Copper-Plate Inscriptions of Odisha: A Descriptive Catalogue: Circa Fourth Century to Sixteenth Century CE

Subrata Kumar Acharya

ISBN 10: 8124607540 / ISBN 13: 9788124607541

Published by D.K. Printworld, 2014

About this Item

Contents: Preface. Introduction. 1. Matharas and Their Contemporaries in Kalinga. 2. Nalas and Other Unknown Rulers of West and South-West Odisha. 3. Sharabhapuriyas. 4. Minor Ruling Families of North Odisha. 5. Shailodbhavas. 6. Panduvamshis. 7. Eastern Gangas. 8. Some Minor Rulers of South Odisha. 9. Shvetaka Gangas. 10. Bhaumakaras. 11. Somavamshis. 12. Early Bhanjas. 13. Bhanjas of Khinjali-Mandala. 14. Later Bhanjas. 15. Bhanjas of Khijjinga-Kotta. 16. Shulkis and Their Contemporaries. 17. Imperial Gangas. 18. Suryavamshi Gajapatis. Select Bibliography. Index. Odisha is well known for its epigraphical wealth. More than 400 copper-plate grants and 1,000 stone inscriptions ranging from the fourth to the sixteenth century ce have been discovered so far. In this volume, the author has taken extreme care in documenting all the published and unpublished copper-plate grants including the stray plates, spurious charters and the palimpsests. These epigraphs are grouped under different dynasties and the relevant data in each copper-plate inscription have been systematically classified making the volume a descriptive catalogue of the copper-plate inscriptions of Odisha. It, thus, painstakingly furnishes detailed information about the rulers and the beneficiaries, religious persuasion of kings, occasion and purpose of the grants, eras and other astronomical details, officers and persons present at the time of the grants, rights and privileges transferred to the donees, land measures, prevailing currency system of the period, administrative and revenue terms, topographical details, development of language and scripts, and so on. These inscriptions, mostly in Sanskrit, also delineate the system of numeration while specifying the era or days of a month, amount of tax to be paid, land measures, etc. While adopting a comprehensive approach in treating the subject, the book deals with the technique of preparing copper plates for writing the royal deeds; flattening of the metal sheets into rectangular plates, their sizes, positing of the seals, the symbols and legends on the seals, amidst many more pieces of information. This innovative and scholarly work should entice the spirit of students, historians and researchers, especially those who are interested in the history and culture of Odisha. The bibliographical details furnished in the volume will prove to be of immense help to serious scholars working in the field. (jacket).

Seller Inventory # 113278

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Copper-Plate Inscriptions of Odisha: A Descriptive Catalogue: Circa Fourth Century to Sixteenth Century CE
• Publisher: D.K. Printworld
• Publication Date: 2014
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 8124607540
• ISBN 13: 9788124607541
• Binding: Hardcover
• Condition: As New

About this title

Synopsis

Odisha is well known for its epigraphical wealth. More than 400 copper-plate grants and 1,000 stone inscriptions ranging from the fourth to the sixteenth century ce have been discovered so far. In this volume, the author has taken extreme care in documenting all the published and unpublished copper-plate grants including the stray plates, spurious charters and the palimpsests.

These epigraphs are grouped under different dynasties and the relevant data in each copper-plate inscription have been systematically classified making the volume a descriptive catalogue of the copper-plate inscriptions of Odisha. It, thus, painstakingly furnishes detailed information about the rulers and the beneficiaries, religious persuasion of kings, occasion and purpose of the grants, eras and other astronomical details, officers and persons present at the time of the grants, rights and privileges transferred to the donees, land measures, prevailing currency system of the period, administrative and revenue terms, topographical details, development of language and scripts, and so on. These inscriptions, mostly in Sanskrit, also delineate the system of numeration while specifying the era or days of a month, amount of tax to be paid, land measures, etc.

While adopting a comprehensive approach in treating the subject, the book deals with the technique of preparing copper plates for writing the royal deeds; flattening of the metal sheets into rectangular plates, their sizes, positing of the seals, the symbols and legends on the seals, amidst many more pieces of information.

This innovative and scholarly work should entice the spirit of students, historians and researchers, especially those who are interested in the history and culture of Odisha. The bibliographical details furnished in the volume will prove to be of immense help to serious scholars working in the field.

About the Author

Dr. Subrata Kumar Acharya (b. 1962) is a scholar of Indian epigraphy and palaeography who has published research papers in prestigious journals in India. He has authored Numerals in Orissan Inscriptions (Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Simla, 2002) and his work Symbols and Syllables: Understanding the Origin and Development of the Brahmi Numerals is shortly going to press.