1896.] N. N. Vasu—Copper-plate inscription of Nrsimha-déva II. . 229 
Copper-plate inscription of Nr canis déva IT of Orissa, dated 1217 Caka.— 
By NAGENDRA-NATHA VASU. 
(With Plates VIII—XVIII). 
[Read May, 1896.] 
With the view of exploring the antiquities of Orissa, I went there 
in the winters of 1892, 1893 and 1894, and I succeeded in collecting a 
number of copper-plates and facsimiles of several historical inscriptions 
from places where very few scholars had turned their footsteps hitherto. 
The facts elicited from these documents will go far to prove that 
the history of Orissa as at present known must be reconstructed. I 
intended to publish these ancient records systematically and in their 
chronologicalorder, But lately the owners of the copper-plates repeated- 
ly asked me to return them and consequently I am.compelled to publish 
the present plate first of all. 
_ The owner of the copper-plate now exhibited aint sought the 
aid of many Panditas of Utkala to decipher it:—My friend, Babi 
Arta-trana Micra, an inhabitant of Mauda,.informed me of it, and I 
was enabled by his help fe obtain Hossoestan of the: ‘Wate: It 1s still 
in my charge. 
The history of fifa discovery of the plated Is as follows Wher the 
Kéndrapada Canal of the Cuttack District was-being dug, a box made 
of a peculiar stone locally called Vaula-malad, was-found in the village 
of Kéndupatna situated in the Kéndrapada sub-division, 19. or 20 feet 
under ground, and buried in a heap of broken stones.. It measured 
about 3 feet square, with a height of about 2 feet. It contained three sets 
of copper-plates, of seven each, so that in all there were 21 plates. The 
initial plate of every set is blank on the outer side and. the- inscription 
begins on the inner side, every other -plate-leaf,. except thé seventh 
which is blank on both sides, is inscribed on both sides. The plates of 
each set are strung together by a copper-ring. .At the joint of this 
ring is a circular copper-piece representing the padmasana, or lotus-seat, 
surmounted by the figure of an ox in an inclined posture, the circum- 
J. 1. 30 
