A Copper-plate Grant of Visvarupa Sena of Bengal
Summary
The Copper-plate Grant of Visvarupa Sena of Bengal, analyzed by scholars like Haraprasada Sastri and others, provides critical insights into 13th-century Eastern Bengal's geography and history. The grant mentions key figures and locations, including **Ramasiddhi**, identified with a village in Bakharganj district, linked to Safi Khan (possibly the 17th-century revenue officer under Islam Khan). Remains of tanks and roads tied to Safi Khan’s activities are still visible. **Bangrod Pargana** is identified with historical references in Vijayagupta’s *Manasi-mangala*. The grant also references **Candradvipa**, likely linked to the Buddhist scholar Candragomin, and **Domvarakatti**, corroborated by medieval texts like the *Bhavigya Purana*. **Mahedvara**, a Brahmin scholar anointed by Laksmaga Sena, is tied to Candradvipa. Discrepancies exist in readings (e.g., *Samasiddhi* vs. *Ramasiddhi*), with scholars arguing for *Ramasiddhi* based on paleographic comparisons. The document highlights administrative and religious dynamics, including land grants, royal anointing rituals, and colonial-era references (e.g., Portuguese interactions with Candradvipa’s rulers). While some villages mentioned (e.g., Sarikela, Harikela) align with historical accounts, others remain untraced. The grant remains a vital source for understanding medieval Bengal’s political and spatial landscape, though some identifications (e.g., *Domvarakatti*) rely on textual rather than archaeological evidence.
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Conclusion
This analysis of Visvarupa Sena's copper-plate grant significantly advances our understanding of 13th-century Eastern Bengal's geography and socio-political landscape. By correcting the identification of "Samasiddhi Patake" to "Ramasiddhi" and linking it to a specific village with historical structures like Safi Khan's mosque, the study establishes tangible connections between the document's figures and archaeological remnants. The identification of "Bangala-Vadabhsa" with Bangroda Pargana and its mention in Vijayagupta's 15th-century text underscores continuity in regional nomenclature. The analysis also sheds light on the Sena dynasty's succession through Kumiara Sada Sena's potential connection to the Ain-i-Akbari, while the debate over "Candradvipa" versus "Phandradvipa" highlights methodological considerations in interpreting historical place names. By contextualizing these findings within broader historical sources like I-tsing's accounts and Taranatha's chronicles, the study bridges textual evidence with material culture, offering a multidimensional