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Rare Vakataka era royal seal discovered in Chanda

Nagpur: A rare Vakataka era royal seal (akin to rubber stamp/seal) was discovered in Chandrapur district, perhaps for the first time, according to historians and indologists.

Made up of bronze, it belonged to Prithvishen-II, son of Narendrashen, who had ruled from 475 to 495AD from their capital Nandiniwardhan, now known as Nagardhan, about 40 kms from Nagpur.



It was found from an old iron box belonging to farmer Prakash Urade after his death by his son Ranjit. Urades live in Gojoli village under Gondpipri town. “This is an important discovery from the time of Vakataka rulers of the region,” a Pune-based indologist Ashok Bankar told TOI.

The seal, weighing 60 gms, is three inches in length and 2.30 inches in breadth. Many old coins were also found in Urade’s box. It was only after son’s friend referred the shield to historian Ashok Singh Thakur that the fact came to light.

“After he sent the seal’s pictures, me and friend Bankar worked hard and deciphered what is written on it. It has an inscription of goddess Rajlakshmi, which is similar to gold coins of Chandragupt Mourya dynasty. Below that, some letters are inscribed in reverse in Bramhalipi. You need to hold it before the mirror to actually understand it,” Thakur told TOI.

According to him, the seal shows relationship between Gupta and Vakataka dynasties. “Chandragupt’s daughter Prabhadevi was married in Vakataka family that time. Her son was Pravarshen, grandfather of Prithvishen-II. The letters in Bramhalipi mention that Prithvishen, son of Narendrashen, is a ruler and he should always emerge victorious.

The seal is like a rubber stamp used for marking,” said Thakur, who is also a convener of Chandrapur branch of Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) and a member of Indian Coins Society.

Ranjit, also a farmer, told TOI his father had shown to him this seal and some coins but even he wasn’t aware of their importance. “Now Archaeological Survey of India’s (ASI) officials are requesting me to donate it for their Nagpur-based museum. But I am reluctant, as it is only memory of my father left with us. It was found when I was going through his belongings, along with some old coins after his death in March. He never told us where he got that rare seal,” Ranjit said.

The Central India and Vidarbha region has had rulers from the Mourya, Satvahana, Vakataka, Parmar, Gond and Bhonsale dynasties. Vakataka era relics are also found in Balaghat, Mandhal and Mahurzari areas, according to historians.

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