Material: Metal / copper

The inscription is engraved on a charred copper plate. When H. W. Codrington recorded the plate was in the third volume of Epigraphia Zeylanica in the 1930s, he noted that it was in the possession of the in the possession of the Palkum̆bura Vihārē in Hārispattuva of the Kandy District. However, the record relates to a different temple. The plate has been badly damaged by fire. It is dated in the reign of Bhuvanaika Bāhu VII and records a grant of land, subject to a payment to Viṣṇu, to the Mahā Thero of the Senevirat-muḷa establishment.

Mihintale, Sri Lanka

In 1923, ninety-one inscribed copper votive tablets were found among the ruins of the Indikatuseya stupa at Mihintale. The tablets were discovered by the Archaeological Department of Ceylon during the restoration and rebuilding of the dome of the stupa. It appears that they were originally deposited in the relic chamber but became scattered when the stupa was raided by treasure-seekers, which would also explain the presence of some Dutch stivers in amongst the medieval copper tablets. Most of the tablets are about 0.8 mm in thickness and are inscribed on one side only. Some bear traces of gilding. The majority are completely intact but a few are broken or have missing corners. On palaeographic grounds, they can be dated to the eighth or ninth century A.D. The inscriptions on the tablets are extracts from Buddhist texts of the Mahāyāna school. Indeed, forty-six have been connected with specific passages in the Pañcaviṁśati-sāhasrikā Prajñāpāramitā (nos. 1–46). A further fifteen have been found to quote from various passages in the Kāśyapa-parivartta (nos. 47, 48, 50–54, 57, 58, 61, 63, 67, 69, 76 and 79). The language of the inscriptions is Sanskrit but they are written in Sinhalese characters. The tablets are therefore significant epigraphical rarities, since there are few surviving examples from the medieval period that show the transcription of Sanskrit in Sinhalese script. However, the scribe does not appear to have been overly familiar with Sanskrit and, as a result, the inscriptions on the plaques often diverge slightly from their source texts.

The sannasa (land grant) is engraved on both sides an oblong copper-plate. There are fifteen lines of text on the observe and a further fifteen lines on the reverse. Writing in the late 1920s, Codrington recorded that the plate “has for many years been in the possession of Mr W. P. Ranasinha, Notary Public”. The latter’s son – A.G. Ranasinha Esq., C.M.G., C.B.E. – lent it to an exhibition organised by the Historical Manuscripts Commission in 1952.

The sannasa records a grant of land to two Brahmans – one Potā Ojjhalun and his nephew Avuhaḷa Ojjhalun of the Śān̆ḍiḷya gotra. As the sannasa relates, these Brahmans served as chief purohita “until His Majesty our King Mahā Parākrama Bāhu…had worn the crown fifty-five times” (i.e. had reigned for fifty-five years). Kings of this period wore the state crown every year on the anniversary of their coronation, hence a king who wore the crown fifty-five times must have reigned for fifty-five years. In recognition of their service, the Brahmans received for their maintenance the village of Oruvaḷa in Aturugiri Kōralē. Subsequently another king made this village a perpetual dānakṣetra in favour of the nephew and also granted him another village in the neighbourhood. Avuhaḷa Ojjhalun, not content, applied either to the same king or to one of his successors for a copper-plate charter confirming that the land held by him was permanently declared a dānakṣetra subject to an annual payment of fifteen fanams to the god Vishṇu. In answer to this request, the present sannasa was issued by king Siri San̆gabo Śrī Parākrama Bāhu at Jayavarddhanapura Kōṭṭē in the fourth year of his reign.

Codrington identifies Mahā Parākrama Bāhu – the king served by the two Bhamans – as Parākrama Bāhu VI, who reigned from 1412 (or 1415, according to certain historical sources) until 1467 A.D. However, the identity of Siri San̆gabo Śrī Parākrama Bāhu – the king who issued the sannasa – is less certain. Kings Parākrama Bāhu VII, VIII and IX are all possibilities, although it is most likely to have been one of the first two. On palaeographic grounds, Codrington favours Parākrama Bāhu VIII. Oruvaḷa (Oruwala), the village mentioned in the grant, is situated near Aturugiriya, about three miles south-south-west of Nawagamuwa.

INIG1304a caitra śudi 1 budhavāra Kurethā (Sheopur). Copper-plate inscription. 19 lines, nāgarī, Sanskrit. Mentions the donation of Guḍhhāgrāma in favour of nāyaka Vaccheka or Vaccha by Pratīhāra king Naravarman, younger brother of Malayavarman. Composed by Purutyama (possibly a mistake for Puruṣottama) and engraved by the goldsmith Saḍheka. Now in Archaeological Museum, Gwalior.

INIG1277 jeṣṭha badi 15 ravidine Kurethā (Sheopur). Copper-plate inscription. 25 lines, nāgarī, Sanskrit. Mentions donations and the Pratīhāra king Malayavarman. The royal lineage is given as Naṭula, Pratāpasiṁha and Vigraha and his queen Ālhaṇadevī; she was the daughter of the Cāhamāṇa Kelhaṇa and mother of Malayavaman. The king granted Kudavaṭhe (modern Kurethā) to Vatsa and Haripāla, brahmaṇas of the Vāsala gotra. The plate is now in the Archaeological Museum, Gwalior.

INIG1233 kārttika badi 8 budhavāre Pachār (Jhānsī). Copper-plate inscription. 22 lines, nāgarī, Sanskrit. Records the grant of land in the village of Lauvā in Karigavā viṣaya to paṇḍita Keśavaśarman by paramabhaṭṭāraka mahārājādhirāja parameśvara śrī Paramardideva of the Candella dynasty. Now in the State Museum, Lucknow.

INIG1177b kārttika badi amāvāsyāyāṁ ravidine Narwar (Shivpuri). Copper-plate inscription of Kacchapaghāta Vīrasiṁhadeva. Number of lines not given, nāgarī, Sanskrit. Mentions Gaganasiṁhadeva, his successor Śaradasiṁhadeva and his successor Vīrasiṁhadeva who allotted Babāḍa village in various shares to a number of individuals. Written by Salakṣaṇa son of ṭhakkur Arjuna.