Lōmāfānu
Lōmāfānu (or loamaafaanu) are Maldivian waqf grants in the form of copper plates on which inscriptions have been engraved. Many ancient Maldivian historical texts are found only in lōmāfānu form, with the oldest of the plates dating from the twelfth century AD. The Divehi script used on the plates was named "Eveyla Akuru" by H. C. P. Bell, who claimed that it resembled medieval Sinhala script. [2]
According to the Isdū Lōmāfānu and Gamu loamaafaanu, monks from monasteries of the southern atoll of Haddhunmathi were brought to Malé and beheaded. Besides the lōmāfānu plates found in Haddhunmathi Atoll, one of the most important Maldivian copper plates is the Bodugalu Miskiy Lōmāfānu found in Malé.
List of Lōmāfānu
Laamu Atoll
- Isdhoo Loamaafaanu (1194 CE)
- Gamu Loamaafaanu (1194/1195 CE)
- Dhanbidhoo Loamaafaanu (1196/1197 CE)
Dhaalu Atoll
- Kudahuvadhoo Loamaafaanu (1237/1238 CE)
Kaafu Atoll
- Bodugalu Miskiyy Loamaafaanu (1356)
List of Islands Mentioned in the Lōmāfānu
Below is a table of islands that have been mentioned in the Loamaafaanu
| Island Name in the Lōmāfānu | Island Name | Geographic Atoll | Atoll Code | Inhabited? | Mentioned In |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Māranduvi | Maarandhoo | Thiladunmmathi Uthuruburi | Haa Alif | Yes | Isdhoo Loamaafaanu |
| Nelhivarami | Nolhivaram | Thiladunmmathi Dhekunuburi | Haa Dhaalu | Yes | Isdhoo Loamaafaanu |
| Komandu | Komandoo | Miladhunmadulu Uthuruburi | Shaviyani | Yes | Isdhoo Loamaafaanu |
| - | Neyo | Miladhunmadulu Uthuruburi | Shaviyani | No | Kudahuvadhoo Loamaafaanu |
| Ihavanduvi | Unknown Island | Miladhunmadulu | ? | ? | Isdhoo Loamaafaanu |
| Putivelavaru | Fushivelavaru | Miladhunmadulu Dhekunuburi | Noonu | No | Isdhoo Loamaafaanu |
| Vanduvi | Landhoo | Miladhunmadulu Dhekunuburi | Noonu | Yes | Isdhoo Loamaafaanu |
| Keduvivaru | Kedhivaru | Miladhunmadulu Dhekunuburi | Noonu | No | Isdhoo Loamaafaanu |
| Kedikelhu | Kendhikulhudhoo | Miladhunmadulu Dhekunuburi | Noonu | Yes | Isdhoo Loamaafaanu |
| Manaduvi | Manadhoo | Miladhunmadulu Dhekunuburi | Noonu | Yes | Isdhoo Loamaafaanu |
| Vaothi | Vavathi | Miladhunmadulu Dhekunuburi | Noonu | No | Isdhoo Loamaafaanu |
| Mākurathu | Maakurathu | Maalhosmadulu Uthuruburi | Raa | Yes | Isdhoo Loamaafaanu |
| Kunāmīdū | Meedhoo | Maalhosmadulu Uthuruburi | Raa | Yes | Isdhoo Loamaafaanu |
| Dakanduvi | Dhakendhoo | Maalhosmadulu Dhekunuburi | Baa | No | Isdhoo Loamaafaanu |
| Kisādū | Kihaadhoo | Maalhosmadulu Dhekunuburi | Baa | Yes | Isdhoo Loamaafaanu |
| Goiduvi | Goidhoo | Maalhosmadulu Dhekunuburi | Baa | Yes | Isdhoo Loamaafaanu |
See also
- Dhivehi writing systems
- Indian copper plate inscriptions
- Haddhunmathi Atoll
- Isdhoo (Laamu Atoll)
- Dhanbidhoo (Laamu Atoll)
References
- ^ Gippert, Jost (2003). "A Glimpse Into the Buddhist Past of the Maldives I. An Early Prakrit Inscription". Vienna Journal of South Asian Studies: 82 – via JSTOR.
- ^ Disanayake, J. B., and G. W. Wijayawardhana. “SOME OBSERVATIONS ON THE MALDIVIAN LOAMAAFAANU COPPER PLATES OF THE TWELFTH CENTURY.” Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society Sri Lanka Branch 31 (1986): 62–71
Sources
- Ali Najeeb, Dambidū Lōmāfānu. Council for Linguistic and Historical Research. Malé 2001.
- HCP Bell, The Maldive islands. Monograph on the History, Archaeology and Epigraphy. Reprint 1940 edn. Malé 1986.
- Bodufenvahuge Sidi. Divehi Akuru; Evvana Bai. Malé 1958.
- H.A. Maniku & G.D. Wijayawardhana, Isdhoo Loamaafaanu, Colombo 1986.
- Romero-Frias, Xavier. The Maldive Islanders, A Study of the Popular Culture of an Ancient Ocean Kingdom. Barcelona 1999.
- https://dhivehiacademy.edu.mv/18299. Kudahuvadhoo Loamafaanu Translation, Dhivehi Academy
