Community: Vākāṭaka epigraphy

This charter records the donation of a field ‘only for enjoyment’, a farm house and four residences of ploughmen in the administrative division of Kośika. The donation was made to the Brāhmaṇas of the Taittirīya śākhā of the Black Yajurveda and Parāśara gotra by Prabhāvatī Guptā in the 19th year of Pravarasena II’s reign. The charter includes reference to Prabhāvatī Guptā’s Gupta lineage alongside that of her Vākāṭaka heritage. The charter also includes a reference to Prabhāvatī Guptā’s two sons, both of whom were rulers Dāmodarasena and Pravarasena II (Shastri 1997: 21-23).

The inscription, incised on seven plates and with an attached seal, records the donation of the village of Carmāṅkā (the modern चामक) by Pravarasena II at the request of Koṇḍarāja. The donation was given to 1,000 Brāhmānas of various sects and schools, and the charter lists 49 of these donees by name. The charter was issued in the 18th year of Pravarasena II reign.

The charter records the donation of the village Uṅguṇa (or Daṅguṇa) to Chanālasvāmin by Prabhāvatī Guptā during the 13th year of her reign as Regent for her minor son. The charter was issued from Nāndivardhana, the modern Nandardhan or Nāgardhan near Ramtek.