A BILINGUAL INSCRIPTION FROM DIVEAGAR COPPER PLATE

Author(s): Swapna H. Samel

Source: Proceedings of the Indian History Congress, Vol. 61, Part One: Millennium (2000-
2001), pp. 429-433
Published by: Indian History Congress
Stable URL: https://www.jstor.org/stable/44148120
Accessed: 07-08-2019 06:43 UTC

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A BILINGUAL INSCRIPTION FROM DIVE-
AGAR COPPER PLATE
Swapna H. Samel

Inscriptions offer us some idea of the growth and existence of villages,

towns and sites in various areas of Maharashtra. Inscriptions are the
most trustworthy source of our history. The concept of history has in
recent years undergone radical change. It is no longer a mere narration
of ruling dynasties, their warfare victories and defeats. It is much
more embracing as it includes cultural aspects such as arts, commerce
religion, philosophy, administration, etc.1 Epigraphy has already come
into its own. Epigraphs serve as the handmaid of literature and history,
providing credibility for oral tradition and often introduce as well as
solve problems which otherwise are liable to be controversial.2 In this
presentation effrots have been made to focus on an unique inscription
in Marathi and Sanskrit fromDive-Agar copper plate.
Dive-Agar must have been a place of some importance in early
historical period, probably due to its geographical location. It lies in
Raigad district of Maharashtra, is a small port town in Shrivardhan
Taluka. This tiny beautiful town is favored by nature and famous for
its clean and beautiful seashore and natural beauty. There are eight
Hindu temples, one matha , mosque and inn. Five copper plates and
one stone inscription found over here proves that Dive- Agar must have
been an important village even during ancient times.3 Inscriptions
found over here are dated from 7th century to 11th century. Dive-
Agar was in lime light again in 1998, when a box containing gold
statue of Lord Ganesha along with gold ornaments were found during
plantation. At present the above mentioned treasure has been kept in
the temple at Dive- Agar. One line in Marathi is engraved on the box
which means a person called Maval has kept two [probably idol and
ornaments] which are reddish like molasses [boiled sugarcane juice].
The inscription under study has come under focus once again
because of the discovery of the above treasure and the line engraved
on the box. The importance of the inscription lies in the similarity of
name of a person called Maval which proves that, the treasure found
recetly is nearly 1000 years old, which is mentioned in the present
inscription. M.G. Dixit had brought the present copper plate to
limelight. Dr.Dixit had obtained the copper plate through the courtesy
of Mr.S.N.Joshi-Patwardhan, who was resident of village Dive-Agar,
in May 1949. It is reported to have been found by a farmer while

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430 IHC: Proceedings , 61st ( Millennium ) Session , 2001

digging for earth in his wadi. The copper plate is a single-sheet and
measures about 6V2 inches broad and 2>Vi inches high. It has a small
hole in the middle of the margin in its proper left, through which a
copper ring is passed. The ring is quite plain and does not bear traces
of a seal. According to Dr.Dixit, it is possible that a blank sheet of
copper, now missing was strung on this ring which held them both
together4. The inscription appears to be complete in itself. At present
this copper plate is in the custody of Itihas Sashodhan Mandai, Pune.
The Dive-Agar copper plate consists of nine lines of writing in
character of Nagri alphabet, current in the 1 1 th century. Early Marathi
is a language of this inscription. First one and half line is in Sanskrit.
Comparatively very few records in Marathi have been found till about
Shilahara-Yadava period whose language is a mixture of Sanskrit and
early Marathi. After about A.D. 1200 inscriptions in Marathi become
a regular feature in Mahrashtra. The first line of the inscription clearly
mentions the date, i.e. saka savat 982, sarvari, [full mooņ day] of
Margashirsha, according to present calender, Friday 10th November
1060 A.D. According to M.G.Dixit, this inscription is one of the
earliest Marathi inscriptions, since he has graded, a short one line
inscription carved at the base of the colossal statue of Gomatesvara at
Sravana Belgola, in the Mysore state, on the top rank. On the basis of
available evidences he has dated it about 983 A.D.5 But according tó
another well known scholar Mr.Tulpule, Dive-Agar copper plate is
the earliest Marathi inscription to be deciphered till date6. Influence
of the southern alphabets may be traced in the form of few letters for
example [n] in line number three and seven. Even southern forms of
the numerals [9 and 7] can be traced in line number one and six. The
inscription carries most of the peculiar character of early Marathi
language.
The Diver - Agar inscription is a unique inscription in the sense
that generally most of the inscriptions are about donation or
endowments, but Dive- Agar inscription records a private deed. Though
the inscription does not furnish any information of historical interest,
it throws light on the administration of the local village assemblies in
the period. The inscription begins with, which is probably a short
form of omkar, states that on saka samvat 982, sarvari, pauranmasi of
Margashirsha, Friday, two Sasanas [charters] regarding [the village]
Sthitipuri were kept with one Maval-bhatta by the village assembly
[stana] headed by Ghasas and Sidhu Shadangivi. Further one hundred
and twenty seven suvarnas [Gadyanka coins] were kept in Davodara;
[which was the expense] for the maintenance [yoga-kshema] of the
assembly. This [deed] was known to Risiyapai, Paumva-deva,

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 Medieval India 43 1

Shadangavi, Takai Shadangava, Jiv

Shadangava and Madhuvaya Deva
The inscription throws light on
It seems that two important charter
over to a private person, but with th
the sum for the maintenance of t
another person apparaently in t
witnesses to this deed are also bein
about the term sthana [line numbe
word sthana is used in the sense o
Desai opines, "The term sthana is n
the sense of village assembly. Sth
an office and its earliest use ma
Kautilya. In such designation as th
etc. commonly occurring in inscr
religious establishment, etc. Sec
acquired the sense of "trusteeship' . I
to have been used to denote truste
does not give political information
of Trusteeship and Trust in ancien
There are several names mention
Most of them seem to be very lear
form of Sanskrit Shadagavid, mea
the Vedas. Most of the Sanskrit nam
such as the name Davodara would
Risiyappa to Rishiappa, Sidhu
Padmadeva. There is mention of o
Dayodara., rest are all first nam
inscriptions subsequent to this
Ghaisas in the form of Gahiyasaha
plate of Rashtrakuta Govinda, dat
denotes only position or rank and
section of Brahmans. This surna
Chitpavana and Karhade Brahmans
Devalu is perhaps a corrupt form
present days the surname Deva
Brahmanas.

The inscription under study mentions only two geographical places

viz. Sthitipuri [line number two] and Dive [line number seven].
Sthitipuri cannot be identified. The map of survey of India refers to a
small village called Sthiti, about three miles away from Dive-Agar
where the plates were found10. Dive is definitely Dive-Agar, since the

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432 IHC: Proceedings , 61st (Millennium) Session , 2001
copper plate was found in the same village. The inscription dated
saka 1176 [13th century] which- was found in the same village has
mentioned the Sanskritised form of Dive-Agar, i.e. Dipakagrama.
Thus, the present inscription focuses on social as well as economic
condition of the period of Dive-Agar. It is very interesting to note
that, the deeds were recorded on copper plate as proof, along with all
the minute details. There are altogether six witnesses mentioned in
the plate. Even the exact number of gold coins which were in the
form of necklace are also mentioned. Probably those gold coins wece
directly used to run the expenses of the village assembly or there must
have been a system of fixed deposit or gold deposit, so that from the
interest maintenance of the village assembly could be met. Another
important thing which is noticed here is that though there were six
witnesses the gold was kept in the custody of only one person. Probably
he was accountable to the six witnesses.

Another unique feature of the Dive-Agar copper plate is that the

inscription has recorded two transactions in one copper plate. First,
through the two shasans regarding the village Sthitipuri it was handed
over to Maval-bhatta by Vasudevbhatta and secondly it records that
one-hundred and twenty seven su varna coins were kept with Dayodara
in the presence of six witnesses for the maintenance of the assembly.
The inscription on the box which was found recently, mentions the
name of Maval and also contains a necklace of gold coins. Probably
Maval-bhatta in both the inscriptions was the same person and the ł
necklace of gold coins also may be the same.

Text

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«ļš aiíà '-tr&hź ' TīTītti -

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 Medieval India 433

NOTES AND REFERENCES

1. B. Ch. Chabra, Presidential Address, in Epigraphical Society of India, D

1974, pp.9-10.
2. K.V. Soundra Rajan, Presidential Address, in XI Epigraphical Society Co
pp.8-9.
3. Gazetteer of Maharashtra, Raigad District, pp.793-795.
4. M.G. Dixit, Dive-Agar Marathi Charter of Saka 982, in E.I. , Vol.XXVIII, 1949-50,
p. 121.
5. Ibid., p. 122.
6. S.G. Tulpule, Pune, 1963, p. 10.
7. M.G. Dixit, Ibid., p. 123.
8. E.I., Vol.XXVIII, p.123, n.5. 9. M.G. Dixit, Ibid.
9. M.G. Dixit, Ibid.

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