History, Culture, Archaeology, South Indian Dynasties

By IAS Monk / April 2, 2025

In a remarkable archaeological revelation, a set of copper plates issued in 1406 CE has been discovered—tracing their origin to the coronation of Devaraya I, one of the greatest rulers of the Vijayanagara Empire.

These inscriptions in Sanskrit, Kannada, and Nāgarī script illuminate a reign marked by military might, water wisdom, and cultural flowering—and confirm what was once only surmised by scholars.

🪙 What Makes These Plates Special?

• Dated to 1406 CE, Devaraya I’s official coronation
• Issued in three scripts, signifying multilingual administration
• Include a unique royal seal of Vamana (instead of traditional Varaha)

🧬 Genealogy & Grant Details

• Trace Sangama Dynasty lineage, naming Devaraya I’s five sons
• Record grant of Gudipalli village to Brahmins
• Boundaries and beneficiaries inscribed with precise Kannada records
• Reflects Vedic prominence in socio-political order

🏛️ Cultural & Literary Patronage

• Court hosted poets like Madhura (Jain literature)
• Built Hazare Rama Temple, a Deccan architectural gem
• Era known for Kannada literary richness and urban aesthetics

🌊 Irrigation & Urban Growth

• Commissioned barrage on Tungabhadra River
• Built long aqueduct to Vijayanagara capital
• Enabled city to become one of largest in 15th-century world

⚔️ Military & Diplomatic Achievements

• Defeated Firoz Shah (Bahmani Sultanate)
• Fought Velamas, secured vital alliances
• Modernized army with skilled archers and adaptive warfare

🕌 Administrative Inclusivity

• Built amenities for Muslim soldiers
• Resolved multi-faith disputes through equitable governance
• Upheld secular policies for long-term stability

📚 Relevance for UPSC

• GS1: History – Vijayanagara Empire, Culture, Urbanisation
• GS2: Governance & Secular Traditions
• Essay: “Even copper remembers what history forgets.”

✨ Closing Whisper

“A king’s ink may fade—but his governance flows on in fields, rivers, and the echoes of copper.”

🔥 A Thought Spark – by IAS Monk

Devaraya I was not just a monarch—he was a curator of harmony, water, and verse.
Through these plates, we meet not just his hand—but his vision, inscribed for posterity and justice.
To read them is to remember a time when kings ruled through rivers and poetry.