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.
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 |