History of the Pallavas of Kanchi c11.s1.2

c11.s1.2

*Sources of Information for this Period.*—For the earlier we had to depend almost wholly on copper-plate charters. But during this period (A. D. 575 to 900) inscriptions on stone appear to have become very popular in the Tamil country. We have therefore in addition to copper-plate grants large numbers of these stone inscriptions scattered throughout the Pallava dominions. Though some of these have been critically edited by Messrs. Hultzsch, Venkayya and others, the larger part of these still remain unedited and even unpublished. Of the stone inscriptions so far discovered nearly a hundred records are connected with the members of the Simhavishnu dynasty and bear the regnal years of these kings. They have for their object the registering of gifts of gold or land for temple services, or endowments for religious and secular learning by the kings, or other persons of distinction. These inscriptions which are for the most part very short, unlike the copper-plate records, do not furnish a genealogy. They mention usually the year of the ruling king when the inscription was put up and the gifts made. They consequently furnish little information either as regards the ancestry of the ruling sovereign or of any of his political achievements. But they give details as regards how the various gifts should be appropriated and furnish valuable glimpses into the social, economic and administrative arrangements of the times.