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History & Civics

What do you think would have been the reason for the Chola rulers to issue large number of inscriptions, especially on copper-plates?

The Cholas

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Answer

The Chola King Rajaraja I concieved the idea of prefixing to his inscriptions the main achievements of his reign. The example of Rajaraja was followed by his successors as well. Inscriptions were issued on copper-plates beacuse copper-plates were long lasting and also large amount of copper was available at that time. A large number of inscriptions were issued for the following reasons:

  1. Legal and Administrative Purposes — The copper-plate inscriptions served as legal and administrative documents, recording land grants, tax exemptions, and other rights and privileges granted by the rulers to various individuals, institutions, and communities. These inscriptions helped to establish and maintain social and political order, as well as to resolve disputes and conflicts.
  2. Propaganda and Legitimacy — The Chola rulers used copper-plate inscriptions to promote their achievements and to establish their legitimacy. The inscriptions often contained accounts of the rulers' conquests, charitable works, and religious endowments, which helped to create a positive image of the rulers in the eyes of their subjects and future generations.
  3. Religious Purposes — The Chola rulers were great patrons of Hinduism, and many copper-plate inscriptions recorded their religious endowments to temples and Brahmins. These inscriptions helped to establish the authority of the Chola rulers as protectors and patrons of the Hindu religion.
  4. Historical Record — The copper-plate inscriptions served as a historical record of the Chola dynasty, documenting its genealogy, chronology, and major events. These inscriptions helped to preserve the memory of the Chola rulers and their achievements, as well as to provide valuable information to future generations of scholars and historians.

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