Date of Paliyam Copper Plates The currently accepted date of the Paliyam Copper Plates was fixed by historian M. G. S. Narayanan. According to the plates, the grant was issued on a Thursday, in the Solar month of Makara and the Lunar month of Pushya when the star was Mrigasira [on a Sukladwadasi day; falling in the year after the 15th regnal year of "Varaguna"]. According to these plates, in 898 AD, Vikramaditya made a donation of certain lands in the Ay country to the deity of Srimulavasa
Buddhist vihara (somewhere in central
Kerala, in the kingdom of the
medieval Cheras). • Paliyam Copper Plates open with three Sanskrit
slokas in praise of Soudhodani (
Buddha), Dharmasangha (Dharma) and
Avalokitesvara. • Describe Varaguna as the "Lord of
Vizhinjam" and a member of the "
Vrisni Race". • Show arrangements made to protect the plot (land) handed over to the Srimulavasa vihara. It is tentatively concluded that the king had appointed Vira Goda, a member of the Chera family, to protect the plot. • Contain request to the king's descendants to "uphold
dharma" and protect the land of donation. • Contain general appeal to all people to turn to "acts of benevolence". • Tamil portions show the details - such as boundaries - of the plot donated. == References ==