Aravidu Dynasty's Sri Rangaraya III: Copper Plate Grants Analysis
By P. Sumabala
Summary
The studied copper plate charter, housed with Dr. Nanditha Krishna of the C.P. Ramaswamy Iyer Foundation in Chennai, consists of five plates (22.5 cm x 17 cm) arranged in a ring with a 7 cm seal featuring Varaha, sun, moon, and a dagger. The seal bears the name "Sri Venkatesa" in Nagari script. Written in Sanskrit using Nandinagari script across 8 sides (166 lines), the charter documents tax-free grants of three villages—Perundevi Samudram, Devaraja Samudram, and Accharavakkam—to Ramachandra, grandson of Ellambhatta, by Sri Rangaraya III (or VI) of the Aravidu dynasty. The charter details the villages' boundaries and includes a genealogical account of Sri Rangaraya's lineage, tracing it from mythological figures like Pururava and Nahusha to the Aravidu rulers. It emphasizes Sri Rangaraya's military prowess and titles like *Hosabhirudaragandha* and *Rayarahuttaminda*. Composed by Ramakavi (son of Kamakoti) and inscribed by Somanatha (son of Kamaya), the document is dated to 1566 CE (Saka era 1487) during a solar eclipse in August 1644. The grants were made to Ramachandra, son of Ranganatha, of the Visvamitra gotra. The text employs literary conventions common in Vijayanagara-era copper plate grants, blending historical and mythological narratives.
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Conclusion
The copper plate charter of Sri Rangaraya III (or VI) of the Aravidu dynasty provides significant insights into the administrative and political landscape of late Vijayanagara rule. It documents the tax-free grants of three villages—Perundevi Samudram, Devaraja Samudram, and Accharavakkam—by Sri Rangaraya to Ramachandra, son of Ranganatha, highlighting the feudal land distribution practices of the period. The charter's detailed genealogical narrative traces the Aravidu lineage, emphasizing the dynasty's military achievements and royal titles, which served to legitimize their authority. The spatial boundaries of the donated villages, meticulously recorded, reflect the bureaucratic efficiency of the era. The inscription's use of Sanskrit verses and Nandinagari script underscores the cultural and religious context of Vijayanagara governance. This document not only illustrates the socio-political dynamics of the Aravidu rule but also offers a primary source for understanding the territorial and administrative