Social Science · Class 7 · New Kings and Kingdoms · Term 3

Prashastis and Land Grants

Discover how kings used prashastis, or eulogies, composed by learned Brahmanas to project an image of power and granted land to reward them.

TL;DR:Uncover the secrets of medieval kings by exploring how they used grand poems and strategic gifts of land to build their power and legacy.

• CBSE Learning Outcomes
• NCERT: Class VII - Our Pasts II - Chapter 2

About This Topic

This topic delves into two critical aspects of statecraft in medieval India: the projection of power through 'prashastis' and the consolidation of that power through land grants. As per the NCERT framework for Class 7 History, this moves students beyond just names and dates of dynasties to understand the mechanics of kingship. Prashastis, typically Sanskrit poems composed by court Brahmanas, were not just flattery; they were sophisticated tools of propaganda. They constructed a superhuman image of the king, linking him to mythical heroes or gods and detailing often-exaggerated military victories. This was crucial for legitimising the rule of new dynasties or ambitious kings.

Land grants, recorded on durable materials like copper plates, were the tangible reward for the loyalty of these Brahmanas and other important officials. These grants, known as 'brahmadeya' when given to Brahmanas, were more than just a gift of land. They often included the right to collect revenue, administer justice, and were tax-free. This system helped the king to extend the state's influence into remote areas, bring more land under cultivation, and create a loyal base of powerful local allies. For students, understanding these two tools provides a nuanced view of how medieval kingdoms were not just conquered, but also administered, controlled, and culturally defined.

Key Questions

1. Explain the purpose of a prashasti in a medieval kingdom.
2. Analyse the information that can be gathered from copper plate inscriptions detailing land grants.
3. Compare the content of prashastis with what you know about the actual history of the rulers.

Learning Objectives

• Define 'prashasti' and explain its function as a tool for political legitimisation in medieval India.
• Analyse the key components of a copper plate land grant, including the rights and resources transferred.
• Critically evaluate prashastis as historical sources, distinguishing between factual claims and exaggerated praise.
• Explain the social and economic consequences of the brahmadeya land grant system.
• Compare the information found in prashastis with other archaeological and literary sources.

Key Vocabulary

Prashasti	A Sanskrit term meaning 'in praise of'. It is a eulogy, usually composed by a court poet, detailing the achievements of a ruler.
Brahmadeya	Land granted to Brahmanas by a ruler. These grants were typically tax-free and gave the owner administrative rights over the land.
Copper Plate Grant	A legal document, inscribed on a set of copper plates, that records the grant of land or a village. It served as an official title deed.
Eulogy	A speech or piece of writing that praises someone or something highly.
Genealogy	A list of a person's ancestors. Prashastis often contained long genealogies to connect the king to a glorious, sometimes mythical, past.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

Prashastis are completely true and accurate historical accounts of a king's reign.

What to Teach Instead

Prashastis are eulogies, meaning they are 'praise poems'. They often exaggerate a king's successes and ignore his failures to make him look powerful. Historians use them carefully, comparing them with other sources to find the truth.

Common Misconception

Land grants were just a simple gift of land from the king.

What to Teach Instead

Land grants were complex legal and economic instruments. The person receiving the land often got the right to collect taxes, administer the area, and was exempt from paying taxes themselves, making them a powerful local authority.

Common Misconception

All historical information from that time was written on stone.

What to Teach Instead

While many important inscriptions were on stone pillars and temple walls, legal documents like land grants were often inscribed on sets of copper plates. These were portable, durable, and served as official records of ownership.

Active Learning Ideas

Document Mystery

Compose a Modern Prashasti

Students write a 'prashasti' for a school principal, a favourite sportsperson, or a fictional leader. They must use exaggerated, laudatory language to describe their 'achievements', helping them understand the style and purpose of these historical texts.

40 min·Pairs

Document Mystery

Decoding a Copper Plate

Provide students with a simplified, translated transcript of a Chola copper plate grant. In small groups, they act as historians to identify the grantor, the grantee, the boundaries of the land, and the rights being transferred.

35 min·Small Groups

Document Mystery

Historian's Dilemma

Hold a class debate on the motion: 'Prashastis are unreliable sources for writing history'. One side argues for their value in providing names, dates, and official viewpoints, while the other argues they are pure propaganda.

45 min·Whole Class

Real-World Connections

• Comparing prashastis to modern political advertising or company press releases, which are designed to present a subject in the most positive light.
• Understanding modern land records and property deeds as the direct descendants of historical documents like copper plate grants.
• Recognising how official biographies of leaders today often highlight achievements and downplay failures, similar to ancient prashastis.
• Analysing how monuments and memorials built today (like statues or building names) serve to praise and remember individuals, much like prashastis did.
• Visiting a local or national museum to see actual inscriptions on stone or copper plates, connecting classroom learning to tangible artefacts.

Assessment Ideas

Exit Ticket

An 'exit ticket' activity where students list two reasons why a king would commission a prashasti and two details found on a land grant.

Quick Check

A short-answer question asking students to analyse a provided excerpt from a prashasti and explain what it tells us about the king and what parts might be exaggerated.

Quick Check

Students use a simple checklist to rate their understanding of key terms like 'prashasti', 'brahmadeya', and 'copper plate grant'.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why were only Brahmanas chosen to write prashastis?

Brahmanas were the learned class, considered masters of Sanskrit, the language of scholarship and religion. A prashasti written by a learned Brahmana carried great prestige and legitimacy. Rewarding them also ensured the king had the support of this influential community.

What happened to the farmers already living on the land that was granted?

The farmers and other inhabitants of the land were often transferred along with the land itself. They were then required to pay their taxes and revenues to the new owner (the grantee) instead of directly to the king.

Are there any famous examples of prashastis we can still see?

Yes, one of the most famous is the 'Prayag Prashasti' or the Allahabad Pillar inscription. It was composed by Harishena in praise of the Gupta emperor Samudragupta and details his many conquests.

How do we know what is written on the copper plates?

Historians and epigraphists are experts who have learned to read the ancient scripts, like Brahmi or Grantha, used on these plates. They translate the inscriptions into languages we can understand today.