name=":12" />

The record is dated to the twelfth [[regnal year]] of Chera Perumal king [[Rajashekhara (Chera king)|Rama Rajasekhara]] (882/83 AD).<ref name=":3" />

* King Rajasekhara is described as "Sri, Raja Rajadhiraja, Parameswara Bhattaraka, Rajashekhara Deva" and "the Perumal Atikal".<ref name=":12" />
* The copper plate describes a temple committee resolution by Thiruvatruvay Pathinettu Nattar and the Urar of Vazhappally in the presence of king [[Rajashekhara (Chera king)|Rajasekhara]] on a land grant for the daily worship in the Thiruvatruvay temple.<ref name=":12" /><ref name=":3" />
* The fines for those who obstruct the daily worship in the temple are also prescribed.<ref name=":12" />
* Begins with the invocation "Namah Shivaya" ("Respect to Shiva") in place of the usual "Swasti Sri" ("Hail! Prosperity!").<ref name=":12" />
* Also mentions a coin called "dinara".<ref name=":12" />

The Vattezhuthu characters in the Vazhappally copper plate are noted for their similarity to the Madras Museum Plates of Jatila Varman Parantaka Pandya. The Grantha characters in the plate have a late character with respect to the Kasakudi and other early [[Pallava dynasty|Pallava]] grants. The plate also resembles [[Quilon Syrian copper plates]] (mid-9th century AD) in script and language.<ref>Narayanan, M. G. S. Perumāḷs of Kerala. Thrissur (Kerala): CosmoBooks, 2013. 63-64.</ref><ref name=":23" />

Chera Perumal king Rajasekhara is usually identified by scholars with [[Cheraman Perumal Nayanar]], the venerated [[Shaivism|Shaiva]] ([[Nayanars|Nayanar]]) poet-musician.<ref name=":222">Noburu Karashmia (ed.), ''A Concise History of South India: Issues and Interpretations.'' New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2014. 143.</ref>

== Translation ==
[[File:Vazhappally_Temple.jpg|thumb|200x200px|[[Vazhappally Maha Siva Temple]]]]
[[File:Depiction_of_"Cherman_Perumal"_Nayanar_(Brihadisvara_Temple,_Thanjavur)_(cropped).jpg|thumb|200x200px|Depiction of [[Cheraman Perumal Nayanar]] in [[Brihadisvara Temple, Thanjavur|Brihadisvara Temple]], [[Thanjavur]]]]
{{cquote|"Namah Shivaya! The [regnal] year twelve of Sri Rajadhiraja, Parameswara Bhattaraka, Rajashekhara Deva [was current].

"[The following was] the arrangement made by Thiruvattuvay Pathinettu Nattar and the Urar of Vazhappalli who met under the presidency of Rajashekhara Deva. Those who stop the perpetually endowed muttappali (the daily worship) in the Thiruvattuvay [Temple] should pay to the Peruman Atikal a fine of one hundred dinaras; and [are to be considered] as "Having Taken their [Own] Mothers for their Wives".

"Among the servants (the panimakkal), those who stop [the muttappali owning to their own negligence] should such pay a fine paddy as measured by and made up to four nazhis for occasion [muttappali is so stopped]. Of this the paddy due as padavaram (i.e., 10% share) should go the capital [set apart] for the shanthi [routine worship] and the [remaining] nine parts for the muttappali. [And] this fine should be remitted before the midday muttappali of the Pushya star in the month of Thai. If not so paid, they (the servants) become liable to pay twice the amount [as the penal interest].

"The following are the lands given to [the Lord of] Kailasa (the Kailasamudayanar temple): the plot [kari], [belonging to] Kirankadambanar, which yields one year 20 and another year 25 kalams [of paddy]; Mandilakkalam together with Ula[se]li [plots] yielding 10 kalams [of paddy]; Kallattuvay veli [or a plot of land one veli in extend in Kallattuvay], yielding 500 nazhis; from Kanjikka, 500 nazhis; the Pilikkode puraiyidam and puraiyidam of Kannan Sankaran, who held the position of a kavadi, which adjoins it [Pilikkodu puraiyidam], both situated in Uragam and yielding 150 thuni of paddy and three dinaras [respectively]; two velis in the matram in Aiyankadu... Damo[daran's]...
| source = ''Travancore Archaeological Series'' (Volume II)
}}
{{wide image|Vazhappally Plates - Description.JPG|1000px|''Travancore Archaeological Series (Volume II, Part II)''}}

== References ==
<references />

== External links ==
* Mathew, Alex - ''[http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/handle/10603/7061 Political identities in History]'' (2006) Unpublished Doctoral Thesis (M. G. University)
[[Category:History of Changanassery]]
[[Category:History of Kerala]]
[[Category:Vatteluttu]]
[[Category:Malayalam inscriptions]]
[[Category:9th century in law]]
[[Category:Chera dynasty]]
[[Category:Kerala history inscriptions]]
[[Category:Vazhappally]]