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 loamaafaanu 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 Isdhoo Loamaafaanu and Gamu loamaafaanu, monks from monasteries of the southern atoll of Haddhunmathi were brought to Malé and beheaded. Beside lōmāfānu plates found in Haddhunmathi Atoll, one of the most important Maldivian copper plates is the Bodugalu Miskiy Loamaafanu 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 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Maaranduvi | 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 |
Maakurathu | Maakurathu | Maalhosmadulu Uthuruburi | Raa | Yes | Isdhoo Loamaafaanu |
Kunaameeduu | Meedhoo | Maalhosmadulu Uthuruburi | Raa | Yes | Isdhoo Loamaafaanu |
Dakanduvi | Dhakendhoo | Maalhosmadulu Dhekunuburi | Baa | No | Isdhoo Loamaafaanu |
Kisaaduu | Kihaadhoo | Maalhosmadulu Dhekunuburi | Baa | Yes | Isdhoo Loamaafaanu |
Goiduvi | Goidhoo | Maalhosmadulu Dhekunuburi | Baa | Yes | Isdhoo Loamaafaanu |
Thaana, Tãnaa, Taana or Tāna is the present writing system of the Maldivian language spoken in the Maldives. Thaana has characteristics of both an abugida and a true alphabet, with consonants derived from indigenous and Arabic numerals, and vowels derived from the vowel diacritics of the Arabic abjad. Maldivian orthography in Thaana is largely phonemic.
Gnaviyani Atoll is one of the administrative divisions of the Maldives corresponding to the natural atoll, Fuvahmulah. Surfacewise this is the smallest administrative unit in the Maldives, situated on the Equatorial Channel between Huvadhu Atoll and Addu Atoll.
Dhanbidhoo or Dambidū is one of the inhabited islands of Haddummati Atoll, administrative code Laamu.
Gan is one of the inhabited islands of Haddhunmathi Atoll, administrative code Laamu and the proposed capital for the Mathi-Dhekunu Province of the Maldives.
Isdhoo or Isdū is one of the inhabited islands of Haddhunmathi Atoll, administrative code Laamu part of Maldives in the Indian Ocean.
Mundoo is one of the inhabited islands of Haddhunmati Atoll. It is located in the long reef fringing the eastern side of Haddummati.
Kudahuvadhoo is one of the inhabited islands of Dhaalu Atoll in the Maldives. It is also the capital of Dhaalu Atoll.
Dhives Akuru, later called Dhivehi Akuru is a script formerly used for the Maldivian language. The name can be alternatively spelled Dives Akuru or Divehi Akuru using the ISO 15919 Romanization scheme, as the "d" is unaspirated.
Several Dhivehi scripts have been used by Maldivians during their history. The early Dhivehi scripts fell into the abugida category, while the more recent Thaana has characteristics of both an abugida and a true alphabet. An ancient form of Nagari script, as well as the Arabic and Devanagari scripts, have also been extensively used in the Maldives, but with a more restricted function. Latin was official only during a very brief period of the Islands' history.
Maldivian mythology or Maldivian folklore is the body of myths, tales and anecdotes belonging to the oral tradition of Maldivians. Even though some of the Maldivian myths were already mentioned briefly by British commissioner in Ceylon HCP Bell towards the end of the 19th century, their study and publication were carried out only quite recently by Spanish writer and artist Xavier Romero-Frias, at a time when that ancestral worldview was quickly disappearing.
Haddhunmathi or LaamuAtoll is an administrative division of the Maldives. The administrative capital is Fonadhoo Island. It corresponds to the natural atoll of the same name. It is mostly rimmed by barrier reefs, the broadest of which are topped by islands. There are many islands along its eastern and southern boundaries. This atoll is quite regular excepting for the projection of the reef at its NE corner. It closely resembles Kolhumadulhu, its neighbour further north. Owing to its typical atoll shape, it differs in no respect from atolls in the Pacific Ocean, save for its greater size. Its reefs are generally of little breadth, with no signs of vilu, except for its eastern fringes which are covered with islands that are quite large by Maldivian standards. The lagoon is comparatively open, containing scattered shoal patches; the bottom is muddy and the average depth is from 30 to 34 fathoms.
Dhovemi Kalaminja Siri Thiribuvana-aadiththa Maha Radun or Donei Kalaminjaa was the second king of the Maldives from 1141 to 1166 or 1176 according to the Raadhavalhi and the Loamaafaanu copper plate writings. The Tarikh chronicles however, calls this king Sultan Muhammad al-Adil which is probably the Muslim name of the king after his conversion to Islam in the 12th year of his reign. Later on the title of Dharumavantha (Dharumas) Rasgefaanu or the Benevolent King was bestowed upon him. He is also known as the first ruler of the Theemuge Dynasty. This name was derived from his house's name, Theemuge, some sourced refer to the royal house as the Maalei Dharikolhu. Though it was being called Theemuge Darikolhu they were descendants of the Buddhist Kings of the Lunar Dynasty or Soma Vansa.
Buddhism was the predominant religion in the Maldives until at least the 12th century CE. It isn't clear how and when Buddhism was introduced into the islands.
Koimala Siri Mahaabarana Mahaa Radun or Koimala or Koimala Kalo is the last pre-Islamic and the earliest verifiable ruler of the Maldives. He reigned from A.D. 1117 to A.D. 1141.
Maldives has been known by many different names during its long history of more than two thousand years. Although several different names are given, the location and the description of the islands confirm the fact that they are part of the Maldives Archipelago.
Bodufenvalhugey Sidi or Assayyidhu Bodufenvalhugey Seedhee (1888-1970), was a Maldivian intellectual and writer.
Dhivehi or Divehi, is an Indo-Aryan language spoken in the South Asian island country of Maldives and on Minicoy Island, Lakshadweep, a union territory of India.
The Sultanate of the Maldive Islands was an Islamic monarchy that controlled the Maldives for 815 years (1153–1968), with one interruption from 1953–1954.