Linguists at Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute (BORI) have discovered historical evidence of the literary contributions of poetess Shilabhattarika (or Shila Bhattarika) through one of five copper plates presented for interpretation. In this article, you can learn more about the poetess Shila Bhattarika, the copper plates discovered and other details for the IAS exam history segment.

Findings from the Copper Plates

• Literary Contribution of Shila Bhattarika:
  • Shilabhattarika was the daughter of the Chalukya ruler Pulakeshin II and a poetess.
  • None of her siblings was inclined towards literature.
  • The recently discovered copper plate contains historical evidence that establishes Shilabhattarika’s literary contributions.
    
• Content of the Copper Plate:
  • The copper plates contain more than 60 sentences in Sanskrit written in Brahmi script.
  • One of the copper plates mentions the donation of Chigateri village in the present-day Vijayanagara district of Karnataka to a scholar named Vishnu Sharma.
  • Mahendraverma, the son of Shilabhattarika and Dadiga, recommended the donation to the ruling king Vijayaditya Chalukya.
    
• Importance of the Copper Plate:
  • The copper plate is not only important for its information on the geography and politics of the Chalukyas but also adds vital information to its literary history.
  • This is the first hard historical evidence about Shila Bhattarika as a poetess.
    
• Use of Copper Plates in Reconstruction of the Past:
  • Copper plates often contain inscriptions of hereditary grants given by kings and are used by archaeologists, linguists, and orientalists to reconstruct the past.
  • The copper plates were bunched using a copper ring and sealed in the testimony of the respective authority.
    
• Donation Made by Vakataka Ruler:
  • Another copper plate of the same bunch spoke about a donation made by Pravarasena II, the Vakataka ruler, which extends the dynasty’s geographical expanse to Odisha.
  • Khapri village, located in the present-day Durg district of Chhattisgarh, was donated by Pravarasena II.
  • The Vakatakas were the rulers of Central India during the 3-5 Century CE and were Shaivites.
  • Khapri could perhaps have been the easternmost village ruled by the Vakatakas, and at the peak of their ruling, they had reached up to eastern Chhattisgarh-Odisha.
    
• Publication of the New Historical Evidence:
  • All the new historical evidence obtained from the copper plates will be published in the annals of BORI and treasured for future reference.

Conclusion: The historical evidence obtained from the copper plates will be published in the annals of the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute and will serve as a valuable resource for future research on the Chalukya and Vakataka dynasties. It also highlights the importance of continuing efforts to uncover and interpret historical artefacts to deepen our understanding of the past.

Shila Bhattarika Copper Plates:- Download PDF Here