Vazhappally copper plate

Vazhappally copper plate (9th century AD)

Vazhappally copper plate (c. 882/83 AD[1]) is a copper plate inscription in Malayalam language from Vazhappally, in the state of Kerala, south India.[2][3] Recent scholarship puts the date of the plate in c. 882/83 AD.[4]

The inscription is engraved on a single copper plate (with five lines on both sides) in an early form of Malayalam in Vattezhuthu script with some Grantha characters. The contents of the plate are incomplete.[2] The inscription was discovered by V. Srinivasa Sastri from Talamana Illam near Changanassery.[5] The plate is owned by Muvidathu Madham, Thiruvalla.[2]

The record is dated to the twelfth regnal year of Chera Perumal king Rama Rajasekhara (882/83 AD).[4]

  • King Rajasekhara is described as "Sri, Raja Rajadhiraja, Parameswara Bhattaraka, Rajashekhara Deva" and "the Perumal Atikal".[2]
  • The copper plate describes a temple committee resolution by Thiruvatruvay Pathinettu Nattar and the Urar of Vazhappally in the presence of king Rajasekhara on a land grant for the daily worship in the Thiruvatruvay temple.[2][4]
  • The fines for those who obstruct the daily worship in the temple are also prescribed.[2]
  • Begins with the invocation "Namah Shivaya" ("Respect to Shiva") in place of the usual "Swasti Sri" ("Hail! Prosperity!").[2]
  • Also mentions a coin called "dinara".[2]

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 grants. The plate also resembles Quilon Syrian copper plates (mid-9th century AD) in script and language.[6][5]

Chera Perumal king Rajasekhara is usually identified by scholars with Cheraman Perumal Nayanar, the venerated Shaiva (Nayanar) poet-musician.[7]

  1. ^ Devadevan, Manu V. (2020). "Changes in Land Relations and the Changing Fortunes of the Cēra State". The 'Early Medieval' Origins of India. Cambridge University Press. p. 128. ISBN 9781108494571.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Narayanan, M. G. S. (2013) Perumāḷs of Kerala. Thrissur (Kerala): CosmoBooks. p. 435. ISBN 9788188765072
  3. ^ Veluthat, Kesavan (2017). "The temple and the state in medieval South India". Studies in People's History. 4: 15–23. doi:10.1177/2348448917693729. S2CID 158422635.
  4. ^ a b c "Changes in Land Relations during the Decline of the Cera State", p. 58 in Kesavan Veluthat and Donald R. Davis Jr. (eds), Irreverent History:- Essays for M.G.S. Narayanan, Primus Books, New Delhi, 2014. ISBN 9789384082147
  5. ^ a b Rao, T. A. Gopinatha. (1988) Travancore Archaeological Series (Volume II, Part II). pp. 8-14.
  6. ^ Narayanan, M. G. S. (2013) Perumāḷs of Kerala. Thrissur (Kerala): CosmoBooks. pp. 63-64. ISBN 9788188765072
  7. ^ Noburu Karashmia (ed.) (2014) A Concise History of South India: Issues and Interpretations. New Delhi: Oxford University Press. p. 143. ISBN 9780198099772