Bankipur Copper Plates
Bankipur Copper Plates are a set of copper plate inscriptions documenting land grants from the Gupta period, discovered at Bankipur near Patna, Bihar, India.
Overview
The Bankipur Copper Plates (also called the Khoh Copper Plates) are a set of four copper plates inscribed during the reign of the Gupta king Kumaragupta I, dating to approximately 443-444 CE.
Historical Context
The plates were discovered in the 19th century and are now housed at the Indian Museum, Kolkata. They document a land grant made by Kumaragupta I to a Brahmin named Chandragupta. The grant records the village of Khoh in theAhichchhatra district. The plates include a detailed genealogy of the Gupta dynasty and administrative details of the grant process.
Features/Significance
The Bankipur plates are among the best-preserved Gupta copper plate inscriptions. They provide evidence of the agrahara system and Brahmanical land tenure in the Gupta period. The inscription includes a list of witnesses and administrative officials, demonstrating the bureaucratic sophistication of the Gupta state. The seal on the plates depicts the Gupta royal emblem (Garuda).
Modern Status
The plates are preserved at the Indian Museum, Kolkata, and have been published in the Corpus Inscriptionum Indicarum. They remain key sources for Gupta chronology and administrative history.
Verification Notes
- Gupta inscription dated 443-444 CE in Sanskrit
- Four copper plates with Brahmi script
- Housed at Indian Museum, Kolkata