The Dynastic History of Northern India (Early Mediaeval Period) v2.c29.s1.1

v2.c29.s1.1

The existence of the Kalacuris of Gorakhpur was revealed by the discovery of the Kahla plate of Soḍhadeva and a stone inscription from Kasia. The second inscription is unfortunately much damaged, and some writing at the end of it is lost, with the name and possibly the date of the reigning king. But from the preserved portion it is clear that the two records represent two distinct families of the Kalacuris which for convenience again we shall designate as the (a) *Kahla* and the (b) *Kasia Kalacuris*. The Kahla grant was discovered by a cultivator in his field at the village of Kahla, in tappa Athaisi, pargana Dhuriapar, Gorakhpur District, U.P. The inscription contains 59 lines, and is written on both sides of a single copper-plate. In the middle of the lower part of the plate there is a ring-hole. The seal (which was probably attached to the ring) is circular, and "contains in high relief the figure of a bull, lying down and facing to the proper right ;³ below it is the legend *Śrīmat Sōdhadevasya.*' The characters resemble those on the copper-plates of the Gāhaḍavāla Govindacandra (*c.* 1114-55 A.D.) and Jayaccandra (*c.* 1170-93 A.D.) of Benares and Kanauj. The language is Sanskrit, but certain proper names are given ' in their vernacular forms or in forms based on them.' The inscription opens with *Om Svasti*; then begins the genealogy of the donor, which may be tabulated as follows :