Emperor Harshavardhana

Kanauj

Dr Shreenand Bapat

Pradeep Sohoni

Raghuvir Pai

the river

Brahmana- Vataviya

Vaishakha Pournima

journey

M K Dhavalikar

Copper plates play an important role in noting down new aspects of history, even giving out significant facts regarding property. In one such instance, a copper plate has displayed important aspects about Emperor Harshavardhana of Kanauj.“Emperor Harshavardhana of Kanauj was defeated by Chalukya ruler Pulakeshi of Badami in 618 AD. It was believed that the battle occurred sometime between 612 AD and 634 AD. However, with the help of the information from this newly read copper plate, the date can be more specifically fixed in the winter of 618-619,” said, registrar of Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute (BORI) who read the plate along with historian. The duo sourced the place from renowned Mumbai coin collectoron March 28 this year. The plate had to be thoroughly cleaned of rust before it could be deciphered.Said Sohoni, “The plate has given us an important piece of information which narrowed the period down to six months — from November to April. Earlier, there was evidence on a copper plate from 634 AD, mentioning this feat clearly. However, the exact time frame was unknown. This is the first time that we have been able to narrow the gap to such a short time.”The researchers also stated that the battle was fought on the banks ofNarmada. This was the first major incident when a northern ruler was defeated by any southerner. The river thus became a political boundary between the north and the south, a phenomenon which continued till the Mughal period. Another copper plate of Prince Pulakeshi II dated 618 AD does not mention this battle at all.“There is also a note of 50 nivartanas of land from the village of— Brahmangaon and Vadavali of Paithan taluka, Aurangabad — donated through these plates to Vedic scholar Nagasharma of the Kaushika Gotra. It is dated onthe lunar eclipse of the ninth regnal year of Pulakeshi (Wednesday, April 4, 619). The donation must have been made by Pulakeshi during his returnfrom Narmada to his capital Badami in Karnataka,” Bapat added. The researchers also said that this charter has helped to fix the coronation date of Pulakeshi sometime in the winter of 610-611AD.Commenting on this, historian and archaeologistsaid, “This shows that Emperor Harshavardhana, who was considered to be invincible, had to eventually retreat to his kingdom.”