The Lost Bhowal Copper-Plate of Lakşmana sena
By H. N. Randle
Summary
The Bhowal Copper-Plate of Laksmanasena, discovered in 1927 by P.K. Bhattasali, closely resembles the Madhainagar copper-plate and bears a regnal date interpreted as either 37 or 27 CE. The inscription, on a single copper-plate, includes 59 lines divided into a verse portion (lines 1-33) with 35 stanzas, a prose section (lines 34-57) detailing land grants and boundaries, and a concluding section (lines 58-59) with royal titles and dates. The grantee, Padmanabhadeva Sarman, is identified through lineage details, and the plate includes standard warnings for preserving the benefaction. Physical corrosion affects readability, particularly on the reverse, though the obverse remains well-preserved. The plate features the Sena kings' emblem, a ten-armed Shiva image, and aligns with known Sena inscriptions. Historical context suggests it likely arrived at the India Office Library with H.H. Wilson, Secretary of the Asiatic Society in 1829. Scholarship confirms its authenticity as the 1050 Bhowal copper-plate, with tentative readings of place-names pending further verification.
Conclusion
The discovery and analysis of the Bhowal Copper-Plate of Lakṣmanasena Deva offer critical insights into the Sena dynasty's epigraphic traditions and administrative practices. This study confirms the plate's authenticity, dating it to 1050 CE, and highlights its close resemblance to the Madhainagar inscription, reinforcing connections between Bengal's Sena rulers and their Vaishnavite affiliations. The detailed land grants, boundary descriptions, and lineage of the grantee, Padmanabhadeva Sarman, shed light on the socio-economic structures and patronage systems of the period. Despite challenges in deciphering corroded sections, the inscription's legibility and structural coherence allow for a comprehensive understanding of Lakṣmanasena's reign and his role in consolidating royal authority through land donations. The plate's historical significance lies in its contribution to the chronology and territorial governance of the Sena dynasty, while its material and scriptural characteristics align it firmly within the broader context of medieval Indian epigraphy.