Vol. VII, No. 8.] The Ghagrahati (Kotwalipara) Grant. 501 
[N.S.] 
years 620—5, or perhaps later. These conclusions coupled 
with the inference drawn from the script, that the grant 
belongs probably to the latter part of the first quarter of the 
seventh century, lead me to assign it to about the years 615—20 
A.D. Between the two dates 586 (at the latest) and 620—5 
there is room for two or three independent kings in Bengal 
deva was one of them, possibly the immediate predecessor of 
the Pundravardhana king who was Harsa’s vissal, an tha 
the commencement of his reign may be placed approximately 
in the years 601—5 A.D. 
Names in the Grants. 
Some interesting conclusions may apparently be drawn 
from the names mentioned in all these grants. 
parts depend on one another, such as Dharmaditya, Sthanu- 
datta and Kulacandra in grant A (ll 2—4), but seem to consist 
f u 
Palita, Vihita Ghosa, Priya Datta and Janardana Kunda; and 
perhaps Jiva Datta may be so treated. Hence it appears that 
in these names we have four of the caste-surnames which are 
conimon in Bengal now, namely, Kunda (modern Kundu), 
Palit, Ghosh and Datt. A caste-name karantka is mentioned 
(1. 15). Karanika is not classical Sanskrit, but is evidently a 
word formed from karana which was the name of a mixed caste 
that had the occupation of writing, accounts, etc. (Dict.) ; 
hence karanika apparently meant a member of this caste This 
was presumably either the same as, or closely akin to, 
the kiyastha caste The position of senior member of the 
Board was in grants B and C held by the then oldest kayastha 
named Naya Sena. As this grant is later than those, it is 
worthy of note that, whereas the modern name kayastha is 
mentioned in grants B and C, the name used in this later grant 
is karanika, a title which is not used now. Where a person's 
Keéava (I. 15). It seems a fair inference that the second parts 
of these names were established as caste-surnames at the time 
of this inscription. 
But in the other grants this feature is not so clear. Many 
persons are mentioned in A, ut none can be resolved into a 
clear personal name and surname except Vi{najya Sena and 
ima § ; 1 
Hi ena. Sen is a well-known caste-surname in Benga 
