[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Reference works](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference) › [An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989) › v1.c25.s3.2 # An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c25.s3.2 An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c25.s3.2 - **Language:** English ### [v1.c25.s3.2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c25.s3.2) Copper-plates were used for recording many types of inscriptions and were called \*tāmra-paṭa\*, \*tāmra-patra\*, \*tāmra-śāsana\*, \*śāsana-patra\* or \*dāna-patra\* according to their contents, but almost invariably land-grants were inscribed on them. The SOHGAURA inscription is on a bronze tablet cast in a mould of sand. But generally the copper-plates were hammered out and the letters were incised with a chisel or sometimes with a graver. Fa-Hien speaks of Buddhist monasteries possessing copper-plate grants belonging to the times of Buddha, but the available grants are from the middle of the 4th century, increasing in number between the 6th and the 12th centuries. According to Hiuen Tsang, in the Buddhist assembly convened by Kaniṣka commentaries on the \*Tripiṭakas\* were engraved on copper-plates and buried under \*stūpas\*. The tradition cannot be brushed aside as improbable considering the later practice of engraving full texts on copper-plates. Inscriptions appear on a few objects made of other metals, but they were not in common use. The use of gold and silver for recording in religious contexts is indicated by a Kharoṣṭhī votive inscription on a gold plate from Taxila and the Bhattiprolu and Taxila silver-plate inscriptions. The iron pillar at Mehrauli (Delhi) bears an inscription of king Candra. - [Previous: v1.c25.s3.1](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c25.s3.1) - [Next: v1.c25.s3.3](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c25.s3.3) - [Up: v1.c25.s3](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c25.s3) ## Linked texts (1) - [Bhattiprolu](https://indike.org/pramana/inp.site.bhattiprolu) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c25.s3.2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c25.s3.2) · Pramāṇa