Devaraya I and Vijayanagara Empire

  • Copper Plates Unveiled: 15th-century copper plates from Devaraya I’s coronation were unveiled in Bengaluru.
  • Historical Significance: The plates provide key historical details about the Sangama Dynasty and Vijayanagara Empire.
  • Dating & Script: Dated to 1406 CE (Saka 1328), the plates are inscribed in Sanskrit, Kannada, and Nāgarī scripts.
  • Unique Seal: Features a Vamana seal instead of the traditional Varaha emblem of the Vijayanagara Empire. This is a noteworthy deviation from the standard royal insignia.
  • Genealogy: Traces the Sangama Dynasty’s lineage from Chandra, Yadu, Sangama, and his five sons (including Harihara and Bukka).
  • Coronation Confirmation: Confirms the previously unverified coronation date of Devaraya I.
  • Land Grant: Records a land grant named Devarāyapura-agrahāra, dividing land among Brahmins with different Vedic expertise.
  • ASI Involvement: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is involved in studying and preserving the plates, emphasizing their historical importance and urging the public to report similar finds.
  • Rare Find: The plates are significant as the first coronation copper plate of Vijayanagara Empire that surfaced till date.