Sarabhapura
| Author:Laxman Burdak, IFS (R) |
Sarabhapura (सरभपुर) was an ancient historical city near Arang in Raipur district of Chhatisgarh, India. Gupta Inscriptions have mentioned in 'Arang Copper-plate Inscription of the Raja Maha-Jayaraja' and 'Raipur Copper-plate Inscription of the Raja MahaSudevaraja'.
Origin
Variants
- Sarabhapura सरभपुर, जिला रायपुर, छत्तीसगढ़, (AS, p.937)
- Sharabhapura (शरभपुर)
- Sharabhapuriya (शरभपुरीया)
History
The Sharabhapuriya (सरभपुरीया) dynasty ruled parts of present-day Chhattisgarh and Odisha in India, during 5th and 6th centuries. The dynasty probably served as Gupta vassals in their early days, but became practically independent as the Gupta empire declined. The Sharabhapuriyas were succeeded by the Panduvamshis. The dynasty is known mainly from its copper-plate inscriptions, and a few coins.
Period: A. M. Shastri estimates the reigns of the Sharabhapuriya rulers as follows: based on Sharabha's identification with the Sharabharaja mentioned in the 510 CE Eran inscription, he assigns Sharabha's reign to 475–500 CE (assuming a 25-year reign). Similarly, he assigns 25 years to the next two kings. Since Jayaraja's latest inscription is dated to 9th regnal year, Shastri assumes a 10-year reign for Jayaraja, and some subsequent kings.[1]
- Sharabha (Śarabha), c. 475–500 CE
- Narendra, c. 500–525 CE
- Prasanna, c. 525–550 CE
- Jayarāja, c. 550–560 CE
- Sudevarāja, c 560–570 CE
- Manamatra alias Durgarāja, c. 570–580 CE
- Sudevarāja, c. 570–580 CE
- Pravarāja, c. 580–590 CE
Alternative dates have been proposed by other historians. For example, D. C. Sircar estimated Sharabha's reign as 465–480 CE, while V. V. Mirashi estimated it as 460–480 CE.[2]
The identification of Sharabhapura
The identification of Sharabhapura is not certain, while Shripura has been identified with modern Sirpur.[3] Some scholars have identified Sharabhapura with places in present-day Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, but these places are located far away from the find spots of the inscriptions; it is more likely that Sharabhapura was located in or around the present-day Raipur district.[4] KD Bajpai and SK Pandey identified Sharabhapura with Malhar, but A. M. Shastri points out that the excavations at Malhar reveal that the establishment of the town can be dated to c. 1000 BCE or earlier. Therefore, it cannot be identified as a city established by Sharabha who ruled nearly 1500 years later. Moreover, there is no evidence that Malhar was called Sharabhapura: its earliest known name is Mallala or Mallala-pattana.[5] Hira Lal once theorised that the Sharabhapura was another name for Shripura, but this theory is now discredited.[6]
Arang Copper-plate Inscription of the Raja Maha-Jayaraja
A charter of the illustrious Jayarâja,-who
verily has a gracious heart; (and) who has
overcome (his) enemies by (his) prowess,-
(is) a charter for (the observance of even his)
enemies.
The Plates.- Hail! From the town of Sharabhapura, the illustrious Mahâ-Jayarâja, - whose two feet are purified by the waters which are the flowing forth of the radiance of the jewels in the locks of hair (Jata) on the tops of the heads of the chieftains, (bowing down before him), who have been subjugated by (his) prowess; who is the cause of the tearing out of the parted hair of the women of (his) enemies; who is the giver of treasure and land and cows; who is a most devout worshipper of the Divine One; (and) who meditates on the feet of (his) parents,-issues a command to the cultivators residing at (the village of) Pamvâ in the Eastern Country (Purvarashtra):-
- (Line 5.)-"Be it known to you, that this village, the source (by this grant of it) of (Our) ensuring the happiness of (attaining) the abode of (Indra) the lord of the gods, is by (this) copper-charter conveyed by Us, with libations of water, for the increase of the religious merit of (Our) parents and of Ourself, to Brahmadêvasvâmin, of the Vâjasanêya (shâkhâ) and the Kaundinya gôtra,-to be enjoyed as long as the world endures, having the terrible darkness dispelled by the rays of tile sun and the moon and the stars; together with (its) hidden treasures and deposits; not to be entered by the irregular or the regular troops; (and) exempted from all taxes.
- (L. 11.)-"Being aware of this, you should be obedient to his commands, and should dwell in happiness, rendering in proper manner (his) share of the enjoyment."
- (L. 13.)-And he enjoins upon future kings,-"The ancients, whose minds are fixed upon religion, say that the virtue that arises from the preservation (of a grant) is greater than (that which arises from) making a grant; therefore your mind should verily incline to preserve land that has been given to a Brâhman of very pure family and holy learning. Therefore this gift should be preserved by you also."
- (L. 16.)-And they cite on this point the verses that were sung by Vyâsa:-Gold (is) the first offspring of fire; the earth belongs to (the god) Vishnu; and cows (are) the daughters of the sun: therefore the three worlds are given by him who gives gold, and a cow, and land! The giver of land dwells in heaven for sixty thousand years; (but) the confiscator (of a grant), and he who assents (to an act of confiscation), shall dwell for the same number of years in hell! 0 Yudhishthira, best of kings, carefully preserve land that has been given, whether by thyself, or by another; (verily) the preservation (of a grant) (is) more meritorious than making a grant! Land has been given by many kings, commencing with Sagara; whosoever at any time possesses the earth, to him belongs, at that time, the reward (of this grant that is now made, if he continue it)!
- (L. 23.)-At the command of (Mahâ-Jayarâja’s) own mouth, (this charter) has been engraved by Achalasingha, (in) the year 5 of increasing victory, (in) (the month) Mârgashira, (on the day) 20 (and) 5.
- From: Fleet, John F. Corpus Inscriptionum Indicarum: Inscriptions of the Early Guptas. Vol. III. Calcutta: Government of India, Central Publications Branch, 1888, 194-195.
Raipur Copper-plate Inscription of the Raja MahaSudevaraja
Ôm! Hail! From the town of Sharabhapura, the illustrious Mahâ-Sudêvarâja, whose two feet are purified by the waters which are the flowing forth of the radiance of the jewels in the locks of hair (wound) in the tiaras of the chieftains, (bowing down before him), who have been subjugated by (his) prowess; who is the cause of the tearing out of the parted hair of the women of (his) enemies; who is the giver of treasure and land and cows; who is a most devout worshipper of the Divine One, (and) who meditates on the feet of (his) parents,-issues a command to the cultivators residing at (the village of) Shrîhâhikâ in the Eastern Country (Purvarashtra);-
(Line 5.)-"Be it known to you, that this village, the source (by this grant of it) of (Our) ensuring the happiness of (attaining) the abode of (Indra) the lord of the gods, which has been conveyed by a copper-charter to Nâgavatsasvâmin and Bandhuvatsasvâmin, of the Aupamanyava (shâkhâ) and the Vatsa gôtra, who, by the gift in marriage of his daughters, are the sons-in-law of Savitrisvâmin of the Kaundinya gôtra and the Vâjasanêya (shâkhâ); to be enjoyed as long as the world endures, having the terrible darkness dispelled by the rays of the sun and the moon and the stars; together with (its) hidden treasures and deposits; not to be entered by the irregular or the regular troops; (and) exempted from all taxes,-has, at the time of the sun’s commencement of his progress to the north, been assented to by Us indeed, for the increase of the religious merit of (Our) parents and of Ourself.
(L. 13.)-"Being aware of this, you should be obedient to their commands, and should dwell in happiness, rendering in manner proper (their) share of the enjoyment."
(L. I5.)-And he enjoins upon future kings,-"The ancients, whose minds are fixed upon religion, say that the virtue that arises from the preservation (of a grant) is greater than (that which arises from) making a grant; therefore your mind should verily incline to preserve land that has been given to a Brâhman of very pure family and holy learning. Therefore this gift should be preserved by you also."
(L. 18.)-And they cite on this point the verses that were sung by Vyâsa;-Gold is the first offspring of fire; the earth belongs to (the god) Vishnu; and cows are the daughters of the sun; therefore the three worlds are given by him who gees gold, and a cow, and land! The giver of land enjoys happiness in heaven for sixty thousand years; (but) the confiscator (of a grant), and he who assents (to an act of confiscation), shall dwell for the same number of years in hell! Land has been given by many kings, commencing with Sagara; whosoever at any time possesses the earth, to him belongs, at that time, the reward (of this grant that is now made, if he continue it). O Yudhishthira, best of kings, carefully preserve land that has been given, whether by thyself, or by another; (verily) the preservation (of a grant) (is) more meritorious than making a grant!
(L. 25.)-In this same village, the irrigation-well called Shrîvâpikâ, constructed within the mound on the land that skirts the eastern tank (and) extending up to the road is given to Nâgavatsasvâmin, in excess of (his exact) half of the village, because he is the elder.
(L. 27.)-At the command of (Mahâ-Sudêvarâja’s) own mouth, (in) mouth, (in) the year 10 of increasing victory, (in) (the month) Mâgha, (on the day) 9, (this charter) has been engraved by Drônasingha.
From: Fleet, John F. Corpus Inscriptionum Indicarum: Inscriptions of the Early Guptas. Vol. III. Calcutta: Government of India, Central Publications Branch, 1888, 199-200.
सरभपुर (जिला रायपुर, छत्तीसगढ़)
सरभपुर (AS, p.937): रायपुर ज़िला, छत्तीसगढ़ का ऐतिहासिक स्थान है। यह आरंग के निकट का एक स्थान है, जो 'आरंग दानपट्ट' तथा 'रायपुर दानपट्ट' अभिलेखों के आधार पर पूर्व राष्ट्र का मुख्य नगर जान पड़ता है। ये दोनों अभिलेख गुप्तकालीन हैं।[7]
External links
References
- ↑ . M. Shastri I 1995, pp. 104–105.
- ↑ A. M. Shastri I 1995, p. 104.
- ↑ Ajaya Mitra Shastri (1995). Inscriptions of the Śarabhapurīyas, Pāṇḍuvaṁśins, and Somavaṁśins: Part I. Motilal Banarsidass. ISBN 978-81-208-0635-1. p.93
- ↑ A. M. Shastri I 1995, p. 92.
- ↑ A. M. Shastri I 1995, pp. 94–95.
- ↑ A. M. Shastri I 1995, pp. 90–91.
- ↑ Aitihasik Sthanavali by Vijayendra Kumar Mathur, p.937