Kondamudi plates of Jayavarman

• The downfall of the Iksvāku dynasty resulted in the breaking-up of the Empire into several small independent kingdoms.

• This led to the rise of some feudatory families to paramount power.

• According to inscriptions from this period, two dynasties that rose to power were the Brhatphalāyanas and the Anandas.

• The Brhatphalāyanas appear to be the earlier of the two dynasties.

• The Kondamudi plates of the Brhatphalāyana family come from Kondamudi of Jayavarman in the Tenali taluk.

• The record refers to Maharaja Jayavarman of the Brhatphalāyana götra who called himself Maheśvara-pada-parigrhitah (“one who is favoured by the feet of Mahesvara (Śiva)”).

• The inscription mentions that from his capital or the victorious camp (skandhavara) after a victorious battle near the city of Küdura, Maharaja Jayavarman issued a command to his governor (vyaprta) of the capital Küdüra.

• Maharaja Jayavarman granted the village of Päntüra in the district of Küdüra (Kadura-hara) to eight Brahmanas, specifying their names.

• The entire village was converted into a brahmadeya and divided into twenty-four shares for distribution among the donees.

• The donees received the shares as follows:

  • Savagutaja, a householder (jayapara) of the Gautama-götra, received eight shares.

  • Savigija of the Tänavya-götra received three shares.

  • Goginaja (Göginarya) received three shares.

  • Bhāvamnaja (Bhāvanārya) of the Kaundinya-götra received two shares.

  • Rudaveņhuja (Rudraviṣṇvārya) of the Bharadvāja-götra received one and a half shares.

  • Isaradataja (Is’varadattarya) of the Kärsnayana-götra received one and a half shares.

  • Rudaghösaja (Rudraghosarya) of the Aupamanyava-götra received one share.

  • Khamdarudaja (Skandarudrārya) of the Kausika-götra received half a share.

• The edict was engraved on copper plates by the Mahatagavara Mahadandanayaka Bhapahanavar-man.

• The edict was dated the first day of the first fortnight of the winter season in the tenth year of the reign of King Jayavarman.

The Grant

• The village of Pântura was parcelled off from the district (hara) and made a brahmadeya village.

• The edict states that the village was exempted from all taxes, immunities (parihara), and obligations payable to the king.

• The pariharas or exemptions mentioned in the grant are significant and noteworthy.

• The term apapesam likely means abhatapravesam, referring to exemption from the passing of the king’s regular troops through the village or even camping near the place.

• The word anomasam represents anavampsyam, meaning exemption from being meddled with by any royal officers for purposes of levying supplies, etc.

• Alonakhadakam refers to immunity from the monopoly of royal officers to dig up earth for salt.

• The term arathasamvinayakam likely represents araṣtra samvinayakam, meaning exemption from interference by royal officers of the district or rastra.

• The order announcing the gift of brahmadeya was issued by the King to the Mahadandanayaka (General) Mahatagavara (Lord Chief Justice) Bhapahänavarman by word of mouth (aviyena anatam).

• When the order was reduced to writing on copper-plates, it was signed and sealed by King Jayavarman himself.

• The seal bore the title “Brhatphalayanasa götrasya Maharaja Śri Jayavarmanah”, indicating that the seal belonged to Maharaja Jayavarman, who hailed from the Brhatphalāyana gotra.