Page:Epigraphia Indica Vol 25.pdf/42
No. 4.) ELLORA PLATES OF DANTIDURGA : SAKA 663, Pa De ESS eee... eee
No. 4.—ELLORA PLATES OF DANTIDURGA: SAKA 665.
By S. K. Dikshit, M.A.. New Delhi.
The copper-plates which bear the subjained insoription of the earliest Rishtrakdja emperor Dantidurga were discovered at Ellora (ancient Elapuru) in Aurangabad District of H. BE. He the Nizim's Dominions. They were handed over to Sir Johu Marshall by Major Garforth, Under Secretary, Public Works Department, in the year 1921, but originally belonged to a widow lady, by name Mrs. Plunkett, from whom they were subsequently purchased by the Arcliwological Department, Unfortupately they have somehow remained in oblivion for more than 17 years, until Rao Bahadur K. N. Diksbit happened to come across them. He has kindly lent them to me for editing, which I am doing under his guidances.
The plates are two in number, each measuring in the middle roughly: inches in length and 4} inches in breadth. They are joined together by a copper ring which aa oval in shape, being roughly 1} inches in length and 14 inches in breadth, ‘The letter, which are engraved with fair accuracy, vary in size from jth to jrdofan inch, The plates are inscribed on ane side only, and the engraying is fairly deep, thongh the letters do not appear on the other side except in a few cases, The edges of the plates are thickened only very slightly, so that the first plate is worn out in the middle of the upper edge thongh no damage is thereby caused to any letters, The copper ring which joins the two plates together has a seal attached to it, on which appears a winged figure sitting oromlegged. The figure must be of Garnda win usually appears on the Rishprakita geals, The language is Sanakrit and the inscription is throughout written in prose, except for the imprecatory and benedictory verses (lines 23 to 28) which are nsually found neat the end. As regards orthography, it may be noted that the consonant following 7 is generally duplicated (cf. Dantidurgga, 1. 8; antarggata and vimirggata, ll, [Sand ld; Adhvaryyu, 1. 14; ulsarppaydrtthan, be & certain amount of laxity in rules relating to.sandAi, ete. is also observable.
The palaeographical peculiarities found in thid inseription mark it,out from. the Rivhtrakita inseviptions like the Multai and Tiwarkhid plates of Nannarija Yuddhisura,’ tho Bhindsk plates of Kyishparaja I*, which, necording toDr.V/S. Sukthankar, have characters belonging to the “ Northern class of alphabets”. On the other hand, » comparative study of this record with some of the Valabhiand Southern Gujarat plates betrays their closest affinity in palaeo- graphical details, Thus the lad (Broach District) plates of Dadda Il-Pradintarigs,* Prince of Wales Museum plates of Jayabboya,' Anitroli-Chhirali. plates of Karka II (dated Saka. 679)* and Baroda plates of Suvarpavarsha (dated Saka 734)" bear a mach closer resemblance with. the present record than the first-mentioned three grants from the Bétil and Chandi Districts. Special attention may be drawn to the form of the letter @ (1. 10), which could easily be mistaken far * gu" or’ 1", butis obviously meant to be of the same type as is found in Fldpur-dchala, ete. of the Baroda.
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The object of this inscription is bo record the grant of « village called Pippalila in the district of Chandanapori-cigbty-four, to certain Brahmanas originating from Navasirika, by the Rish- tralcita prince Dantidurga, con of Tndrariju and grandson af Karkkarija. The Grait was lasued
«fn, Ant, Vol XVIEL, pp. 230 f.; above, Vol. XL, pp. 276 f.
- Above, Vol, XTV, pp. 121 Mf.
4 Jud, Ant., VoL XIT, pp. 115 i.
4 Above, Vol. XXTIE, pp. 147
+ J.B, BR. A.8., Vol. XVI, pp. 105 ff.
- Ind, dat, Vol XEL pp, 180-8, Also of. the Valabht platen illustented in tnd, Ant, Vol. XIV, theing p, $28 -
above, Vols. XI, XII and XX, facing pp. 106, 330 and 118 respectively, ote,
Vind: Ant. Vol. MIT, plate facing p. 168, (ext 1, 14.