Copper Plates of the Vijayanagara Empire

GS 1 – HISTORY

Context:

Recently, a collection of copper plates from the early 15th century was unveiled in Bengaluru.

Details:

These plates were issued during the coronation of Devaraya I from the Sangama Dynasty. The inscriptions are written in Sanskrit, Kannada, and Nagari scripts. The records indicate that Devaraya I, son of Harihara, granted the village of Gudipalli along with two hamlets—Rājēndramāda and Udayapalli—as part of his coronation grants. Subsequently, the village was renamed Devarayapura-Agrahara and divided into 61 portions, which were distributed among Brahmins.

A unique feature of these plates is the presence of Vamana’s image on the royal seal, deviating from the usual Varaha emblem associated with the Vijayanagara rulers.

Significance:

These copper plates, being directly issued by the king, provide authentic historical records about the Vijayanagara Empire. They also offer a detailed lineage of the Sangama Dynasty, contributing significantly to historical research.