Place-Names in the Kalacuri Records
By R. K. Lal
Summary
The essay "Place‑Names in the Kalacuri Records" analyses the toponyms occurring in inscriptions of the Kalacuri (Chedi) dynasty and its feudatories between the third and fifteenth centuries. Early charters from about 250–750 CE frequently end settlement names with suffixes like kheta, padra or palli, whereas later grants, after roughly 850 CE, favour endings such as nagara for towns and grama or pataka for villages. By systematically examining copper‑plate charters and stone inscriptions of the Tripuri, Ratanpur and other Kalacuri branches, the author classifies place‑names both semantically and morphologically. Semantically, many names describe geographic features: some highlight the location of a settlement near rivers, forests or hills; others commemorate the clearing of jungle for new villages. Names like Bhattipura or Karnpavati are linked to rulers or founders, reflecting a tradition of associating new settlements with royal patrons. Morphologically, the article groups names by suffix—nagara, pura, grama, pada, vada, khata and pataka—and shows that administrative centres typically bear nagara or pura, while rural settlements use grama, palli or padraka. Certain endings such as vada and bada may derive from Austric or Dravidian languages, suggesting pre‑Aryan influence on regional nomenclature. The study also observes that Sanskritised suffixes appear when the Kalacuris consolidate territory, whereas descriptive or tribal elements mark frontier zones recently brought under cultivation. By comparing Kalacuri toponyms with those in neighbouring dynasties, the author situates these naming practices within broader Central Indian history. The essay demonstrates that place‑names offer insights into settlement patterns, linguistic interaction, political authority and social change in early medieval India.
Conclusion
By analysing suffixes and semantic patterns in the Kalacuri corpus, the article shows that place‑names reveal geography, social composition, linguistic heritage and political aspirations. Early names with tribal or descriptive endings gradually give way to Sanskritised forms as the state expands and forests are converted to fields. Decoding these names yields a nuanced picture of how the Kalacuris organised space, commemorated rulers and integrated diverse communities into their realm.