11th Century Chola Copper Plates (Indian History, Art and Culture)
11th Century Chola Copper Plates (Indian History, Art and Culture)
Context:
In the presence of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, H.E. Mr. Rob Jetten, the Leiden University Library restituted the 11th century Chola Copper Plates to the Government of India.
Chola Copper Plates are royal charters issued by Chola Kings during the 11th century CE.
These charters formalise gifting of Anaimangalam village to a Buddha vihara called Chulamanivarma-vihara in Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu.
Leiden Copper Plates:
The plates were excavated during the construction of Fort VijfSinnen and the redevelopment of the site at the ‘Chinese’ Pagoda in Nagapattinam by Dutuch East Indies Company between 1687 and 1700.
The Leiden plates were strung together by a ring bearing the royal insignia of the Chola dynasty.
These included a tiger, the royal emblem of the Cholas, the two fish of the Pandyas, the bow of the Cheras, two chamaras, the royal parasol, lamps, and a swastika.
The inclusion of the two sh and the bow signi ed that the Cholas had defeated the Pandyas and the Cheras.
The bigger Leiden plates carry the word “Anaimangalam” in Tamil on the royal emblem, and a short sloka in Sanskrit in praise of Rajendra Chola I.
Significance of the Copper Plates:
One of the most important copper plates of Raja Raja Chola I (regnal years 985-1014 CE) is from Anai mangalam near Nagapattinam.
Ra ja Raja Chola I’s gift of land at Anaimangalam village to aBuddha vihara.
The vihara was built by the king Sri Mara Vijayotunga Varman of Java in the name of his father Sri Chu damani Varman, and so was called the Chulamani varma Vihara.
The plates are an interesting example of how a Sai vite king helped in building a Buddha vihara
o Raja Raja Chola I gave the order for building the Buddha vihara, it was his son Rajendra Chola I (regnal years 1014-1044 CE), who implemented the command.
Chulamanivarma Vihara
It also called the Raja Raja Cholan Perum palli (or the big vihara), during the time of Rajen dra Chola I.
The plates talks about additional grants to the sangha associated with vihara in Nagapattinam.
Two emissaries from the Javanese kingdom appealed to Kulottunga Chola Ito ensure the implementation of Raja Raja Chola I’s order.
Kulottunga not only gave them that assurance but made a grant of 4,500 kalam(an unit of measurement) of paddy plus land to the Chulamanivarma Vihara.