The Parbatiya Copper Plates of Vanamālavarmadeva: A Literary Study

Abstract

To understand the many facets of Assamese ancient history, one must read traditional Sanskrit writings such as the Rāmayaņa, Mahābharata, and Raghuvamśa as well as epigraphs, coinage, and archeological documents. The Raghuvaṁśa, Mahābhārata, and the Šamudragupta's Allahabad stone pillar inscription all mention Assam's ancient and medieval name, Prågjyotișa-Kāmarūpa. The Samudragupta stone pillar inscription from Allahabad identified Kâmarūpa as a boundary province. Assam can legitimately take pride in its contributions to the epigraph's wealth. Ancient Assamese epigraphs were primarily found on rock inscriptions, copper plates that were issued by monarchs, engravings on clay or metal seals, and occasionally only plates that were written on the bodies of stone idols. A peasant in the village of Parbatiyā, close to Tezpur, Assam, found the Parbatiyā copper plate of Vanamālavarmadeva, which contained three copper plates and a seal. With a small deviation, this inscription is nearly identical to that found on Tezpur copper plates of Vanamālavarmadeva. The ancestry of Vanamålavarmadeva, the brave monarch of the Śālastambha dynasty, is presented in the inscription along with other items. Parbatiyä copper plate of Vanamalavarmadeva was issued by illustrious Vanamālavarmadeva from the prosperous city of Hadapeśvara which was surrounded by people of all the Varnas.