Discovery of Pallava period copper plates

Why in the news?

Recently a set of copper plate grant inscriptions of the early period of the Pallava dynasty has come to light.

Key points:

• Place of discovery: These copper plates were with a family in Dibburu village of Chikballapur district of Karnataka state.
  • The copper plates that have come to light include five sheets of copper plates, which have been with the Sri Pandit Shiva Swami Acharya family in Dibburu village for the last five generations.
• Language and script: These copper plate inscriptions are in Sanskrit language and are inscribed in early Telugu-Kannada script of the 5th and 6th centuries.
• Description: The inscriptions engraved on the copper plates mention the gift of Siyapura village.
• Issuer of the copper plates: Issued in the 20th year of his reign by the Pallava king Shiva Singha Varma, son of Nandivarma and grandson of Skandavarma of the Bharadvaja gotra.
• Recipient of the copper plates: Issued on the 12th day of the dark fortnight of the Kartika month, to a Brahmin of the Badarayana gotra, well versed in the six Vedangas.