Inscription on 1000-year-old copper plate found in Telangana's Kodad sheds light on earliest recorded Kakatiya genealogy
The three-leaf copper plate, found in a graveyard at Kodad town, is preserved by the Department of Heritage in Hyderabad.
Written in Sanskrit using Telugu script
Issued during the coronation of Vikramaditya II in 918 CE, the record details the grant of a village to the family of a fallen Kakatiya ancestor who aided the Chalukya King in a succession battle. The inscription was written in Sanskrit using Telugu script and is dated Saka 840 (Phalguna Bahula Panchami, Saturday), which corresponds to March 6, 918 CE.
The genealogy
The inscription begins with a eulogy of the Samanta Vetti family (ancestors of the Kakatiyas) and mentions the genealogy of the dynasty from Kubja Vishṇuvardhana down to Vikramaditya II, along with their ruling periods. It lists their genealogy as Samanta Vetti, Gunda I, Erra, and Gunda II. It also mentions that Talapa captured and imprisoned the boy king Vijayaditya and ruled the kingdom for one month.
The inscription records that King Vikramaditya II, on the occasion of his coronation, granted the village of Kovuṛu, situated in Kanḍeruvaḍi vishaya, to Lokamamba — wife of Gunda II (administrator of Kondapalli vishaya) — who had died while assisting Vikramaditya II in the war against Talapa to regain the throne.
It was issued by Vikramaditya II, son of Chalukya Bhima I and Vijayamahadevi, and bears the Chalukya royal seal depicting a boar (Varaha) and the legend Sri Tribhuvanamkusa. The discovery and preservation were facilitated by Suryapet district collector, Tejas Nandlal Pawar.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Indian Express
5 hours ago
- New Indian Express
Rare plate sheds light on Vengi Chalukya systems
HYDERABAD: The recent discovery of a fifth copper plate inscription in a Muslim graveyard in Kodad, Suryapet district, continues to enrich historical understanding of the Vengi Chalukya dynasty's political and administrative systems. Now preserved at the Department of Heritage, Hyderabad, it is part of a rare collection of nine such plates found in the region. According to Archaeological Survey of India Director (Epigraphy) K Muniratnam Reddy, the inscription traces royal lineage from Kubja Vishnuvardhana to Vikramaditya II, son of Chalukya Bhima I and Vijayamahadevi. It records a land grant issued by Vikramaditya II, granting 12 khandukas of land in Kodajenu village, along with Ghattikallu and Bojjaprolu hamlets, to Gundayya (also known as Manma Gunda), son of Erra and grandson of Gunda. Remarkably, the charter mandates that residents of 300 villages under Kondapalli vishaya remit one-sixth of their tax (bali), six cows, one adaka of ghee and a pair of garments (vastrayugalam) to Gundayya. The inscription, engraved in Sanskrit using Telugu script by Srikantha Ranabharana, was issued in Saka 848 (February 24, 927 CE), on a Saturday in the Phalguna month, likely during the Uttarayana festival. It bears the royal seal of a boar (Varaha) and the legend 'Sri Tribhuvanamkusa'. The grant was made in the presence of several mahasamantas at the royal palace and is believed to have been a strategic move to strengthen the kingdom's security. Notably, this is the second copper plate of Vikramaditya II found in Kodad from the same year, the first marking his coronation, and the latest interpreted as a protective gesture for the realm. 'Kakatiya Gundayya, the beneficiary, is praised as valiant, devout, learned in scripture and statecraft, a protector of the people and a model royal servant,' says Muniratnam.
Economic Times
7 hours ago
- Economic Times
1400-year-old ancient Hindu idols and Shivlings discovered during a spring restoration project in Kashmir
Synopsis During spring restoration in Anantnag, Jammu and Kashmir, ancient Hindu relics surfaced. The discovery includes idols and Shivlings at Karkoot Nag spring. The site is linked to the Karkoota dynasty. The Department of Archives, Archaeology and Museums took custody of the items. The relics will be studied at the SPS Museum in Srinagar. Locals hope for preservation and temple restoration. Agencies Idols found during spring restoration. Ancient Hindu idols and Shivlings were discovered during excavation work for a spring restoration project in the Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir, officials confirmed on to PTI, the relics were unearthed at the Karkoot Nag spring in the Salia area of Aishmuqam, approximately 16 kilometres from the district headquarters. The site holds historical importance for the Kashmiri Pandit community and is believed to be linked to the Karkoota dynasty, which ruled Kashmir between 625 and 855 CE. Labourers engaged in the revival project, led by the Public Works Department, found the artefacts during routine excavation. Also Read: Indian Navy's missile destroyer, corvette and stealth frigate reach Philippines and Singapore wargames in China's backyard Following the discovery, officials from the Jammu and Kashmir Department of Archives, Archaeology and Museums visited the location and took custody of the recovered items. A department official told PTI, "The idols and sculptures will be sent to the SPS Museum in Srinagar, where research scholars and department experts will study them to determine their age and historical context." A local Kashmiri Pandit told PTI that the region has historical links to the Karkoota dynasty and suggested that a temple might have once stood at the site or that the idols may have been preserved there intentionally. He also noted that the pond where the idols were found has long been regarded as sacred and a site of pilgrimage.'We want these artefacts to be preserved. We have heard that a temple once stood here. A new temple should be built and the Shivlings reinstalled there,' he the Department of Archives, Archaeology and Museums has not confirmed any plans to develop the site for religious or heritage tourism, conservation efforts are expected to follow once the evaluation is complete.(With inputs from PTI)
Hindustan Times
9 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Ancient idols found during restoration work at Hindu shrine in J&K's Anantnag
Ancient Hindu idols have been recovered during excavation work for a renovation project at a Hindu religious site in Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir. Officials with the ancient idols discovered during excavation at a shrine in Anantnag district of J&K on Saturday, August 2.(PTI) These idols and 'shivlings' could date back over 2,000 years, since the site where these have been found — Karkoot Nag (or Karkut Nag) in the Salia area of Aishmuqam town — is commonly associated by the Kashmiri Pandits with the Karkoota dynasty, which is said to have ruled Kashmir from 625 to 855 CE/BC. It is about 16 km from the district headquarters. A local news channel said 15 ancient idols, including 11 Shivlings, were discovered at the site, which has historical religious remains. A damaged sculpture depicting many deities — part of the discoveries — is believed to be part of an ancient temple pillar, which once stood at the place, a local daily reported. The UT's public works department was undertaking restoration work for a spring there, as part of a broader project of the UT government, when labourers found these items during excavation, PTI reported. Officials from the department of archives, archaeology and museums then visited the site. The idols will be sent to Srinagar for material and dating tests to determine their age and origin, officials told the news agency. Research scholars will also be engaged in the study after the idols are shifted to Shri Pratap Singh Museum in Srinagar. A local, unnamed Kashmiri Pandit was quoted by PTI as saying, 'There is a probability that a temple might have been there or someone might have kept them there for preservation.' Local community leaders present there reportedly called for a need to construct a temple 'to restore the glory of the shrine'.
