Ient Hl of the I Decca G. J Ouveau-Dubreuil Doctor of 110 University ...
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Transcript of Ient Hl of the I Decca G. J Ouveau-Dubreuil Doctor of 110 University ...
WORKS BY THE SAME AUTHOR .
IN FRENCH
Archéologie da Sud de da M usée Gu im e t
B i b l i o t h eque d’
E tudes—To m es v i n gt - s ix iem e e t v i n gtsep t iem e ]
TOME I .
—A rch itecture —A v ec 7 1 fi gure s e t 64 p la n c h esh o r s texte—1 92 pages . L i b r a i r i e Pau l Ge ut h n er, 1 3 ,rue j acob
,Pa r i s
,1 9 1 4 .
TOME I I . —Icon ogmplz ie —A v ec 40 figu r es e t 44 p l a n c h esh o r s t ex te— 1 46 pages . Li b r a i r i e Paul G e n t h n e r
,1 3
r u e J acob,Pa r i s
,1 9 1 4 .
IN ENGLISH
Pa lla zw A n tiqu ities, Vo l . I .
- V\’ i t h 3 2 p lat es . —P r obs t h a i n
a n d Co .,4 1
,G r eat R u sse l l St r ee t
,Lo n d o n
,1 9 1 6 .
m ’
dian A rch itectu re w ith 3 5 figu r es — Ed i t ed w i t h P r e facea n d Notes by S . Krish naswmn i A iyangar, M .A .
,
F .R . H i s t . S .,P r o fesso r o f I n dia n H isto r y a n d A r c h aeo logy
,
U n i v e r s i ty o f M ad r as, Pr i n t ed at t h e S . P . C . K . P r ess,V epe r y
,M ad r as
,1 9 1 7 .
Th e Pa liar'as.
—So ld by t h e Au t h o r , 6 , Du m as S t r ee t,Po n d i
c h e r r y,1 9 17 (P r i ce 2 Rupees ) .
Pallar'a A n tiqu ities, Vol . I I .—V\’ it h 8 p la t es — So ld by t h ea u t h o r
,Po n d ic h e r r y
,1 9 1 8 (P r i ce As .
Conjee'
z ’am m inscription of Ma h éndm z ’a rman I .
—So ld by t h eau t h o r
,Po n d i c h e r r y
,1 9 1 9 . (P r i ce As .
IENT H lOF THE
I
DECCA
G. J OUVEAU-D UBREUIL
D oc tor of {110 Un iversity of Pa ris,
Professor, Callege ,
FROM FREN C H
BY
V . S . SVVAMIN A D H A D I K SH IT AR . l!
Offim cr (l’
A radr'
uu c
P rofesso r uf E /ig lisli, Ca lm/l iq ! Co l la/c . l’ouc/ielrcrry .
Lawrenc e P. Briggs ,
Consul orthe United States ofA/mnivca
POND ICH ERRY
s o u ) m r m : A l’
T H O R
6,DUMAS S rREu '
r.
i Price : 3 Rupees ]
A . D .
A . s . W ! I .
B . (3.
Ep . Ca r n .
J . B. B . R.
J . R . A . s .
Luders’
s l i st .
Rap so n .
ABBREV I ATI ON S .
A n n o D O ll l ln l (Af te r Ch r i s t ) “
A r c h aeo log i ca l Su r v ey W’ este r n I n d ia .
Befo re‘
Ch rist .
Ep igraph ia Carnatica Ri ce ) .
Epigrap h ia I n d i ca, Cal cu t ta .
I n d i a n A n t iqua r y,Bo m bay .
ljo urnal o f t h e Bo m bay Ibranch of t h eAs i at i c Soc i e ty .
Jou r n a l o f t h e Roya l As iat i c Soc i e ty .
L i st o f i n sc r i p t i o n s i n Ep . I n d . Vo l : X .
Cata l ogue o f t h e co i n s o f t h e A n d h ra dyn asty
,t h e W ’ este r n I<satrapas, etc,
’
i n t h e B r it i s h M u seu m
,by P r o f. Rapso n , Lo n do n .
INTRODUCT ION
I n d i a m ay be d i v ided i n to tw o pa r t s, t h e No r t h a n d t h e Sou t h .
F r o m th e re in o te st t i m es,t h i s d i v i s i o n h as bee n adopted by t h e
I n d i a n s w h o h a v e g i v e n t h e n a m e o f D aksh ina (D aksh iri fiipath a )o r ‘T h e Sou t h ’ t o a l l t h e Cou n t r y t h a t ex te n ds f r o m t h e Na r h ada t o t h e ext r e m i ty o f t h e pe n i n s u la . In t h i s w o r k , w e S h a l lu se t h e w o r d Decca n t o des i g n a t e th e a n c ie n t D aks h ina ,
bu t
w i t h t h i s l i t t l e r est r i c t io n,t h a t t h e t h r ee So u th e rn in o st k i n g
do m s o f C liOla, C h e r a a n d Pz‘
indya, w h i c h h a v e a lw a y s r e m a i n eda l i t t l e i so l a t ed
,s h a l l be exc l uded . s h a l l t h e r e fo r e ca l l T h e
Decca n " t h e l a r ge t r ac t o f cou n t r y w h i c h i s bou n ded o n t h en o r t h by t h e Na r bada a n d t h e Mahai iad i, o n t h e eas t bx t h eBa y o f Be n ga l , o n t h e w es t by t h e A r ab i a n Sea
,o n t h e sou t h
by t h e N i lgi i'
i H i l l s a n d t h e Sou t h e r n I’ e n nfir (w h i c h r eac h est h e sea n ea r Cudda l o r e a n d w h i c h i s t h e n o r t h e r n bou n da r yo f t h e C hOla cou n t r y acco r d i n g to t h e poe t ess A i iva iyar) .
h a v e l i m i ted ou r su bjec t i n ex t e n t l e t u s now p r oceedto fi x a t i m e -l i m i t fo r i t . “ A n c i e n t H i s to r y Of th e Decca n
means fo r us“th e h i s to r y o f t h e Deccan i n a n c i e n t t i m es and
M1 3 0 8 3 5
— 6
t h e w o r ds a n c i e n t t i m es de n o tes t h e 9 ce n tu r i es ex te n d i n gf r o m 2 6 1 B . C, to abou t 6 1 0 A . D,
t h a t i s to say , f r o m A s’
Oka toPu lakes
’
in I I . I n fac t,w e h a v e n o h i s to r ica l docu m e n t a n te r i o r
to A s’ é ka ; a n d so w e s h a l l begi n o ur h i s to r y f r o m t h e t i m e oft h i s k i n g
,abou t 26 1 B . C, ( t h e K a l inga w ar) . O i
'
i t h e o t h e rh a n d
,f r o m t h e t i m e o f Pu lakes’ in I I
,abou t 6 1 0 A . D
,w e h a v e
a l a r ge n u m be r o f h i s to r ica l docu m e n t s a n d t h e h i s to r y o f t h eDecca n i s m os t ly k n ow n . I t i s t h e r e fo r e t h i s h i s to r i c pe r i odbetw ee n 2 6 1 B . C
,a n d 6 1 0 A . D
,t h a t is de n o t ed by t h e w o r ds
,
Decca n i n A n c ie n t t i m es a n d t h at w e a r e go i n g to st udy i nt h i s w o r k .
T h e o n l y book i n w h i c h w e fi n d so m e i n fo r m at io n o nt h e i r subj ec t is t h e Bo m bay Gaz e t tee r " Vol . I . Pa r t I I ( 1 896 )w h i c h co n ta i n s tw o w o r ks : “ Ea r l y H i sto r y o f th e Decca nby R . G . Bh andarkar a n d “ Dy n as t i es of th e K a n a r ese Di s t r i ctsb y I. F F lee t . T h i s book is w e l l -k n ow n a n d t h e r e i s n on eed to p r a i se i t h e r e . But to day i t h as o n e defec t : i t i stw e n ty - f i v e yea r s o ld a n d du r i n g t h i s las t qua r te r o f a ce nt u r y n u m e r ou s d i s co v e r ies h ave bee n m ade a n d T h eBo m bay Gaz e t tee r ” Vo l . I . Pa r t I I . is n o t a t a l l “ up to dateBes ides
,t h i s book i t se l f does n o t co n ta i n
,s t r i c t ly speak i n g
,
t h e h i s to r y o f t h e Decca n in a n c i e n t t i m es . T h e po r t io n c o n c ern i n g t h e a n c i e n t t i m es i s v e r y succ i n c t
,fo r
,i n 1 896
,t h e n u m
be r o f docu m e n ts co n ce r n i n g i t w as s m a l l . M o r eo v e r,t h e
Bo m bay P r es i de n cy does n o t by i tse l f co n s t i t u te t h e w h o l e o ft h e Decca n .
W e m ay t h e r e fo r e say t h a t today t h e H i sto r y of t h eDecca n is qu i te a n ew su bj ec t . T h e st ude n t w h o w i s h es tok n ow w h a t w as t h e H i s to r y o f t h e Decca n be tw ee n 26 1 B . C,a n d 6 1 0 A . D,
does n o t k n ow w h a t books to co n su l t . T h i s h isto r y is l os t i n obscu r i ty . St i l l i t i s n o t t h e docu m e n ts t h a t a r e.w a n t i n g ; fo r t h e dy n asty o f t h e Kadambas a l o n e , w e h a v e abou tt h i r t y coppe r -p l a tes . we h a v e a l so p l e n t y of i n fo r m at i o nabou t t h e Pallavas a n d t h e Ga n gas . W h y t h e n i s t h e c h r o n ol ogy o f t h ese dy n ast ies so m yste r iou s
? I t h oug h t t h a t w h a t .
w as w a n ted m ost at t h e p r ese n t t i m e w as to a r r a n ge t h e pa r tsa n d m ake a w h ole w o r k of i t ; I t h oug h t t h a t a c o m p le tea n d at te n t i v e s t udy o f all t h e docu m e n ts w e ac tua l l y possessw i l l t h r ow a flood of l ig h t o n th e da r k n ess, b r i n g o r de r ou t o fc h aos and, i n s h o r t, give b i r t h to, w h a t we h ave n o t h ad up to
th e p r ese n t , t h e A n c i e n t H ist o rv o f th e Decca n .Suc h a st ud y i s very i m po r t a n t , as i t is t h e h i sto r y o f
n i n e g l o r i ou s ce n t u r i es o f t h i s l a r ge cou n t r y . T h e docu m e n tst h a t w e h a v e co n ce r n i n g t h e Decca n o f t h e a n c i e n t t i m ese n ab l e u s to co n c l ud e t h a t a l l t h i s pe r i od w as o ne o f h ig hc i v i l i sa t i o n a n d h i s to r i ca l ce l eb r i t y . s h a l l see t h a t d u r i n gt h e epoc h o f Asoka , t h e Decca n w as n o t at all u n c i v i l i sed . T h ea r t o f w r i t i n g w as k n ow n a l o n g t i m e be fo r e i t a n d t h e insc ript i o n s o f Asoka w e r e r ead a n d u n d e r st ood ve rv w e l l at t h a tt i m e . F r o m a m i l i ta r y po i n t o f v i ew , t h e Decca n was n e v e rm o r e pow e r fu l t h a n a t th e t i m e o f Satakarru s w h o ,
w i t h ou tdoubt
,succeeded ma ii v t i m es i n v a n q u i s h i n g t h e k i n gs o f t h e
n o r t h e r n cou n t r i e s a n d a n n ex i n g a pa r t o f t h e i r te r r i t o r i e s ,F r o m a scu l ptu r a l po i n t o f v i ew , t h e Decca n , l i ke t h e No r t h .was i n sp i r ed b y t h e G r eek a n d Ro m a n a r t s a n d t h e m a r b l es o f
A m a r a v a t i ca n be co m pa r ed to t h e scu l p t u r es o f Gandh a i a.
It n ow w e co n s i de r t h e m o n u m e n t s , t h e Decca n i s m u c hsu pe r i o r to t h e N o r t h . I f w e co m pa r e th e a n c i e n t m o n u m e n t so f No r t h e r n a n d Sou t h e r n I n d i a w e find t h a t t h e N o r t h i sr e l a t i v e l y poo r . In t h e Decca n t h e r e i s a v e r y l a r ge n u m be ro f sc u l p t u r ed r ocks a t Uda y agi r i , J u n n a r , E l l o r a , N as i k , K a nh ei ' i e t c . A n d speak i n g o n l y o f t h e c h i e f o f t h e m ,
w h i c h a r et h e m o n u m e n t s i n t h e n o r t h t h a t w i l l bea r co m pa r i so n w i t ht h e g r a n d C h a i t y a a t K a r l i t h a t i s equ a l i n i t s d i m e n s i o n s t o t h eGo t h i c Ca t h ed r a l s , o r w i t h t h e m o n aste r i e s o f Aj a n ta w i t h t h e i rm a r v e l l ou s pa i n t i n g ? T h e r e i s
,i t i s t r u e
,t h e g r ea t St i' ipa a t
Safi c h i, bu t t h i s m o n u m e n t i s i n B h i l sa n ea r Decca n i t mav
e v e n be co n s i d e r ed a m o n u m e n t o f t h e Decca n , s i n ce its ba l ust r ade w h i c h i s t h e cau se o f a l l i t s c e le b i ' itv h as bee n scu l pt u r ed
,
as i s e v i de n t f r o m a n i n sc r i p t i o n,by t h e w o r k m e n o f o ne Sa t a
ka r n i,t h a t i s t o say ,
a k i n g o f t h e Decca n . t h e h i s to r yo f t h e Decca n t h e r e fo r e m ea n s w r i t i n g t h e h i s to r y o f t h em os t r e m a r kab l e m o n u m e n t s o f I n d i a .
If w e l ook a t a m ap w e fi n d t h at t h e Decca n is a n im
m e n se c o u n t i y ,a l m os t o n e h a l f o f I n d i a . If w e exa m i n e t h e
m o n u m e n t s,w e s h a l l h a v e t h e ce r t a i n t y t h at t h i s c o u n trv h as
e n j oyed a h i g h deg r ee o f c i v i l i s at i o n a n d i f w e bea r i i i m i n dt h a t t h e h i s to r y o f t h e Decca n i n a n c i e n t t i m e s is t h e h i s t o r yo f n i n e g l o r i ou s ce n t u r i es
,w e ca n n o t bu t c o n c l ude t h a t t h i s
h i s t o r y is w e l l w o r t h studv ing a n d t h a t i t m u st co m e ou t o f t h e
a l m ost co m p l ete obscu r i ty i n w h i c h i t h as r ema ined t op r ese n t
T h i s book i s u p to date as fa r as t h e docu m e n ts a v a i l ab lei n I n d i a, up to t h e e n d of 1 9 1 9 a r e co n ce r n ed .
CHAP' I‘
ER I .
T H E EARLY K INGS
O n e o f t h e w e l l -k n ow n e v e n t s in t h e h i s to r y o f A §okat h e co n quest o f Kalifiga w h i c h p r obab l y t ook p lace abou t
26 1 B . C . a n d i t i s n o t asto n i s h i n g t o fi n d a n i n sc r i pt i o n o fAsoka at D h au l i . T h i s t ow n s i t u a ted i n t h e de l t a o f t h eMalianadi i s i n a l l p r obab i l i t y t h e a n c i e n t T o sali, cap i ta l o ft h e k i n gdo m o f Kalii'iga ; fo r , acco r d i n g to M r . H araprash ad
Sas t r i , T o sali i s e t y m ol og i ca l l y i de n t i ca l w i t h D h au l i . I t i sn o t m o r e asto n i s h i n g t h a t t h e r e i s a n ot h e r i n sc r i pt i o n a tJ a n gada (Ga n j a m D i st r i c t , M ad r as P r es i de n c y ) , as t h i s p l acece r ta i n l y fo r m ed pa r t o f t h e k i n gdo m o f Kalii
'
i ga (co n ce r n i n gt h e Kalii
'
i ga ed i c t s , see I n d . A n t Vo l V,pp . 8 2 - 1 02 : see a l so
A r c h . Su r v . Sou t h e r n I n d i a,A m ar a v a t i
,bv Bu r gess , pp . 1 1 4
T h e d i sco v e r y o f a n i n sc r i p t i o n a t Sopa r a (T h a l i a . Di st r i c t'
Bo m bay Pre s i de n c y ) n ea r Bo m bay , h a s p r o v ed t h a t t h e n o r t h .w es t o f t h e Decca n as w e l l as t h e n o r t h -east w h e r e Ix' aliriga i ss i t u a ted h as bee n u n de r t h e do m i n a t i o n o f Asoka . Bu t t h ed i sco v e r y , i n 1 89 2 , o f t h e i n sc r i p t i o n s o f Asoka n ea r S iddapu r a ,i n M y so r e , w h i c h h a v e i m m o r ta l i sed t h e n a m e o f M r . R i ce
,
h a s caused ve iy g r ea t su r p r i se . T h ey d i d n o t,i n fac t
,t h i n k
t h a t t h e e m p i r e o f Asoka ex t e n ded u p to t h e sou t h e r n m os tpa r t o f t h e Decca n . O n e v e r y i m po r ta n t po i n t i n t h e h i s to r y o fI n d i a w as th us w e l l estab l i s h ed . So , t h e disc o ve iy , (see H ydera.
bad A rc h ai logic al Se r i es N o 1 ) o n lv a few v ears ago , o f a n
insc r i p t io n at M ask i (L i n gsugu r Ta l uq , Ra i c h u r D i s t r i c t ) i n t h eS tate o f Hyde rabad h as cau sed n o su r p r i se .
T h e Siddanura ed i c ts (n ear B rah m agi r i , i n Mo lakalmuru
taluk ; sec Ep . Ca rn . Vo l. Xl , MK,2 1 , 1 4, 34, a n d M yso r e
and Co o r g fr o m i n sc r i p t i o n s by M r . R i ce , page 1 1 ; see a l soF le e t, R . A . S .,
fo r 1 903 , page 829 a n d R . A . S ., fo r 1904,
pages 1 and 35 5 ) p r e sen t ce r t a i n p ecu l i a r i t i es w h i ch h a v e bee np o in ted o ut by Bu h le r and espec i a l l y “
th e pa r t i c u l a r u n cou t hform o f
“ma
”w i t h i t s ab n o r m a l l y l a r ge u ppe r l i m bs” (w h i c h rec
o ccu r s in th e i n sc r i p t i o n s o n t h e c rvstal p r i sm f r o m th e Bh at t iprolu stupa , Ep . Ind . Vo l. I I I . page T h ese deta i l s a r e v e r yimpo r tan t . One is i n deed l ed to be l i e v e t h a t t h e e d i c ts w e r eeng r aved by th e e m i ssa r i es o f Asoka w h o ca m e f r o m t h eno r t h , bu t t h a t th e peop l e o f t h ose d i sta n t cou n t r i es, w h ereth e ed i c ts w e r e p ub l i s h ed , u n de r stood v e r y l i t t l e o f t h osein sc r ip t i o n s t h a t w e r e w r i t t e n i n a l a n guage a n d a n a l p h abetalmo st u n k n ow n t o t h e m . We may a l so su ppose t h a t at t h et ime o f Asoka th e peop l e o f M yso r e w e r e a l m ost sa v ages .On th e co n t r a r y , t h e S iddap u r a i n scri p t i o n s p r o v e t h a t Sou t hI n d i a h ad a ispec ial a l p h abet w h i c h Bu h le r h as ca l l ed“D ravidi a n d t h a t t h e a r t o f w r i t i n g w as k n ow n m a n y ce n tu
ri es be fo r e Asoka , fo r , in t h e I I I ce n t u r y B C . t h e a l p h abe to f th e Sou t h h as h ad t i m e to vary f r o m t h a t o f th e No r t hBes i des
, th e spec i a l a l p h abe t u sed i n th e S iddapu r a i n sc r i p t i o n sp r o v es t h at t h e ed i c ts o f As
’
oka w e r e e n g r a v ed by so m e Sou t hern ers w h o m ust t h e r e fo r e h a v e u n de r stood t h e l a n guage o fAsoka a n d at ta i n ed as h ig h a deg r ee o f c i v i l i sa t i o n as t h eno r t h e r n e r s.
I t i s a l m ost ce r ta i n t h a t As’oka led o n l y o ne exped it i o n,
th at to Kalir'
iga. Bu t h ow d i d t h e r est o f th e Decca n co m eunde r h i s do m i n at i o n I t i s t o be supposed t h at
,at th e acces
°
s i on o f Asoka , t h e w h o l e o f t h e Decca n excep t Kalir’iga wasa l r eady in t h e possess i o n o f t h e Mauryas . T h e r e are a l so , i nMyso r e
,ce r ta i n l ege n ds abou t t h e M au r ya n k i n g C h a n d r agupta
(see“ M yso r e a n d Coo rg f r o m i n sc r i p t i o n s
” by M r . R ice ) . W e
may a l so suppose t h a t t h e r est o f t h e Deccan qu i e t l y sub m i tted o u h ea r i n g of t h e co n quest o f Kalir‘iga. Be i t as i t m ay
,
it is certa in t h at t h e w h o le o f th e D ecca n was u n de r t h esuze r a i n ty o f Asoka and that, con seque n t l y , t h e po l i t i cal
‘
unity o f I n d ia was[
afa it accompl i, tw en tv-tw o ce n t u r ie s ago ”
2 . Kubéra o f B li at t ip t‘
OIu .
I n t h e yea r 1 892,M r . A . Rea depos i ted in t h e M ad r as
M use u m s i x l a r ge sto n es o f t h e cas ket s t h a t h e h ad d i sco v e r edi n t h e ce n t r e o f t h e do m e o f t h e s tupa a t B h a t t i p rol u (Repa l l et a l uk , Gu n tu r D i s t r i c t ) n ea r t h e m ou t h o f t h e K r i s h n a. (see
1 8 t h J u n e 1 892,No. T h ese i n sc r i p t i o n s w e r e
w r i t t e n i n a n a l p h abet w h i c h Bu h le r (page 39 of t h e Appe n d i x ofI n d . A n t . Vol . XXX I I I ) co n s i de r s t o be v e r y o l d : “ i m m ed i ate l ya f te r As’oka o r abou t B . C . 200
"
(see I. R . A . S .,1 892
,p . 602 .
“A new v a r i e ty o f t h e Sou t h e r n MauryaA lph abe t by G .
O n e o f t h ese i n sc r i p t i o n s (No . 1 33 8 o f Li‘
ide rs’
s L i st ) saysa h a t “a t t h a t t i m e
,Kubiraka (Kuberaka) w as k i n g”
(see Buh l er,
Ep . I n d . Vol . I I , p .
\Ve k n ow n o t h i n g m o r e abou t t h i s k i n g K ube r a ; w e don o t k n ow th e n a m e o f t h e dy n as t y to w h i c h h e be l o n ged a n dt h e ex te n t o f h is k i n gd o m .
3 . Kharave la of K abuga .
T h e Udayagi r i h i l l i s s i tuated n i n e tee n m i l es sou t h o fCu t tack i n O r i ssa . T h e j a i n s h a v e c u t m a n y ca v es t h e r e . O n eo f t h e m ca l l ed H atigumpha co n ta i n s a fa m ous i n sc r i p t i o nw h i c h h as bee n dece n t l y cop i ed a n d st ud i ed o n ly i n 1 9 1 7
(See j ou r n a l o f t h e B i h a r a n d O r i ssa Resea r c h Soc i e ty, Vol . I I I ,Dece m be r 1 9 1 7, pp . 425 -507 )
T h i s i n sc r i p t i o n dated t h e 1 65 th yea r o f “ r aj a-muriyakale
w h i c h co r r espo n ds to t h e 1 3 t h yea r o f t h e r e i g n o f Kharave ta,k i n g o f Kalir
’
iga, g i v es u s v e r y v aluab l e i n fo r m at i o n abou t th e
(
re ig n o f t h i s k i n g . He be l o n gs to t h e C h e ta dy n asty ; li e
vanq u ih ed Satakarn i a n d fo r ced Bah apati, k i n g of Rajagri iato flee to M at h u r a . Bes i des, t h e i n sc r i p t i o n s i n t h e M a n c h a
p u r i cave (see Ep . I n d . Vo l. XI I I, p . 1 59, No . 1 3 ) m e n t i o n
(i n se . No . I ) t h e c h i e f quee n o f Kharave la w h o was t h e daug h te ro f K i n g La laka, th e g r a n dso n of H astisah a (insc . No . t h e
k i n g o f K a l inga Kudépasiri a n d (insc . N o . I I I ) t h e p r i n ce
,
Vadukh a.
T h e date 1 65 w i l l be o f v e r y g r eat v a l u e i f w e k n ew
”exac t ly th e o r ig i n o f t h e era t h a t h as bee n e m p loyed ; unfo r
tunate ly w e h a v e to r e m a i n co n te n t w i t h a supp o sitio n ; it 18
h ow eve r p r obab le t h a t t h i s e r a dates f r o m t h e cor o n at i o n o f“
C h a n d r agup ta a n d i n t h a t case t h e yea r 1 65 w i l l co r r e spond
to 1 57 B C .
T h e read i n g a n d t h e t r a n s l at i o n o f t h e Kharave la insc ript i on as g ive n by M ess r s . R . D . Ba n e r j i a n d K . P . Jayaswal, i s
o pen to so m e c r i t i c i s m ; M r . R . C . M aj u m da r (I n d . A n t,
Vo l. XL I I , Aug . 1 9 1 8 , pp . 22 3 a n d 224) h as co n tested m a n yo f t h ese co n c l u s i o n s (see a l so :
“Kharave la.
” by Ramaprasad
C h a n da in j . R . A . S ., j u ly 19 1 9,page H ow e v e r
,
Mr. V i n ce n t A . S m i t h (J . R . A . S . fo r 1 9 1 8 , page 543 ,“N ew
l ig h t o n Anc i e n t I n d i a”
) h as ad m i t t ed t h a t k i n g Bah apati can
be ide n t ified w i t h Push yam itra a n d w i t h Bah asatim itra o fth e c o in s a n d i n sc r i p t i o n s, a n d h e p laces t h e epoc h o f
Pushyam itra i n abou t 1 60 B . C .
T h e sy n c h r o n i sm o f Satakarni a n d Kharave la w i t h Pu s h
yamitra is enoug h , by i t se l f, to e stab l i s h app r ox i m ate ly th edate o f th e anc ie n t k i ngs of th e D eccan.
s 4 . T h e ea r l i es t Satavaliana k i n gs .
74
o . 1 . Szi
ttakarni o f N ai iag liat . Nauag liat i s a defi l e(t h e N a n a pass ) i n th e m ou n ta i n s t o t h e eas t o f Bo m ba y .
T h e r e i s h e r e a c h a m be r c u t i n t h e r ock to se r v e p r obab l yas a p l ace o f s h e l te r fo r t r a v e l l e r s . T h e w a l l s o f t h i s ca v eco n ta i n i n sc r i p t i o n s (No . 1 1 1 2 o f Lude rs ’
s l i s t i n E p . Ind .
Vo l . X ) a n d fu r t h e r t h e r e are r e m n a n ts o f so m e h as- r e l i e fsr ep r ese n t i n g ce r ta i n pe r so n ages . T h ese h as - r e l i e fs co n ta i ne xp la n a to r y l ege n ds (Nos . 1 1 1 3 , 1 1 1 4 , 1 1 1 5 , 1 1 1 6 , 1 1 1 8
o f Luders ’
s l i s t ) . F r o m t h ese i n sc r i p t i o n s Buh l e r (A S . W
l ., Vo l . V , p . 66 ) h as d r aw n t h e fo l l ow i n g co n c l u s io n s : Sii takaru i
,k i n g o f D aksh inapath a a n d so n o f Simuka o f t h e Satavz‘ih an a
dy n asty ga i n ed m a n y v i c to r i es a n d pe r fo r m ed t h e h o r s e -sac r i fice(A évamedh a) tw i c e . Afte r h i s dea t h , h i s w i fe N agan ika daugth e ro f Maliai ath i [T ra] nakay iro [ K a la ] laya , th e sc i o n o f t h e Angi r afa m i ly
,w as p r oc l a i m ed r ege n t d u r i n g t h e m i n o r i ty o f th e p r i n ces ,
th e e lde r ca l le d Vedisri a n d t h e you n ge r Sai lt t i-S i i (Sat i -Srimat )
o r H aku -S r i . He r e w e h a v e to n o te t h a t a n i n sc r i p t i o n a tN as i k (No . 1 14 1 of Li
'
ide rs'
s l i s t ) m e n t i o n s t h e g r a n ddaug h te ro f Mahah aku s
'
ri (Ep . I n d . Vol . VII I , p . As p r i n ce H akusrl
was bu t a c h ild a t t h e t i m e w h e n th e Na n dg h a t i n sc r i p t i o n sw e r e w r i t t e n a n d h i s g r a n ddaug h te r w as a n e l de r l y w o m a na t t h e t i m e o f th e N as i k i n sc r i p t i o n (h e r so n Ix
’
apananaka was
p r obab l y a man a t t h i s t i m e ) t h e tw o Haku -S r i s may be
den tilied w i t h eac h o t h e r by suppos i n g t h a t t h e r e w as a ni n te r v a l o f abou t a ce n t u r y be tw ee n t h e tw o i n sc r i p t i o n s . T h e
palaz
ograph y o f t h e i n sc r i p t i o n s see m s i n fac t to i n d i ca te ne arh
t h i s d i ffe r e n ce i n age .
T h e a l p h abe t o f t h e i n sc r ip t i o n s i n th e N anag h at ca v esee m s a l m os t to be l o n g t o t h e sa m e epoc h as t h a t o f t h e K h arave la i n sc r i p t i o n ; a n d all t h e au t h o r s h a v e ad m i t ted t h eposs ib i l i ty o f i de n t i fy i n g S
'
atakarn i o f Nanaghat w i t h th e o ne
men t io n ed i n th e Kliarave la i n sc r ipt i o n .
No . 2 . K r i s h n a of Nas i k . I n Nas i k t h e r e IS a s m a l lca v e w h i c h see m s to be t h e m ost anc i e n t o f all t h i s g r oupof excavat i o n s t h a t a r e fou n d i n t h i s p l ace . A n i n sc r i p t i o n(No . 1 1 44 of Ltiders‘
s l i s t a n d Ep . Ind . Vo l . V I I I , p . 93 )
te l l s us t h at i t was cau se d to be m ade b y a n inh at itan t ofNas i k i n t h e t i m e of Raj a n K a n h a (K r i s h n a) of t h e éadavzi hanafa m i l y . T h e a l p h abe t o f t h i s i n sc r ip t i o n i s a n a l ogou s tot h a t o f th e tN anagat a n d Udayagi r i i n sc r i p t i o n s .
W'
e m ust m e n t i o n h e re t h a t acco r d i n g to t h e P u r a n ast h e dy n as ty of t h e A n d h r as (gatavah anas) was fou n ded by ak i n g n a m e é iéuka, w h o h ad as h i s su ccesso r s h i s b r o t h e rK r i s h na a n d a t h i r d k i n g ca l l ed Sé takarn i. T h e n a m e é iéukai s poss i b l y a m od ified fo r m o f t h e n a m e Simuka t h a t w e fi n di n N anaghat , t h a t h i s b r o t h e r K ri s h na w as h e of Nas i k a n dt h a t satakam i w as t h e o n e of Nanaghat .
N o . 3 . satakarni of Sft fi c h i. T h e g r a n d Stupa at sanc h iw h i c h dat es f r o m Asoka h as bee n r es tored a n d e m be l l i s h ed atd iffe r e n t t i m es . T h e m ost i n te r est i n g pa r t o f i t is u n doub ted lyt h e ba l u st r ade w h i c h h as fou r m ag n ifice n t ly o r n a m e n t ed gateways .T h e
‘
o ldest of t h e m (A r c h ae o l og i ca l Su r v ey o f I n d i a ; Repo r t fo r 1 9 1 3 - 1 9 1 4 , page 6) i s t h e o n e i n t h e sou t h . I t i s a l sot h e o n ly o n e t h at co n ta i n s a n i n sc r i p t i o n i n w h i c h t h e n a m e o fa
-k i n g i s m e n t i o n ed a n d t h is n a m e, s t r a n ge to say , is S‘
atakarni.
T h i s i n sc r i p t i on says,i n fac t , t h a t a n i m age is due to t h e scu l p
to r o f t h e g r ea t k i n g é i takarn i. U n fo r t u n ate ly,t h i s n a m e h as
bee n bo r n e by a g r eat n u m be r o f satavah ana k i n gs . \Ve a r eh ow e v e r glad to h a v e t h e ce r t a i n ty t h a t t h i s dy n as ty ex te n ded itse m p i r e up to B h i l sa
,n a m el y t h e a n t i que Vidis' a
,a n d t h at i t was
p r ec i se ly u n de r t h i s dy n as ty t h a t o n e o f t h e m ost ce l eb r at edm o n u m e n t s o f I n d i a was scu l p tu r ed . T he i n sc r i p t i o n has bee nr ep r oduced o n ly i n fac-s i m i l e in C u n n i n g h a m ’ s “B h i l sa Topes”
w h e r e i t figu r es as No . 1 90 . Buh l e r h as fo r m ed t h e fo l l ow i n g
judg m e n t (Ep . I n d . Vo l . I I . p . 8 8 ) o n t h e c h a r ac te r s o f t h ei n sc r i p t i o n : “ t h ey a r e a l m ost i de n t i ca l w i t h t h ose o f t h e
N anaghat i n scrip t i o n s, a n d d iffe r o n ly s l ig h t l y from th e typeof th e c h a r acte r s of Aébka tim es ,
”
T h e r e ca n th e re fo i e be n o q uest i o n o f i de n t i fy i n g t h i sSfi takarn i w i t h t h e l a te r k i n g Gau tam ipu tra t h oug h t h i s k i n gp r obab l y r e i g n ed n ot fa r f r o m S in
'
i c h i. T h e c h a r acte r s o f ou r
i n sc r i p t i o n a r e m uc h to o a r c h a i c . ca n n o t a l so i de n t i f yt h i s S
I
atakarni w i t h t h os e o f t h e Uda y ag i r i o r i n sc rip t io n s , fo r i t w as Pu s h y am itra t h a t r e i g n ed a t B h i l sa a t t h i st i m e . t h e n . d id o f Sai
‘
i c h i r e ig n I t is
p r obab l e t h at B h i l sa . w h i c h w as u n de r t h e Maurvas pas sedd i r ec t l y i n to t h e h a n ds o f t h e éungas . I t w as t h e cap i ta l o f
t h e v i ce r o y A gn i in itra. W'
e a r e su r e (A r c h aeo logica l Su r v e y o fI n d i a Repo r t fo r 1 9084 909 , page 1 2 7 ) t h at l ate r o n Kfu i tsi
pu t r a -Bhagabh adra was th e k i n g o f V id isa (B h i l sa ) a n d aco n te m po r a r y o f A n t ialkidas . I f th e Be snagar i n sc r i pt i o n s ,t o w h i c h w e a l l u de , m ea n b y Kas ipu tra t
‘
igabh adra t h e 9 thSunga king , t h e r e i s n o dou bt t h a t B h i l sa r e m a i n ed i n t h epossess i o n o f t h i s d y n ast y t i l l t h e l oth k i n g , D er abh t
‘
im i. t h esuccesso r o f B h aga v a ta (Bhagabh adra) was m u r de r ed bv
Vasudev a K anv a .
I t i s no t i m poss i b l e t h a t a éatavabana h e l ped Vasudev ai n h i s u su r pat i o n a n d so app r op r i a ted t h e cou n t r y o f B h i l sato h i m se l f . I t m u st h a v e take n p l ace abou t 72 B . C . Bes i des ,i t i s v e r y p r obab l e t h a t t h e éakas i n v aded n o r t h e r n I n d i ai n t h e m i dd l e o f t h e l st ce n t u r y be fo r e o ur e r a ; i t i s poss i b l et h a t t h i s g r eat co n ques t took p l ace abou t 5 8 . B . C ; at t h i sepoc h t h e Satat 'ah anas w ou l d h a v e bee n d r i v e n n o t o n l yf r o m B h i l sa bu t a l so o u t o f M a h a r as h t r a . T h e r e i s t h e r e fo r er oo m to t h i n k t h a t t h e é fi takarn i w h o is m e n t i o n ed o n t h eSah eb i ga t ew a y r e ig n ed a t B h i l sa betwee n 72 B . C . and 5 8 B . C .
o r i n r ou n d figu r es f r o m 70 t o 60 B . C . I t h i n k t h a t th sa l p h abet o f t h e i n sc r i p t i o n a n d t h e. s t y l e o f t h e scu lpture e
acco r d w i t h eac h o t h e r to j u st i f y t h i s dat e .
T h e m ost a n c i e n t co n i s o f th e d y n ast y o f éfitat ' fi liaii as
h a v e bee n fo u n d i n w este r n I n d i a a n d a r e o f t h e t y pe t h a tM r . Rapso n ca l l s M a lw a fab r i c and w h i c h h e t h i n ks i s “co n n ect ed w i t h t h e e a r l y eas t a n d pu n c h - m a r ked co i n s o f E r a n ” (seeRapso n “co i n s o f A n d h r a d y n ast y " page 1
,N o s . 1 a n d
T h ese co i n s r ep r ese n t a n e l ep h a n t a n d a r i v e r a n d bea r t h ei n sc r i pt i o n “
Sri Sata” W e m ay t h i n k t h a t t h i s k i n g r e ig n edat an e poc h w h i c h is verv close to t h at o fgatakarni of Sz‘i fi c h i .
CHAPTER I I.
PERIO D o r T H E H ISTORY o r T H E D recax
1 . T h e Ksh ah arfuas .
u n de r sta n d t h e h i s to r y o f t h e Decca n i n t h e l st ce n t uryB . C . a n d t h e fi r s t tw o ce n tu r i es A . D .
,w e m u st . k n ow th e
h i s to r y of the w h o le o f I n d i a a t t h i s epoc h ; bu t t h a t.
h i s to r yi s v ery u n ce r ta i n e v e n t oday ;
'
a n d w e do n o t w i s h t o fo r cea t h eo r y u po n ou r r eade r s bu t i n te n d o n ly t o se t fo r t ho ur pe r so n a l Op i n i o n o n
.
t h i s subj ec t .I n t h e I I ce n t u r y 8 . C. t h e gaka t r ibe t h a t ca m e f r o m th e
n o r t h e n te r ed i n to N o r t h e r n I n d i a ; f r o m th at t i m e t h ey w e r ei n t i m ate ly conn ec ted w i t h a n o t h e r t r i be , t h e Pa r t h i a n s
,a n d
h ad c l ose r el at i o n s h i p w i t h Pers i a . I n th e h i s to r y o f I n d i a,t h e n a m es of éakas, Pah lavas a n d Yavanas a r e m e n t i o n eds i m u l tan eou s l y a n d de n o te t h ose fo r e i g n ers t h a t ca m e f r o mt h e n o r t h -w este r n fr o n t i e r . I t i s p r obab ly abou t 1 00 B . C .
th at'
o n e o f t h ese p r i n ces r e i g n ed at'
T ai a u n de r th e n a m eo f Man e s . La te r o n
, abou t 60 B'
. C .,A z es . I asce n ded th e
t h r o n e . T h i s k i n g p r obab l y h ad'
a lo ng and g l o r i ou s r e ig n .I t was pe r h aps i n h i s t i m e t h at t h e Pa r t h i a n s a n d th e Sakasco n que r ed a l m ost t h e w h o l e o f no r t h e r n I n d i a a n d a po r t i o no f t h e Decca n . W h e n t h e I n do-Pa r t h i a n k i n gs A z e s I
,A z ilise s
,
A z e s I I,G o ndOph arn e s w e r e r e ig n i n g o v e r th e Pa n j ab
,th e
r es t o f t h e e m p ire w as go v e r n ed by m o r e o r l e ss i n depe n de n tp r i n ces w h o bo r e t h e t i t l e o f Ksh atrapas a n d Mah aksh atrapaa.
I h it h ‘e p r o v i n ce surro t mding the Gu l f o f cambay"
(Stir-ash t rs,
Pah laVa sove r e ig n s I. R. A . S . fo r 1 91 4, page 1 77 Th edate o f Kan ish ka
”by J . H . M a r s h al l ) . We m a y t h e r e fo r e
p l ace t h e r e ig n o f Bh t‘
imaka app r ox i m ate l y i n t h e seco n dq ua r te r o f t h e fi r s t ce n tu r y B . C . (50 to 2 5 B . C .)T h e co i n s bea r i n g t h e we r e r a r e a t o n e
t i m e h a v e beco m e abu n da n t s i n ce t h e d sc o ve ry o f a t r ea s u r e c o nt a i n i n g 1 32 50 co i n s a t jogh altembh i, n ea r N as i k (s e e I. B . B . R .
A . 8 . Vo l . XX I I , A r t . XV I , page T h i s d i sco v e r y h as m adea co m p l ete stud y o f i t poss i b l e . I t m u s t fi r s t be n o ted t h at t h i sco i n age ex te n ds o v e r a v e r y l o n g pe r i od of t i m e . I t i s n ot poss i=
b l e to g i v e t h e exac t n u m be r o f yea r s bu t i t i s ce r ta i n l y v e r yl a r ge . I n fac t
,w e m a y obse r v e v e r y c l ea r l y a ce r t a i n “
evo lu
t i o n ” i n t h e s ty l e o f t h e co i n s . Fo r i n s ta n ce,t h ese co m s c o n
ta i n tw o lege n ds o n e i n G r eek a n d t h e o t h e r i n K h a r os h t h i ,bu t t h ese tw o w r i t i n gs e v o l v e i n v e r s e ly : w h e n t h e l ege n d i nK h a r os h t h i i s v e r y l eg i b l e
,t h a t i n G r ee k i s debased , a n d o n
t h e co m s i n w h i c h t h e K h a r os h t h i l ege n d i s debased t h e G r eekl ege n d i s v i s i b l e . Su c h a n e v o l u t i o n ca n be p r oduced o n l ydu r i n g a v e r y l a r ge n u m be r o f yea r s . \Ve k n ow t h a t w i t ht h e l apse o f t i m e
,K h a r os h t h i d i sappea r ed
,l i t t l e by l i t t l e
,f r o m
th e co i n age o f I n d i a . (see R . A . S fo r 1 904,page
H e r e I h a v e to m ake a n ot h e r i m po r ta n t r e m a r k . T h ese co i n sbea r a n eff ig y w h i c h su r e ly i s n o t t h a t o f a s i n g l e i n d i v i du a l ,s i n ce t h e n ose i s so m e t i m es aqu i l i n e a n d so m et i m es s t r a i g h t .Furt h e r
,t h e m os t a n c i e n t co i n s r ep r ese n t so m et i m es a you n g
man,a n d so m et i m es a n o ld man
,as i s t h e case a l so w i t h
t h e l ess a n c i e n t co i n s . “T h e Re v . H . R . Sco t t h as po i n tedou t t h a t t h ey ex h i b i t a n ext r ao r d in a r y d i v e r s i ty
,n o t o n l y
i n appa r e n t age bu t a l so i n featu r es . T h ey ca n n o t poss i b l yh a v e bee n po r t r a i ts
,i n t h e t r u e se n se o f t h e w o r d o f. a n y
s i n gle i n d i v i dua l (Rapso n , page CX ) . W' h a t co n c l u s i o n s a r e
w e to d r aw fro m t h ese remarks W We ca n n ot say i t exac t ly .
I t i s poss i b l e t h at m a n y k i n gs ca l l ed “N ah apana h a v e r e ig n ed
i n su ccess i o n . Bu t w e m ay a l so suppose t h a t t h e r e w e r eo n ly o n e o r tw o N ah apanas , bu t t h a t , a fte r t h e m ,
t h ey h a v eco n t i n u ed to use t h e i r co i n age fo r a l o n g t i m e . T h e l at te rh ypo t h es i s w i l l exp l a i n t h e ex t r ao r d i n a r y d i v e r s i ty i n t h eeffi g ie s th e m ost a n c ie n t co i n s bea r t h e i m age of t h e N ah apana
t h a t r e ig n ed at t h i s e poc h a n d t h e l ess an c ien t'
o ne s co n ta i nth e i m age o f so m e fi gu r e m ade to v a r v acco r d i n g=to t h e fan cv
IO
o f t lic C t t ll l t l’
.
T h e co m s s t r u ck i n t h e n a m e of N aliapana r es e m bl e m uc ht h ose o f k i n g Raii
'
i v u la (se e t h e p l a te facmg t h e page 6 30 o f
J . R . A . S . fo r T h i s i s qu i te n at u r a l as a n dRaJ i
’
ivu la bo t h be l o n g to t h e lx' s li aliarz' i ta dy n as ty . Bu t t h e r e is a ni-
p igrap h ic al de t a i l w h i c h p r o v es w e l l th e r e la t io n s h i p t h a tex i s t s be tw ee n t h e co i n ages o f t h e tw o b r a n c h es o f t h i s v e r yKs liah arata dv i i as tv : t h e l e t t e r H fou n d o n a co i n o flx
’
h arah o s te s and o n so m e o f t h ose o f (J . R . A .
S .,1 9 1 3 , page Co n ce r n i n g t h e o r ig i n o f t h i s l e t te r H
w e s h a l l be co n t e n t w i t h g i v i n g h e r e t li e.
o p in io n o f M r .T h o m as (J . R . A . S . , 1 9 1 3 , page 1 0 1 3 ,
n o t e ) : I t h i n k t h i sH to b e n o t Ro m a n , bu t A r a m a i c (i t is n o acc i de n t t h a t i t i sfou n d o n l y o n é .ik.i co i n s )
T h e co i n s bea r i n g th e n a m e o f co n ta i n t h ei n s ig n i a “ t h u n de r bo l t " a n d “ a r r ow M r . V i n ce n t A . S m i t hh as w r i t te n (“ Ea r l y H i sto r y o f I n d ia , 3 rd . Ed i t i o n , page
“
T h e a r r ow a n d t h u n de r bo l t o f N ahapana'
s co n i s co n n ec th i m w i t h t h e Pa r t h i a n s a n d th e No r t h e r n Sa t r aps H aga n aa n d H agam é s h a (see Ca t . co i n s i n I . M .
,\
'
o l . l . , pageA n d N ah apana is a good o l d Pe r s i a n n a m e (J . R . A . S . fo r1 906 , p . 2 1 1 , No .
A Ix' sh ah arfi ta k i n g n a m ed N ali apana i s fo u n d m e n t i o n edi n se v e r a l i n sc r i p t i o n s e n g r a v ed o n t h e r ock -c u t exca v a t i o n si n .\ Ialiaras l i t ra
,v ix. a t a n d J u n n a r . T h q se
i n sc r i p t i o n s s ay t h at t h e daug t l ie r o f N a li apfma n a m edD aks li am it ia, m a r r i ed a S tka (li p . Ind
,Vo l . \ ’
l l l , p . 8 5 ) ca l l e dUs liavadata (Ris h abada t ta ) so n o f D i n i ka (i n s c r i p t i o n s Nos .1 1 32 a n d 1 1 34 o f Lude rs
'
s l i s t . ) T h i s p r i n cess a n d h e rli u s band i nade n u m e r o u s g i f t s to t h e Budd h i s t m o n ks a n dh ad m a n y ro e -cu t m o n a s t e r i es dug fo r t h e m . So m e o ft h ese g r a n t s w e r e m ade a t Po k liara (Ajin e r) a n d a t Ujen i
(L'
J Ja in ) w h i c h p r o v es t h a t t h e d o m i n i o n o f N ali apanaex t e n ded o v e r a n i m m e n se e m p i r e co m p r i s i n g G uxarfi t (K u t c h ,Surfis li t ra ,
a pa r t o f Ri'
ijp u tai ia, Malw fi (UJJ ZI IH ) a n da l l t h e n o r t h w e s te r n pa r t o f th e D e cca n ( M a h a r as h t r a ) .
m ay o f te n e s t i m a te th e g r ea t n ess o f e m p i r es by t h ebeau ty o f t h e i r m o n u m e n ts . I t i s t h e r e fo r e p r obab l e t h a t t h er e i g n o f N ah ap z
‘
ina was v e r y gl o r i ous, as so m e o f t h e m o n u
ment s co n st r uc ted du r i n g h is re i g n are amo n g th e m ost
sp le n d i d i n I n d i a . O n e o f t h ese i s t h e Budd h i s t te m p l e cu ti n t h e r ock a t K a r l i
,t h e i m me n se n a v e o f w h i c h equa l s i n
g r a n deu r t h at o f t h e Got h i c c h u r c h es . I t i s n o tew o r t h y t h att h e m o n u m e n ts co n ta i n i n g t h e i n sc r i p t io n s o f N ah apana ( a tJ u n n a r , K a r l i , N as i k ) a r e a l l i n t h e sa m e sty l e . T h i s sty l e rese m b l es m uc h t h a t o f t h e ba l us t r ade o f t h e g r a n d stupa a tSé fi e h i. W e h a v e a l r eady sa i d t h a t t h i s ba l ust r ade w as probab ly begu n be tw ee n 70 B . C . a n d 60 B . C . I t m ust ce r ta i n lyh a v e take n a su ffic i e n t ly l o n g t i m e to bu i ld , fo r, t h e s t y l e o ft h e scu l pt u r es s h ow s t h a t t h e gatew ays may be a r r a n gedc h r o n o l og i ca l l y i n t h e fo l ow i n g o r de r : (1 ) Sou t h e r n , (2 )N o r t h e r n , (3 ) Eas te r n (4 ) VVe s te i n , (A r c h aeo log i ca l S n i v ey o fI n d ia ; Repo r t fo r 1 9 1 3-1 4 , p age I t i s t h e r e fo r e p r obab l et h at m ost o f t h e scu l p tu r es of Sé fi e h i da te f r o m 50 . B . C . toI . A
’
. D . a n d t h a t t h e m o n u m e n t s co n ta i n i n g t h e i n sc r i p t i o n so f N ah apana h a v e bee n scu l p t u r ed s h o r t ly be fo r e t h e begi n n i n go f ou r e r a .
M a n y o f t h ese i n sc r i p t i o n s a r e date d ; w e h a v e a t N as i k(N o . 1 1 33 o f Luders ' s l i s t ) t h e yea r s 4 1 , 42 a n d 45 . At
e Junnar a n i n sc r i p t i o n (No . 1 1 74 o f Lt‘
i de rs’
s l i s t ) t h a t r eco r dsa gran t o f Aya m a (A r ya m a n ) , m i n i s te r o f N ah apana, g i v eu s t h e dat e 46 . A r e ig n o f 46 yea r s i s r a r e ; w e may t h e r e fo r esuppose t h a t t h ese 46 yea r s a r e n o t cou n ted f r o m t h e yea r o ft h e co r o n at i o n o f N ah apana bu t f r o m t h e beg i n n i n g o f a
p a r t i cu la r e r a . T h i s suppos i t i o n see m s t o be co n f i r m edby so m e o t h e r docu m e n ts . W e k n ow t h a t th e sat r ap s o fMat h u r a be l o n ged to t h e dy n as ty o t Ks liali ai
'
atas a n d t h a to n e o f t h e m Rajuvu la (Ranjubula) s t r u ck co i n s s i m i l a rt o t h ose of N ah apaua, a n d w e m ay suppose t h a t t h ey w e r ec o n te m po r a r i es . T h e so n o f t h i s Rajt
‘
ivu la n a m ed é Bdasah as l e f t a n i n sc r i p t i o n i n M a t h u r a (No . 59 o f Lt
'
ide rs’
s l i s t)dated i n t h e yea r 72 [Am o h in i r eco r d ] . He r e t h e r e ca n ben o doub t . He r e i t i s ques t i o n o f t h e yea r 72 o f a part i eu lar
era, fo r , i t i s imp i o bable t h a t é odasa r e ig n ed 72 y ea r s .M o r eo v e r
,M r . D evadatta Ramkrish na B handarkar h as att i r
me d (page 2 75 , Vo l . XX of Vo l . XX of t h e J ou r n a l o f t h eBo m bay b r a n c h o f t h e Roya l As i at i c Soc i e ty)
“ I m a i n ta i nt h a t o n s i m i l a r palze ograph ic g r ou n d s N ah apana m ust besupposed to be p r i o r t o éodasa
”and w e fi n d a co m p le te
Justi f i cat ion of th is Op i n ion in h is paper (‘A Kristian stoii e
T h us Pa lze o g rap h y p r o v es t h a t th e ins c i ip tio n so f N ali apana w h i c h a r e da t e d 4 1 , 4
2 45 , 4b , are m o r ea i c h a ic t h a n t h e insc i ip t i o n o f Si idz
'
is zi w h i c h i s da t ed in
t h e ye a r 72 . As t h es e tw o p r i n ces be l o n g to t h e sa m e fa m i l yo f Ks‘h i li aratas (J . R . A . S . fo r 1 9 1 2 p . 1 2 2 ) a n d t h e co i n ageo f N ah apana r es e m b l es t h a t o f lx’aj t
'
iv u la , fa t h e r o f Sodas a ,
i t i s n a t u r a l to su ppose t h a t N ahapana a n d Si'
)dfisa da tedt h e i r i n sc r i p t i o n s f r o m th e sa m e e r a . c an t h i s e i a
be ? I t is ge ne i al ly ad m i t ted no w t h a t t h e. i n sc r i p t i o no f Sodasa i s da ted t i o n ] t h e V ik i a ina e r a w h i c hbeg i n s i n 5 8 B . C . If, t h e n , t h e V ikram a e ra w as n o
o t h e r t h a n t h e Ksh ah arata e r a , t h e i n sc r i p t i o n s o fa t Nas ik and J u nar w i l l be da ted i n th e v e a i s 1 7 . 1 6
,I3
a n d 1 2 . B . C . T h ese d a te s pe r fe c i ag r ee w i t h t h e fac t sf u r n i s h ed by arc h ze o lo gy . h a v e sa i d t h a t t h e art o ft h e m o n u m e n t s o f N ah apfina at K a r l i a n d N as i k r e se m b l et h a t o f t h e g i and S t upa a t Sanc h i . l t m u s t be n o t e d n o w
th at'
t li e a r t o f th e m o n u m e n t s o f N abapana d i ffe r s m u c hf r o m t h e a r t o f t h e epoc h o f Kan ish ka . T h e d i sco v e r y o f t h e
caske t i n w h i c h Kan is h ka l ocked u p t h e re lic s o f Budd h a h asp r o v ed , t h a t i n t h e t i m e o f Kan ish ka, Budd h a was r ep r ese n te dw i t h t h e h ead ado r n e d “ t i l l an au r eo l e a n d t h e body d r es sedi n a r o be w i t h l o n g fo l ds . It i s t h u s t h at B udd h a i s v e r yo ft e n r ep r ese n ted a t A m a ra v a t i . -
'
e se e n o t h i n g l i ke i t i n t h em o n u m e n t s o f N ah apana . I t be t oo l o n g to g i v e h e r ea de ta i l ed h i s to r y o f t h e e v o l u t i o n o f t h e H i n d u a r t ; w e
s h a l l co n te n t ou r s e l v e s sa v i n g t h a t w e ca n appro xi
m a te l y de t e r m i n e t h e age o f t h e scu l p tu r es f r o m t h e o rnam e n
tat io n a n d t h e sty l e . t h i n k i t is u se l ess t o take u p t h i squ es t i o n aga i n , s i n ce w e h a v e a l r e ady de v e l oped t h is t h e o r ya t g r ea t l e n g t h i n Vo l . I o f ou r w o r k , “
A rc h ai o lo g ie du Suddc l
'
Inde ,Vo l. I , A r c h i tec t u r e . In t h e cou r se o f a s e r i es o ft ou r s t h a t I m ade i n t h e Decca n i n 1 9 1 0 co l l ec tedp h otog r ap h s o f t h e p r i n c i pa l m o n u m e n ts i n t h i s l eg io na n d pa r t icu l a r l y t h ose o f K a r l i a n d I l l u st r a t i o n si n t e n ded to suppo r t t h e t h eo r y de v e l oped i n c h ap te r s I 1 1
,
(pages 1 5 t o 49 ) o f t h e book w i l l be fo u n d i n p l a t es I t o I X .
T h at t h eo r y i s t h e fo l l ow i n g : t h e r e i s a d i ffe r e n ce betw ee nt h e m o n u m e n ts t h a t a r e a n te r i o r t o t h e C h r i s t ia n em a n d
t h ose t h at are poste r io r to i t . T h e m o n u m e n t s o f Nahapana
at N as i k a n d K a r l i a r e o f t h e sa m e ifam i ly as t h e s t upa a tSah eb i and a r e a n te r i o r to J esus-C h r i s t . O n t h e co n t r a r yt h e scu l p tu r es o f t h e epoc h o f Kan ish ka, t h ose o f t h e topeat A-m aravati, t h e ca v es o f Gau tam ipu tra at Nas i k a n d o fYajfia S r i a t K a n h e r i a r e pos te r i o r to J esu s-C h r i s t a n d a r ec h a r ac te r i sed by a v e r y pa r t i cu l a r k i n d o f o r n a m e nta t i o n .
I n s h o r t,t h e co i n age , paloe ograp h y a n d t h e s ty l e o f t h e
m o n u m e n ts p r o v e,t h a t
,a t t h e beg i n n i n g o f t h e C h r i s t i a n e r a
t h e r e r e ig n ed o n t h e s h o r es o f t h e Gu l f o f Ca m bay o n e o r
m o r e p r i n ces bea r i n g t h e n a m e o f N ah apana . A N ah apana
w h o h ad Us h avadata fo r h i s so n - ih - law r e i g n ed i n t h e yea r s4 1
,42 ,
4 5 a n d 46 o f a n u n k n ow n e r a . T h e r e r e ig n ed i nM at h u r a so m e p r i n ces o f t h e sa m e dy n ast y o f Ksh ah aratas .
T h ese p r i n ces w e r e : Haga n a,H agam é sh a, Rfijt
‘
ivu la, Sodasa
Kh arah o ste s a n d K a l n i , a n d t h ey u sed a spec i a l e r a . I f i t isad m i t ted t h at i t i s t h e Vikrama e r a (5 8 B . C . ) w e find t h a tSodasa r e ig n ed i n 1 4 o r 1 5 A . D . w h ic h w e l l c om c ide s w i t ht h e i n fo r m a t i o n f u r n i s h ed by a r c h ae o l ogy (i t i s t h e op i n i o no f t h e Di r ec to r -ge n e r a l o f A r c h aeo l ogy , M r . J . H . M a r s h a l l ,see J . R . A . S . fo r 1 9 1 4 , page T h e co i n s s h ow t h a tN ah apana was v e r y n ea r l y t h e co n t e m po r a r y o f H aga n a a n dH agamash a a n d so i t W III be a l i t t l e befo r e t h e beg i n n i n g oft h e C h r i s t ia n e r a . T h i s i s i n pe r fec t acco r d w i t h t h e suppos i t io nt h a t t h e i n sc r i p t i o n s o f N ah apana a r e da ted f r o m t h e Vikrama
‘e r a . How e v e r “ t h e quest i o n h as n o t bee n se t t led”
(Vi n ce n tA . S m i t h , t h e O x fo r d H i s to r y of I n d i a
,1 9 1 9, page 1 5 3 ,
foo t n o teW h o s ucceeded N aliapaua o r t h e N ah apanas
? I t is
p r obab l e t h a t abo u t t h e ye a r 20 A . D ., G o ndo ph arn e s, k i n g
of t h e Pa n j ab , beca m e m as te r o f a g r ea t e m p i r e t h a t ex te n dedall o v e r t h e w es t of I n d i a ; h e co n que r ed A rac h o s ia, S iii d a n dt h e c o u n t i y n ea r t h e mou t h o f t h e I n du s ; t h e su ccesso r s o fN ah apan a w e r e p r obab l y s i m p l e go v e r n o r s o f p r o v i n ces
.
O n t h e dea t h of G o ndo ph are s t h i s e m p i r e w as pa r cel l edou t i n to pet ty p r i n c i pa l i t i es . T h e Pan Jab fe l l i n t o t h e h a n dso f h i s n ep h ew A bdagas e s ; A rac h o s ia a n d S i n d passed u n de rt h e r u le o f Orth agn e s w h o was fo l l ow ed by Pako res [ c omce r n i n g O rth agn es , see Ga r d n e r , page 1 09, PI. XX I I I
, 9 ;
co n ce r n i n g Pac o re s,see ga r d n e r
,page 1 1 0
,P1. XX I I I
,8 ]
T h e“Perip l us o f t h e E r yt h raea n Sea g i v es a descrip t ion
o f t h i s r eg i o n a t i t was at t h a t t i m e. T h e date o f t h i s wo r k hasbee n de t e r m i n e d r ece n t l y b y M r . J . K e n n ed y (J . R . A . S . fo r1 9 1 8 , page T h e Pe r i p l us m e n t i o n s Malic h as w h o lii ed
i n 67 A . D . a n d d i ed i n 7 1 1 D . It i s t h e r e fo r e p r obab l e t h a tth e a n o n y m ous au t h o r o f I ’ e rip l i is w e n t o n h i s t r a v e l s abou tt h e Ye ar 70 I ) . T h e I’ e i ' ip lu s gi v es a ( le sc rip t io n o f t h e
o f t h e Lower I n d us,w h ic h h e c al l ed Skv t l i ia “
w h i c h i sgo v e r n ed
,h ow e v e r , bv I ’arth i an p r i n ces , w h o are pe r pe t ua l l y
a t st r i fe a m o n g t h e m se l v es expe l l i n g e ac h o t h e r (I‘e rip lus,
I n d . A n t . Vo l . V I I I , page T h i s d e s c r ipt i o n app l i e spe r fec t l y w e l l t o t h e s ta t e o i S i n d a f te r G o ndo p h are s . T h el’ e i
' ip lus m e n t i o n s tw o p r i n ces o f t h e no i'
th e i n pa r t o f t h eDecca n : t h e k i n g o f Bary gaz a (Bharukac h a= Bro ac h ) w h osen a m e e n ds i n “
Imres (Ke n n edy , J . R . A . S . for 1 9 1 8 , pages1 08 a n d 1 1 3 —“
N ainba i i o s-N ah apfi i ia i s a m y t h ” ) a n d nt lie
k i n g o f Kall i e na ( K a l y a n ) w h o w as ca l l ed Sandane s w h o was
h os t i l e to t h e fo r e i g n e r s .
Car e N o . 3 a t N a s i k co n ta i n s a n i n sc r i p t i o n s (insc . 2 .
s e e Ep . I n d . Vo l . V I I I,page 6 1
,a n d Li'ide rs '
s l i s t N o . 1 1 2 3 )
w h i c h i s w e l l -k n ow n fo r t h e i n fo r m a t i o n t h a t i t g i ves . we
lea r n t h a t t h e k i n g Gautam ip u t ra S r i des t r oyed t h eSiakas , Yavanas , Pa lh avas , i o o te d ou t t h e Ix' sh aliarfi ta r acea n d r es to r ed t h e S
'
fi tai 'ah ana fa m i l y .
T h e i n sc r i pt i o n sa y s fu r t h e r t h a t Gau tam ipu tra é l' lé fi takarn i w as k i n g o f t h e fo l l ow i n g cou n t r i e s As i ka ,
al u laka , Surat h a,K uku r a
,A parau ta, A nupa,
V idarb lia ,
Si n ce t h ese cou n t r i es o n ce fo r m ed pa r t o f t h e k i n gdo m o f th e Ks h ah aratas , w e m ay co n c l ude t h a t Si takarn i tookpos se ss io n o f t h e m a f te r t h e des t r uc t i o n o f t h e Ksh a liaratas
Apai
‘
an ta - t h e r eg i o n a l o n g t h e coas t,n o r t h o f Bo m bay. )
T h e des t r u c t io n o f t h e Ix' sh ah aratas b y G au taui ip u tra i s
fu l l y co n fi r m ed bv t h e co i n age ; i i i fac t , ou t o f 1 3 2 5 0 co i n sbea r i n g th e n a m e o f t h a t w e r e d is c o ve i e d a t J o gha lt e m b h i , t h e i e are 92 70 t h a t h a v e bee n re - s t r uc k by ( iau ta iu ip u tr a.T h e re - s t r i k i n g o f th e Ks liah arfi t a co i n s by Ga i i ta in ipu tra i s fo rus a i
'
e ry va l iui b le i n fo r m a t io n , fo r , w e m ay t h e n k n ow fo rce r ta i n w h a t k i n d o f co i n age t h e Sz
'
i tavah aiias h ad a t t h et i m e o f t h e des t r u c t i o n o f th e S
'
akas . T h e ob v e r se bea r st h e
“
L'
J Ja in s y m bo l and t h e r e v e r se th e s y m bo l “ c h a i t ’a
F r o m t h e fact t h a t a l l t h e co i n re-st r uck by Gautamiputrabea r t h e n a m e “
N ah apana”
,ce r t a i n a u t h o r s h a v e co m e to t h e
co n c l u sio n t h a t i t was Ush avadata o w n fa t h e r -in -law t h a tw as v a n qu i s h ed : Gau tam ip u tra kt lled N ahapana A close rexa m i n a t i o n o f t h e co i n s p r o v es exact l y t h e co n t r a r y . Re v . H .
R . Sco tt h as m ade t h r ee obse r v a t i o n s : (1 ) t h a t t h e co i n agebea r i n g t h e n a m e o f N ah apana ex te n d o v e r a v e r y l o n g pe r i od ,s i n ce i t ha f l h ad t h e t i m e to e v o l v e co n s i de r ab l y . (2 ) T h e
eff igi es a r e o f “ex t r ao r d i n a r y d i v e r s i ty a n d ”ca n n ot poss i b l yh a v e bee n po r t r a i ts i n t h e t r u e se n se o f t h e w o r d o f a n ys i ngl e i n d i v i d ual (Rapso n , page CX) . T h e -fi rst tw o
r e m a r ks s h ow t h a t,v e r y p r obab ly
,th e co i n s bea r i n g t h e
n a m e o f N ah apana h a v e n o t a ll of th em co m e f r o m th e
N ah apana o f t h e i n sc r i p t i o n s so t h e co i n s co n ta i n i n g t h e n a m eo f N ah apana ca n n o t a l l ow u s to d r aw a n y c o n c l i i Si o n c o n
ce r n i n g t h e N ah apana o f t h e i n sc r i p t i o n s . But t h e t h i r dr e m a r k i s s t i l l m o r e i m po r ta n t . (3 )
“ J u dgi n g fi om th e
co n d i t i o n O f t h e co i n s,I s h ou ld say t h a t t h ey m u st h a v e bee n
a v e r y l o n g tim e‘uin c i r cu l a t i o n be fo r e be i n g cou n
te r s t r uck” (J . BaB . R . A . S . Vo l . XX I I , page T h e l as tr e m a r k s h ow s t h a t
, even if w e ad m i t t h a t t h e N ah apana o f
t h e i n sc r i p t i o n s h as i ssued th e m ost recen t co i n s o f t h e w h o leg r ou p
,
“a v e r y l o n g t i m e" m ust h a v e e l apsed be tw ee n h i m a n dGau tam ipu tra. T h a t i s t h e op i n i o n o f M r . V i n ce n t A . S m i t h
(Ea r ly H i sto r y o f I n d i a,3rd Ed i t i o n
,1 9 1 4
,page I t i s
n o t n ecessa r y to be l i e v e t h a t Gau tam ipu tra A n d h r a foug h tw i t h N ah apana pe r so n a l l y . Stud y o f t h e g r ea t Jogh altembh ih oa r d o f m o r e t h a n 1 3000 co i n s o f N ahapana p ro v es t h att h e co i n age exte n ded o v e r ma n y yea r s , a l t h oug h a lw ays bear i n g t h e n a m e o f N ah apan a, w h o I be l i e v e w as dead be fo r eGau tam ipu ira ex t i r pat ed h i s fa m i l y o r c l a n ” . Buh l e r a n dB hagw an lal be l i e v ed t h a t t h e y cou l d r ead i n o n e of t h e i
’
as ik
i n sc r i p t i o n s t h a t Gau tam ipu ira m ade a gi f t o f a fie l d be l o n g i n g“ t i l l to -day (t i l l t h e n ) t o Us h avadata. Bu t M . Se n a r t (Ep .
I n d . Vo l . VI I I,page 72 ) h as p r o v ed t h a t t h e w o r d “
ajakaliki
ya m m ea n s qu i t e a d i f fe r e n t t h i n g . Bes i des,th e o m i ss i o n
o f N ah apé na’
s n a m e i n m e n t i o n i n g t h e dest r u c t i o n o f t h eKsh ah aratas i n t h e N a s i k i n sc r i p t i o n p r o v es t h a t Gau tamipu trah as n o t e n c o u n tred t h i s g r ea t k i n g . A ll t h e i n sc r i p t i o n s o fUsh avadé ta a r e i n to o a r c h a i c a n a lp h abe t fo r u s to suppose
2 . Ch ash tana,fou n de r o f t h e Saka e r a .
Du r i n g t h r ee ce n tu r i es,Uj j a i n was t h e cap i ta l o f a
dy n asty o f k i n gs w h ose ge n ea l og y begi n s t h u sChash tana
D amajadaéri
jivadaman .
T h e r e is n o r oo m fo r doub t ing t h a t Rudradaman ,
th e r ep r ese n tat i v e o f th e t h i r d ge n e r at i o n r e ig n ed i n1 30 A . D . I n deed
,i n 1905 -06 , P r o fesso r D évadatta Ra m
kri s h n a Bh andarkar (A r c h ae o l . Su r v ey I n d i a-P r og r essRepo r t fo r 1 905 -06, page 3 5 ) h as m ade v e r y i m po r ta n td i sco v e r y o f se v e r a l i n sc r i p t i o n s o f Rudradaman dated i nt h e 52nd yea r o f a n e r a w h ic h i s i n co n testab l y (see R . A . S .
1 899, page 365 ) t h e Saka e r a (78 A . D) ; t h ey a r e t h e inscript i o n s o f A ndhau i n Cu tc h .
T h e tex t o f t h e i n sc r i p t i o n i s as fo l l ow s : R a jna C h ash tanasaYsamo tikapu trasa r a jna Rudradamasa jayadamapu trasa varsh e
dvipac haée 50 , 2 . (P r og r ess Repo r t , A r c h aeo l . Su r v ey o fI n d i a ; W este r n C i r c l e 1 9 1 4 - 1 9 1 5 ,
A s t h e sa m e tex t i s r ep r oduced i n m a n y i n sc r i p t i o n s,i t m u st be co n s i de r ed co r r ec t a n d t h e r e i s n o r oo m to t h i n kt h at a f r ag m e n t o f it h as e i t h e r be e n lost o r acc i de n ta l l yo m i t ted by t h e e n g r a v e r . S i n ce w e k n ow f r o m v a r i ou s docum e n t s t h a t Jayadaman was t h e so n o f Chash tana, t h e m ean i n g o f t h i s t ex t i s ce r ta i n l y t h e fo l l ow i n g : “ I n t h e 5 2nd yea r ,i n t h e r e i g n o f Rudradaman , so n o f Jayadaman
,g r a n dso n
o f Chash tana and g r eat-g r andso n o f Ysamo tika T h i s
m e a n i n g h as bee n acc e p ted fo r t h e l as t 1 5 ye a r s . Ve r y rece nt ly
,h ow e v e r , P r o fess o r D e vadatta Ram krish na B h andarkar
(D e kkan o f t h e Sil tavah ana pe t‘
lOCl,I n d . A n t . , Vo l. XLV I I,
pa r t j u n e 1 9 1 8 , page 1 54 , foo t n o t e 20 ) h a s p r oposeda new i n te r p r e ta t i o n . Acco r d i n g t o h i m t h e i n sc r ip t i o n s w i l lbe da t ed i n th e co m m o n r e ig n o f Ch as h tana a n d Rudradamau
w h o w ou ld h a v e r e ig n e d co n j o i n t l y : “ a t fi r s t,I was i n c l i n ed
“ to supp ly “
pau trasa af te r Ysam o t ikapu trasa a n d r e fe r t h eda t e to t h e r e ig n o f Rudradaman (j. B . B . R . A . S . ,
Vo l .“Xx l l l .
,page 6 8 ) M r . R. C . M aj u m da r o f t h e Ca l c u t ta.
“ U n i v e r s i ty h as k i n d ly offe r ed t h e sugges t i o n t h a t t h e dat eh as be t te r be r e fe r r e d to t h e CO l l J O ll l l r e i g n o f Ch ash tana a n dRudradainan T h i s i n te r p r e ta t i o n i s n o t poss i b l e : it h e r ei t “ as q uest i o n o f co m m o n r e ig n o f C h ash tana a nd Rudrad é
m a n,t h e t ex t w ou ld be “
Rudradam asa elm varsh e o r so m et h i n g e l s e w h i c h w i l l s h ow t h a t i t w as t h e r e ig n o f tw o
pe r so n s ° bu t h e r e t h e r e i s n o poss i b i l i t y o f a n y doubt ; “Ré jfia
Rudradamasa ]ayadamapu trasa varsh e ca n m ea n o n ly o n et h i n g : “ t h e r e ig n o f Rudradam tn T h e i n sc r i p t i o n s o f
A n d i ra n are t h e r e fo r e da ted i n t h e r e i g n o f lx’ udradfl man a n di n th e 5 2 nd y ear o f t h e Saka e r a w h i c h co r r espo n ds to 1 30 A . D .
k n ow (see Rapso n , page CXX lV) , t h a t J ivadaman ,
t h e r eprese n ta t i v e o f t h e fi f t h ge n e r a t i o n,r e ig n ed (as M a h a
ksh atrapa) i n Saka 1 00 w h i c h co r r espo n ds to 1 80 A . D . We
m ay suppose t h a t t h i s k i n g asce n ded t h e t h r o n e abou t 2 yea r sbe fo r e i t
,i n 1 78 A . D . a n d w e m a y at t r i b u te a r e ig n o f 23 yea r s
t o h is fa t h e r I) amajadas’
rt . t h u s obta i n t h e fo l l ow i n gc h r o n o l og y
ac e . a re . 1 5 5 A . D
J ivadfl man , acc . c i r c . 1 7 8 A . l ) .
I r eques t t h e r eade r t o n o t e t h a t t h i s c h r o n o l ogy i s n o tso m e t h i n g i m agi n ed by m e i f w e Ope n t h e book o f M r . V i n ce n tA . S m i t h “ Ea r l y H i s to r y o f I n d ia 3rd ed i t i o n
,w e s h a l l find a
p l a te facmg page 2 1 8 , givmg t h e c h r o n o l ogy o f Ksh a
t r apas ; a n d w e sh all ti n d t h e r e t h e sa m e da t es D é majadasri,acc . c rrc . 1 5 5 A . D .
—J ivadaman
,acc . c i r c . 1 78 A . D . I h a v e
t h e r e fo r e adop ted t h e op i n i o n o f M r . V i n ce n t A . S m i t h w h i c hi s ce r ta i n l y v ery n ea r t h e t r u t h .
W e k n ow th e co i n s o f jayadaman as Kshatrapa, but co ins
—28
of t h i s p r i n ce bea r i n g t h e t i t l e o f Mah aksh atrapa h a v e n o t bee nd i sco v e r ed so fa r . I f t h e r e fo r e w e ad m i t t h a t jayadé man d idn o t r e ig n a t all o r r e i g n ed o n l y fo r a s h o r t t i m e
,w e ca n
co n c l ude t h e r e f r o m t h a t t h e r e ig n o f h i s fat h e r Ch ash tanaa n d h is so n Rudradaman h a v e bee n l o n g . But w h a t i s t h edu r at i o n o f a l o n g r e ig n ?
In t h e h i s to r y o f t h e Pallavas t h e r e i s t h e exa m ple o f k i n gN andivarmanP al lavamalla w h o r e ig n ed fo r m o r e t h a n 62 yea r s
(Tandan tOttam p lates, 5 8 t h yea r a n d Ti r u v a l l a m i n so . No . 76
o f 1 889, 62nd yea r ) a n d was s ucceeded by h i s so n D an tivarman
w h o r e ig n ed fo r m o r e t h a n 5 1 yea r s (T iru c h c h é nur in sc .
N o . 262 o f Sl st . yea r ) . Bu t su c h i n s ta n ces a r e r a r e a n dw e s h a l l ad m i t t h a t a r e ig n o f a v e r age le n gt h i s o n e o f 2 5 t o
30 yea r s a n d t h at a l o n g r e ig n m ay l as t f r o m 3 5 to 40 yea r s .So
,i f w e a l l ow t h a t Jayadéman d i d n o t r e ig n a t a l l o r r e i g n ed
o n ly a v e r y s h o r t t i m e a n d t h a t t h e r e ig n s o f Rudradain an
a n d Ch ash t ana w e r e l o n g , w e g z t t h e fo l l ow i n g c h r o n o l ogy :Ch ash tana, acc . c i r c . 7 5 o r 8 5 A . D .
jayadéman (was l i v i n g c i r c . 1 1 0 o r 1 1 5 A . D )
Rudradéun an , acc . c i r c 1 1 5 o r 1 20 A . D
D amajadas'
ri,acc . c i r c . 1 5 5 A . D .
T h e o n ly obj ect io n t h a t h as bee n m ade to t h e abo v e c h r o n o l ogyis th e fo l ow i n g “T h e i n sc r i p t i o n s o f N ah apana a r e dated i nt h e Saka e r a .
l t is ce r ta i n t h at Ch ash tana asce n ded t h e t h r o n e a f te r t h edest r uc t i o n o f t h e Ksh ah aratas ; a n exa m i n at i o n o f t h e co i n sp r oves i t (see Rapso n , page 72 , Pl . X) . W h e n Ch astana bo r eo n ly t h e t i t l e o f Ksh atrapa (v a r . b ; Pl . x : E l a n d No . 2 59) a n dl ate r o n assu m ed t h e t i t l e of Mah aksh atrapa (Rapso n , P] . X .
,
N o . 260 a n d ff.)w e fi n d o n t h e r e v e r se o f h i s co i n s t h e sy m bo l“c h a i tya w i t h t h r ee a r c h es i de n t ica l l y t h e sa m e as t h a t o f t h eco i n s r es t r uck by Gau tam ip u tra. T h e sy m bo l “C h a i tya w i t ht h r ee a r c h es o n t h e co i n s o f Ch ash tana p r o v es i n co n testab lyt h at Ch ash tana w as a Sat r ap o f Gau tam ipu tra a f te r th edest r uct i o n o f t h e Ksh ah aré tas .
It t h e n t h e i n sc r i p t i o n s o f Nah apana w h i c h bea r t h e dates
L«H ,
42, 45 and 46 are dated f r om th e Saka era and co r r espo n d
29
to 1 1 9 , 1 20 , 1 2 3 a n d 1 24 A . l ) . w e m u s t a d m i t t h a t C h ash tan a
asce n ded t h e t h r o n e a f t e r 1 24 A . I ) .
T h i s suppos i t i o n c l as h es w i t h d i ffic u l t i es w h i c h h a v e bee nexposed by M r . Rak h a l D as Ba n e r j i i i i a pape r e n t i t l ed“
N ah apfina a n d t h e Saka e r a i n th e" J o u r n a l o f t h e Ro y a l
As i a t i c Soc i e t y fo r 1 9 1 7 , page 2 73 .
We k n ow t h a t C h ash taua r e ig n ed fi r s t as a lx'
sh atrapa a n da f t e rw a r d s as a Mah aks h atrapa . h a v e th e co i n s o i
jay adé man o n l y as Ksh atrapa. So,t h e s e co i n s bea r t h e
”C h a i tya w i t h s i x a r c h es ” i n s t ead o f th e “C h a i t y a w i th t h r e ea r c h es" w h i c h see m s to s h ow t h a t Jayadaman r e ig n ed as a
Ksh atrapa fo r a su ffi c i e n t l y l o n g t i m e a f te r t h e de st i u c t io n o ft h e li sh ah aratas‘ . (Rapso n , page 76 , No . 2 6 5 to Bu t
,i f w e
ad m i t t h a t t h e i n sc r ip t io n s o f N ah apana a r e da ted i n t h e Sakae r a
,t h e r e w i l l be o n ly a n i n te r v a l o f fi ve y e a r s be tw e e n
t h e i n sc r i p t i o n o f t h i s k i n g da ted 46 a n d th e i n s c r ip t io n s o fRudradaman da ted 5 2 . t h ese y ea r s (y ea r s 4 7 , 48 , 49 ,
5 0 and m ust h a v e t ake n p l ace(1 ) T h e e nd o f N ah ap é na
’ s r e ig n(2 ) T h e des t r u ct i o n o f t h e lx
'
sh ah aratas ;
(3 ) T h e access io n o f Ch ash tana as li sh atrapa, h i s r e ig nas Ksh atrapa, h i s access io n as a Mahaksh a lrapa ,
a n dh i s r e ig n as Mah é ksh atrapa
(4 ) T h e access i o n o f Jayadaman as Ksha trapa, h is r e ig nas Ks li atrapa, a n d pe r h aps a lso h is r e ig n as Mah é ksh a
t r apa
(5 ) T h e acce s s i o n o f Rudradaman a n d t h e beg i n n i n g o fh i s r e ig n .
T h at a l l t h ese e v e n t s took p l ace live yearsh 1 / i s n o t
ii i iposswle, bu t i t 1 5 n o ! probable . I t i s n o t p r obab l e t h a t t h eKsh ah aré tas w e r e des t r oyed soon a f t e r t h e i n sc r ip t io n a t
] u n i ta r ; i t i s n o t p r obab l e t h a t t h e r e ig n s o f Ch ash tai ia, Iirs t asKshatrapa t h e n as M ah aksh atrapa a n d o f Jayadaman asKsh atrapa a n d pe r h ap s a l so as i\ lah iiksh a trapa li ztve take n o n l yfo u r o r li v e yea r s ; a n d i t i s n o t p r obab l e t h a t Rudradaman
asce n ded t h e t h r o n e exac t ly be fo r e A ii d hau i n sc r i p t io n s w e r ee n g r a v ed .
A r as h guesse r m ay be a l l ow ed to suppose t h a t Rud r ada m a n asce n ded t h e t h r o n e o n ly fou r o r five yea r s a f te rth e end o f th e r e ig n o f N aliapaiia, Bu t fo r l ay i n g d o w n
- 30
s u c h a suppos i t i o n h e m us t e n t i r e ly d i s r ega r d a l l i n fo r m at i o no b ta i n ed f r o m t h e a r c h aeo l ogy , n u m i s m at i cs , pa l aeog r ap h y a n dp h i l o l ogy of I n d i a .
(a ) A i c h ee o logy s h ow s u s t h a t t h e a r c h i tec t u r a l stv le ,t h e
o r n a m e n ta l des ig n a n d t h e cost u m es o f t h e pe r so n ag es o f t h eepoc h o f N ah apana c l ea r l y po i n t to a n a r c h a ic epoc h v e r y n ea rt h e begi n n i n g o f t h e C h r i st i a n e r a and t h a t i t i s i m p oss i b l e top l ace N ah apana i n t h e 2n d ce n tu r y A . D ;
(b ) Nu m i s m at i cs s h ow s t h a t N ah apana w as t h e co n te mp o rary o f t h e Sat r aps , Haga n a a n d H agamash a, t h a t t h e co i n so f N ahapana w e r e i n c i r c u l at i o n fo r a v e r y l o n g t i m e a n d as t i l l l o n g pe r i od e l apsed befo r e t h e y w e r e r es t r uc k bv
Gau tam ipu tra ;
(c ) Pa laeog r ap h y s h ow s t h a t t h e a l p h abe t o f t h e i n sc rip
t i o n s o fN ah apana i s m o r e a r c h a i c t h an t h a t o f Sodé sa a n d m u c hm o r e a r c h a i c t h a n t h a t o f Rudradaman . To say t h a t t h ei n sc r i p t i o n s o f N ah apana a r e al in O s t co n te m po r a n eous w i t ht h ose o f Rudradaman a n d t h at t h e r e w as o n l y a fi v e yea r s ’
i n te r v a l betw ee n t h e r e ig n s o f t h ese tw o k i n gs is t o i n t r oduce am o n st r ous a n ac h r o n i s m i n to t h e pa lae og r ap h y o f t h esei n sc r i p t i o n s ;
(d) Co m pa r at i v e p h i lo l ogy s h ow s t h a t a l l t h e i n sc r i p t io n so f N ah apana a r e i n P r ak r i t w h e r eas a l l t h e i n s c r i p t i o n s o fRudradaman a r e in Sa n sk r i t .
Upo n t h e w h o l e , w e a r e n o t su r e o f t h e epoc h o f N ah apana,
bu t w e a r e qu i te s u r e t h a t t h e i n sc r i p t i o n s o f N ah apana'
a r e n otdated i n t h e Saka e r a a n d n ot h i n g p r e v e n ts u s f r o m ad m i t t i n gt h at Ch ash tana asce n ded t h e t h r o n e betw ee n 75 a n d 8 5 A . D .
But,t h e n
,ca n Ch ash t ana be t h e fo u n de r o f t h e Serka e r a ;
s i n ce t h e l st yea r o f t h i s e r a co r r espo n ds to 79 A . DSo m e pe r so n s W i l l say : “No
,Ch ash tana h as n o t fou n ded t h e
S . i ka e r a , because i t w as Kan ish ka t h a t fou n ded i t . I t i st h e r e fo r e n ecessa r y to take up t h e quest i o n o f t h e date o fKan ish ka.
T h i s quest i o n is pe r h aps o n e t h a t h as bee n v e r y h o t lyd i scussed a n d t h oug h i t i s n o t ye t co m p l e te l y set t l ed , i t ism uc h m o r e c l ea r today t h a n i t w as 1 0 yea r s ago . Afte r t h esk i l fu l exca v at i o n s o f M r . J . H . M a r s h a l l (see J . R . A . S . ; 1 9 1 4,
pages 973 -86 ; and 1 91 5 , pages 99 1 i t i s n o t poss ib l e any
more to p l ace Kanishka befo re th e two Kadph isés.
Be sides,t h e c l ose r e se m bla n ce ex i s t i ng be twee n th e co i n s
o f Kadph ises l . a n d t h ose o fAugust u s a n d T ibe r i u s does n o ta l low a n y dou b t i n r ega r d to t h e a pp r ox i m a te age o f Kujn laKadp h ises . As F l ee t s ay s : do n o t d ispu t e i n a n y w ay
th e v i ew t h a t a t so m e t i m e c l ose l y abou t A . I ) . 50 ,t h e so v e r e ig n
tv i n t h e K abu l t e r r i to r y pass ed f r o m t h e G r eek k i n g H e rmae u s
t o t h e l{ i is liati p r i n ce Ko z o u lo - l{ zi clp li ises ,w h ose s o n
m o - l‘
x
'
adp h ises t h e n es t ab l i s h ed a lx'
ush an e m p i r e i n No r t h e r nI n d i a (J . R . A . S .
,1 9 1 5 ,
p .
may th e re fO i e say n o w t h a t i t i s ce r ta i n t h a t Kan is h kad i d n o t co m e to t h e t h r o n e be fo r e abou t 7 5 A . D .
T h i s da te m a r ks t h e ea r l i es t l i m i t,bu t Kan ish ka m ig h t h a v e
asce n ded t h e t h r o n e m u c h l ate r . Ve r y r ece n t ly,a sc h o l a r
(I n d . A n t,Vo l . XL\
'
l .
— Pa r t page 2 6 1 ) t h oug h tt h a t h e h ad p r o v ed t h a t t h e e r a fo u n ded by Kan is lzka w as t h eKalac h u ri e r a o f 248 A . I ) . T h i s i s n o t poss i b l e . In fac t ,t h e r e ig n o f vas t ideva
,t h e l as t o f t h e Ku sh ftns , ca m e to a n e n d
1 00 yea r s a f te r t h e begi n n i n g o f t h e r e ig n o f Kan ish ka.
Nu m e r ous i n sc r i p t i o n s p r o v e t h a t va sudev a r e i g n ed a tMath u r
‘
t . It i s c e i ta in t h a t t h i s cou n t r y o v e r w h i c h ex te n dedt h e e m p i r e o f asudeva w as occ up i ed abou t 3 50 A . D . b y t h eYaudh ey as a n d t h e Nagas a n d i t i s p i o bab le t h a t t h e yr e ig n ed i n t h i s p l ace n ea r l y o n e c e n tu i y be fore t h ey w e r es ubj uga t ed b y Sa m ud r a -Gup ta . T h e cap i t a l s o f t h e Nagasw e r e M a t h u r a
,K a n t i pu r a a n d Padmavat i (o r Pawey a , a t t h e
co n fl ue n ce o f t h e S i n d h u a n d t h e Pa r a ) . we k n ow t h e n a m eo f Sivanamd i (A rc h ze o logical Su r v e y o f I n d i a , fo r 1 9 1 5
1 9 1 6 ) w h o w as a p r edeces s o r o f Ga n apa t i N aga t h e r i v a lo f Sam i idra-Gup ta . h ave a l so c o ins o f Ganapa t in z
‘
iga
(Bu h l e r' s G r u n d r i s s l nd . co i n s 1 0 1
,P l . V ,
h e i i o f t h e h ou se o l Pr zidm ty ati , m e n t i o n ed i n H a r s h a -c h a r i t a(page 22 1 ) (se e J R . A . S . fo r 1 899
,page h as bee n
i d e n t i fi ed b y M r . E . J . Rapso n w i t h t h e N agase n a o f t h e p i l l a ra t A llah z' ib zid . k n ow a l so th e co m s (I n d . co i n s , 1 0 1 ) o fPrabhakara (J . R . A . S . fo r 1 900 ,
page o f Skandanaga ,o f
D e vanaga (Cu n n i n g h a m ,co i n s o f Me d ize val I n d i a , pp . 23 a n d
24 ) a n d o f Bh iman ftga (P r og r ess Repo r t A r c h . S t irv .
C i r c l e fo r 1 9 1 4 - 1 5 , pageT h e Yaudh eyas w e r e fo r m i dabl e a t t h e t i m e o f Rud r a
da m a n ; bu t th e G irnar i n sc r i pt i o n t e l l s u s t h a t t h e y w e r e
Lawrenc e C Briggs ,
Consul ortlie Uni ted States ofAmerica
va n qu i s h ed p r obab l y s h o r t l y befo r e t h e yea r 1 50 A . D . I t isp r obab ly a fte r th e dea t h o f Ve
‘
t sudeva t h a t t h ey estab l i s h edt h e m se l v es i n t h e M a t h u r a r eg i o n . W e h a v e a sto n e in sc ript i o n (Gupta I n sc r i p t i o n s, No . 5 8 , Pl ate XXXV I , B ) fou n d at
B ijayagadh [ o r B éjégadh , abou t tw o m i l es to t h e Sou t h Westo f E y ama , t h e c h i e f tow n o f t h e B yana t a h s i l o f t h e B h a r a tpu r(B li u rtpo o r) sta te i n Rajpu t z
‘
ma] w h i c h h as co m e to u s f r o mt h e Yaudh eyas a n d w h i c h en ab l es u s to k n ow t h e geog r ap h i ca lpos i t i o n o f t h e i r e m p i r e . T h e a l p h abet o f t h e i n sc r i p t i o n s i si n te r m ed i a t e betw ee n t h a t o f t h e l ast Ku shans a n d t h at o f t h efi r s t Gup ta s . \\7e h a v e a l so t h e co i n s o f t h i s d y n as t y (Cu n n i n g h a m ,
Co i n s o f A n c . I n d . P l . V I . , 6 -8 ) a n d t h e Yaudh eyas a r em e n t i o n ed i n l i n e 2 2 o f t h e i n sc r i p t i o n o n th e p i l l a r a t A llahabad (N o . 1 o f Gup ta I n sc r i p t i o n s ) . T h e i n v as i o n o f Sa m ud r aGupta took p l ace i n t h e m i dd l e o f t h e I V ce n t u r y . I f w e t aken ea r ly o ne ce n t u r y as t h e du r at i o n o f t h e r e i g n s o f t h eYaudh ey as a n d t h e Nagas , w e fi n d t h a t V a sudev a ceased to
gn befo r e abou t 2 50 A . D . a n d t h a t Kan is li ka ca m e to t h et h r o n e befo r e abou t 1 50 A . D .
So t h e access i o n o f Kan ish ka s h ou ld be p l aced betw ee n7 5 A . D . and 1 5 0 A . D .
k n ow t h a t Kan ish ka fo u n ded a n e r a a n d w e h a v e j ustsee n t h a t h e ca m e to t h e t h r o n e be tw ee n 7 5 a n d 1 50 A . D . Can
Kan ish ka be t h e fo u n de r o f t h e Saka e r a w h i c h beg i n s a t t h ee n d o f 78 A . D . I be l i e v e t h at t h i s h y pot h es i s is n o t p r obab l efo r t h e fo l lo w u ig r easo n s
(1 ) If w e ad m i t t h at Kuju la-Kadp h i ses a n d H erm oeu s reigned
abou t 50 A . D . a n d t h a t Kan ish ka fou n ded t h e Saka e r a i n7 8 A . D .
,w e h a v e sca r ce l y 2 8 yea r s fo r t h e d u r at i o n o f t h e e n d
o f th e r e ig n o f V i m a-Kadp h ises (I ) a n d t h e w h o l e o f t h e r e ig nof Kuju la-Kadp h isé s (I I ) . I t i s p r obab l e t h at Kadph isés I .r e ig n ed l o n g a n d d i ed w h e n h e w as abou t 80 y ea r s o ld .
Seco n d ly , t h e r e ig n o f Ix'
adph ises (I I ) w as p r obab l y v e r y l o n g(at l east 40 yea r s ) ; t h a t i s t h e Op i n i o n o f M r . V i n ce n t A .
S m i t h : No defi n i t e p r oof o f t h e l e n g t h o f h i s r e ig n ca n beg i v e n
,bu t t h e ex t e n t of t h e conquests m ade b y Kadp h ises
I I . a n d t h e l a r ge v o lu m e o f h i s co rn age a r e ce r ta i n i n d ica t i o n s t h a t h i s r e ig n w as p r ot r ac ted . Cu n n i n g h a mass ig n ed i t a d u r at i o n o f fo r t y y ea r s . (Ea r ly H i s to r yr ofI n d i a
,2ud Ed . page 2 39 , foot n ot e
l‘o f th e Saka era a n d used i t i n h is i n s c r i p t i o n s because t h e ni t beco m e s un i n tell i gib le wh y h e. sh ou ld h ave c h a n ged th e
way of exp r ess i n g t h e datesW e s h a l l t h e r e fo r e co n c l u de t h at Kan ish ka i s n o t t h e
fo u n de r o f t h e éaka e r a .
T h e p r eced i n g l i n es h ad a l r eady bee n w r i t ten w h e n I h adth e h o n ou r o f r ece i v i n g f r o m M r . V i n ce n t A . S m i t h a cop y of“ T h e Ox fo r d H i sto r y o f I n d i a
,
” Oxfo r d,1 9 1 9 , a n d I r ead i n
page 1 27 “ I t m ay n ow be affi r m ed w i t h co n fide n ce t h at t h eo r de r o f t h e fi ve l ead i n g K ri s h a n k i n gs i s fi n a l l y set t l ed , a n dt h a t t h e u n ce r ta i n ty as to t h e c h r o n o l ogy h as bee n r educedt o a pe r i od o f fo r ty y ea r s i n r ou n d n u m be r s o r t o state i tot h e rw i se , t h e quest i o n is,
“Did Kan ish ka co m e to t h et h r o n e i n A . D . 78 , o r abou t fo r t y yea r s l a te r 2 W h e n t h et h i r d ed i t i o n o f t h e “Ea r ly H i s to r y o f I n d i a w as pub l i s h edi n 1 9 1 4, m y n a r r a t i v e w as based u po n t h e w o r k i n g h ypot h es i st h a t Kan ish ka ’
s access i o n took p l ace i n A . D . 7 8 , a l t h oug hi t was ad m i t ted to be poss i b l e t h at t h e t r u e dat e m ig h t bel ate r . Fu r t h e r co n s i de r at i o n o f t h e e v i d e n ce f r o m Tax i l an ow a v a i l ab l e l eads m e to fo l l ow S i r J o h n M a i s h a l l a n dP r o fesso r Ste n K o n ow i n dat i n g t h e beg i n n i n g o f Kan ish ka
’
s
r e ig n app r ox i m at i v e l y i n A . D . 1 20,a date w h i c h I h ad
ad v oca t ed m a n y yea r s ago o n d i ffe r e n t g r ou n ds” .
S i n ce t h e Saka e r a w as n o t fou n ded e i t h e r by N ah apana o rby Kan ish ka a n d as Gau tam ip utra also w as n o t t h e fou n de r o fi t (n o o n e h as m ade t h i s su ppos i t i o n ) , t h e r e r e m a i n bu t tw o
h ypot h eses t h at t h e Saka e r a was fou n ded e i t h e r by Ch ash tanao r by Kadp li ises I I . T h e lat te r op i n i o n i s h e l d b y D r . S te nK o n ow w h o h as w r i t t e n r ece n t l y I a m st i l l o f op i n i o n t h att h e Saka e r a w as es tab l i s h ed by V i m a-Kadph isés
”. (T h e A r a
i n sc r i p t i o n,i n Ep . I n d . Vo l . X IV ,
p .
Fo r su c h a t h eo r y to be poss i ble, Kadp h ises 1 1 m u st h a v ere iged i n 78 -79 A . D . W e m ay be l i e v e t h a t t h e i n sc r i p t i o n o f
t h e “C h i r S tupa at Tax i l a i s da ted i n t h e l 3oth yea r of t h e e r aw h i c h beg i n s i n 5 8-5 7 B . C . a n d t h e date 1 36 fa l l s pre c i se ly i n7 8-79 A . D . A n d i f w e st udy t h e i n sc r i p t i o n o f t h e
”C h i rSh i ps.” a n d ask ou r se l v es w h o i s t h e k i n g t h e r e i n m e n t i o n ed , w eare r a t h e r i n c l i n ed to r ep ly : “ I t i s an i n sc r i p t i o n o f Kuju laKadph isés :
“So fa r as I ca n see
,t h e r e ca n n o t be m uc h
doub t t h at t h e Kush ana E m pe r o r o f t h e Pa n j ta r a n d Tax i l a
r eco r ds w as Kuju la- lx'
adp ln se‘
s and n o t Vunw li adp lu ses (Ep .
I n d . Vol . XIV Pa r t V I I , J u l y 1 9 1 8 , page 289 .
“Tax i l a i n sc r i p t io no f t h e y ea r 1 36 " b y S t e n K o n ow ) . I t is n o t t h e r e fo r e p r obab l et h a t (V i m a ) Kadph ises l l r e ig n e d i n 7 8 - 79 A . I ) .
Bu t e v e n g r a n t i n g t h a t Kadp h ises l l . r e i g n ed i n 7 8 -79 A . D .
i t h as to be p r o v ed t h a t h e fou n ded a n e r a . h a v e n o te v e n a S i n g l e doc u m e n t t h a t c an m ake us be l i e v e t h a tKadp ln ses I I h as fou n ded a n e r a . O n t h e co n t r a r y
,i f t h e
“C h i r S t upa i n sc r i p t ion is da ted 7 8 -79 A . D .,i t w i l l be p r o v ed
t h a t t h e K us h a n K i n gs u sed a f te r A . D . 7 8 t h e e ra 5 8 -5 7 B . C . ;
a n d fi n a l l y,g r a n t i n g t h a t Kadph ises l l . fou n ded a n e r a , i t m u s t
be p r o v ed t h a t t h i s e r a w as adop ted b y C h as h tana o r h i sdesce n da n ts .
Af te r a l l,t h e t h e o r y Kadph iscs l l h a v i n g fo u n d
ed t h e Sakai e r a i s n o t based e i t h e r u po n a n y p r oof o r e v e ni n d ica t i o n .
T h e r e r e m a i n s t h e n bu t o ne h ypot h es i s “T h e Sam e r a
was fou n ded b y Ch ash tana T h i s t h eo r y was exp r essed30 yea r s ago b y Cu n n i n g h a m (see N . c h r . 1 8 88 , p . 2 32 a n d1 892
,p . 44 ) d i sc ussed n o tab ly by D . R . B h andarkar (B . B . R .
A . S . ,Vol . , XX page 280 ) a n d was a f te rw a r ds co m p le te ly a‘. an
cl o n ed .
I no w w i s h to asse r t bo l d ly t h a t t h i s aba n do n m e n t i s qu i t el l l l jll Sl l fi Cd . T h i s t h eo r y h as bee n s l ig h ted because fo r
30 yea r s t h e h i s to r i a n s o f I n d ia h ave h ad tw o pre c o nc e iv
ed n o t i o n s (1 ) t h a t th e i n sc r i p t i o n s o f N ah ap é na a r eda ted i n th e S-tk .t e r a . (2 ) t h a t th e Saka e r a w as fou n ded byKan is h ka . l th in k I h a v e p r o v ed t h a t t h ese tw o s u ppos i t i o n sa r e n ow u n t e n ab l e .
I a ffi rm t h a t t h e o n l y n a t u r a l t h eo r y co n ce r n i n g t h e Sakae r a i s t h a t i t w as fou n ded by Ch ash tana .
I t i s ad m i t ted o n all h a n d s t h a t t h e ( lvnas tv o f ( ‘
bash tana
h a s u sed t h e Saka e r a ; a n d i t i s bu t na ium l to su ppose t h a t t h efou n de r o f t h e d y n as ty was a l so th e fou n de r o f t h e e r a u sed byi t
.Ou t s i de t h e k i n gdo m o f C h ash tana a n d h is desce n da n t s , n o t
a s i n g l e i n s c r i p t io n h as bee n fou n d w h i c h i s da ted i n t h e abo v ee r a . In fac t t h e i n sc r i p t i o n s o f t h e K u s h a n k i n gs a r e n o t da t edf r o m t h e Saka e r a a n d t h e i n sc r i p t i o n s dated f r o m t h e sa m e e r aw h i c h a r e fou n d i n So u t h I n d i a a r e a l l poste r i o r t o t h e fa l l o f
the dy n as t! o f Chash tana. T h u s t h en all th e Saka i n sc r ipt ions
t h a t a r e a n t e r i o r to 400 A . D . are e v e r y o n e of t h e m i n sc r i p t i oo f th e d y n ast y of Cbas h t ana . T h e e r a is t h e r e fo r e spec i a l toth at d y n as t y .
I f w e a r e n e t qu i t e su r e t h a t Ch as h tana w as a S’
aka,t h e r e
i s n o doubt t h a t h e w as of fo r e ig n o r ig i n . T h e n a m es o f t h em e m be r s o f t h i s fa m i l y s h ow t h a t t h e y w e r e fo r e ig n e r s . M r .Rapso n says (page CXX I )
“Gh sam o t ika is Sc y t h ic " ; s h ta n a
(in Ch ash tana) i s a Pe r s i a n te r m i n a t i o n a n d (page CXX I I )D amagh sada to re ign n a m e . may poss i b l y be a n a t te m p t toexp r ess t h e Pe r s i a n Z a da . a so n
A ge n e r a l o f t h e Ksh a trapas i s m e n t i o n ed i n a n insc ript i o n (Progre s i e po rt , A r c h . S tu
‘
ve y , I n d i a fo r 1 9 1 71 9 1 8, page 3 7 ) as be i n g a Saka .
“7e r e Ch ash tana a n d h is des ce n da n t s t h e m s e l v e s Sa l-(asI t is poss i b l e ; bu t o n e t h i n g is ce r ta i n , t h a t i n a n c ie n t I n d i at h ey w e r e des ig n a ted b y t h e n a m e o f Szt kas . T h e M a t s y aPu r i n a m e n t i o n s a d y n as t y of 1 8 éakas w h i c h i s p r obab l y t h a t o fCh ash tana ; bu t t h e r e ca n be n o doub t i n ce r ta i n cases : fo ri n s ta n ce , Ba n a i n c i r c . 630 A . D . h as w r i t te n ("H a r s h a c h a r i tat r a n s . Cow e l l a n d T h o m as, page I n h i s e n e m y s C i ty
,
th e ki n g o f th e Sakas , w h i l e cou r t i n g a n o t h e r m a n ’ s w i fe,w as
bu tc h e r ed by C h a n d r a-G up ta"
To sum up
(1 ) I t i s ce r ta i n t h a t all t h e da tes t h a t a r e g i v e n i n t h e
doc u m e n ts o f t h e dy n as t y o f Ch ash tana a r e o f t h e Saka e r a .
(2 ) do n o t k n ow of e v e n a si n g l e i n sc r i p t i o n a n te r i o rto 400 A . n . w h i c h i s dated i n t h e saga e r a a n d be l o n gs to ad y n as t y o t h e r t h a n t h a t o f Ch ash tana .
(3 ) T r ad i t i o n h a s g i v e n t h e n a m e o f Saka to t h e e r abegi n n i n g i n x 8 A D . , s i n ce i t w as t h e e r a used by t h e desc enda n ts o f Ch ah tana w h o i n an c i e n t I n d i a w e r e des ig n a ted b yt h e n a m e o f Sa ka .
”
(4) T h e m ost a n cre n t in sc r i p t i o n s (A ndh au ) a r e da t e d i nt h e y ea r 5 2 o f t h i s e r a ; a n d t h ey a r e t h e i n sc r i p t io n s o f t h eg r a n dso n of t h e fo u n de r o f t h e d y n as t y . If t h e fou n de r o f t h edy n ast y was a l so t h e founde r o f t h e e r a . i t is qu i te n a t u r a l t h a tt h e g r a n dso n s h ou l d h a v e r eign ed 5 2 yea r s l a te r .
T h e r efo r e,t h e m ost s i m p l e
,t h e m ost n a tu r a l a n d t h e m ost
log ica l t h eo r y co n s i sts i n sa y i n g :“T h e Saka era o f 78 was
fou n ded by Chash taua'
As m is th e first y m c if th e re ig n mi c h z shgzma,it is
gm mok ph c e in fl A; D e o r w lh t le w fi er.
m m ph a w m '
m th e M - wh o m m
Th e formz o i cfi e tm ir an th er ben ch es? M i lit ia s
Ei seems diz r W m fim fi a m u fi fi unm ig tm
t fi e efle of mhm mm e m eme she of dxe co ein s of:
m m: Em om mz me r m rfi tfi em is ro om m th ink th ar th e
Bz h é i W fi mfi i jnfi ifi es tfi e mme o i eh mnmip im bnm c fi v
T h e m -of ih unm fi p tm re igned under th e name o f
Pflumi vi td ls as tftm fi er samda amya f tfi e fi h s is dmd in
t h e 1 9 th ye a r o f t h e r e ig n o f h e r g r a n dso n Pulumavi (Ep . I n d .
Vo l. V I I I . , p .
At N a s i k,t h e r e a r e tw o i n sc r i p t ion s o f Gau tam ipu tra
dated i n t h e yea r s 1 8 (in sc . No . 1 1 2 5 of Lude rs ’
s l i s t ) a n d 24
(insc . N o . P r ofesso r D . R . Bh an darkar w h o h as
d i scu ssed t h i s su bj ec t r ece n t ly (I n d . A n t , Vol . XLV I I , page1 5 2 ) says
“S i r Ramkrish na B handarkar co n t e n ds t h a t a l lt h ese dates pe r ta i n to t h e r e ig n of Pulumav i a n d t h at h er e ig n ed co n j o i n t l y w i t h h i s fa t h e r
,t h e fo r m e r ove r M a h a
ré sh tra a n d t h e la t te r o v e r t h e h e r ed i ta r y éatay' ah ati ado m i n i o n s . T h e l at te r V i ew a lo n e ca n be co r r ec t . Fo r i n ihsc r i p t i o n No . 5 , Gau tam ipu tra é é takat
'
n t , w h o i s t h e do n o rt h e r e a l o n g w i t h h i s m o t h e r
,i ssues a g r a n t i n fa v ou r o f
B udd h i s t m o n ks,w h o
,i t i s exp r ess l y s tated w e r e s tay i n g i n
t h e ca v e w h i c h w as t h e p ious g i f t o f t h e i r s . T h i s ca v e w h i c hwas a p i ou s gi f t o f é é takarn i a n d h i s m o t h e r m ust doubt l essbe ca v e No . 3 w h i c h
,as w e h a v e see n abo v e , was exca v ated
a n d g i v e n o v e r to t h e Bh adrayan iyas . Bu t t h e n w e h a v ea l so see n t h a t t h i s c a v e w as p r ese n ted to t h ese m o n ks i n t h e1 9th r eg n a l yea r
,n o t of éatakarn i bu t o f
(D ekkan of t h e éatayré h ait a Pe r i od bv P r o f . D . R . B h a n da rka r ) .I r eg r e t I ca n n o t accep t t h i s t h eo r y . O n t h e co n t r a r y, t h e
i n sc r i p t i o n s t h e m se l v es c l ea r l y s h ow t h at Gau tamipu tra a n dPulumavi h a v e r e ig n ed i n success i o n . I n deed , Gau tam ipu tra,i n th e yea r 24
,s tates d i s t i n ct l y t h at t h e ca v e w as exca v ated
u n de r t h e o r de r s o f h i s m ot h e r a n d h i m se l f : “Pi ous g i f t o fours
"
; a n d i n t h e i n sc r i p t i o n o f quee n Balas’
ri i n t h e 1 9t h yea ro f Pulumav i, t h e quee n m o t h e r m akes a so l e m n g i f t o f t h e ca v ein h er own name . T h i s ca n be expla i n ed i n o n ly o n e way t h eexca v a t i o n o f t h e ca v e was begu n u n de r t h e o r de r s o f Gau tam ip ut r a a n d h i s m o t h e r befo r e t h e 1 8 th yea r o f Gau tam ipu traa n d was fi n i s h ed o n l y a f te r t h e deat h o f Gau tam ip utra a n ddu r i n g th e r e ig n of h i s so n Pulum é v i ; w e h a v e proof o f i t i nt h e fact t h a t i t was t h e lat te r k i n g t h a t h ad i t e m be l l i s h ed w i t hpa i n t i n gs . T h e ca v e n o t h a v i n g bee n co n sec r a ted offic i a l ly ,t h i s co n sec r at i o n took p l ace o n ly i n t h e 1 9th yea r o f Pu lumav i.S i n ce t h e k i n g Gau tam ipu tra w as dead, t h e quee n Balasri m ade
t h e gi f t offic ia l l y h e r se l f .
I h ave besides ano t h e r re m a r k to m ake o n t h i s occas io n .
l t h i n k t h a t th e m e a n i n g o f t h e i n sc r i p t i o n o f th e qu ee nBalas
’
ri h as n o t bee n co r r ec t l y u n de r s tood t i l l now . W'
c
w o n de r w h y t h i s i n sc r i p t i o n da ted i n t h e r e i g n o f Pu lun iavi
co n t a i n s exc l u s i v e ly t h e e u l og i es o f Gau tain ipu tra. I be l i e v et h a t t h e r ea l m ea n i n g o f t h e i n sc r i p t i o n , i s t h i s : t h e quee nm o t h e r
,w h e n s h e was offic i a l l y p r ese n t i n g th e ca v e , ca n n o t
fo r ge t t h a t i t w as u n de r th e o r de r s o f h e r so n t h a t t h e exc at a
t i o n o f t h e ca v e w as begu n ; i t w as t h e r e fo r e qu i t e n a t u ra l toe u l ogi se t h e g l o r i ou s Gau tam ipu ira . T h us t h e i n s cr i p t io n o fBalasri h as a c l ea r m ea n i n g it i s t h e fu n e ra l o r a t i o n o n th e
g r ea t k i n g de l i v e r ed b y a n l l l C tM l s U lft D lL‘ m o t h e r .Aga i n t h e su ppos i t io n t h a t Gau tam ip utra w as n o t t h e
k i n g o f t h e r eg i o n abo u t N a s i k i s u n te n ab l e 1 ) becauseGau tam ipu tra g i v es o r de rs to t h e office r s o f N as ik j 2 ) acco r d i n gto t h e i n sc r i p t i o n o f Balas
’
ri h e r e ig n ed o v e r Surfi sh tra ,A paran ta, a n d , V idarba ; a n d M r . B h andarkar ad m i t s t h a t h er e i g n ed a l so o v e r t h e Sou t h ; w h y s h ou ld t h e N a s i k l egi o na l o n e fo r m a n excep t i o n ? 3 ) h a v e se ldo m see n a fa t h e rdat i n g h i s g r a n t s i n t h e r e ig n (a n d espec i a l l y i n t h e 24th yea r )o f t h e r e ig n o f h i s so n 4 ) a n d l ast l y w e h a v e a po s i t i v e p r oo fo f i t i n t h e h oa r d o f J ogh altembh i.
\Ve h a v e sa id t h a t t h i s t r ea s u r e co n s i s t ed o f 1 3 2 50 co i n sbea r i n g t h e n a m e o f N ali apana o f w h i c h 92 70 h ad be t i i
r est r u ck by Gau tam ipu tra (j. B . B . R . A . S .,Vo l XX I I
,page
It i s r e m a r kab l e t h a t i n t h i s t r e asu r e t h e r e i s n o t a s i n g l eco i n o f Vas is t h ipu t i a Pu lumavi w h o , as w e k n ow
,h as s t r uck
co i n s i n h i s o w n n a me (see : Rapso n , Co i n s o f t h e Andh i a
dy n asty,page As jo gh altembh i is a v i l l age i n t h e e n v i r o n s
o f N a s i k,w e h a v e t o co n c l ude t h a t
,a fte r t h e de s t r u c t io n o f th e
éakas , i t w as Gau tam ip u tra t h a t r e ig n ed i n t h i s p l ace a n d t h a tt h e t r easu r e w as bu r i ed d u r i n g h i s r e i g n a n d be fo r e t h e accessro n o f Pulumfi vi. i n t Re v . H . R . Sco t t w h o h a s exa m i n edt h e h oa r d o f jo gh alte inb h i ca r e f u l ly h as m ade a n i m po r ta n tr e m a r k : “ J udg i n g f r o m th e co n d i t i o n o f t h e co i n s
,I s h ou l d
say t h a t t h ey m us t h a v e bee n a v e r y l o n g t i m e i n c i r cu la t io nand t h a t bo t h be fo r e a n d (War be i n g cou n te r - s t r u ck B . B . R .
A . S .,Vo l XX I I
,p . a n d h e adds “T h ey cou ld n o t h a v e
bee n bu r i ed ea r l i e r t h a n 20 yea r s a f te r Sfi takarni'
s v i c to r ySo , t h e r e i s n o doubt t h a t Gau tam ipu tra r e ig n ed i n t h e N aS ikr eg i o n fo r a l o n g t i m e . s i n ce t h e co i n s h a v e h ad t i m e t o ge t
co n s i de r ab ly wo r n ou t . Pu lumavi h as t h e r efo r e r e i g n ed atNas i k fo r m o r e t h a n 1 5 yea r s a f te r t h e dest r u c t i o n o f t h eKsh ah aratas .
I t i s ce r ta i n t h a t Ch ash t ana w as fo r a t i m e t h eco n te m po r a r y o f Pulumavi. I n . fac t
,Pto l e m y says in h i s
geog r ap h y (I n d . A n t .,Vo l X I I I .
,page 366 ) t h a t S i r o Po lemaio s
r e ig n ed a t Bai th ana ,a n d T iastane s at O z e n e. Oze n e i s
u n ques t i o n ab ly Uj j a i n w h i c h w as t h e cap i tal o f a l l t h e k i n gs o ft h e dvnastv of Ch ash tana, a n d Baith ana i s Patt a n a o r Patt h a n a ,t h e cap i ta l o f Pulumavi. U n fo r tu n ate ly t h e e v i de n ce o f
Pto l e m y dce s n o t e n ab l e u s to k n ow exac tlv i n w h a t epoc hCh ash tana a n d Pu lumav i l i v ed . \Ve do n ot k n ow fo r ce r t a i ni n w h a t yea r P to l e m y w r o te h i s geog r ap h y a n d w e k n ow l i t t l eabou t t h e l i fe o f t h i s sc h o l a r . O lym p io do ru s says t h at w h e nP to l e m y w as at Can o pa i n 1 47 , h e h ad a l r e a dy bee n m ak i n gast r o n o m i cal obse r v at i o n s fo r 40 yea r s
,w h i c h w i l l p l ace
P tol e m y ’ s w o r ks betw ee n 1 04 a n d 1 47 A . D . Pto l e m y was n o ta n a v i gato r ; h e w as a n ast r o n o m e r o f Al exa n d r i a w h o w r o t eh i s geog r ap h y c h i e f ly w i t h t h e obj ec t o f d r aw i n g a m ap of t h ew o r l d w i t h l at i t udes a n d lo n gi tu des : a n d h as h e n o t t h e p r e te ns i o n to g i v e h i s ow n v i ew s abou t th e cou n t r i es h e speaksabou t . H e co n fi n es h i m se l f to r eco n st r uc t i n g t h e co n figu rat i o no f t h e cou n t r i es
,r e ly i n g u po n th e desc r i p t i o n s g i v e n by th e
t r a v e l l e r s i n t h e w o r ks w h i c h can be h ad i n h i s days . H eh i m se l f ad m i t s t h a t h e fo l l ow s M a r i n o f Ty r
,n a v i gato r w h o
m ade h i s v oyage abou t 1 00 A . D . F r o m w h i c h book h asPto l e m y take n h i s i n fo r m at i o n abou t Pu lumav i a n d Ch astanaI t m ay n ot be i m poss ibl e t h a t i t w as f r o m t h e w o r k o f M a r i no f Ty r w h i c h unfo rtunate lv h as n o t co m e dow n t o u s . Bu t i ti s ce r ta i n t h at t h i s i n fo r m a t i o n w as obta i n ed f r o m r e l a t i v e l yrece n t sou r ces a n d as Pto lemv w r o te h i s geog r ap h y i n t h e fi r s th a l f o f t h e 1 1nd ce n t u r y , w e m ay ad m i t t h a t t h e i n fo r m at i o n h eg i v es abou t C h ash tana a n d Pu lumav i be l o n gs to t h e beg i n n i n go f t h e l 1nd ce n t u r y .
W’ h e n t h e Ksh ah aratas occu p i ed No r t h e r n Decca n
,t h e
cap i t al of t h e é é tavé h anas w as p r obab l y A m a r a v a t i o n t h elow e r cou r se of t h e K r i s h n a . T h e l ege n d t h at éri Kaku lamw as t h e cap i t a l h as n o fou n dat i o n (se e I n d . A n t .
,No v . 1 9 1 3 ,
Vo l XL I I , page At t h e t i m e o f G autam ipu tra a n d a t t h ebegi n n i n g o f t h e r e i g n o f Pu lumav i i t was A m a r a v a t i t h a t w as
dated i n th e 8th y ear o f king Madh aripu ta Svam i w h o se n a m eis fo l l ow ed by a n o t h e r n o t v e r y l eg i b l e w h i c h M r . D . R .
Bhandarkar (I n d . A n t . Vo l XLV I I,Pa r t DXCV I
, ju n e 1 9 1 8 )h as r ead S r i Sa ta . T h e al p h abe t o f t h i s i n sc r i p t i o n (as w e l l aso f a n o t h e r
,N o . 1 002 ) see m s to s h ow t h a t t h is k i n g r e ig n ed
befo r e Yajfia I f t h i s pa laeog r ap h i ca l i n d i cat i o n a n d t h e l i stg i v e n i n t h e M atsya a r e co r r e c t
,t h i s Madh aripu tra ca n be n o
o t h e r t h a n é ivaskanda.
Y ajna-S r i see m s to h a v e h ad a b r i l l i a n t r e ig n . I t wasi n fac t a t t h e t i m e of Gau tam ip u tra Yajfia S é takarn i t h a twas dug t h e c h a i tya o f K a n h e r i w h ic h i s i n a degen e r a tes ty l e co m pa r ed w i t h t h a t o f t h e sp l e n d i d C h a i tya a t K a r l i , bu tw h i c h i s a r e m a r kab l e m o n u m e n t (i n se . N o . 1 1 24 o f Lt
'
i ders’
s
l i s t ; 1 6 t h yea r o f Yajfi a) . I t w as a l so du r i n g t h e t i m e o f
t h i s k ing t h a t w as e m be l l i s h ed th e V I I l ca v e a t Nas i k w h osei n sc r i p t i o n N o . 4 i s d ated i n t h e 7 th yea r o f h i s r e ig n (E p .
I n d . Vo l V I I I .,page A fragm en t o f a p i l l a r d i sco v e r ed
at C h i n a n ea r th e m ou t h o f t h e K r i s h n a w h i c h h as s i n cebee n t r a n spo r t ed to t h e M ad r as M useu m co n ta i n s a ni n sc r i p t i o n dated i n t h e 2 7th yea r o f t h e reig n o f YaJna(Ep . I n d .
,Vo l . I .
, page a n d t h e co i n s bea r i n g t h ev e r y c h a r ac te r i st i c n am e “
Yajfi a” a r e a l so w e l l k n ow n (see
Rapso n ) .W e k n ow t h e n a m e o f V i j a y a o n ly f r o m t h e Matsva
Pu r a n a .
Ch andaéri éan t ikarna m us t p r obab ly be i de n t ified w i t hvasith ipu ta Ch adasata w h o r e ig n ed a t t h e t i m e w h e n th e
Kodavo lu i n s c r i p t i o n w as e n g r a v ed (see Repo r t o n Ep igrap h y ;M ad r as Go v e r n m e n t o r de r s ; i n sc r i p t i o n N o . 228 o f a n dw i t h Vé sist h ipu ta S i r i Cada Sa t i (vas ish t h ip ntra éri C h a n d r asea) of t h e coi n s (see Rapso n , pages 30 and 3 2 ; M r . Rapso nt h inks t h at t h i s k i n g m us t h a v e p r eceded Yajfi a) .
W e s h a l l speak o f Pu lumav i, t h e l ast k i n g o f t h i s dy n ast y ,i n t h e fo l l ow i n g c h ap te r co n ce r n i n g t h e Pallavas a n d th e i n sc riptio n at Myakado n i.
T h e i n sc r i p t i o n (N o . 965 o f Luders ’
s l i st ) o f G irnar
(ju n agadh i n Kath iavad) w h i c h i s d ated i n t h e yea r 1 50 A . D .
says [Ep . I n d . Vo l V I I I . , .p 47 ] t h a t Rudradaman,by h i s
ow n v alou r [ svaviryy-arjjitanam ] ga i n ed Akaravan ti (M a lw a) ,Surash tra (Kat h i aw a r ) , Kach ch h a (Cu tc h ) , A paré nta (the coas t
t o th e n o r t h o f Bo m ba y ) e tc , des t r oyed t h e Yau t lh eyas , w h o
w e r e l oa t h to sub m i t,d e fea ted Satakzu'
n i , lo r d o f D aksh in ép at h a , bu t o n accou n t o f t h e n eari i e s s o f t li c ii co n n ec t i o n d i dn o t de s t ro v h i m bu t h i m s e l f acqu i r ed t h e n a m e o f Mah aksh a
t r apa .
i n c h k i n g o f t h e Satav fi lia i ia dynas tv i s ca l l ed h e r e byth e n a m e o f S
l
atakarn i T h e i n sc r i p t i o n s a n d t h e co i n s see mto co n fi rm th e s t at e m e n t o f t h e G irnar i n sc r i p t i o n . A n insc ript i o n a t K a n h e r i (No . 994 o f L i ’
ide rs'
s l i s t ) “ ex h i b i t s t h e n ea tc h a r ac te r s o f Kshatrapa i n s c i ip t io n s (Bu h l e r , I n d .
A n t . , Vol XXX I I I , page T h i s i n sc r i p t i o n,as t h o s e o f
Rudradaman i s i n Sa n sk r i t a n d t h u s d i ffe r s f r o m a l l o t h e rSatavah ana insC i ip t io ns w h i c h are a l l i n P r a k r i t . T h i s insc ript io n m e n t i o n s th e quee n o f vas ish t li ipu tra S r i Satakarn i,daug h te r o f t h e mahaksh atrapa Ru far a ] . T h e l as t n a m eco n s i s t s o n l y o f tw o s y l l ab l es th e fi r s t o f w h i c h i s ce r t a i n l y“Ru a n d t h e s eco n d ve i y p ro bab l y d r a . Seco n d ly Y ajnaé i i
“ i ssued t h ey a r e s i m i l a r i n fab i ic a n d sty l e tot h e Ksh atrapa co i n s (Rapso n , sec t i o n T h e c h a r ac te r i s t i co f t h ese co m s i s t h a t t h e h ead o f k i n g Y aj na i s r ep r ese n ted o nt h e m
,w h e r eas t h e i m age o f t h e k i n g i s n o t fo u n d i n a n y c o in
o f t h e o t h e r S‘
atavahanas . I t i s t h e r e fo r e ce r ta i n t h a t i t i s Y aj n aw h o adOp ted t h e Ks h atrapa s ty l e fo r t h ese co i n s . T h ese co i n s o fYajfia (Rapso n P l.V l I .
,E l ) r ese m b l e t h ose o f Rudradaman , I t
h as to be rema i ked t h a t t h e co i f o f Rudradaman fou n d o n h i sco i n s r ese m b l es t h a t o f Yap
'
i a ; i t i s a so r t o f sp h e r i ca l ca l ot teco v e r i n g t h e s ku l l a n d d iffe r s to ta l l y f r o m t h e corf o f Ch ash tana ;a n d t h e sc u l p t u r es o f t h e c h a i tya o f K a n h e r i w h i c h a r e dated i nt h e t i m e o f Y ajna s h ow u s pe r so n ages w h o h a v e t h e i r ha i r d r essed as Yajfi a a n d Rud i
'
adainan . I t i s t h e r e fo r e p r obab l e t h a t i twas Rudradaman w h o adopted t h e co i ffu r e t h a t w as used i n t h eDecca n a t t h e t i m e o f Y ajna S r i . T h us t h e n Rudradaman was
a l m ost a c o n tem po i ary o f YIl J fla a n d w as bes i d e s t h e fa t h e r -inlaw of a Vz
'
ts ish t lnp u tra Sft tzik : t i‘
n i,w h i c h Y aj na w as n o t
,
as w e k n ow t h a t h e w as a Gau tam ip utra . U n fo r t u n a te l yw e k n ow t h r ee Satavalianas w h o b o re th e n a m e o f Vas ish th ipu t r a t h e g r ea t I’ ulumav i
,S i v a S r i a n d C h a n da S r i . we k n ow
a l so a ce r ta i n Vas is li th iputra Ch atarapana w h o h ad r e ig n ed 1 3yea r s w h e n a n i n sc r i p t i o n a t Nanaghat (No . 1 1 20 o f Ltiders '
s
lis t ) W as e n g r a v ed ; =i t is h owe v e r p r obabl e t h a t t h i s l a t ter
Vé sish th ipu tra i s n o o t h e r t h a n S i v a-Sri o r C h anda é ri, a n dth e w o r d Ch aturapana is su sp i c i ou s (see R . A . S . fo r 1 905 ,page
I t i s a l m ost ce r ta i n t h a t t h e Vasish th ipu tra w h o was t h eso n -in -law of Rudradaman w as n o t t h e g r eat Pu lumé v i : w ek n ow i n fac t t h at P t llt l ln é Vl was t h e co n te m po r a r y o f C h as ht a n a . I t appea r s t h e r e fo r e to be i m poss i b l e t h at h e s h o u ldh a v e m a r r i ed t h e g r eat g r a n d -daug h te r o f Ch ash tana . T h e r eyet r e m a i n S i v a Sri a n d C h a n da S r i ; bu t i t i s p r obab l e t h atth e so n -ih -law of Rud i adaman was r a t h e r S i v a Sri, w h o
m ig h t h a v e m a r r i ed t h e daug h te r o f Rudradaman af te r h a v i n gfoug h t w i t h h i m o n ce a n d w h o m ig h t h a v e bee n de fea ted i nh is t u r n abou t t h e v ea r 1 30 A . D .
,
'
w h e n fig h t i n g a seco n dt i m e w i t h t h e Ksh atrapa k i n g . Rudradéman m ig h t h a v e bee nt h e v i c to r a n d m ig h t h a v e occup i ed A paré n ta fo r so m e t i m eup t o t h e r e i g n o f Yajfi a S r i w h o m ig h t h a v e adopted i n tot h i s r eg i o n a co i n age s i m i l a r t o t h a t o f Rudradaman . T h eabo v e a r e su ppos i t i o n s , s i n ce t h e docu m e n ts w e h a v e don o t e n ab le u s to h a v e a Co r r ec t k n ow l edge o f t h i s h i s to r y .
T h e fo l l ow i n g m ig h t pe r h aps be t h e c h r o n o l ogy of t h e Sa tava h a n as i n c o n iunc tio n w i t h t h at o f t h e we s te r n Kshatrapas
C i r c . A . D
Dest r u c t i o n o f Ksh ah aré tas by Gautam ipu tra.
l st yea r o f t h e r e ig n o f Ch ash tana a n d o f t h e Sakaera; Ci r c . 1 0th yea r o f t h e r e ig n o f Gau tam iputra.
Re ig n s of Pulum fi v i a n d Ch ash tana
t o h i s so n Rudradaahaksh atrapa a n d de
F r om 1 40 Rudradaman occup i es A paran ta ;t o 1 50 r e ig n o f Siv .askanda
Re ig n o f D amajadasri and o f Yajfia é ri
I n t h e abo v e c h r o n o l ogy w e h a v e ad m i t ted t h a t Rud r ad a m a n w as t h e co n te m po r a r y o f a s e r i es o f t h r ee k i n gs :
(1 ) Vfts ish th ipu tra S i v a S r i ,(2 ) Madharipu tra S ivaskapda ,
(3 ) Gan tam ipn tra Yajii a S r i .Bu t so m e co i n s fou n d i n t h e K o l h apu r r eg io n (Rapso n , page s5 , 7 , 1 4 ) h a v e re struc ks w h i c h e n ab l es u s to set t l e th e fo l lowi n g se r i es
(l ) Vas ish th ipu tra \'
i livay aku ra ,
(2 ) Médh arip u tra S iva lakura ,
(3 ) Gan tam ipn tra V i l ivay akura ,
Ca n t h ese tw o se r i es be i de n t ified 9
I t i s to be r e m a r ked t h a t :(1 ) T h e fi r s t n a m es , Vas is li th ip u tra , Médliarip u ti a , ( iau
tam ipu tra, p r o v e n o t h i n g , as w e k n ow t h a t t h ese n am e si n d i cate a Got r a a n d t h e cus to m o f pre fi xing to th e r ea l natn e
o f a pe r so n t h e n a m e o f h i s m o t h e r ' s Got r a h as bee n i n ("X l s
te n ce i n t h e dy n as t i e s o f t h e n e ig h bou r s o f t h e Satzt t 'ali zi i i zt s
(t h e Abh iras , t h e C h u t u s , t h e l ks h vé ku s ) . T h e r e t h e n l ’
c l l l l t l l l th e
seco n d n a m es , and t h e y , V i livayakura a n d S iva lakura ,h a v e n o t
bee n fou n d i n au t h e n t i c Satavah ana i n sc r i p t i o n s .(2 ) T h e co i n s bea r as sy m bo l s bow a n d a i ro w
i n p l ace o f t h e U j j a i n sy m bo l o f t h e co m s o f sa t in -g imm e
(3 ) Aga i n , t h ese co i n s h a v e bee n fou n d o n l y i n t h eK o l h apu r r eg i o n ; a n d P to l e m y says , t h a t a t H ipp o kura,
i n acou n t r y w h i c h m ay be s i t ua t ed app r ox i m ate l y i n t h i s pa r t oft h e De cca n , t h e r e r e ig n ed a k i n g n a m ed Bale o kuro s
,w h o .
m a n y au t h o r s h a v e be l i e v ed,ca n be ide n t i fi ed w i t h V i livé yaku i a .
T h i s k i n g w i l l,i n t h a t c ase
,be a co n t e m po r a r y o f Pultnnav i
a n d be l o n g to a n o t h e r dy n as ty .
I th ink t h e r e fo r e t h a t t h ese co i n s m ay be pro v is io nallv
ad m i t ted to bel o n g to t h e “ K o l h ap u r Dy n as t y .
So m e co i n s bea r i n g t h e n a m es o f S r i Rud r a S é takarn i
a n d S r i K ri s h n a Satakarn iA
liave bee n fo u n d (see Rapso n,
Co i n s o f I n d i a n M u se u m ; A n d h r a ( lvnas tv ) tn t h e C h a n dad i s t r i c t o f t h e Ce n t r a l P r o v i n ces . As t h ese n a m es h a v ebee n fo u n d o n ly i n t h i s r eg i o n , w e m ay suppose t h a t t h e sek i n gs be l o n ged to a pec u l ia r dy n as ty t h a t su bs i s t ed fo r som et i m e i n t h e C h a n da d i s t r i c t , w h e n t h e sa ia t -a imm h ad bee nr ep l aced by t h e C h utus, t h e N agas , t h e Pallavas, t h e Ikshvékusand the Byihatphalé yanas .
CHAPTER I I I
T H E PALLAVA S .
I . T h e Pallava mv s te i v .
I n T h e Oxfo r d H i sto r y o f I n d i a w h i c h V i n ce n t A .
S m i t h h as p ub l i s h ed t h i s yea r (O x fo r d , h e says (page“T h e Pallavas co n st i t u te o n e o f t h e m yste r i es o f I n d i a n
h i s to r y a n d aga i n i n h i s “Ea r l y H isto r y of I n d i a (2nd ed it i o n
,page 42 3 ) h e h as sa i d : w e r e t h e Pallavas W
'
h e n ced id t h ey co m e ? H ow d i d t h ey at ta i n t h e c h ie f p l ace a m o n gt h e pow e r s o f t h e Sou t h
M a n y au t h o r s h a v e a n sw e r ed t h i s quest i o n w i t h a t h eo r y[ see t h e M yso r e Gaz .
,I . , pages 303 -4 ; see also M ad r as M a n ua l ,
I . ,page 1 29 ] w h i c h m a y be ca l l ed
“T h e t h eo r y of Pa r t h i a ni n v as i o n T h e suppo r te r s o f t h i s t h eo r y be l i e v e t h a t t h e Pa ll a v as w e r e a n o r t h e r n t r ibe of Pa r t h i a n o r ig i n
,t h a t t h ey w e r e
a c l a n o f n o m ads w h o,h a v i n g co m e f r o m Pe r s i a
,w e r e n o t able
to se t t l e i n N o r t h e r n I n d i a a n d so co n t i n u ed t h e i r i n v as i o n u pto Kafic h ipuram . T h i s h ypot h es i s w as v e r y c h a r m i n g to t h ei m ag i n at i o n . T h ey p i c t u r ed to t h e m se l v es a n u m be r o f m en
of t h e w h i t e r ace , t h e Pa r t h i a n s, b r a n d i s h i n g t h e i r bow s (t h ePa r t h i a n a r r ow i s w ell-k n ow n ) fo r m i n g a n o m ad i c ,
t r i be,t r a n s
po r t i n g t h e i r ca in p f r o m cou n t r y to cou n t r y a n d des t r oy i n g,
l i ke t h e H u n s,eve rth ing t h ey fou n d o n t h e i r w ay . I t is t h u s
t h ey wou l d h a v e t r a v e r sed t h e w h o l e o f I n d i a a n d w ou ld h a v es topped o n ly at t h e textrem ity o f t h e Pe n i n su l a . T h e n , af ter
hav i ng va n qu i s h ed th e anc ie n t t r i bes i n t h e Sou t h , t h ey Wo u l d
h ave es tab l i s h ed i t h eh‘ cap i t a l at Ix'
aii e li ipu ram . T h i s t h eo r yp r ese n t s a v e r y g r ea t d ifi c u lty . T h i s g r ea t invasmn , by a w h o lec l a n o f t h e Pa r t h i a n t r i be
,ex te n d i n g f r o m t h e f r o n t i e r s o f
Pe r s i a to t h e ex t r e m e Sou t h o f t h e I n d i a n pe n i n s u l a , i m p l i es a ni m m e n se po l i t i ca l co m m o t i o n i n t h e Decca n . d i d t h i si m po r t a n t e v e n t t ake p l ace Ce r ta i n a u t h o r s
,a n d V . Ve nkay y a
i n pa r t i c u l a r,h a v e t r i ed to d e t e r m i n e “ t h e da te o f t h e Pallava
m ig r a t io n t o t h e Sou t h " . But up to t h e p r ese n t day w e h a v e n o tfo u n d a n y docu m e n t w h i c h p r o v es t h e ex i s t e n ce o f a Pa r t h i a ni n v as i o n o f So u th e n I n d i a . m ay say t h a t t h i s t h eo r y m akest h e Pa llava m y s t e r y s t i l l m o r e m y s t e r i ou s . I t i s n o t t h e r e fo r ew i t h o u t cau s e t h a t Mr
. V i ce n t A . S m i t h,i n t h e tw o l ast ed i t i o n s
o f h i s “Ea r ly H i sto r y o f I n d i a h as a ba n do n ed t h e t h eo r y o f
t h e Pa r t h i a n i n v a s i o n a n d h as t r i ed to d i sco v e r a l ess im probab l e t h eo r y .
“T h e r e i s e v e r y r easo n to be l i e v e t h a t fu t u r e h i s to r i a n sW i l l be ab l e t o g i v e a fa i r l y co m p l e t e n a r r a t i v e o f t h e do i n gs o ft h e Pallava k i n gs
,a n d t h a t t h e m y s te r y w h i c h s u i ro i inds t h e i r
o r ig i n a n d affi n i t i es m ay be e l uc ida t ed i n l a r ge m easu r e .
"
(T h eOx fo r d H i s t o r y o f I n d i a
,page
I t i s w i t h t h e obj ec t o f r ea l i s i n g t h e w i s h o f M r . V i n ce n tA . S m i t h t h a t w e no w p r oceed t o p r o v e t h e fo l l ow i n g p r opos it i o n s
(1 ) T h e A n d h r a e m p i r e was go v e r n ed by feuda to r i es w h o
bo r e t h e t i t l e o f Mah arat h is a n d w e r e ca l l ed “N agas” as
t h ey be l o n ged t o a r ace o f se r pe n t -wo r s h i ppe r s .(2 ) Co i n s co n ta i n i n g t h e i m age o f a “S h i p tw o m as ts
a r e fo u n d a l m os t exc l us i v e l y o n t h e coas t be tw ee n M ad r as a n dCudda l o r e a n d t h ey i epre se n t t h e m o n eys o f Tonda i—Nlandalau io f w h i c h Kafi c h i is t h e cap i t a l . Acco r d i n g to P r o f . Rapso n ,t h ese co i n s bea r t h e l ege n d S i ' i P t ilumav i
". T h e Ujjaiii
s y m bo l i n d i cates t h e Satavé h ana d y n ast y . So t h i s d y n as tyr e ig n ed o v e r t h e te r r i to r y o f Ké i' i c h ip uram . Fu r t h e r , a n in sc ript i o n o f Pulumav i , t h e l as t k i n g o f t h a t dy n as ty , s h ow s t h a t t h ep r i n c e Ska n da -N aga was h i s g r ea t ge n e r a l t h e r e i s n odou b t t h a t t h e N agas w e r e v e r y pow e r fu l w h e n t h e Si tavalianad y n as ty cam e to a n e n d .
(3 ) I t i s c e r t a i n t h a t o n e o f t h o s e r o y a l fa m i l i es o f N agao r ig i n
,t h e “C h u t u took t h e p l ace o f t h e é dav é h anas .
(4 ) I t i s ce r ta i n t h a t a l l t h e m ost a ii C ie n t Pa llava k i n gs
we r e th e co n tempo r a r i es of t h e Ch u tus o f th e Naga race .
(5 ) I t i s a l so ce r ta i n t h a t t h e Pallavas succeeded t h e Ch u tusof
'
t h e Naga r ace .
(6 ) T h e Pallava p l ates o f Vé l i‘
i rpalaiyam co n ta i n (v e r ses 3to 22 ) t h e h i s t o r y o f th e Pallavas acco r d ing to t h e fa m i l yt rad i t i o n . Th e r e
,i t i s sa i d t h a t t h e fi r s t m e m be r o f t h e fa m i l y
w h o beco m e k i n g acqu i r ed a l l t h e e m b l e m s o f r o y a l ty on
m a rry i n g t h e daug h t e r o f t h e l o r d of Se r pe n ts e v i de n t l y aN aga p r i n cess” (Repo r t o n Ep ig r ap h y fo r 1 9 1 0— 1 9 1 1 ; G . 0 .
Pub l i c,28 th ju ly , Pa r t I I , No . 7 , page
(7 ) I h o l d t h e t h eo ry t h a t I h a v e e n u n c i a ted i n m y w o r kT h e Pallavas (Po n d‘i c h e r r y
,-“T h e ea r l i es t Pallavas
w e r e n ot k i n gs,
and t h ey w e r e a l i e n t o Sou t h I n d i a .O n e o f t h e m m a r r i ed the daug h t e r o f o n e o f t h e k i n gso f t h a t cou n t r y a n d t h u s beca m e a k i n g h i m se l f” (T h ePallavas, page At t h e t i m e of th e G irnar i n s c r i p t io n t h eW este r n Satrapas r e ig n ed i n Aparan ta a n d h ad a Pah lava fo rt h e i r m i n i s te r . T h ese Pah lavas w e r e t h e n e i g h bou r s o f t h eN 'agas w h e n t h e C h u t u -N agas r e ig n ed i n A paran ta (K an h e r ii n sc r i p t i o n o f t h e m ot h e r o f Ska n da-N aga
,No . 1 02 1 o f
Luders’
s l i s t ) . A Pallava p r i n ce m a r r i ed t h e daug h te r o f t h eK i n g “S i v a -Ska n da -N aga -Satakai' n i , a n d i n h e r i t ed t h e t h r o n eof Kafi c h i .
Suc h,i n a few w o r ds
,i s ou r t h eo r y i n r ega r d to t h e
o r ig i n o f t h e Pallavas . W e s h a l l n ow p r oceed to de v e l op i t .
N o . 1 . Maharat h is, Ch utus, Nagas .
T h e i n sc r i p t i o n o f Nanagh at (A r c h . Su r v . W ' est . I n d . Vo l .V,N o . 3 , p . 64 )
‘
says t h at Satakarn i, k i n g o f D aksh inapath am a r r ie d Naga-N i ka, daug h te r o f a M a h a r at h i Kalalaya.
T he“ l i o n p i l l a r a t K a r l i (Ep . Ind . Vol ., V I I ., page 49)
w as a gi f t o f M a h a r at h i Ag n i -Mi t r a-Naga .
Af te r t h e fa l l o f t h e Satavah ana dy n asty, a l a r ge po r t i o nof t h e e m p i r e passed i n to t h e ha n ds o f t h e dy n asty o f th e
Ch u t u s w h o w e r e r e l at ed to t h e Maharat h is . T h e Ch u tusa n d t h e Maliarat h is o fte n
l
bo re t h e t i t l e o f Satakarn is .
A n‘
in scrip t io n (No . 1 1 95 of Lt'
iders’
s l i s t ) at M a la v a l l ii n th e S h i ka r p u r t a l uq bf M y sore (Ep . Carnz , Vol .
‘
V I I .,Sk .
p r obab le t h a t h e was a de sce n da n t o f th e k i n gs t h at r e ig n ed overth e te r r i to r y o f C h i ta l d r oog . W e k n ow t h a t C h i ta l d r oog iso n l y abou t fi f ty m i l es e ast o f Ba n a vas i , w h e r e w e fi n d th ei n sc r i p t i o n o f Sivaskanda-Naga - Sa ta, a n d to t h e w est o fC h i ta ld r oog
,o n t h e s i te o f a n a n c i e n t c i ty w h ose n a m e i s sa i d
to h a v e bee n Ch andravali w h e r e fou n d i n 1 888 so m e l eade n co i n s
(Ep . I n d . Vo l V I I,p . 5 1 , see p l ate I I I , fig A , B ,
C ; a n d Rgpso
n ;
P l . V I I I , No . 23 3 e t page 5 7 ) w h i c h bea t t h e n a m e o f SadakanaKalalaya- M a h a r at h i . T h e e m b l e m s a r e , o n t h e ob v e r se, a
! h u m ped bu l l s t a n d i n g, a n d o n t h e r e v e r se,t r ee a n d c h a i tya .
T h i s Sadakama (Satakarnn i) w h o bea r s t h e t i t l e o f M a h a r a t h iis p r obab ly a n a n cesto r o f M a h a r at h i Satakana o r Sat a w h o
m ade t h e g r a n t o f a N aga a t Ba n a v as i . I n fac t,bo t h o f t h e m
a r e Maharat h is ; t h ey h a v e t h e sa m e t i t l e o f Sa ta , a n d t h eyh a v e bot h r e i g n ed i n t h e sa m e co u n t r y
,i n t h e v i c i n i ty o f
M ala v a l l i a n d C h i ta ld r oog . T h e k i n gs o f t h i s cou n t r y w e r eN agas ; M r . R i ce says (M yso r e a n d Coo r g f r o m i n sc r i p t i o n spage 202 )
“T h e ea r l y i n h ab i ta n t s o f t h e cou n t r y w e r ep r obab ly to a g r eat ex te n t
,spec i a l l y o n t h e fe m a l e s i de , N agas ,
o r se r pe n t w o r s h i ppe r s,t h a t i s
,o f t h e cob r a
,w h i c h i s t h e
N aga I n t h e Satavah ana i n sc r i p t i o n o f Ba n a v as i o f t h efi r s t o r seco n d ce n t u r y
,t h e k i n g ’ s daug h te r i s n a m ed N égas
’
ri
a n d s h e m akes t h e g i f t o f a N aga \Ve m ay add t h a t t h i squ ee n i s n a m ed N aga -h ‘
l u la-N ik a i n t h e K a n h e r i inscrip
t i o n,t h a t h e r so n ’ s n a m e was Ska n da-Naga-Sata ; t h a t t h e
Ba n a v a s i i n sc r i p t i o n i s e n g r a v ed bes i de t h e i m age o f a N aga ;a n d t h at t h e cou n t r y a r o u n d M ala y a l l i a n d Ba n a v as i was o n e :
ca l l ed N agakh anda. I t IS probab l e t h at t h ese M a h a r i t h i s N agasw h o bO i e
,l i ke t h e A n d h r as , t h e t i t l e o f Sa takarn 1 , ai e t h e
Andh rabh rityas 0 1 se r v a n t s o f t h e Andh i as , w h o , as m e n t i o n edi n t h e P ttranas
,succeeded t h e Satavah anas .
T h e Myakado n i i n sc r i p t i o n (Repo r t o n Ep ig r ap h y fo r
1 9 1 5—1 6 ; M ad r as, G . o . N o. 99 ; 29 th Aug 1 9 1 6, Pa r t I I , No . 1 ,
page 1 1 2 - i n sc r i p t i o n N o . 509 o f A p endix B . See a l soE p . I n d . Vol . X I V .
, page 1 5 3 ) says t h a t t h i s v i l l age w as i n t h et e r r i to r y go v e r n ed by t h e g r ea t ge n e r a l (Mah asenapati) K amdan aka (Ska n da-N aga) a n d w e k n ow t h a t Myakado n i i s n o t fa rf r o m C h i ta l d r oog . T h e Myakado n i i n sc r i p t i o n i s dated i n t h e8 t h yea r o f t h e r e i g n o f S i r i -Pulumavi. W '
h o i s t h i s Pu lumav i? I ti s n o tew o r t h y t h a t w e do n ot fi n d h e r e t h e n a m e Vasisth ipu tra
w h i c h i s pec u l ia r to th e i n sc r i pt io n s o f t h e so n o f G an tam ip n tra .
Bes ides,t h e a l p h abe t o f t h e Myakado n i i n sc r i p t i o n i s m uc h l ess
a r c h a i c t h a n t h a t o f t h e i n sc r i p t i o n s o f g r ea t P t ilumavi. i'l r. V . S .
Suk th ankar o f Poo n a w h o h a s ed i t ed t h e Myakado n i in sc ript i o n h as obse r v ed t h i s deta i l : “T h e a l p h abe t r ese m b l es t h a to f th e joggayyape ta i n c . o f Pu risadata”
(Ep . I n d . Vo l . X I V .,
page a n d t h e i n sc r i p t i o n s o f Pu risadata a t j aggayyapetah a v e bee n a t t r i b u ted to t h e I I I c e i i tu rv by a l l t h e au t h o r s w h oh a v e spoke n o f i t and n o o ne dou bts t h a t Purisadata r e i g n eda f te r t h e Satavah anas . T h e a l p h abe t o f t h e Myakado n ii n sc r i p t i o n i s i n co n tes t ab ly m u c h m o r e de v e l oped t h a n t h ea l p h abe ts o f all th e o t h e r é é t.t \ 'ali zt ii a i n sc r i p t i o n s a n d v e r ym uc h r ese m b l es t h ose o f t h e Ch u t u s a n d t h e a n c i e n t Pallavas .
I t i s t h e r e fo r e v e r y p r obab l e t h a t t h e Pu lumav i o f t h e M yakado ii i i n sc r i p t i o n i s t h e l as t k i n g o f t h e Satavah ana dy n as tyi n t h e l i s t g i v e n i n t h e M a t sya Pu r a n a . T h e o n l y obj ec t i o nt h a t ca n be r a i sed , i s t h a t t ie i n sc r ipt i o n i s d a ted i n t h e 8 thv ea r o f h i s r e ig n
,w h e r eas th e M at sya Puré na g i v es h i m o n l y
a r e i g n o f 7 yea r s . Bu t w e h a v e a l r ead y sa i d t h a t w e m ustn o t r e l y o n th e d u r at i o n o f t h e r e ig n s g i v e n i n t h e M atsyaI’ urana ; t h i s obj ec t i o n i s t h e r e fo r e w o r t h l ess
,a n d t h e r e a r e
r easo n s to t h i n k t h a t th e My é kado n i insc rip tio n is dated inth e r e ign o f t h e l ast o f t h e Satavah anas . In any case, w e m aya ff i r m t h a t t h i s Pu lum é vi i s n o t t h e so n o f G an tam ipntra. we
k n ow t h e a l p h abe t o f t h i s k i n g f r o m th e Nas i k a n d A inarfi vatii n sc r i p t io n s ; a n d t h e r e i s a v e r y g r ea t d i ffe r e n ce be tw ee n t h e ma n d t h a t o f Myakado i i i ; I be l i e v e t h a t th e i e m u s t be a n i n te rv a l o f m o r e t h a n a ce n t u r y betw ee n t h e tw o Pu lum fi vis ,
a n d t h a t th e I’ i ilumav i o f Myakado n i i s c e i tain ly o n e o f t h el a te r Satavah anas . T h e d i sco v e r y o f t h e My é kado n i i nsc rip
t i o n h as a v e r y i m po r ta n t bea r i n g o n t h i s su bj ect ; i t e n l ig h te n st h e cau ses o f t h e fa l l o f t h e Satavah ana dy n asty : w e l ea r n
,
i n fac t,t h a t i n t h e 8 th yea r o f t h e l as t, k i n g o f t h i s dy n asty
,
a ce r ta i n Ska n da -N éga was t h e Mali ftsen é pat i t h ati s to s ay t h e m i l i ta r y go v e r n o r o f a l l t h e cou n t r y ex te n d i n gto t h e Sou t h o f th e T t i i
'
igabhadra n o t fa r f r o m C h i t a l d r ooga n d Ba n a v as i .
S i v a-Ska n da -N aga w h o i s m e n t i o n ed i n t h e.Ba n a vas i
i n sc r i p t i o n h ad p r obab ly a gl o r i o us r e ig n , as, eve n in the t imeof the Kaclambas , t h ey r e m e m be r ed h is n a m e : i n tae t, an
i n sc r i p t i o n at M a la v a l l i (No . 1 1 96 of Lude rs ’
s l i s t ) , w h i c h i ssu r e ly a n i n sc r i p t i o n o f a n a n c i e n t K ada m ba k i n g
,says t h a t
k i n g é ivaskandavarman r e ig n ed o v e r t h a t cou n t r y a t o n e t i m e
(se e t h e P l ate i n Ep . Ca r n . Vo l . V I I ., fac i n g t h e pageFu r t h e r
,t h e ce l eb r a ted K ada m ba i n sc r i p t io n a t Talgunda
m e n t i o n s a é iva te m p l e i n t h a t t ow n “at w h i c h gatakarn i a n do t h e r k i n gs h ad fo r m e r l y w ors h i pped
"
(Ep . I n d .,Vo l V I I I .,
p ageW e do n o t k n ow a n y o th e i n a m e gi v e n to t h i s dy n as ty
excep t t h a t o f satakarn n i S iv -a Ska n da-N aga .
T h e sa m e T algunda i n sc r i p t i o n says t h a t Mayurasarman,
th e fi r s t k i n g o f t h e K ada m ba dy n as ty , co n que r ed t h e cou n t r yby fig h t i n g W i th t h e Pa llavas . I t is t h e r e fo r e ce r ta i n t h a t t h eN agas w e r e su cceeded bv t h e Pallavas .
N o . 2 -T h e earl y Pallava ikings .
T h r ee se ts o f coppe r -p l a te s w r i t te n i n P r akri t i n a v e r ya r c h a i c a l p h abe t p r o v e t h a t, in t h e I I I ce n t u r y of t h e C h r i s t i a ne r a, t h e r e r e ig n ed o n t h e sou t h e r n ba n ks o f t h e K ri s h na , t h edy n asty o f t h e Pallavas o f B haradvaja got r a w h o h ad K aric h ipu r a m fo r t h e i r cap i ta l .
(1 ) T h e p l ates fou n d at Mayidavolu (Gu n tu r d i s t r i c t) (EpoI n d . Vol . VL, page 84) say t h a t in t h e l 0th yea r o f t h e r e ig n o fh is fat h e r w h ose n am e i s n o t g i v e n
,t h e h e i r -appa r e n t (Yu v a
m a h a r aj a) Sivaskandavarman ga v e a n o r de r to t h e go v e r n o r so f D h afi nakada
,i . e . A m a r a v a t i .
(2 ) T h e p l a tes (Ep . I n d .,Vo l I ., page 2 ) fou n d a t
H irah adagalh (Bel l a r y d i st r i c t) a r e dated i n t h e 8 t h yea r o f t h er e i g n o f Sivaskandavarman w h o co n fi r m s a g i f t m ade
,
by h is
f at h e r w h o se n a m e is n o t gi v e n , bu t w h o is des ig n ated by t h et i t l e o f Bappa-deva. T h ese p l a tes m e n t i o n t h e p r o v i n ce o fSatahani w h i c h w e k n ow (f r o m t h e Myakado n i i n sc r i p t i o n ) t obe a po r t i o n o f t h e Be l l a r y d i st r i c t .
(3 ) T h e p la tes fou n d i n t h e Gu n tur d i st r i c t (Ep . I n d . Vo l .V I I I .
,page 1 43 ) a r e dated i n t h e r e ig n o f Vijayaskandavarman
a n d co m m e m o r ate a g r a n t m ade by Ch aradevi, w i fe o f th eh e i r -appa r e n t (Yuva-m ah araja) Vijaya-Buddh avarman and
mot h er of a p r i n ce wh o se name e n ds in ”ku ra" . F, Flee t
5 3
w h o was t h e fi r s t to ed i t t h ese p l ates i n t h e I n d i a n A n t iqua r y(see p l ate fac i n g page 1 0 1 a n d n o te 2 3 , page 1 0 1 ) h as sa id“tw o l e t te r s, co n ta i n i n g t h e fi r s t pa r t o f a p r ope r n a m e
,a r e
i l l eg i b l e h e r e D r . H u ltz sc li, i n r eed i t i n g t h i s docu m e n t ,
be l i e v ed h e cou l d r ead t h e w h o l e n a m e as B uddh ya i'
i k i ira . In
t h a t case . i t se e m s to be a su r n a m e a n d n o t t h e n a m e .
I t i s poss‘ ib l e to i de n t i fy Y u v a-Mali é rfija é iva-Skm idavar
m a n o f Mayidavo li i w i t h t h e k i n g é l '
a-Skandavarman o f H imh adaga l l i . T h e k i n g i s calledSiva-Ska i idavarn ian i n t h e H irah adaga l l i p l a tes a n d V i j aya -Skandavarman i n t h ose o f th e G un t i
'
ir d i st r i e t . But t h e we l ds éna a n d V i j aya are p r efi xes a n d w e s h a l l se ei n t h e K ada m ba docu m e n t s suc h n a m es as S
'
i v a -Mrigesavarn ian
Sw a-Mandhatrivarman, a n d a l so S i v a- K r i s h n a (Be n n i ir p l a tes ;
Be l t i r,245 ; Ep . Ca r n .
, Vol . V) . we find e v e n th e p r efix S r iijaya-S i v a (Ep . Ca r n .
,Vo l V l l ., page B e s ide s , a s i m i l a r
i de n t i fica t i o n h a s bee n m ade i n r ega r d t o t h e dy n asty o f th eN agas : w e h a v e i de n t i fied gi v a-Ska n da-N aga o f Ba n ava s i w i t hSka n da-l ’ aga of K a n h e r i . T h e a l p h abe t o f th e H ii ah zidaga l l ip l at es c l ose ly r ese m b l es t h a t o f Ch arudevi
'
ss gii an t.
I t h e r e fo r e t h i n k t h a t t h e r e i s n o se r i ou s d ifficu l ty i npu t t i n g toge t h e r t h e t h r e e docu m e n t s, May idft vOIu , H irahada
ga l l i a n d G un t t‘
ir d i s t r i c t a n d estab l i s h i n g t h e fo l l ow i n gge n ea l ogy
A k i n g
(de s i g n a ted by th e t i t l e o f Bappa-Dev a i n t h e H irahadagallip l a tes)
T h e k i n g Skand iv: u m a n
(w i t h t h e p r efix S i v a i n t h e MayidavOlu a n d H ii ah ad igalli
p l a tes ; a n d w i t h t h e p r efix ijaya i n t h e p l ates o f t h e G u n tu rd i s t r i c t .)
T h e p r i n ce B uddh avarman
(W i t h t h e p r efi x V i j aya" ; h u sba n d o f Ch arudév i )
A p r i n ce
(des ig n a ted by t h e s u r n a m e o f [Buddhyafdkura i n th e p la teso f t h e G i i ii tur d i st r i c t ) .
In w h a t epoc h d i d t h ese p r i n ces r e ig n ? ft i s ce r ta i nt h at t h ey succeed ed the Sé tavalianas : in fact , t h e t h r ee docu
m e n ts p r o v e t h a t t h ey r e i g n ed o n t h e sou t h e r n ba n k o f t h eK ri s h na (pa r t i cu la r l y at A m a r a v at i ) a n d i n t h e Saté h an i
di st r i c t ; s i n ce t h e S’
atavahana d y nasty p r obab ly subs i s tedup to t h e fi r s t qua r te r o f t h e I I I ce n tu r y
,a n d s i n ce t h e
Mayidavol i i p l a tes a r e ce r ta i n l y co n t e mpo r a n eou s w i t h t h oseo f Ko ndamudi [ it i s ce r ta i n t h a t t h ese p la tes w e r e e n g r aved ,as w e s h a l l se e , s h o r t l y a f te r t h e fa l l o f t h e A n d h r as ] i t is p r obab l e t h at t h e k i n g su r n a m ed Bappa -dé va r e i g n ed i n t h e seco n dqua r te r o f t h e I I I ce n t u r y (2 2 5 -2 50 A . D .
O n t h e o t h e r h a n d w e k n ow t h a t i n 338 A . D . Sa m ud r aGup ta h ad as h i s ad v e r sa r y a k i n g o f Kafi c h i n a m ed V i s h n ugopa . T h i s k i n g w as t h e r e fo r e p r obab ly a n i m m ed i ate successo r o f [Buddhyafi ] kura, i f t h i s p r i n ce asce n ded t h e t h r o n e .
T h us t h e n , W i t h t h e h i s to r i ca l i n fo r m at i o n i n o u r possess io n , we can i m ag i n e t h e fo l l ow i n g c h r o n o l ogy
(1 )“Bappa-dev a 2 ud qua r te r o f t h e I I I c e n turv .
(2 ) Skandavarman 3rd qua r te r o f t h e I I I ce n t u r y .
(3 ) B uddh avarman 4 th qua r te r o f t h e I I I c en turv .
(4) [B udd hyafi ] kura. 1 st qua r te r o f t h e IV ce n t u ry .
(5 ) Vish n ugbpa 2nd qua r te r o f t h e IV ce n tu r y .
No . 3—=T h e o r ig i n o f t h e Pallavas .
Befo r e h a n d l i n g t h e su bj ec t o f th e o r ig i n o f t h e Pallavas,
w e m ust h e r e spec i fy a n i m po r ta n t p om tI f w e suppose t h a t t h e w o r d Pallava s ig n ifies a
t r i be,w e m ust i n qu i r e by w h i c h i n v as i o n t h i s t r i be go t
possess i o n of t h e k i n gdo m of K an' c h i p u r a m ; i f , w e ad m i tt h a t t h e w o r d “
Pallava” i s t h e n a m e of a fam ily , it i s e n oug h ,
to exp l a i n t h e p r ese n ce o f t h e Pallavas i n Kafic h i, tofi n d ou t by w h a t po l i t i ca l e v e n t o n e o f t h e m e m be r so f t h i s fa m i l y succeeded to t h e t h r o n e ; h e r e, n o doub t isposs i b le
,because
,t h e Mayidavolu , H irah édagalli a n d Gu n tu r
d i st r i c t p l a tes,w h i c h co m e up to t h e I I I ce n t u r y of t h e C h r i st
i a n e r a,n e v e r m e n t i o n a Pallava n a t io n bu t o n ly speak o f a
r oya l fa m i ly o ne of w h ose m e m be r s w as k i n g a t Kafi c h i, a n dw e s h a l l n ow p r oceed to a n sw e r t h e fo l l ow i n g quest i o n w h a tpo l i t i c a l eve n t was i t t h a t p l aced o n t h e t h r one a p r i n ce wh o
be lo n ged to a fami l y n a m ed “Pallava
'
In l 9 l 7 ("T h e l ’
a llavas page I d r e w t h e a t t e n t i o no f th e r eade r s t o a docu m e n t w h i c h I t h i n k ca n g i v e u s t h ekey to t h i s p r ob l e m v e r s e 6 o f t h e Veli
‘
irpé laiy am p l ates , (8 . I .I . , Vo l I I , Pa i t page 5 1 0 ) i n g i v i n g a su m m a r y o f t h e h i sto r y o f t h e Pallavas , s a y s -t h a t t h e fi r s t m e m be r o f t h i s d y n a s t yt h a t beca m e k i n g , go t t h e t h r o n e bv m a r r y i n g th e daug h te r o f
a N ga k i n g and t h a t t h e s o n bo r n o f t h i s u n i o n w as n a m e dSka n da . Ca n t h i s t r a li t io n t h a t e fi n d i n t h e Pallava docu m e n t sbe v e r i fied bv au t h e n t i c h i s to r y ?
A l ar ge n u m be r o f co i n s h a v i n g fo r e m b l e m s th e s h i p w i t htw o m as t s" o n th e ob v e r se a n d th e “U j ja i n s y m bo l o n t h e r e v e rs e h as bee n fou n d o n t h e Co r o m a n de l coast be tw ee n M ad r as a n dCudda l o r e . T h ese s h i p -co i n s see m t o be spec i a l t o t h a t pa r to f t h e coas t t h a t i s i n t h e n e i g h bou r h ood o f li fi fi c h ipu ram .
T h e “Uj j a i n sy m bo l i n d i cates t h e é fi la\’ fi ll zl l1 : l dy n ast y .
M r . Rapso n (page 2 2 ) h as bee n ab l e to dec i p h e r t h e i n sc r i pt i o no n t h ese co i n s h e h as r ead i t to be “S i Pu lumaV i
t h u s,a l l t h a t pa r t o f t h e Co r o m a n de l coas t w h i c h i s i n t h e
v i c i n i t y o f Kafi c h ip nram w as u n de r t h e d o m i n at i o n o f t h eé fi fav fi h anas . So , t h e Pallavas estab l i s h ed t h e m se l v es a t Kasc h ipu ram a ft e r t h e é fi tav fi h anas . T h e a l p h abe t o f t h eMav idavolu p l ates p r o v es t h a t é iva-Skandavarman w as n ea r l yco n t e m pora r y o f t h e l as t A n d h r a k i n gs . So , i t i s at t h e t i m eo f t h e fa l l o f t h e t h a t a m e m be r o f t h e Pallava
fa m i l y asce n ded th e tli ro ne . o f Kafi c h i ; i t is qu i te poss i b l e t h a tt h i s fi r s t k i n g was
“Bappa-de v a” fa t h e r o f é iva-Skandavar
m a n . \Ve a l so n o t e t h a t th e so n o f“Bappa -dev a” was ca l l ed
Ska n da a n d t r ad i t i o n h as i t t h a t t h e fi r s t Pallava k i n g h a v i n gm a r r i ed a Naga p r i n cess h ad a so n n a m ed Ska n da .
speak i n g o f t h e fa m ous i n sc r i p t i o n o f Ba la,-gri a t
Nas i k,w e h a v e sa id t h at Gan tam ip n tra v a n qu i s h ed t li e Palhavas
(Ep . I n d .,Vo l V I I I . , Pl I , No . 2
,l i n e 5 ) i n 7 8 A . D . Aga i n ,
w e l ea r n f r o m t h e G irnar i n sc r i p t i o n t h a t Suv is’akh a w h o w as
t h e m i n i st e r o f Ri id i adaman i n 1 50 A . D . w as a P ah lava (I n n agad l i i n sc r i pt i o n ; E p . Ind . , Vo l V I I I . , page 37 and Plat e l i n e
T h u s t h e w o r d w h i c h w as w r i t t e n Pa l h a v a i n 78 A . I ) .
w as w r i t t e n Pah lava i n 1 50 A . D . , a n d w e n ote , w h e n w li e see t h eG irnar i n sc r i pt i o n
,t h a t t h e co m pou n d l et te r “ h l a i e semb le s t h e
dou b l e l l . Bes i des,i n Mayidavolu p l ates w r i t te n i n P r akri t
t h i s qu est i on o f l e t te r s h as bee n so l v ed i n a v e r y s i m p l e m a n n e r
t h ey wro te Pal ava. T h i s can co r r espond to Pallava fo r in
P r akri t t h e co n so n a n ts a r e n o t doub led . In th e H irah adagalli
p l ates i t i s w r i t t e n as Pallava t h oug h t h ey are a l so i n P r ak r i t .Late r o n , w h e n t h e docu m e n ts w e r e w r i t te n i n Sa n skri t , th e wo rdPallava w i l l be u n de r stood to m ea n “sp r ou t" . T h e i de n t i tyo f n a m es l eads u s to t h i n k t h a t t h e a n c i e n t k i n gs o f Kafic h i
be l o n ged to t h e sa m e fa m i ly as t h e m i n i s te r of Rudradaman .
H e l i v ed i n 1 50 A . D . a n d w e k n ow Pallava k i n gs r e i g n i n g'
at
Kafi c li i'
in abo u i 2 2 5 A . D . H ow d i d a m e m be r Of t h i s fam i lyt h at w e fi n d i n Surash t ra i n 1 50 A . D . estab l i s h h i m se l f i nKafic h i ? T h e Vé lurpalaiyam p lat es gi v e t h e a n sw e r t o t h i squest i o n a Pallava be came k i n g by m a r r y i n g t h e daug h te r o fa Naga k i n g and a l l t h e doc u m e n t s i n o ur possess i o n r ega rd i n g t h e Nagas a n d t h e Pallavas see m to co n fi r m t h i s p r opos i t i o u . T h e G irnar i n sc r i p t i o n says t h at Rudradaman r e ig n edi n t h e p r o v i n ce of Aparan ta, t h a t i s, i n t h e n e i g h bourh ood o fKanh éri, a n d t h a t h i s m i n i st e r was a Pah lava a n d i t i s i n t h i ssa m e Ap
'
iran ta i n Kanh éri t h a t w e fi n d (1 ) t h e i n sc r i p t i o n o ft h e daug h t e r o f Rudradaman
, (2 ) t h e i n sc r i p t i o n o fNaga- M u l aN i ka
,m ot h e r o f Ska n da-N ag.t -éatakai°n i. T h e l a t te r i n sc r i p t i o n
i s w r i t te n i n suc h a n a r c h a i c a l p h abe t t h at i t w as fi r s t be l i e v edto be a n i n sc r i p t i o n o f Pu lumav i (Rapso n , page L I I I ) . T h u st h e m i n i s te r o f Rudradamau a n d t h e m ot h e r o f t h e Naga p r i n ceh a v e l i v ed a l m o st a t t h e sa m e t i m e a n d i n t h e sa m e cou n t r y .
W e m ust n o t fo r get t h a t t h e daug h te r o f Rudradaman m a r r i eda éatakarn i. M o r eove r , t h e H irah adagalli p l ates h a v e bee nfou n d i n t h e j
ma l lary d i st r i c t , n o t fa r f r o m C h i ta l d r oog
,w h e r e
h a v e bee n fou n d t h e co i n s o f t h e Maharat h is ; t h ese p l ates arew r i t te n i n a n a l p h abe t a l m ost i de n t i ca l w i t h t h a t o f th e
Ba n a v as i i n sc r i p t i o n ; t h e H irah ad agalli p l ate s a r e dated i n t h er e ign o f é iva-Ska n da-Pallava and t h e Ba n a v as i i n sc r i p t i o nm e n t i o n s é iva-Ska n da-Naga . T h u s t h e N agas w e r e t h e n e ig hbo u r s a n d t h e co n te m po r a r i es o f t h e Pallav as .
T h e r e i s aga i n a v e r y pecu l i a r po i n t of r ese m b l a n cebe tw ee n t h ese tw o dy n as t i es ; w e h a v e sa i d t h at é iva-Ska n daNaga w as a M a h a r at h i w h o r e ig n ed i n t h e C h i ta l d r oogr egi o n w h e r e t h e co i n s o f a M a h a r at h i h a v e bee n fou n d . T h e seco i n s bea r fo r e m b l em a h u m ped bu l l s ta n d i n g" (Ep . I n d . Vo l .V I I
,page 5 1 , p l a t e I I I ., figu r es A
,B,C ; a n d Rapso n , P l . V I I I ,
No . 233 , a n d page a n d i t is t h e h u m ped we l l s ta n d i n g"
2 . T h e expe d i t i o n o f Sa m ud r a -G up ta .
W e k n ow t h a t a p i l l a r i n th e fo r t. o f A l l a h abad co n ta i n sa n i n sc r i p t i o n w h i c h i s n o t da ted bu t w h i c h h as bee n e n g r a v eddu r i n g t h e r e i g n o f Sa m ud r a-Gup ta . T h i s i n sc r i p t i o n w h i c his i n te n ded to g lo r i fy t h e e m pe r o r a n d w h i c h gi v es u s t h eh i s to r y o f h i s r e ig n h as bee n pub l i s h ed by I. F . F leet i n h i sw o r k Gup ta i n sc r i p t i o n s” .
T h e i n te r p r e ta t i o n o f t h i s i n sc r i p t i o n h as g i v e n r oo m ton u m e r ou s e r r o r s a n d so m e o f t h e m g r eat o n es . A few o f t h e mh a v e bee n co r r ec ted . Fo r i n sta n ce
,t h e tex t co n ta i n s t h e w o r d
K au r ala” ; F leet (Gu pta I nsc . , page 7 , fo ot n o t e 1 . h as sa i dt h a t t h i s w o r d “ i s ob v i ous l y a m i s take a n d h as co r r ec ted i ti n t o “ K a i rala” a n d t h e n i n t o K e r a l a ; t h e n ce i t h as bee nco n c l u ded t h a t Sa m ud r a-Gup ta ad v a n ced as fa r as t h e C h e r ak ingdo m i n Sou t h I n d i a . T h i s i de n t i ficat i o n o f K au rala w i t hth e Ma l aba r coas t see m ed to be co n fi r m ed by tw o ot h e ri de n t i fica t i o n s : Kau t t u ra w i t h Kot t t‘ira : Po l l ac h i (Co i m bato r eD i s t r i c t) [ se e ] . R . A . S ., 1 897 , page 29 ] a n d Pa l akka w i t hPa l g h a t . B u t now Kau t tura i s i de n t ified w i t h Ko th o o r i nGa n j a m , a n d Pa l akka w i t h a cap i ta l o f t h e sa m e n a m e w h i c hwas s i t u ated to t h e Sou t h o f th e K r i sh na a n d w h i c h is m e nt io n ed i n m a n y Pallava Coppe r -p l ates (J . R . A . S .
,1 90 5 , page
M o r eo v e r,I h a v e m yse l f
,i n 1 9 1 7 , i n m y w o r k
“T h ePallavas,
” pages 1 4 a n d 1 5 , sa i d t h a t t h e Pallavas r e i g n ed o n
t h e ba n ks o f t h e K ri s h na h a v i n g t h e i r cap i t a l a t Kafic h i ; soSa m ud r a-Gup ta w as ab l e t o fig h t w i t h Vish nugopa o f Kafic h i
w i t h ou t any n ecess i ty to ad v a n ce to t h e c apital a n d I v e n tu r edt h e op i n i o n t h a t t h ey p r obab l y m e t o n t h e ba n ks o f t h eK ri s h na a n d pe r h aps e v e n i n t h e n o r t h o f t h e r i v e r a s w e mav
su ppose t h at th e Pallava k i n g w e n t fo rw a r d t o m ee t t h e Gup tae m pe r o r . T h u s Sa m ud r a-Gupta ’ s exped i t i o n t u r n s ou t to bec o n
siderablv r educed . How e v e r,I t h i n k t h a t t h e r e are ye t
n u m e r ou s e r r o r s t o be co r r ec ted and t h a t t h e w h o l e h i sto r y o fSamud ra-Gup ta must be se t r i g h t .
(1 ) M r . Vi n ce n t A . S m i t h be l i e v es t h a t Sa m ud r a -Gup ta ca rr i ed o n h i s c am pa ig n i n t h e v a l l e y o f t h e Ga n ges be fo r e m ak i n gt h a t o f t h e Decca n a n d t h a t t h e l a t t e r e n ded abou t 3 50 A . D .
How e v e r , t h e a u t h o r o f th e i n sc r i pt i o n speaks o f t h e exped i t i o naga i n s t t h e. k i n gs o f D aksh inapat lia be fo r e Speak i n g o f t h eexped i t i on aga i n s t t h e k i n gs o f I ca n n o t bu tt h i nk t h a t h e h a s fo l l owed th e c h r o n o log i ca l o r de r ; I a mt h e r e fo r e o f op i n i o n t h a t t h e e xped i t i o n to t h e so u t h tookp lac e a t t h e beg i n n i n g o f t h e r e ig n , abo u t 3 3 5 o r 340 A . D .
(2 ) Ce r ta i n a u t h o r s affi r m t h a t th e li i ll Mah é ndragiri i s m e nt io ned i n t h e i n sc r i p t i o n . How e v e r t h e passage “
paish tap uraka
ma li end i'
agirikau t t urakas vain idatta m ea n s : M a h e n d r a o f Fa i s htapura a n d Svam idatta o f G irikau t tura , t h a t i s t o say, t h e fo r t o fKo t t i
‘
ira w h i c h i s o n t h e h i ll. T h e r e i s t h e r e fo r e n o r e fe r e n ce i nth e i n sc r i p t i o n to t h e h i l l n a m ed MaliCndragiri.
(3 ) M r . K i e l h o r n i n s t udy i n g th e A ih o le i n sc r i p t i o n (Ep .
I n d .,Vo l. V I ., No . 1 , page 3 ) h as i de n t i fied “ t h e w a te r o f
K u n a la” m e n t i o n ed i n t h i s i n sc r i p t i o n w i t h t h e k i n gdo m o fK au r a la m e n t i o n ed i n t h e A l l a h abad i n sc r i p t i o n . T h i s i n te r
pre tat io n h as bee n adop ted w i t h ou t a n y d i sc uss i o n a n d n ow
e v e r ybody ad m i ts t h a t Sa m ud r a -Gupta de fea ted t h e k i n g w h owas r e i g n i n g “o n t h e ba n ks o f t h e Ko lléru (Co lair) l ake . I don o t h ow e v e r see a n y r easo n w hy K au r a l a s h ou l d be i de n t i fiedw i t h K u n a la . T h e n a m es t h e m se l v es do n o t r ese m b l e eac ho t h e r . I t h i n k t h a t t h e w o r d K au r a la m us t be r ead as K o ra la a n dm us t be t r a n s l a ted as “ t h e K o ra l a k i n gdo m ” a n d t h a t t h e Co lairlake i s n o t m e n t i o n e d i n t h e A l la h ab a d i n sc r i p t i o n .
(4 ) I n 1 898 (J . l\ . A S .,1 898 , page 369 ) F lee t affi r m ed
t h a t A i i andapalla m ust be i de n t i fied w i t h E r ando l , t h e c h i e ftow n o f a subd i v i s i o n o f t h e sa m e n a m e i n t h e Kit inde sli d i stri c to f th e Bo m bay P r es ide n cy . T h e o n ly p o o l was t h e siin ilat ity o ft h e n a m es . A t o n ce , a ll t h e h i s to r i a n s ad m i t ted t h i s in te rpreta t to n a n d s upposed t h a t Sa in udra-Gupta , a f t e r h a v i n g go n eas fa r as K zl fi c h i r e t u r n ed t o t h e No r t h o f I n d i a t r a v e l l i n gt h r o ug h t h e v icm ity o f Bo m bay ; a n d t h e n , t h ey i de n t ified t h eD a ivarastra of th e A l l a h abad i n s c r i p t i o n w i t h M a h a r as h t r a .T h i s i de n t ificat io n o f A irandapalla w i t h E r andol i s su r e l y
w r o n g .I n t h e A l la h abad i n sc r i p t i o n , A irandapalla i s m e n t i o n ed
i m m ed iate ly af te r t h e c i tade l o f Ko t tui a bill ; i t is t h e r e fo r e o n
th e coas t of O r issa t h a t w e. m u s t searc h f0 i Erandapalla. T h e
Siddh an tam p l a tes o f D événdravarman (Ep . I n d . Vo l . X I I ,page 2 1 2 ) w e r e i s sued to m ake a g r a n t t o a n i n h ab i ta n t o fErandapal i, a tow n p r obab ly n ea r C li icac o le and w h i c h i s
,i n
all l i ke l i h ood,t h e A irandapal la of t h e i n sc r i p t i o n o f Sa m ud r a
Gup ta .
(5 ) T h e i de n t ificat i o n o f D evarash tra w i t h M a h a r as h t r a isqu i te w r o n g . A se t o f coppe r -p l ate s d i sco v e r ed i n 1 908 -9 (No. 1 4 )a t Kasirnkota i n t h e d i s t r i c t o f V i z agapata m m e n t i o n s t h e g r a n tm ade by t h e E . C h a l u kya k i n g B h i m a I . o f a v i l l age s i t u a ted i nElamafi ch a Kalir
’
igadé s'
a w h i c h fo r m ed pa r t o f t h e p r o v i n ceca l l ed D évarash t ra.
“E lamafic h i-Kalingadé s
’
a is pe r h ap s to bei n terp r e ted as
“ t h e Kalifiga-cou n t r y o f w h i c h Elaman c h i
(T h e m ode r n Ye l lam a n c h i l i ) was t h e c h i e f tow n"
(see Repo r to n Ep ig r ap h y fo r 1 908 -1 909 ; 28 J u ly 1 909 .
Pa r t I I,No . 59 , page
To co n c l ude a )A iran clappalla i s s i t u ated i n t h e Ga n j a md i st r i c t a n d D évarash tra i s i n t h e V izagapa ta m d i st r i c t . 1 t h i n kI h a v e n ow p r o v ed t h a t Sa m ud r a-Gupta n e v e r w e n t to t h ew es te r n pa r t o f t h e Decca n .
So t h e Al l a h abad i n sc r i p t i o n does n o t a t all speak o f K e r a la ,Po l l a c h i
,Pa l g h a t, Mah éndragiri, Co lair l ake , E r andol i n
Kandé sh a n d M a h a r a s h t r a . A l l t h e k i n gdo m s m e n t i o n ed i n t h ei n sc r i p t i o n a r e s i t u ated o n t h e east coast o f t h e Decca n . T h eexped i t i o n W as so l e ly co n fi n ed to t h i s coast. H ow fa r d id Sa m ud r a-Gup ta ad v a n ce S i n ce Vish nugopa of Kafi c h i r e ig n ed o n t h eba n ks of t h e K ri s h n a i t is p r obab le t h a t h e m e t w i t h Samud r aGup t a i n t h a t r eg i o n .
(6) I t h as a lwa y s bee n ad m i t ted t i l l now t h a t t h e exped i t i o no f Sa m ud r a-Gup ta w as a v e r y g l o r i ou s o n e . How e v e r t h e insc ript i o n co n ta i n s a de ta i l w h i c h i n d i cate s t h e co n t r a r y : i i n fac t ,it i s sa i d t h a t Sa m ud r a -Gup ta cap tu r ed t h e k i n gs a n d a fte r wa r dsre l eased t h e m a n d i t is co n fi r m ed by t h e fact t h a t n o n e o f t h ek i n gdo m s o f t h e Decca n r e m a i n ed i n t h e possess i o n o f t h eGup tas. I t i s p r obab l e t h a t Sa m ud r a-Gu p ta fi r s t su bj uga tedso m e k i n gs
,bu t t h a t v e r y soo n h e e n cou n te r ed supe r i o r fo r ces
and was t h e r e fo r e ob l iged to r e l i n qu i s h h i s co n quest s a n dre t u r n r ap i d ly to h i s own s ta te . Afte r all t h ose rec t i fi catio ns
t h a t w e h a v e j us t m ade , th e exped i t i o n o f Sa m ud r a-Gupta
p r e se n t s i tse l f before our eye s in q u i te anot h er form : i t is no
mo r e a new Alexander mar c h ing V ictoriou sly th roug h So uth
- 6 1
I n d i a i t was s i m p ly t h e u n fo r t u n a te a t te m p t o f a k i n g f r o m t h eN o r t h w h o w a n ted to a n n ex t h e coas t o f O r i ssa bu t co m p l ete l yfa i l ed . Abou t A . D . 340 , Sa m ud r a -Gup ta l e f t h i s cap i ta lPatalipu tra a n d m a r c h ed d i r ect l y tow a r ds t h e Sou t h . F i r s t beco n que r ed Sou t h e r n Kosala w h e r e t h e k i n g M a h e n d r a wasr e ig n i n g i n t h e v i c i n i ty o f S i r pu r a n d Sombalpu r. H e t h e nc r osse d t h e fo r es t s t h a t are to t h e sou t h o f So n pu r a n d fou n dt h e r e t h e smal l k i n gdo m o f Mahakan tara w h i c h m ea n s “ t h eg r ea t fo r es t a n d w h e r e Vyagh ra- ra j a
,
“ t h e t ige r k i n g" w as
r e ig n i n g . T h e n h e r eac h ed t h e coas t o f O r i s sa . Mantaraja, k i n go f K o r a la
,M a h e n d r a o f P ish tapura, Svan i idat ta o f Ro t t u r a , a
c i tade l o n t h e top o f a h i l l,a n d Da m a n a o f E i andapali t r i ed t o
s top h i m bu t w e r e cap tu r e d . Sam ud r a -Gup ta n o w pre pa i ed to
m ake new co n quests w h e n h e w as opposed by a c o ii fe rle i ac v o fall t h e k i n gs t h a t r e ig n ed n ea r t h e m ou t h s o f t h e God zi vari a n dt h e K ri s h n a , t h e m ost pow e r fu l o f t h e m be i n g V ish nugopa, t h e
Pallava k i n g o f Kafic h i. T h e ot h e r k i n gs w e r e o fAvamuk ta, H as tivarman o f Vengi
, Ugraséna o f Pa l akka , K uber aw h o r e ig n ed i n D evarash tra a n d D h a n a n ja y a w h ose cap i t a lwas Ko sth alapura. Sa m ud r a-Gup ta be i n g r epu l sed by t h e k i n gso f t h e Easte r n Decca n
,aba n do n ed t h e co n ques ts h e h ad m ade
i n t h e coast o f O r i ssa a n d r e t u r n ed h o m e .
O f a l l t h e k i n gs m e n t i o n ed i n t h e A l la h abad i n sc r ip t i o n ,t h e r e is o n l y o n e w h o i s k n ow n i n o t h e r w ays ; i t i s Vishnugopao f Kafi c h i w h ose n a m e fi gu r es i n t h e Vé ya lur i n s c r i p t i o n (seeT h e Pallavas" pages 20 a n d
3 . T h e Pallavas f r o m 340 to 6 1 0 A . D .
W e n ow p r opose to st u dy t h e h i s to r y o f t h e k i n gs w ho
h a v e r e i g n ed af te r V ish nugopa, t h e ad v e r sa r y o f Sa m ud r a-Gup t aabou t 340 A . D . , u p to h /Iah é ii dravarman I , t h e ad ve r sa r y o fPu lakes
’
in I I . abou t 6 1 0 A . D .
I n c h ap te r I I o f m y w o r k “T h e Pallavas I h a v e s h ow n
t h a t t h e vayalur i n sc r i p t i o n e n ab l es us to co n st r uc t t h e fol l owi n g ge n ea l ogy
KnmaraV i s h n u
Ska n davarnian
Viravart’
n an
Skandavarman
Sir‘
nh avarman Yuvain aharaja Vishnugopa
Skandavarman Sir‘
nh avarman
N andivarman Vi s h riugopa
S imhiavarman
Sini h avish nu
Mah éndravarman I .I n fac t
,t h e D riigodu N O . 1 p l a tes (G . O . No . 99, 29 th Aug .
1 9 1 6,Pa r t 1 1
,N o . orhgodu No . 2 (G . o . No . 99
,29 th A ug.
1 9 1 6, Pa r t I I , No . Pikira (Ep . I n d .,Vo l V I I I
,p .
Mangalar (I n d . A n t ., Vo l . V , page 1 54 ) a n d C h i na (G . O . No .
920, 4th Aug . 1 9 1 4 , Pa r t I I , N o . 1 ) gi ve u s th e fo l l ow i n gge n ea l ogy
Ku in aravis lm i i
Skandavarina i i
i i ' avarn i a i i
Skandavarina i i
Yi ivamaharaia Vish nugOpa
S irh h avarnm n
V ish nugopa .
I t m us t be n o ted t h a t t h e Ch t‘ira p l ates w h i c h a r e da t e d i nth e r e ig n o f t h e l ast k i n g g i v e h i m fo r g i andfath er V ish nugOpaw i t h t h e t i t l e o f M a h a r aj a
,w h e r eas th e o t h e r docu m e n ts ca l l
h i m Yu vamaliaraja. T h i s de ta i l i s o f v e r y l i t t l e impm tan c e ,
fo r t h e docu m e n ts so m et i m es g i v e us inCO i re c t deta i l s abou tt h e g r a n d fat h e r o f a r e ig n i n g so v e r e i g n . T h i s ge n ea l ogy ca nt h e r e fo r e be accepted w i t h ce r ta i n ty .
T h e coppe r p l a tes o f [T
rt i vu palli (Ind. A n t . Vo l . V , page20 ) g i v e u s t h e success i o n Skandavarman , Viravarman
,Ska n
davarm an , Yuvamah araja V is li n ugOpa ,w h i c h co n fo r m s ah
so lu te ly to t h e o ne gi v e n abo v e ; bu t t h ese p l ates a r e da ted i nt h e r e ig n o f a k i n g n a m ed S imh avarman w h ose r e la t i o n s h i p toth e o lh e r k i n gs i s n o t g i v e n . T h e m ost n at u r a l s uppos i t i o nw ou l d be to t ake t h i s S ir’
nh avarman to be th e e l de r b r o t h e r o fYuvamahaiaja Vis h n ugOpa a n d co n seque n t l y t h e so n o f
Skandavai m a n . T h e L'
davei id iran i p l a t es (Ep . lnd . Vo l I I I . p .
1 42 ) g i v e t h e fo l low i n g ge n ea l ogySkandavarni an
S iih h avarman
Skandavarma i i
Xandivarman
i n w h i c h w e fi n d a S irh h avarm an,so n o f a Skanrlavarman . O n e
may t h e r e fore be te m pted t o be l i e v e t h a t t h e S imh avarman o ft h e Udaye ndiram p la tes w as t h e g r a n dso n o f V iravarman .
Th e Vayal t‘
i r i n sc r i p t i o n (see Th e Pallavas c h ap te r I I ) hast h r own a final so l u t i on o n t h i s p r ob l em s ince it g ives us th efo l l ow i n g se r ie s
(23 ) Viravarman ,
(24) Skandavarman ,
(2 5 ) Sirh h avarman ,
(26 ) Skandavarman ,
(27 ) N andivarman .
T h e Velt‘i rpalaiyam p l ates (Sou t h I n d i a n I n sc r i p t i o n s , Vo l.I I ., Pa r t V , gi v e us a b r i e f h i sto r y o f t h e Pallavas o f Kafic h i ;
a f te r h a v i n g spoke n,i n v e r se 9
,o fN andivai m a n , t h ese p l ate s say
“ T h e n f r o m t h e k i n g n a m ed bo r n th ev i c to r i ou s S irh h avish nu Acco r d i n g to t h i s pass age i t w ou l dappea r t h a t Sirh h avarman
,t h e fat h e r o f S iiii h avis h n u was th e
su ccesso r bu t n o t t h e so n o f N andivarman,be cau se w e h a v e
h e r e t h e n ” a n d n o t “ f r o m h i m a n d t h i s su ppos i t i o n h as
bee n co m p le te l y co n fi r m ed by t h e vayalt‘
ir i n sc r i p t i o n w h i c hg i v es t h e fo l l ow ing se r i es
(29 ) Sir’
nbavarman,
(30) Vish n t tgopa,
(3 1 ) S imh avarman ,
(32 ) Sirh h avisl‘
inu ,
(3 3 ) Mah e ndravarman ( I ) .T h u s it fo l l ows t h a t Sn
'
rt liav is li nu w as t h e g i andso n ofVish nugfi pa o f t h e C h ina p l a t es . I n deed , i i i th e Vayalur ins
c rip tio n , as w e l l as i n t h e C h ina p l a tes , t h i s V ish nugc'
ipa“ f igu r es
as t h e so n and s uccesso r o f a k i n g n a m ed S ir'n h avarman .
So t h e n , i n m y op i n i on ,t h e ge n ea l ogy l h a v e gi v e n a t th e
begi n n i n g o f t h i s c h ap te r can be co n s i de r ed as co r r e c t .\Ve h av e th us u t i l i sed a ll t h e docu m e n ts t h a t w e h a ve w i t h
t h e excep t i o n o n l y of t h e Ch endalur p l at es (Ep . Ind . Vo l. V I I ] ,page w h i c h g ive t h e fo l l ow i n g ge n ealogv
Skandavarman
Kumarav ish nu fl . )
B uddhavarman
Kumaravish nu (I L ) k i n g o f Kafi c h i .Up to t h i s t i m e , a l l t h e au t h o r s t h a t h av e t r i ed to co n n e c t
no t some t imes r esemb le o n e a n o t h e r . Las t l y, I t h ink t h at t h e r eis no need to c ompa r e th e Cbe ndalur p l at es dated f r o m Kafi c h i
puram w i t h t h ose o f Uru vupalli da ted f r o m Palakkada,
Mangalt‘
i r dated f r o m D asanapura, a n d Pikira da ted f r o mMénmatura z tbe tow n s o f Palakkada
,D asanapura a n d Mentnatura
w e r e pro bablv i n th e Guntu r d i st r i c t , t h at i s , fa r aw a y f r o mKaflcbipuram a n d t h e d iffe r e n ce o f t h e cou n t r i es fu l l y exp lai n st h e d iffe r e n ce i n t h e a l p h abets .
(3 ) We h a v e sa i d t h at t h e Cbendalur p l a tes w e r e s u r e lyal m ost co n te m po ra n eous w i t h t h ose o f Uruvupalli a n dwe h a v ea l so po i n ted o ut t h at t h e a l p h abe t o f t h e p l ates does n o t e n ab l eu s to say i f Kumarav ish n u I I . o f Chandalt‘i r w h o r e i g n ed i nKafi cbi was th e p r edecesso r o r su ccesso r o f Sirh havarman o f
Uruvupalli w h o p r obab ly r e ig n ed at Kafic h i w h i le h i s b r o t h e rth e Yuvamaharaja Vish nugopa r e ig n ed o v e r t h e p r o v i n ce o fPalakkada. N ow w e s h a l l fi n d t h a t it i s ce r ta i n t h a t K u m a r aV i s h n u I I . did n o t r e i g n a f te r Simh avarm an . I n fac t
, th e
g ra n d-so n o f th e l at te r,
N andivarman,r e ig n ed a t Kafi c h i
(Udayendiram p lates ) a n d w e l ea r n f r o m t h e g r a n t o f Velu rpala iyam t h a t N andivarman h ad fo r su ccesso r s Sirh h avarman
and Simbavish nu w h o was su r e l y r e ig n i n g a t Kafi c h i becau sebe conque r ed t h e C h ola k i n gdom ; af te r Sirh h avarman
,w e
can n o t fi nd a p l ace fo r th e dy n asty of Cbendalur. Bes ides,
th e Vayah‘
i r i n sc r i p t i o n p l aces t h e se r i es Skandavarman - K u m arav ish nu -Buddh avarman be fo r e t h e se r i es Simhavarman -Ska ndavarman -N andivarman ; a n d t h e Vé lt
‘
irp é laiyam p l ates p laceKumaravisbnu a n d Buddh avarman (m e n t i o n ed i n v e r se 8 )be fo r e Vish nugo pa a n d N andivarman (m e n t i o n ed i n v e r se
T h e r e 18 t h e r e fo r e r oo m t o t h i n k t h a t t h e se r i es o fk i n gs
Skandavarman
Kumft rav ish n u (l . )
B uddh avarman
Kumaravish n u (I I . )(th e do n o r o f th e Cbendalur p l ate s )
h a v e r e ig n ed a t li a r' i c h i be fo r e t h e se r i esS imh avar inan
(m e n t i o n ed i i i t h e Lfruvupalli pla t e s )
Skandavarinan
N and ivarman ,
a n d ow i n g to th e r ese m b l a n ce be tw ee n t h e Cbendalur a n dUruvupalli p l a tes , Ku inai av ish nu I I w ou ld h a v e bee n t h ei m m ed i a te p r edecesso r o f S imhavarman at Ké n
’
c h i .
At t h e e n d o f 1 9 1 5 , M r . C . R . Krish namac h ari,Te l ugu
Ass i s t a n t i n t h e Ep ig r ap h i ca l Offi ce o f M ad r as,h as m ade a
dis c o ve rv w h i c h I co n s i de r t o be o f v e r y g r ea t i m po r ta n ce fo rt h e h i s to r y o f t h e Pallavas , 1 m ea n t h e d i sco v e r y o f t h e OrtigOdu
1 p l a tes (Repo r t o n Ep ig rap h y , 99 , 29 th Aug . 1 9 1 6 ;
Pa r t . l I . , page 1 1 3 ) w h i c h g i v es u s th e fo l l ow i n g ge n ea l ogyKuniai aV ish n u
Ska n davarin an
Viravai'
mam
Skandavat‘
man .
W'
e m ust n o te , fi r s t “o f a l l , t h a t t h e l as t o f t h ese k i n gs d i dn o t p r obab ly r e ig n a t Ix
'
z'
i ii c h i s i n ce t h e docu m e n t i s dated f r o mTar
‘
nbrapa . W’
h o t h e n r e i g n ed a t K anc h i w h e n Skandavarman
r e ig n ed i n t h e Gu n tu r d i s t r i c t As t h i s Skandavarman i s th efa t h e r o f Simh avai‘man a n d t h e Vish nugopa o ft h e Uruvupalli p l a tes , w e m ay s uppose t h a t t h e k i n g w h o
r e ig n ed at t h e t i m e o f Viravarman a n d Skandavarman o f Omgodu No . 1 was Kumfirav ish n u l l o f Ch endalt
'
ir.
Bu t t h e r e i s so m et h i n g m o r e t h e O it du No . 1 p l atesm e n t i o n a k i n g ca l l ed Kumaravislinu , a n a m e w h i c h w e fi n dm e n t i o n ed tw i ce i n th e Cbendalur ge n ea l ogy ; bu t s i n ce
Kumarav ishnu I ] . p r obab l y r e ig n ed a t t h e t i m e o f V i r avarman a n d h i s so n Ska n da , i t i s Kumarav ish nu I . w h o can
be ide n t i fi ed w i t h t h e o n e o f OmgOdu No . 1 .
So we ob t a i n t h e fo l l ow i n g ge n ea l ogy w h i c h ag r ees w i t hall t h e docu m e n ts t h a t we p o s ses s
Skandavarman (350-3 75 A .
Kum é ravisli n u I . (375 -400 A . D .)
Buddh avarman Skandavarman (400-425 A . D .)
Kumaravishnu I I . Viravarman (42 5 -450 A . D .)
(K i n g o f Kafi c h i)Skandavarman (450-475 A . D .)
S irh bavarman Y . Vish nugOpa (47 5 -500 A . D . )
(K i n g o f Kafi c h i) (Go v e r n o r o f Palakkada.)
Skandavarman Simliavarman (500-5 2 5 A .
N andivarman Vis linugopavarman (5 25 -5 50 A . D .)
(K i n g of Kafi c h i) (K i n g o f Palakkada)
Simhavarman (5 50-5 75 A . D .)
S ir'
rih avishnu (5 75 -600 A . D .)
(K i n g o f Kafi c h i)
Mah éndravarman I . (600-625 A . D .)I t is to be obse r v ed t h a t i n t h e Dmgodu No . 1 p l a te s t h e
na m e o f Viravarman i s n o t p r eceded by a n y t i t l e . I t is t h e r e fo r e
p r obab le t h a t h e d i d n o t r e ig n bu t d i ed yo u n g so t h a tKuma
‘
i ravishnu I I o f Kafic h i was t h e co n te m po r a r y o f Skanday a r m a n o f Tar'nbrapa a n d t h e i mmed i ate p r edecesso r , a t Kafic h i,o f Siiii h avarman .
I n th e c h r o n o l ogy gi v e n above,w e h a v e ad m i t ted t h a t
Mah éndravarman I . asce n ded t h e t h r o n e abou t 600 A .
“
D . a n dw e h a v e a l l ow ed fo r eac h ge n e r a t i o n a n a v e r age o f 2 5 yea r s .
I t i s p r obab l e t hat t h e fi r s t o f t h ese k i n gs,Skandavarman
(3 50 was th e so n a n d su ccesso r o f Vishnugopa of Kafi c h iwh o r e ig n ed t h e r e f r om 325 to 350 a t th e t ime o f Sa m ud r aGupta.
It is m o r e easv fo r us to co n st r uc t the genea l ogy o f t h ese
0 L)
k i n gs t h a n to co m p i l e t h e i r IN S IU I’ V , becau se t h e coppe r -p la tesg i v e u s a lways t h e n a m es o f t h e g r e at-g r a n d fa t h e r
,t h e g r a n d
fat h e r a n d t h e fa t h e r o f t h e do n o r,bu t t h ese n a m es are n o t
fo l l ow ed by a n y h i s to r i ca l de t a i l s . T h e v h a v e w o r d s o f p r a i seadded to t h e m w h i c h a r e pu r e ly co n v e n t i o n a l a n d a r eapp l i ed i n d i sc r i m i n a te l y i n a h aph az ai d m a n n e r to a n y k i n g .
T h e o n l y t h i n g w e k n ow i s t h a t f r o m 400 A . I) . to 5 5 0 A . I) .
t h e e m p i r e r e m a i n ed a lw ays d i v i ded i n t o two k i n gdo m sT o ndaimandalam i n t h e sou t h w i t h K a ti c h i fo r i t s cap i t a l a n dt h e p r ese n t d is t r i c t s of G unt u r a n d N e l l o r e i n t h e n ort h w i t hT ambrapa , I’alakkada , Me nmatura a n d D as
’
anapu ra fo rcap i ta l s .
c an a l so h a v e so m e add i t i o n a l i n fo r m a t io n w h e n w e
p r oceed to stu dy t h e Ga i'
igas a n d t h e Kadambas .
F r o m t h e t i m e o f S imh avish n u t h e h i s to r y o f th e I’allavas
beco m es c lea r . I t h i n k i t is u se less to r epeat h e re w h a t I h a v esa i d i n m y book T h e Pallavas , page 36 ; I s h a l l be co n te n tw i t h say i n g h e r e aga i n t h a t S imh avish nu v a n qu i s h ed t h e M a laya
,
Kalabh ra, M a l a v a , ChOIa, P a ndya a n d S ir’
nh ala k i n g a n d th e
Keralas , co n que r ed t h e C h ela k i n gdo m a n d took possess i o n o ft h e ba n ks o f t h e K a ve r i t h a t Maliend i a w as pu r s ued bv
Pu lakésin I I . t ip to t h e ba n ks o f t h e Ké veri, t h a t h e su cceeded i nde fea t i n g h i s ad v e r sa r y a t t h e bat t l e o f Pu llah '
ir a n d p r ese r v edt h e co u n t r y o f Kafi c li i ; bu t h e l o s t t h e d is t r i c t s o f G untu r a n dNe l l o r e w h i c h r e m a i n ed i n t h e h a n d s o f t h e C h a lukyas .
Co n ce r n i n g t h e Pallava c i v i l i sa t i o n at'
t li e t i m e o f M a h e ndravarman I .
,I r equest t h e r eade r to r e fe r to t h e fo l l ow i n g
ivo rks
Concern ing A rc/z ilcd nrc Mahendravarman i n sc r i p t i o n a tCo n j ee v e r a m ,
Po nd ic h c rry 1 9 1 9 .
Concern ing Scu lpture“Pallava A n t iqu i t i es Vo l . I . C h ap
te r I I .
Concern ing D rama T h e Mattavili saprah asana ;"T rivan
d r a i n Sa n sk r i t Se r i e s No . L V .
Concern ing Poesy and Music“T h e Pallavas page 39 .
Conce r n ing Pa i n ting and D an ce r:“ M y fo r t h co m ing pape r
e n t i t l ed “Pallava pa i n t i n g , co n ce r n i n g t h e f r esco
pa i n t i n gs a t Sittannzivfi éah
GEN EALOGY OF THE PALLAVAS
Bappa-déva (22 5 -2 50 )
Skandzivarmai i (250-2 75 )
B uddhhvarman (2 75 - 300 )
[Budcihya fi ] kura (300Vish ri iigopa (3 2 5 -350 )Skandavarman (3 50-3 7 5 )
Kumé r‘av ish nu I (3 75 -400 )
Buddhavarman (400-42 5 ) Skandavarman
Kuni a‘
i ravish nu 1 1 (42 5 -450) V iravarman
Sk ziii davarman (H O-47 5 )
Sir’
nh avarman (47 5 -500)
Skandavarman (500-525 )I
N and ivarman I (5 2 5 -5 50)
S imh avish nu (57 5 -600)
Mah énd‘ravarman I (600-630 )
N arasifiih avai m a n I (630-668 )
Mah endravarman 1 1 (668 -670)
Paraméiivaravarman I (670-690)
N arasir’
rih avarman I I (690-7 1 5 )
Parameévaravarman [ I (7 1 5 -7 1 7 )
lYuvamah araja V i shnugo pa
I
I
S irii h avarman
V ish n ugOpa
Simliavarman (5 50-5 7 5 )l
Bh imavarman
Eu-dcl liavarman
Adityavarin an
Govindavarman
H iranyavarman
N andivarman I I (7 1 7-779)
D antivarman (779-830)
N andivarman I I I (830-854)
N
Aparé ji ta (880-900)
C H APT ER l\
T IIE D YNAS’
I‘
IES OF CENTRAL D H CCAN’
.
1 . T h e Vfi kfi takaa,
Ti l l now , n o o n e h as t h o ug h t o f c l ass i n g t h e Vfikatakasa m o n g t h e dy n ast i e s o f Decca n ; i t was be l i e v ed t h a t i t wasa dy n asty t h a t h ad to be st ud i ed w i t h t h e dy n ast i es o f t h e N o rtli.A n exa m p l e o f t h i s e r r o r i s g i v e n by K i e l h o r n w h o c l a sses t h evakataka i n sc r i p t i o n s (n os . 6 1 8 t o 624 ) u n de r t h e r u b r i c“ I n sc r i pt i o n s o f No r t h e r n I n d i a
N ow t h e n,I w i s h t o m ake t h e fo l l ow i n g d ec l a r a t i o n
w h e n t r y i n g to co m p i l e t h e a n c i e n t h i s to r y o f t h e Decca n , Ih a v e co m e t o t h e co n c l u s i o n t h at t h e Vfikfi takas m us t be c la s seda m o n g t h e d y n ast i e s o f t h e Decca n ; a n d w h a t i s m o r e , I ca naffi r m t h a t
,o f a l l t h e dy n ast i es o f t h e Decca n t h a t h a v e r e ig n ed
f r o m t h e I II to h e Vl ce n t u r y,t h e m os t g l o r i ou s
,t h e m ost
i m po r ta n t , t h e o ne t h a t m ust be g i v e n t h e p l ace o f h o n ou r , t h eo n e t h a t h as exce l led a l l ot h e r s
,t h e o n e t h a t h as h ad t h e y g r ea
t es t i nflue n ce o u t h e c i v i l i sat i o n o f t h e w h o l e o f t h e Decca n,i s
u n qu es t i o n ab l y th e i l l us t r i ou s dy n asty o f t h eT h e u n de r m e n t i o n ed docu m e n ts : C liammak (Gupta I n se r i
pt io ns , N o . 5 5 , p . S iw a n i (Gup ’
a I n sc r i p t i o n s , No . 5 6 p .
Dud i a (Ep . I n d .
,Vo l I I I
,p . Balaghat t Ep . l nd . .
Vo l . IX ,p . P r o fes so r K . B . I’at li ak
'
s p l ates t lnd . A n t . ,Vo l . XL I
,1 9 1 2 , p . tw o i n sc r i p t i o n s at Aj a n t a (A . S . W . l .
pp . 5 3,1 3 4 a n d and t h e il l SC l lp l IO l l i n th e G h a to tkac h a
ca v e a t G uwara (A . S . I . , vo l IX. pp . 64 a n d 1 38 ) gi v e us
th e fo l l ow i n g ge n ea l ogyV indyasakti
P r a v a t ascu a I .
Gautamipu t i a
Rudraséna I .
Prith ivish éna I .
Rudrasena l l .
Pravarasena I I .
N arendrasena
D évaséna Prith iv ish éna I I .
H arish ena
T h e fi r s t M a h a r aj a,Pravaraséna I . was t h e so n o f
Vindyaéak ti,“t h e ba n n e r o f t h e Vé kataka r ace" m e n t i o n ed in
t h e Ajan tfi (A . S . W . I .,I V
,p . 1 24) i n sc r i p t i o n w i t h ou t any
r oya l t i t l e . Pravaraséna I . pe r fo r m ed sac r ifices, espec ial l yA svamedh a. Gau tam iputra, w h o d i ed p r obab ly be fo r e h is
fat h e r,as i s see n by h i s n e v e r be i n g a M a h a r a j a
,mari
'
iedw th e
daug h te r o f Bh avanaga, k ing o f t h e B harasivas,“w h o w e r e
besp r i n k l ed o n t h e fo r e h ead w i t h t h e p u r e w ate r o f Bhagirath i(t h e Gai
'
i ga) I t i s p r obab l e t h a t B h avanaga w h o r e i g n ed n ea rt h e Ga n ges be l o n ged to t h e fa m i ly o f t h e Nagas o f Padmavat i.
W'
e k n ow n o t h i n g abou t Rudrasena 1 . H is so n Pri t h i v i sh ena r e ig n ed fo r a l o n g t i m e . M r . V i n ce n t A . S m i t h a t t r i bu tesan i n sc r i p t i o n (Gupta I n sc r i p t i o n s, N O . 5 3 a n d 54, page 2 33 )at Nac h n a to t h i s k i n g ; bu t w h e n w r i t i n g, M r . V ice n t A . Sm i t hh as n o t take n i n t o accou n t t h e Balag h a t p l a tes w h i c h . s h owt h a t t h e r e av as a seco n d Prith ivish ena. I s th e Nac h n a s tonedated i n t h e t i m e o f Prith ivish éna I . o r Prith ivish éna I I
]udging f r o m th e fo r m o f t h e l e t te r s I w ou l d at t r i bu te it'
r a t he rto t h e seco n d t h e s m al l c i r c l e a t t h e h ead o f t h e l e t te r s se e m s
25th Aug . 1 9 1 5 , Pa r t I I; No . 1 3, page T h i sinformat i on i s v e r y p r ec i ous as t h r ow i n g l i g h t o n th e o r i g in ofth e dynasty o f th e Vish nukundins t h at w e s h a l l s t udy fu r t h e r .I n fac t , we sh al l see t h a t t h i s dy n as ty h ad fo r i t s t u t e l a r y de i ty,th e God o f Sri-Parvata ; a n d t h a t th e fi r s t k ing o f t h i s dy n as ty
,
Madhavavarman m a r r i ed a V is h nukundin p r i n cess . I t h i n kt h e r e ca n be n o doub t t h a t t h i s p r i n cess was t h e daug h te r o r t h eg r a n d daug h te r o f quee n Prabhavati o r C h a n d r a v a t i w h o w as
th e daug h te r o f t h e Gupta e m pe r o r,w i fe o f Rudrasena I I .
m ot h e r o f Pravarasena I I . a n d a v o ta r y o f t h e G o d o f Sri
Parvata. I t i s p r obab l y du r i n g t h e r e ig n o f Pravaraséna I I .t h a t th e vakatakas w h o r e ig n ed o v e r a l m ost t h e w h o l e o f t h em ode r n S tate o f H ayderabad, su cceeded i n fo u n d i n g t h edy n asty o f th e Vish n i ik i indins by p l acin g o n t h e t h r o n e o f
Vé r’
igi , Madhavavarman I wh o was t h e h u sba n d o f a Vakatakap r i n ce ss a n d a n ado r e r o f t h e God o f S r i -Parvata.
We do n ot k n ow i f t h e Yuvaraja D ivakarasena asce n dedth e t h r o n e . W e o n l y k n ow fo r ce r ta i n t h a t a so n o f RudrasénaI I . r e ig n ed u n de r t h e n a m e Pravaraséna I I . T h e poe t Ba n a i nh i s i n t r oduc t i o n t o H arsh ac h arita m e n t i o n s
,a m o n g t h e m os t
fa m ou s poets t h a t h ad p r eceeded h i m ,Pravaraséna w h o was
th e au t h o r o f a w o r k ca l l ed Sétukavya. T h e cap i ta l o f P i a v ar ase n a was’ ca l l ed Pravarapu ra a n d was p r obab l y fou n ded b yt h at k i n g . I t i s ce r t a i n t h a t Pravaraséna I I . r e i g n ed i n t h esou t h o f jaba l p u r (j ubbu l po r e ) i n t h e cou n t r y i n w h i c h w e
n ow fi n d t h e tow n s o f Seu n i (Seo n i ) a n d E lic h pur Ilic h pur
T h e Na r bada sepa r ated h i s k i n gdo m f r o m t h at o f t h e Gup tas .C h a m m ak (Ch armafika) i s s i t uated o n t h e ba n ks o f M a h an ad iGup ta Insc .
,page W e h a v e sa i d t h at th e vakfi tka
e m p i r e ex te n ded fu r t h e r sou t h . I n 450 A . D . th e vakataka
e m p i r e h ad th e fo l l ow i n g bou n da r i e s i n th e n o r t h i t
was sepa r a ted by t h e Na r bada f r om t h e k i n gdo m o f U j j a i nw h e r e r e i g n ed t h e i l l ust r i o us e m pe r o r K u m ar a-Gup ta I . I n th eeast was t h e v assa l s ta te o f Raypu r o f w h i c h w e s h a l l s peakfu r t h e r t h e k i n g M a h a-Sudeva h ad Sarabh apura fo r h i s cap i ta l .I n th e sou t h -eas t was s i t u ated t h e k i n gdo m o f th e V i s h nukundins ove r w h i c h Madhavavarman I was r e i g n i n g a tvengi . I n t h e sou t h w est
,th e r i v e r Bh ima sepa r a ted t h e
Vakatakas e m p i r e f r om t h at o f t h e Kadambas w h ose k i n g
Sant ivarman was th e m aste r o f t h e e n t i r e Karnnata r eg i o n”
;
o ne o f h i s cap i ta i s was Palas ika ( I-Ialsi i n Be l ga u m ) . I n
t h e w est t h e T raikutas o c c upied ith e coas t p r o v i n ce o f Aparé nta.
T h us t h e Vakatakas r e ig n ed o v e r o n e m p i t e t h a t occup i ed av e r y ce n t r a l pos i t i o n a n d i t i s t h r oug h t h i s dy n asty t h a t t h eh ig h C i v i l i sa t io n o f t h e G up ta e m p i r e a n d t h e Sa n skri t c u l t u r ei n pa r t i c u l a r sp r ead t h r oug h ou t th e Decca n . Betwee n 400A . D . a n d 500 A . D . t h e Viiké takas occup i ed a p r edo m i n a n tpos i t i o n a n d w e m ay say t h a t “
I n th e h istory of th e D eccan th e
I'
cen tury is th e cen tu ry of t/1c l'
iilczitakns”
.
T h e a l p h abe t o f t h e p l a tes o f t h i s dy n asty i s v e r y pec u l i a r :i t i s “box- h eaded s h a l l h a v e occas io n to r e v e r t to t h i ssu bj ec t w h en speak i n g o f th e Kadambas .
Acco r d i n g to t h e Aj a n t a i n sc r i p t i o n , t h e so n o f P r a v a r asé na l l , w h ose n a m e h as bee n l os t, m ust h a v e asce n ded t h et h r o n e w h e n h e was 8 yea r s o l d (A r c h . Su r v . \Vest . I n d .,
Vol .I V . , page 1 2 5 ) I t i s p r obab l e t h a t t h i s p r i n c e was d e t h r o n e d byh is y ou n ge r b r o t h e r N zi re ndrasé na. I n fac t
,t h e B a l ag h a t
p l ate s say t h a t N aré ndras é na“app r op r i a ted o r took aw ay th e
fa m i ly ’ s fo r t u n e .” N aréndrasei ia was m a r r i ed to Ajjh i tabh at t fi
r i k 'a,daug h te r o f th e k i n g o f Kun tala. T h i s m a r r i age t ook
p l ace p r obab ly abou t 445 A . D . We h a v e ad m i t ted t h a t Rud r ase n a I I m a r r i ed t h e daug h te r o f C h a n d r a-Gup ta I I abou t 395A . D . I t i s p r obab l e t h a t t h e m a r r i age o f t h e g r a n dso n tookp l ace abou t 50 yea r s a f te r w e s h a l l see l a te r o n t h a t t h i s k i n go f Kun tala was p r obab ly t h e Ix
'
adamba Kakusth avarman . T h eBa l ag h a t p l ates say abou t N arendrasena t h a t “ h i s co m m a n d sw e r e h o n ou r ed by t h e l o r ds o f li esala, M eka l a a n d Malay a,a n d h e h e l d i n c h eck e n e m i es bowed d ow n by h is p r ow ess"
T h i s la t te r e v e n t took p lace a fte r 467 A . D . It i s i m poss i b l et h a t N arend i asena s h ou l d be ab l e to gn e o rde i s to th e M a l a vak i n g be fo r e t h i s da te i n fac t
,f r om 4 5 5 to 46 7 A . D .
,t h e k i n g
o f Uj ja i n w as t h e i l l u st r i o u s Ska n da-G i ip ta V ikramaditya
(M r . Pa n n a La l l i n T h e dates o f Ska n da-Gupta a n d h is suc
c e sso rs,H i n d us ta n Re v i ew
, Jan . 1 9 1 8 , a r gues t h a t th e r e igno f Ska n da-Gup ta e n ded abou t A . D . 46 7 . See a l so
,
“A n n a l so f t h e B handarkar i n s t i tu te 1 9 1 8 -1 9
,Vo l . I , Pa r t 1 , page
F r o m 484 to 494 A . D . t h e cou n t r y S i t u ated be tw ee n th e
J ani n a a n d t h e N a r m ada was u n de r t h e o r de r s o f Bud h a -Gup ta.Prith ivish éna I I , so n o f N arendrasena, was r e ig n i ng at
th e t i m e w h e n t h e B i léghat p l a tes were e n g raved.
It i s i m possi b l e to k n ow i f D evasena r e ig n ed a t t h e sa m et i m e as Prith ivish éna I I o r a f te r i t was p r obab ly a t t h e e n d o ft h e V ce n tu r y . T h e m i n i s te r o f D évasé na w as H as tibh o ia w h o
p r obab ly dug t h e Gh ato tkac h a ca v e a t Gu lwara, e l e v e n m i l esW . o f Aj an ta .
H arish éna, so n o f D evasena r e ig n ed p i o bab ly abou t 500 t o5 30 A . D . I t i s p r obab l e t h a t t h i s k i n g m ade co n quests i n al l
d i r ec t i o n s,s i n ce t h e Aj an ta i n sc r i p t i o n m e n t i o n s Kun tala
(t h e K ada m ba k i ngdo m ) A v a n t i (M alw a ) , Kalir'
iga, Ko sala,
T rikuta,Lat a a n d A n d h r a . T h ese é v e n ts p r o bab ly took p l ace
f r o m 500 to 5 1 5 A . D . I n fac t i t i s abou t 500 A . D . t h a tRavivarman k i l l ed S r i -Vish n i ivai' in an , w h o was r e ig n i n g a tPalas
’
ika H arivarman m ig h t h a v e co n t r i bu ted to th e s t r ugg l eaga in s t t h e k i n g o f Ku ntala . In t h e V I ce n t u r y w e h a v e n o t as i n gl e docu m e n t o f t h e Traik i
‘
i tas . I t i s t h e r e fo r e p r obab le t h a tt h ey w e r e dest r oyed by H arish éna at t h e begn im ing o f t h i sce n t u r y . I t i s a l so p r obab l e t h a t i t w as at t h e beg i n n i n g of t h eV I ce n t u r y t h a t I n d r a o f Kalir
’
iga foug h t w i t h I n d r a t h eVish n ukundin a n d poss i b ly H arish é na h ad to i n te r fe r e i n t h eaffa i r s o f t h e K a l i n ga a n d t h e A n d h r a (betw ee n t h e Goda v a r ia n d t h e K ri s h n a) . Aga i n , a n i n sc r i p t i o n o f E r a n (Gu pta In sc . ,
p .93 ) , dated 5 1 0 -5 1 1 m e n t i o n s a fig h t i n w h i c h B h a n u -Guptawas a l l ied w it h t h e k i n g o f éarabh a i.e . t h e k i n g o f Ko sala. I tis pe r h aps at t h i s t i m e t h at H arish éna foug h t w i t h t h e k i n gs ofAvan t i (M alwa) a n d M eka l a (t h e Na r bada) .
I t is p r obab le t h a t t h e Vakataka dy n asty was r ep laced , i nt h e m i dd l e o f t h e V I ce n t u r y
,by t h at o f t h e Kalac h uris w h o
h e l d possess i o n o f a l l t h e cou n t r y be twee n Nas i k a n d U j jai n i nt h e seco n d h al f o f t h e V I ce n t u r y .
2 . T h e k i n g s o i Sarabh apu i'
a .
T h e sea l 0 1 t h e K h a r i a r p l a te s (Ep . I n d . Vo l . IX,pa i r
1 7 1 ) bea r s t h e fo l l ow i n g ge n ea l ogy(T.
P r asa n n a
Manamatra
M a l iaD r . Vo n li e n ow i n ed i t i n g t h ese p la tes , h as obse r v ed t h a t
t h e w o r d Manamatra was sy n o n y m ous W i t h Mana i’i ka , t h e w o r dsM a t r a a n d A t’i ka m ea n i n g “ o r n a m e n t
,a n d t h e L
'
ndivat ika
p l ates g i v e u s t h e fo llowmg ge n ea l ogy (Ep . I n d . Vo l . V I 1 l , p . 1 6 3
a n d I n d . A n t . Vo l . XXX )N a n anka
Dev a ra j a
B haVi s hya
Abh imanyu .
T h e k i n g Dev a ra j a h ad m a n y so n s o f w h o m B havishya was o n e .
A bh imanyu r es i ded at Manap t tram M a l t a -t ow n ) w h i c h i si de n t i fi ed w i t h .\ Ianpur ( l a t . l o n g . E seeGup ta I n sc r i p t i o n s , page 1 36 ) n ea r Ba n d h oga r h i n Rowa . T h eU i
o
ll i‘
l t l'
il p l a tes w e r e i ss ued to m ake a g r a n t t o t h e te m pl e o f[ Peth aj Pa i
'
igaraka w h i c h h as bee n i de n t ified w i t h l ’ aga r an ea r Pac hmai
‘
h i (So h agpu r Ta h s' i l ; l- l o sh angabad D i s t
Ce n t r a l Pi o v inc e s ) . T h e k i n g N a n anka i s desc r i bed as be i n gt h e o r n a m e n t o f th e Ras li trit kutas . h a v e t h u s t h e two
fo l l ow i n g s e r ie s
(Khariar pla tes) (Ui idz'
eei tika pla tes)Manamatra Mananka
M a h aSudé va De v a r a j aT h r ee docu m e n ts, t h e K h a r i a r (Ep . I n d ., Vo l. IX ; page 1 70 )
Rai pu r (Gup ta I n sc r i p t i o n s , page 1 96 ) a n d Sa r a n ga r h (Ep . I n d .,
Vo l I X,page 28 1 ) coppe r p l a tes, speak o f k i n g Sudéva (M a h a
Sudé va- r a j a) w h o h ad Sarabhapu ra fo r h is cap i ta l t h i s t ow nca n n ot be
’ i de n t ified ; h ow e v e r , i t is p r obab l e t h at t h i s k i n gr e ig n ed i n t h e n e ig h bou r h ood o f t h e m ode r n tow n o f Rayp u rw h i c h is s i tuated to t h e sou t h o f t h e Malianadi a n d n ea r i t ssou r ce . T h i s k i n gdo m was t h e r e fo r e s i t u a ted betw ee n Kah ngai n t h e east a n d t h e k i n gdo m o f t h e Vakatakas i n t h e w est . I tis a l so v e r y p r obab l e t h a t t h e k i n gs o f éarabh ap ura w e r e t h ev assa l s o f th e Vakatakas .
I t is a l so f r o m éarabh apura t h a t w e r e i ssu ed t h e A r a n gp lates (Gu pta I n sc r i p t i o n s, page 1 9 1 ) w h i c h speak o f t h e k i n gj aya (jayaraja) . T h i s k i n g w as a l m os t t h e co n te m po r a r y o fSudé va
,s i n ce t h e a lp h abe ts r ese m b l e eac h o t h e r . How e v e r i t
is i m poss i b l e to k n ow t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p t h a t ex i st ed betw ee n t h esetw o p r i n ces .
T h e a l p h abe t o f th e p l a tes i ssued f r o m gai'abli apura h as
a pecu l i a r c h a r ac te r i s t i c ; i t is box- h eaded as i n t h e S iw an ip lates (Gup ta I n sc r i p t i o n s, page 243) w h i c h a r e dated i n t h er e i g n o f Pravaraséna I I .
I be l i eve w e can p l ace t h e two k i n gs Sudeva a n d J ayaapp r ox i m a te ly i n th e seco n d h a l f o f t h e V ce n tu r y .
I t i s poss i b le t h a t t h e i r k i n gdom was t h e Sou t h e r n Kosala.
A n i n sc r i p t i o n o f E r a n (Gup ta I n sc r i p t i o n s, page 93 )g ives us th e fo l l ow i n g ge n ea l ogy
Q O QO O O O C G U I QO O ‘
Madhava
wh o ma r ried t h e daug h te r o f t h e k i n g o f éarabh a,
Goparaja
wh o was th e al l y o f B hanu -Gupta and was k i l led a l i t t le be fo r eth e yea r 5 1 0-5 1 1 A . D .
To sum up,we k n ow ve r y l i t t l e abou t t h i s dynas ty.
H ow eve r , we m ay suppose—it is o n ly a h ypo t h es is—t h a t th egenea logy was as fo ll ows a
P r asa n n a
(o f t h e Rash t rak t‘
i ta fa m i l y)
Manam z‘
t tra
(k i n g o f M a h apu r a )
Sn-de v a-r a j a
jayaraja B h avish ya
(k i n g o f éarabh a)A bh imanyu
(k i n g o f Manap t ira)
jay araja was pe i haps t h e so n o f Sudeva, as t h e Undivatika
p la tes say t h a t De v a r a j a h ad m a n y so n s a n d i t t h e r e fo r e appea r st h a t B hav ish ya was n o t th e e l des t .
CHAPTER V
T H E D YNAST IES OF W ESTERN D ECCAN .
1 . T h e Abh iras .
At t h e e n d o f t h e I I ce n tu r y a n d t h e fi r s t h a l f o f th eI I I ce n t u r y t h e Abh iras w e r e pow e r fu l i n Gu j a r a t a n d Kat h iawar. A n i n sc r i p t i o n ( I n d . A n t . Vo l X . ,
page 1 5 7 ) o f th eWeste r n Ksh atrapas dated 1 8 1 A D . (5 . 1 03 ) i s a do n at i o n byge n e r a l (se n apa t i ) Rudrabhuti, w h o was a n Abh ira a n d th es o n of ge n e r a l Ba h aka . I n M alwa , i n G uj a r a t a n d i n K a t h iawa rh a v e bee n fo u n d s i l v e r co i n s o f a k i n g n a m ed Isvaradatta.
M r . Rapso n (page CXXXV I says“ t h e r e ca n be l i t t l e doub t
t h e n t h a t Isvaradatta r e i g n ed so m e t i m e be tw ee n A . D . 236
a n d A . D . 239 . Bes i des,i t see m s t h a t t h e powe r o f th e
Weste r n Ksh atrapas bega n to dec l i n e a t t h i s epoc h“ Al r eady
in t h i s r e ig n (o f V ijayasé na ) appea r th e fi r s t sy m p to m s o f ad ec l i n e abou t th e yea r 1 67 o r 1 68 (A . D .245 - 2—lo ) (Rapso n
,
page At N a s i k (Ep . I n d . Vo l . V I I I ., page 8 8 ) t h e r ei s a n i n sc r i p t i o n (N O . 1 1 3 7 o f Li
'
ide rs’
s l i s t ) da ted i n th e9 th yea r o f Madh aripu tra Isvarasena
,a n Abh ira
,so n o f
é ivadat ta. T h e l a t te r i s no t m e n t i o n ed as be i n g a k i n g. I t wou l dt h e r e fo r e appea r t h at Isvarasé na fou n ded th e Abh ira dynasty.
I s t h i s Abh ira n a m ed I svai'
asé ii a th e sa m e as th e ki n gIsvaradatta o f t h e co ins
,wh o
,t owa r ds th e m idd le o f th e I I I
ce n tu r y fou n ded th e Abh ira dy n asty a n d ca r ved o u t fo r h imse l f a k i n gdo m ex te n d i n g ove r K at h iawa r and th e N as i kr egi on
4 . T h e Kalac h uris .
T h e Ab h ona p l a tes (Ep . I n d . Vo l V I ., page 294 ) a n dSarsavn i p lates (Ep . I n d Vo l . V I ., page 295 ) gi v e u s th e
fo l l ow i n g ge n ea l ogyKrish naraja
éarh karagana (wh o r e i g n ed i n 595 A .D .)
Buddharfija (wh o r e ig n ed i n 6 1 0 A . D . )T h e se k i n gs use t h e spec i a l e r a w e h a v e a l r eady spoke n o f.W e h a v e a co i n o f Krish naraia (P r og . Rep . A r c h . Su r v .
We s t . I n d . fo r 1 9 1 4- 1 5 , pageI t se e m s t h a t t h e r e i g n o f Samkaragana was gl o r i o u s th e
Ab h o n a p lates te ll u s t h a t h e h ad h i s cap i ta l a t U j j a i n a n dre ig n ed ove r t h e Nas i k r eg i o n s w h i c h de n o te s a v as t e m p i r e .
T h e c h i e f N irih u llaka r e ig n ed i n t h e l owe r Na r bada v a l l eyabou t 5 80 A . D .
,a n d was a feudato r y (Sankh ida g r a n t ; Ep .
Ind .,Vol . I I . , page 2 2 ) o f Samkaragana. N irih u l laka w as
pe r h aps a desce n da n t o f Samgamasir’
nh a w h o was k i n g o f
Baraku ch ch h a i n 292 i . e . 530-5 3 1 A . D . (Su n ao- K a l a p l a tes ) .B uddh araja p r obab ly m e t w i t h g r ea t r e v e r ses be fo r e t h e
yea r A .D . 60 1 Bad a m i i n sc r i p t i o n ) t h e k i n g Mangalésa o f t h eC h alukya dy n asty va n q u i s h ed h im . In 609 A D . h e r e ig n eda t Vidisa (Bé snagar, n ea r B h i l sa , Vad n e r p la tes ) . In 6 1 0
A .D . (Sarsavn i p la te s ) h e r e i g n ed a t Anandapura (A n and i nK a i r a d i s t. ; Ep . I n d .
,V .o l V I ., page 297 ) a n d gave O t ders
abou t th e Barukach c h a-vish aya.
W e k n ow (A ih o le i n sc r i p t i o n ) t h a t Pu lakesin I I v a nq u ish ed La ta, Gu j a rat a n d M a lwa.
CHAPTER VI .
l‘
I l E D YN AST I ILS O I" I‘LA ST LRN D ECCAN .
I .
—T h e lks h vakus .
T h r ee i n sc r i p t io n s (I n d , Vo l X I,page 2 56 ) fou n d
Amaravati and jagayyapé ta S t upapage 1 1 0 ) o n t h e r u i n s o f th e s tupa a t jagayyapé ta (Na n d iga m aTa l uk
,K r i s h na d i s t r i c t ) g i v e t h e n a m e o f a k i n g ca l l ed Madhari
pu t r a S r i V i r a Purus hadatta (Purisadata) o f th e Ikshvfdzus
(lkhaku s ) a n d a r e i n a n a l p h abet w h i c h see m s t o po i n t t o th e
I I I ce n t u r y o f t h e C h r i s ta n e r a .
beca m e o f t h i s dy n as ty l a te r o n,i t i s i m poss ib l e to
say . H ow e v e r,t h e r e ex i s ts a s to n e iii G uddappa d r y l a n d a t
Ana j i i n t h e D ail vanage re ta l u q o f M yso r e (Ep . Ca r n ., Vo l . X I ,D g, No . 1 6 1 ) w h i c h m e n t i o n s
“ t h e fa m i l y o f th e lx' ekayas, wh om ade i n te r m a r r i ages w i t h t h e Iksh vaku s .
2 . T h e Brihatph alayanas .
T h e Kondamudi p l ates (Ep . I n d Vo l . V I . , P. 3 1 5 ) a r edated i n t h e 1 0th yea r o f k i n g jayavarman
,o f t h e B rih atph ala
ya n as, w h o r e i g n ed a t Kudura . T h e a l p h abe t o f t h ese p l a tes i sex t r e m e l y a r c h a i c ; t h ey a r e i n p rak r i t ; bes i des, “ t h e l a n guageand p h r aseo l ogy o f t h e i n sc r i p t i o n a r e so s i m i l a r to t h e N as i ki n sc r i p t i o n s o f Gan tamipn tra Satakarn i a n d o f Vasish th ipu traPulumayi, t h a t Jayavarman
'
s dat e ca n n ot h a v e bee n v e r y d i s ta n tf r o m t h a t o f t h ose tw o A n d h r a k i n gs” (Ep . I n d Vo l . V I I , No .
3 1 , page I t m ust h ow e v e r be n o ted t h a t t h e l ege n d o nt h e sea l is i n Sa n sk r i t . I t i s t h e r e fo r e ce r ta i n t h a t jayavarman
r e ig n ed i m m ed i a tely a f te r t h e Satavah anas .
T h e Ko ‘
ndamudi p l a tes r eco r d t h e g r a n t o f t h e v i l l age ofP é nrura i n Kudurahara w h i c h i s t h e p r o v i n ce
,as w e k n ow
,o f
w h i c h Kudura was t h e cap i ta l . W h e r e w e r e t h i s p r o v i n ce a n de spec i a l l y t h i s tow n o f Kudura s i t u a ted Ko ndamudi
,w h e r e th e
p l a tes h ave bee n fou n d, is s i t ua ted i n t h e Te n a l i ta l u q w h i c h isn o t fa r f r o m t h e m ou t h o f t h e K ri s h n a . T h e tow n o f Kud tfirais fou n d m e n t i o n ed i n a n i n sc r ip t i o n a t A m a r a v a t i (N o . 1 295
o f Luders’
s l i s t) . T h e cou n t r y o f Kudu hara o r Kudrah ara i sm e n t i o n ed in th e p l ates o f N and ivarman o f t h e Salankayanady n asty. T h ese p l ates w e r e i ssued f r om V i r
’
igi a n d h a v e bee nfound n ea r t h e K o l l e r n l ake (I n d . A n t ., Vol V , 1 8 76 , page 1 75 .
Se e also Bu r n e l l,
“Sou t h I n d i a n Palaegraph y , 2 6 Ed . pageT h e cou n t r y ca l led Kudrahara o r Gudrah ara is r e fe r r e d to i nm a n y docu m e n ts (se e in pa r t i cu la r I n d . A n t ., Vo l X I I I , page1 38
,l i n e 1 7 ; I n d . A n t .
,Vo l V I I
,page 1 9 1 , l i n e 1 2 , a n d th e
Renduballi coppe r -p l a te, Rep . o n Ep ig r ap h y fo r 1 9 1 4-1 9 1 5 ,G . O . No . 1 260, Pub l i c, 25 th Aug . 1 9 1 5 , page 8 , coppe r -p l a teNo . 2 of 1 9 1 5 ) T h e geog r ap h i ca l i n d i cat i o n s g i v e n by t h esedocu m e n ts [ see a l so I n d . A n t ., tVo t VI I I, page 76 ; S . I . I .
Vo l I , page 47 ; a n d insc r ip t i o n s N o s 539 and 544 of 1 893)
—8 s
s h ow t h a t Ix' ud i‘irah z‘ira o r G udrahai'
a is t h e cou n t r y adj o i n i n gth e m ode r n tow n o f M asu l i p a t a m (Ba n da r )
Be s i des,t h e r e h a v e bee n fou n d at M asu l i pa ta m (Ba n da r
Ta l uk ) fou r se ts o f coppe r -p la tes t h a t g i v e i n fo r m a t io n abou tt h i s cou n t r y
(1 ) T h e g r a n t o f A m m a II . (S . l . l . , Vo l l . , page 47 )co n ta i n i n g a n o r de r to t h e peop le l i v i n g in G udravara-V ish aya.
(2 ) T h e p l a tes o f V ijayaditya I l l . (I n d . A n t . , Vo l . XX ,
page 1 03 , a n d Ep . I n d .,Vo l . V .,
page 1 2 2 g r a n t i n g t h e v i l l ageo f Trandap é ru s i t u ated i n t h e G t idravara-vish aya.
(3 ) T h e p la tes o f B h i m a l l . Vo l . XX .
,page 270 .
a n d Ep . I n d .,Vo l . V .,
page 1 3 5 ) g r a n t i n g a h e l d i n G ud i avara
vish aya .
(4) T h e p la tes o f A m n i a I I . (I n d . A n t . , Vo l . V I I I , page 74a n d Vo l . XX
,p . 2 7 1 Ep . I n d . ,
Vo l . V . , page 1 39 ) g r a n t i n gl a n d . T h e l ast docu m e n t i s i n te r es t i n g as i t s h ow s t h e p r ec i s ep os i t i o n o f t h e l a n d : i t w as s i t u a ted bes ide t h e v i l l age o fP t
‘
imbarru i n t h e Gudravé ra-vish aya a n d n ea r G h a n t asa l a ;aga i n t h i s g r a n t o f l a n d was m ade to a c h i e f fo r h a v i n gi m p r o v ed t h e tow n o f G udrfi vé
‘
t ra w e k n ow t h a t ( ih an tas' ala,
w h i c h w as s i t u a ted i n G udravara-v ishaya i s a v i l l age i n t h eD i v i ta l uq s i t uated a t a d i s ta n ce o f 1 0 m i l es f r o m M asu l i pata m
(Ba n da r ) a n d 6 m i l e s f r o m t h e v i l l age o f Kftdft t’ t t .we s h a l l t h e r e fo r e co n c l ud e t h a t t h e tow n o f Kudura
,
w h i c h w as th e cap i ta l o f jayavarman i n t h e I I I ce n t u r y o f t h eC h r i s t i a n e r a
,i s bu t t h e m ode r n v i l l age w h i c h i s 4 m i l es
west- n o r t h -w est o f M asu l i pata m a n d 6 m i l es f r o m t h e V i l l ageo f Gant h aéfi la a n d is m e n t io n ed u n d e r t h e n a m e o f Kudfiru(Z ) i n t h e l i s t o f v i l l ages o f Baiidar (M asu l i pa ta m ) ta l uq (se e“Li st o f V i l l ages o f t h e M ad r as P r es i de n cy , 1 9 1 4 , pageT h e V i l l age n a m ed I’ é n tura i n t h e Ko ndamud i p la t es. i s pe r h apsPa n du r i i
,a v i l l age i i i th e Ba n da r ta l u q .
I t so h appe n s t h a t t h e r esu l t w e h a v e a r r i v ed a t i s fou n d tobe of i m m e n se i m po r ta n ce n o t o n l y fo r t h e a n c i e n t h i s to r y o ft h e Decca n bu t a l so o f I n do-C h i n a .
k n ow t h a t t h e c i v i l i sa t i o n o f I n d o -C h i n a i s o f I n d i a no r ig i n a n d a stu dy o f t h e I n do-C h i n e se docu m e n t s h as p r o v edt h a t th e C i v i l i sa t i o n o f I n do-C h i n a c a m e a l m ost exc l us i v e ly f r o mth e Decca n . T h e I n do-C h i n e se i n sc r ip t io n s a r e da ted i n t h eSaka era and t h e i r al ph abet s ve rv c lo se ly r e s e m b l e t h o se o f t h e
i n sc r i p t i o n s i n t h e Decca n . Suc h a n i nsc r i p t i o n of Ca m bod i a(se e ,
“
jour n a l A siat iq i ie”VI Ie sé i ie
,
’
1 0 me XX . No . 2,Aou t
Sep te m b r e 1 88 2 ) dated i n t h e Saka y ea i 5 89 “ esse n t i a l l y ag r ees
w i t h t h ose o f t h e fi i st C h a l u la IS f i o m t h e s i x t h to t h e e ig h tce n t u r y
.
” T h e a l p h abe t o f t h e m ost a n c i e n t i n sc r i p t i o n s fou n di n A n n a m fu l l y r ese m b l es , as h as bee n r e m a r ked by M . Abe lBe r ga i n e (jou r n a l As ia t i que , ja n v i e r 1 8 88 , page 1 5 ) t h e a lp h abe ts o f t h e inscrip tio ns o f t h e k i n gs of Vé fl gi, t h e Pallavas and
t h e fi r st Kadarnbas. Aga i n , ce r ta i n i n sc r i pt i o n s (fo r exa m p l eNos 4 1 5 a n d 4 1 5 b i s , XX I of t h e co l l ec t i o n m e n t io n ed byM r . Be r ga i n e) a r e c h a r ac te r i sed b y a pecu l i a r i ty w h ic h i s ca l l edt h e box- h eaded a l p h abe t a n d M . Be r ga i n e obse r v es t h a tt h e i e latio ns betw ee n t h e C h a m pa k i n gdo m a n d t h o se o fSou t h e r n I n d i a w e r e so f r eque n t t ha t th e a l p h abe t c h a n gedt h e r e i n t h e sa m e m a n n e r . W e s h a l l e v e n see t h a t a S i m p l eo rnamen tal appe n dage , a deep ly cu t squa r e a t t h e h ead o f t h el e t te r s w h i c h , i n I n d i a p r ope r , see m s to h a v e bee n i n fas h i o ndu r i n g a l m os t t h e w h o l e o f t h e V ce n t u r y fi n ds i ts way i n t oou r XX I i n sc r i p t i o n .
It m ust fi r s t be n o ted t h a t t h i s i nflue n ce ex i s ted i n t h e I Ice n t u r y o f t h e C h r i s t i a n e r a
(1 ) T h e i n sc r i p t i o n o f M u i a- r aj a O i S i i M a i a , k i n g o f t h eC h a m pas
,w h i c h i s fou n d n ea r the v i l l age o f V0 -ca n
,i n th e
N h at r a n g v a l l ey i n t h e p r o v i n ce o f K h a h -H oo (jou r n al A sit iq u e ,
ja n v .-Fe v r i e r 1 89 1 , page 1 7) i n A n n a m , i s w r i t te n i n Sa n skri ta n d i n a n a l p h abe t t h a t is i de n t i ca l w i t h t h at o f Et h e i n sc r i p t i o no f Rudradaman at G irnar.
(2 ) P to l e my g i v es th e n a m es o f t h e tow n s s i t u ated o nt h e coas t o f A n n a m t h a t we r e n ot s i m p ly I n d i a n bu t w e r e a l soSa n skri t (j ou r n a l As i a t i que-Rappo r t A nn ue l ; ju ille t ’ A out 1 888
,
page 70 )VVe t h u s a r r i v e at t h e fo l low i n g Ve r y i m po r ta n t co n c l us i o n
T h e I n do-C h i n ese c i v i l i sa t i o n d id n o t co m e f r o m e v e r y p l acei n I n d i a
,bu t
,f r o m a po r t o f t h e Decca n w h e n ce t h e t r a v e l l e r s
e m ba r ked fo r l n do-C h i n aW h e r e was t h i s po r t s i t ua ted T h a t is t h e i m po r ta n t p ro c
b l e m w e a r e n ow go i n g to so l v e . T h i s po r t was ex i st i n g a t t h e t i m eo f P to le m y , a n d i s fou n d m e n t i o n ed by t h i s geograp h e r . I nfact
,t h i s is h ow Pto le m y de sc r i bes th e east coast o f t h e Decca n
(see Ind. A n t ., Vo l. X I I I ., page 332 ) “Mou t h o f th e r i v er
—R7
li lh ibé l‘
O S—“ K lu bé l‘is — Sé i li o u ras—P i idm lké M e l a n ge M ou t h
o f t h e r i v e r Ty n a—Ko ttis—Manarp h a— M ou t h o f t h e r i v e r
Maisé lus—Ko n tako ssy la, a m a r t—Ko ddura—A llo sy gné—T h epo i n t o f depa r tu r e fo r s h i ps bou n d fo r Ix’ h ry se— Palo ura
N aingaina—Ix
’
at ikari lama l{ : i ii nagara-
i\ fo u tli o f t h e r i v e rM ada n a " .
se e t h a t , i n t h e I I ce n t u r y , P to l e m y h as sa i d t h a t t h es h i ps t h a t w a n t ed to go to t h e c o un trv o f go l d (Kh ryse) i . e . t h eI n do-C h i n ese pe n i n s u l a (Bu r m a , M a l acca , Ca m bod i a , A n n a m )s ta r ted f r o m a fixed po i n t (l ocu s u n de so lvun t i n Ch ryse nn a v iga n t es ) . T i l l n o w t h e r e w as co m p l e t e unc e rtain tv i n r ega r dto t h e geog r ap h i ca l pos i t i o n o f t h i s po r t . T h e r e was n o doub ta t all t h a t Kh abé ris-eni p o rium de s i g n ated t h e t ow n o f
Kav'
ripatnam ; i n fac t , P t o l e m y h as m e n t i o n ed abo v e t h em ou t h o f t h e l i v e r Khabero s”
w h i c h i s u n dou bted l y t h eK a ve r i . Bu t betw ee n t h i s t ow n a n d t h e Ga n ges n o t a s i n g l ep lace m e n t i o n ed by Pto l e m y cou l d be i de n t i fied w i t h so m ea m ou n t o f c e rtaintv . M a n y a u t h o r s h a v e pu t fo r t h h ypot h e sesbu t w i t h ou t a n y g r ea t su ccess . Co l o n e l Y u l e t h o ug h t t h a t t h er i v e r Maisoh is was n o o t h e r t h a n t h e K r i s h n a
,beca use n o t fa r
f r o m i t s m o n th t h e r e i s t h e m ode r n tow n o f Mas i i lipatam bu tt h i s r easo n was no t v e r y co n v i n c i n g . I n th e t h eo r y o f Co l o n e lY u l e t h e tow n t h a t P to lemv ca l l s Ko ddura was i d e n t i fi ed w i t hG i
‘
idfi ru ,n ea r Masu lipatani . T h i s i de n t i ficat i o n was r ega r ded
w i t h t h e g r eates t scept i c i s m,fo r t h ey r ep l i ed to Co lo n e l Yu l e
t h a t
(1 ) T h e w o r d Ko dd ii ra does n o t fu l l y r ese m b l e t h e w o r dGuduri i .
(2 ) T h e r e i s n ot h i n g to p r o v e t h a t t h e v i l lage o f Guduri iex i sted a t t h e t i m e o f Pto l e m y a n d h as p r ese r v ed t h e sam e
‘name
fo r 1 8 ce n t u r i e s .I t i s n o m o r e t h e sa m e t h i n g to -day . I n co m p i l i n g t h e
a n c i e n t h i s to r y o f th e Decca n a n d i n s t udy i n g t h e Ko ndam i id i
p l a t es,w e h a v e m ade t h e fo l l ow i n g i m po r ta n t d i sco v e r i es
(1 ) T h a t t h e m ode r n tow n n a m ed Gud i‘
iri i by Co l o n e l Y u l ew as o n ce ca l l ed K t l fi t‘Zt (2 ) t h a t Kudi
‘
ira ex i sted a t t h e t i m e o fPto l e m y . So w e c an now t h i n k o f iden tifvn ig t h e Ko dd i ira o f
P to l e m y t h e lx' ud i'i ra o f Ko ndamud i p l a t es .O u r k n ow l edge o f a n c i e n t Decca n e n a b l e s us to m ake ah ~
o t h e r new i de n t i fica t i o n . Be tw e e n G i‘
id i‘
iru and t h e m ou t h o f th e
- 88 {
Kri s h na, t h e r e is t h e tow n o f G h an t asa la , w h e r e M r . A lexa n d r eRea (Sou t h I n d i a n Bo uddh ist A n t i qu i t i e s—M ad r as 1 894 , page32 ) h as d i sco v e r ed th e r e m a i n s o f a S tupa w h i c h da te f r om th e
beg i n n i n g o f t h e C hri s t i a n e r a so,G h ant asa la ex i sted at th e
t i m e of Pto l e m y a n d exac t l y at th e r equ i r ed spo t , o n th e“
sea
s i de,betw ee n Ko ddura a n d th e m out h o f t h e r i v e r
,Ptol e m y
p laces t h e m a r t o f Ko n tako ssyla.
W e h a v e t h u s so l v ed a n i m po r ta n t p r ob l e m,w e h a v e bee n
ab l e to i de n t i fy ce r ta i n p l a ces n a m ed by Pto l e m y i n a pa r t o ft h e Decca n coas t ; a n d t h e p lac e w h e n ce s h i ps depa r ted fo rI n do-C h i n a i s fou n d n ea r Koddura
,a l i t t l e m o r e to t h e n o r t h
o n th e coast , i . e . n o t fa r f r o m t h e m ou t h o f t h e Goda v a r i.\Ve s h al l t h e r e fo r e co n c l ude t h a t t h e po r t o f depa r tu r e fo r
v esse l s bou n d fo r Kh rysé , du r i n g t h e t i m e of Pto l e m y, w as
s i t u a ted n ea r t h e mou t h o f t h e God a v a r i a n d t h a t i t was f r o mt h e r e t h a t t h e c i v i l i sa t i o n o f I n d i a starte ed to go o v e r t o Bu r m a ,j a v a
,Ca m bod i a a n d A n n a m .
5 4 . T h e Vish nii kundins .
Th e RArnarirt ham (Ep . I n d. Vo l . XL, page 1 34 ) and t h e
Ch ikku lla p lat es (Ep . Ind . Vo l . I V .,page 1 93 ) ive us ge nealogy
N o . I ; a n d t h e Pulirh bt‘
iru g r a n t (Re po rt on Epig raph y for
1 9 1 3-1 4 ; G . O. No . 920, Pu b lic , 4 ih Aug. 1 9 1 4 , page 1 02 ) giv esus ge n e alogy N o . 1 1
Madhavavarni an I .
Vikramendravarman I .\
'
o I .Indrabhat té rakavarman
Vikramé nd ravarman I t .
Vikramah é ndra
N o I I . G o vindavarman
Mad havavarman (I I ) .I a m of op in i o n t h at Vikramah é ndra may be ide n t ified w ith
Vikramé ndravarman I I . I n fact,I hav e r e ma r ked t hat in sev eral
docu m e n ts th e i n fo rm a t i on r ega r di n g th e g r a n d - fat h e r o r o th e ra n ces t o r s
’
o i t h e r eig n i n g ki n g has be e n so me t im es alt e r ed . It
is p r obable t hat t h e real n a m e o f t e g ran d fa t h e r ofMadhava I I
w as Vikrarfién dravarman I I .I t see m s t h a t th e capital of the k i n gdom was Le nd i z-
‘
gar aw h i c h is p r obab ly th e p r ese n t v i llage o t D e ndu li
‘
i ru , i n i h
I' lllo re taluq nea r t h e a n cie n t city of Vengi.Th e tu te l a r y deity of th e dvnastv is th e H -j Lo r d of
5'
s Parvata,
” sri Sailam i n th e Ka r n u l Dis tr ic t . Th is God wast h e fav ou r it e deitv o f Prabhavat i
,w idow of Rudrasé na I I . and
m ot h e r of Pravarasé na I I , th e Vé ké taka ki n g. O n t h e oth e rha n d , Mi dhavavarman I .
,t h e fi r st V ish nukundin ki n g h a d
ma r ri ed a valcé taka p r i n c ess a n d w e h a v e said al r ea dy , t h a t veryp r obab ly
,in th e m iddle of th e V cen tu r y, th e Vé k éi takas
u p r oo ted t h e ancie n t SalankAyana dy n as ty o f Ve n gi a n d p lacedo n th e t hrone t h ei r r elation Mé dhavavarman I . Th is king, infact
,is r epo rt ed to h ave pe rfo rmed n umerou s sacrifice s , 1 1 of
- 9 1
t h e m be i n g h o r se sac r ifices w i n c h are e m b le m s of v i c to r y .
Bes i des t h a t , th e eu l og i es o f t h i s k i n g r ese m b l e t h ose fou n d i nt h e V'
aka taka coppe r -p la t es o f Pravarasena I .T h e k i n g V ikraa dravarman I . h ad n o o t h e r m e r i t t h a n
t h a t o f b i rt h . H e was th e o r n a m e n t o f tw o fa m i l i es,th e
V ish nukund ins a n d t h e vakatakas . H i s r e ig n was p r obab lys h o r t .
O n t h e co n t r a ry ,Indrab liat tarakavarman h ad a l o n g r e ign
as t h e Ramatirt h am p l a tes a r e da ted i n t h e 3 7 th yea r o f h isr e ig n ; bes ides , du r i n g t h i s r e ig n , t h e r e was a te r r i b l e a t tackm ade by a k i n g
,w h o p r obab ly r e i g n ed i n K a l inga , w h o was a l so
ca l led “ I n d r a" a n d w h o see m s to h a v e be e n t h e h ead o f acoa l i t i o n o f k i n gs . T h e se p la tes te l l u s t h a t Indrabhat tarakavarman
“ e n cou n te r ed i n h u n d r ed t h ousa n ds o f ba t t l es n u m e r ou sfou r -t usked e l ep h a n ts we k n ow t h a t God I n d rai s m ou n t ed o n t h e e l ep h a n t o" t h e Eas t w h i c h h as fo u r t us ks .T h a t s ta t e m e n t i s w h o l ly co n fi r m ed by coppe r p l a te s w r i t te n i na s i m i la r a l p h abe t w h i c h h a v e bee n fou n d i n t h e GodaveriDist r i c t . T h ey a r e t h ose o f Prith ivimula (j . B . B . R . A . S .,
Vo l . XV I . , page F r o m l i n es 1 7 -20, w e l e a r n a n a l l i a n ce wase n te r ed i n to by se v e r a l c h i e fs to up r oo t by fo r ce lndrabh zt t ta
r aka w h ose el ep h a n t K u m uda (t h e e l ep h a n t o f th e S . \V.
qua r te r ) was s t r u ck dow n by Indradh iraja m ou n ted o n h i s ow ne l e p h a n t Supratika (t h e e l ep h a n t o f N . E . qua r te r ) . So t h e r ew e r e tw o I n d ras p r ese n t Indradh iraja, kingt o f t h e no rth c i s t
,
t h a t i s,o f Kalir’iga a l o n g t h e coas t o f O r i ssa , arid Indrabh at ta
r a ka,t h e V ish nuku ridin w h o r e i g n ed i n t h e sou t h w est , t h at is
t o say i n Vengi . N ow ,i t se e m s t h a t i t was t h e k i n g o f th e
Vish n ukundins t h a t w as t h e v i c to r . I n fac t t he sa m e Ramatirt h am p la t es co m m e m o r a te t h e g r a n t m ade by I n d r a o f a v i l lages i tu a ted i n t h e F lak i -rash tra. T h i s p r o v i n ce i s m en t i o n ed i n thT i m m apu r a m p la t es (Ep . I n d . Vo l. I X .
,page 3 1 7 ) u n de r th e
n a m e o f Palak i-v ishaya. A n d we k n ow t h a t t h i s sa m e p r o v i n ceo f Palaki-v ish aya co n ta i n e d th e v i l l age o f Ch erupura, w h i c h i sn o t h i n g bu t Ch ipurupalli i n t h e V izagapata m Di s t r i c t (I n d .
A n t . Vol . XX .,pages 1 5 a n d S i n ce th e Vish nukundin I n d r a
was th e mas te r o f Vi zagapa tam Di s t r i c t after h is war w i t h th ek i n g o f O r i ssa, i t is ce rt a i n t h a t h e was th e v i c to r . W e h avesa i d t h at t h e re was a coal i t i on ofmany k ings aga i n s t lndrabhatfat al-ta. Amo ng t h em perh aps was H arish éna the ‘
v
'
i kdtaka i
i n fac t,t h e Aj ant a i n scrip tio n says t h at H arish ena va n qu i s h ed
t h e k i n g o f t h e A n d h r a c o u n try . T h i s w o r d s h ow s th e c o u n trybe tw ee n t h e Goda v a r i a n d t h e K r i s h n a, t h a t IS t o say , t h ek i n gdom o f t h e Vis
’
hnukundin s .
T h e so n o f Indrabh at taraka was V ikraméndravarman I I.
I t is c e r ta i n t h a t t h i s ki n g r e ig n ed o n t h e ba n ks o f t h e K ri s h naas t h e Ch ikkulla p l a tes m e n t i o n t h e v i l l age o f Régo nram t o th e
S . E . o f Raviréva o n t h e ba n k o f t h e Krish naben na a n dRaviréva h as bee n i de n t ified by M r . Sew e l l w i t h Raveralah80°1 0
'
E a n d 1 6OSO’
N )T h e so n of Vikraméndravarman I I . (Vikramah endra) was
GOVindavarman a n d h i s g r a n dso n l\I é dh avavarman I I (janasraya) .T h e last o f t h e m “c r ossed t h e r i v e r Goda v a r i w i t h th e des i r e toco n que r t h e easte r n r eg i o n ” . T h i s e v e n t p r obab ly took p l aces h o r t l y befo r e t h e i n v as i o n o f Pu lakésin I I . w h o pu t a n e n d toth e dy n asty o f Vishnukundin s a n d a n n exed t h e k i n gdo m ofVe n g i .
I n my w o r k T h e Pal lavas (c h ap te r I I I ., page I h a v eat t r ibut ed th e ca v es o f U nda v a l l i , S ittanagaram , Bezwada ,M oga l r aj ap u r a m to t h e Vish nukundin s. I s h a l l no t speak o f i t
‘ o n ce aga i n .T h e sea l o f t h e Ch ikku la p l a tes (Ep . I n d . Vo l I V .,
p l a tefac i n g th e page 244 ) r ese m b le s t h a t o f t h e Ramatirtham p la te sa n adva n c i n g l i o n w i t h its fo r e-paw ra i sed
,m ou t h wide ope n
a n d th e ta i l sw u ng ove r t h e back so as to e n d in a l oop
(G . O . No . 5 38 ; Rep . o n Ep i . 28th j u ly T h e l i o nwas t h e n t h e c r es t o f t h e Vish nukund ins . I t i s to be r e m a r ke dt h at th e Kadambas h ave t h e sa m e c r es t w h i c h p r ove s t h efam i l y r e l a t i o n s h i p t h a t ex i sted betwee n th e Kadambas and
th e V ish nukundins . W e find t h e i m age o f a vase scu l p tu r edo n t h e p i l l a r s a t U ndava l l i a n d M oga l r azapu r a m , a n d t h e i m ageo f a l i o n a t Unda v a l l i . Co i n s bea r i n g th e i m age o f a l i o n o nt h e ob v e r se and t h e i m age o f a v ase o n t h e r e v e r se h a v e a l sobee n fou n d . ( see fo r i n s ta n ce, i n M r . V i n ce n t A . S m i t h ’ s , Ea r lyH i s to r y o f I n d i a
,th e plate co n ce r n i n g th e I n d i a n co ins i n
th e B r i t i s h M useu m co i n N o . 1 6 , f r o m E l l i o t , Co i n s o fSou t h e r n I n d i a" Pl ., I I , T h ese co i n s h a v e beenat t r ibu ted to th e Pallavas . In 1 9 1 7 , in my wo r k “
T h e Pa l lavas
"
(C h ap te r I I I, page I h ave at t r ibu ted t h ese Co ins tothe Vishnukundins.
5 . T h e lxrngs o f K a l inga .
h a v e s ix docu m e n t s t h a t g i v e u s i n fo r m a t i o n abou tt h e k i n gs o f Kalir
’
rga. \Ve h a v e sa id t h a t,abou t A . D . 340
,
S a m ud r a-Gupta m e t o n t h e coas t o f O r i ssa w i t h Man taraja ,k i n g o f K o r a l a
,Swamidatta o f Ko t tr
‘
rra,Da m a n a o f Erandapali
a n d Mah é ndra o f Pish t é pura. T h e las t o f t h e m h ad p r obab l yt h e t i t l e o f k i n g o f K a l inga we s h a l l see
,i n fac t
,t h a t Sakt i
varman (Rago lu p la tes ) w h o a l so r e ig n ed a t l’rsh tapura h ad
t h i s t i t l e . T h e s ix doc u m e n t s w e h a v e m e n t i o n ed be i n g a l l i nSa n skri t a r e p r obab l y poste r i o r to t h e yea r 400 A . D . O n t h eo t h e r h a n d t h e c oas t o f O r i ssa was co n q ue r ed by I
’u laké s
’
in l l
(A ih o le i n sc r i p t i o n ) abo u t 009 A . D . a n d was p r obab lys h a r ed betwee n t h e Eas t e r n C h a l u kyas i n t h e sou t ha n d t h e Eas te r n Gangas i n t h e n o r t h . T h e dates o f t h e 6docu m e n ts i n ques t i o n a r e t h ere fo r e be twe e n 400 a n d 000
A . D .
U n fort u n a te ly,i t is irnpo ssible to es tab l i s h a c h r o n o logy
o f t h e k i n gs o f Kalir’
rga w h ose n a m es w e k n ow . T h e r e fo r ewe s h a l l no w p r oceed to e n u m e r a te t h ose docu m e n ts w i t h o u ta n y ascert a i n ed c h r o n o l og ica l o r de r .
a ) T h e Rago lu p la tes (Ep . I n d . Vo l XI I,page 2 ) m e n t i o n
Vrtsish t h iputra Sak tivarman,k i n g o f K a l inga w h o r e ig n ed a t
Pish tapura. I t i s sa i d t h a t t h i s sove r e ig n “ ado r n s t h e M agad h a fa m i l y , w h i c h goes t o s h ow t h a t t h i s p r i n ce was
r e l a ted to t h e Gup tas a n d r e i g n ed towa r ds t h e m idd l e o f t h eV ce n tu r y w h e n t h e G uptas a n d t h e Vakatakas do m i n a ted t h eDecca n .
b ) T h e GOdirvari coppe r p la tes J . B . B . R . A . 8 . Vo l XV I ,page 1 1 6 ) h ad bee n s t ud i ed w h e n we ga v e t h e h i s to r y o fIndrabh at taraka o f t h e Vish nukundrn dy n as ty t h e k i n gPrith iv imu la wh o was t h e do n o r o f t h e GOdé vari p l a tes wasth e so n o f S r i -Prablu
’
rkara a n d r e i g n ed i n t h e c i ty o f Kand fi li.H e was t h e vassa l o f a n o t h e r mo r e powe r fu l k i n g n a m edI n d ra wh o was th e so n o f Mitavarman , re ign ed a t Manalkudr
a n d h ad fo r h i s war-e leph e n t Supratika ( th e e lep h en t o f th eN . E . qua r te r ) . T h e docu m e n t says t h a t t h i s k i n g was t h ev i c to r i n t h e s t r uggl e aga i n s t t h e k i n g Indrabh at taraka. Bu twe h a v e sa i d t h a t t h i s i s n o t p r obab l e and
ath at, o n t h e co ntrary ,
th e V ish nukundin k i n g see m s to h a v e aennxed t h e d i s t r i c ts o fGOdérvari a n d V i zagapa ta m a n d d r i v e n aw ay t h e k i ngs o f
Kalir’
rga to t h e n o r t h . I n fac t , t h e cap i ta l o f t h e k i n gs o f
Kalir’
rga w h i ch was P ish tapuram a t th e t i m es o f M a h e n d r a a n dVasis t h ip u tra éak tivarman se e m s to h a v e be e n t r a n s fe r r edfu r t h e r n o r t h to Sarapalli a n d S imh rpura a f te r th e Vi s h n ukun l rn s cap tu r ed P ish tapuram . T h i s e ve n t p r o bab l y tookp lace i n t h e fi r s t qua r te r o f t h e V I C e n tu r y .
c ) T h e C h ikako le p la tes ( I n d . A n t. Vo l . X I I I . , page 48 )o f N andaprabh afi janavarman i s sued f r o m Sarapalli a n d
d ) t h e Korn arti p la tes (Ep . Ind .Vo l. [V .,page 1 43 ) o fC han
davarman i s sued f r o m S imh apuram ,h a v e m a n y po i n t s o f r ese m
b la n ce : t h e p h r aseo logy o f both t h ese docu m e n ts i s a lmos tt h e sa m e ; th e sea l s bea r t h e wo r d “
Pitribhaktah Na n da
prabh afi jana a n d C handavarman a r e bot h o f t h e m ca l l edki n gs o f Kalir
’
rga ; a n d l as t l y, Simh apura, t h e cap i ta l o fC h andavarman m ay be i de n t i fied w i t h S ingup uram ,
a v i l l agen ea r Ch ikako le w h e r e th e p la tes o f N andap rabhafljana we r ed i sco v e r ed .
e ) T h e Brihatprost h a g r a n t o f Umavarman,l o r d o f Kalrnga,
iss ued f r o m Simh apura (Ep . I n d . ,Vol . X I I .
,page 4 ) su r e l y
bel o n gs to t h e sa m e g r oup as th e p l ates o f Ch ikako le a n dKomarti. I t is i m poss i b l e to say rn w h a t c h r o n o l ogi ca l o r de r
,
Umavarman,N andaprabhafi jana and Chandravarman r e ig n ed .
T h e i r e poc h i s a l so u n ce r ta i n t h ey m ig h t poss i b l y h a v e r e i g n edbetwee n 5 25 a n d 609 A . D .
f ) Last ly ,w e h a v e to m e n t i o n th e Sarabhavaram p l a te s
(Ep . I n d .,Vo l . X I I I ., page 1 04) fo r , t h i s v i l l age w h e r e t h ey
w e r e d i sco v e r ed i s in th e Goda v a r i d i s t r i c t a n d i t i s p r obab lyh e r e t h a t th e Lo r d o f Ch ikr
‘
rra, w h ose n a m e i s no t m e n t i o n eda n d w h o pe r h aps l i v ed i n th e V I ce n t u r y, r e ig n ed . H e was
p r obab l y n o t a k i n g o f Kalir’
rga but o n l y a s imp le fe udato r y .
CHAPTER \'
I I.
T im D vxas rnz s o r rmz K AN ARESE D rsrruc rs .
1 . T h e Kadambas .
T h e ge n ea l ogy o f t h e lx’ adam h as m ay p r obab l y be th efo l l ow i n g
Mavr‘
u‘
asarman (340 -360 A . D . )
Kangavarman (360-385 A . D . )
B h agirath a (38 5 -4 1 0 A . D . )
Rag h u (4 1 0-42 5 A . D . ) Kirkusthavarman (42 5 -450 A . D . )
San tivarman (450 -47 5 A . D .) Krish navarman I .
Mrigesavarman Mandhatrivarman Vish nuvarman D é vavarman
(475 -488 A . D . ) (48 8-500 A . D . )
S irh h avarman
Rav ivarman Bh anuvarman Sivarath a
(500-5 37 A . D . ) Krish navarman l l .
(5 50 -5 6 5 A . D . )H arivarman Kumaravarrnan
(5 37 -5 5 0 A . D . ) A Javarman
M a n d h a ta-Ra j a l
(S h i m oga p la tes ) B liOgivarman
Vish n uvarman
e tc .
A pa r t o f t h i s ge n ea l ogy h as been pub l i s h ed by P r o fesso rKie l h o r n (Ep . I n d .
,Vo l . V I I I ., page 30) a n d ad m i t ted by
M r . Ri ce i n h i s w o rk “Myso r e a n d Coo r g f r o m i n sc r i p t io n s[“
jyésh t h a i n th e B irr‘
i r p l a tes, mea n s a fa t h e r ’ s e l derb r o t h e r ] .
T h e ge n ea logy g i v e n above d iffe r s f r om t h ose pub l i s h edby M ess r s . K i e l h o r n a n d R i ce because I h a v e take n in to accou n t t h e d i sco v e r y o f t h e S h i m oga p l ates i n 1 9 1 1 a n d t h oseo f T agare i n 1 9 1 8 . T h e T agare p l a tes (A n n ua l Repo r t , M yso r eArc h ze o logical Depa r t m e n t , fo r 1 9 1 8 , page 40 , No . 7 1 ) g i v e u st h e fo l l ow i n g ge n ea l ogy :
Krish navarman
Ajavarman
Eh ogivarman
Vish nuvarman
Re ly i n g o n t h e fo r m o f th e l e t te r s , I t h oug h t t h a t i t wasn ot poss i b l e to ad m i t t h a t t h i s Krish navarman was K ri s h n av anm a n I ; bu t t h a t h e was
,o n t h e co n t r a r y
,ve r y p r obab ly
Krishnavarman I I .I
T h e S h i m oga p la tes (A n n ua l Repo r t, M yso r e A rc hae o logica l Depa r t m en t
,fo r 1 9 1 1
,page say t h a t t h e k i n g Man
d h a t a-R a j a , so n o f Kumaravarman r e ig n ed at Uc h c hangiT h i s tow n be l o n ged to
é ivaratha i n t h e 4th yea r o f th e r e ig n o f H arivarman (H a l s ip l a tes
,I n d . A n t ., Vo l ., page t h a t i s w hy w e can su ppose
t h a t Kumaravarman was t h e so n o f é ivarath a o r H arivarman ;
t h e S h i m oga p l ates do ngt g ive u s a n y i n fo r m at i o n abou t h i sfi liatio n .
T h e c h r o n o l ogy o f t h e Kadambas h as n ot ye t bee n fi xedo n a su r e bas i s . I t i s o n ly a co m p l ete s t udy n o t o n ly o f t h i sdy n asty bu t a l so o f all th e o t h e r dy n as t i es o f t h e D eccan t h atw i l l e n ab le us to a r r i v e a t a sat i s fac to r y r esu l t . In th e
ge n eal og i cal tab l e, I h a v e j u st g i v e n , I h a v e pu t w i th inb r acke ts, bes i de th e nam e of eac h k i n g, th e app r ox i m ate dateof h i s r e i g n , acco r d i n g to th e c h r o n o l ogy I h a v e adop te d . Is h a l l n ow t r y to just i fy t h i s c h r o n o l ogy.
but th e t r ue box So m u c h so t h a t t h ese p lates can be sh ow nas an exce l le n t spec imen o f th e
“true box Sir‘
nh avarman and
Vish nugopa h a v e r e ig n ed be twe e n 475 a n d 500 A . D . a n d th eUruvupalli p l a tes are probablv date d 486 A . D . T h e p l ates o fMangalr
‘
rr and Pikira o f th e son o f Vish nugopa are n o t boxh eaded ; w e m ay t h e r e fo r e say t h a t f r o m 500 A . D .
,th e
box m e t h od d i sappea r ed . T h e sa m e p h e n o m e n o n i s t o be see nin t h e K ada m ba docum e n ts : t h e p l a tes o f Mriges
’
a a n d M a ndh atria re box- h eaded , bu t t h ose Of Ray ivarman a r e n o t . T h e r eis r oo m to t h i n k t h a t Mrigesa a n d Mandhatri r e ig n ed f r o m475 t o 500 A . D . a n d w e r e co n te m po ra r i es o f Sirh h avarman
and Vish nngopa ; a n d t h a t Rav ivarman r e i g n ed a fte r 5 00 A . D .
w h e n th e box m e t h od h as d i sappea r ed f r o m t h e Decca n .
(2 ) W e k n ow t h a t abou t 5 50 A . D .
,Pu lakésin I se i z ed
varapi a n d fou n ded t h e C h a lukya k i n gdo m : bu t i f we
l ook at th e m ap , w e see t h a t t h e geog r ap h i ca l pos i t i o n o fBada m i (V et tapi) a l l ow s u s to aff i r m t h a t Palasika (Hal s i )cou l d no t be l ong to t h e Kadambas w h e n th e C halukyas we r ein Badam i. It m ay t h e r e fo r e be asse r ted t h a t a l l t h e p l atesfou n d at H a l s i a n d dated f r o m Palasika (I n d . A n t ., Vo l . V I ,pages 23
,2 5 , 28 , 29, a r e a n te r i o r to 550 A . D . \Ve m ay
t h e r e fo r e say t h at H arivarman w h o ,i n t h e 5 t h yea r o f h i s
r e ig n (I n d . A n t ., Vol . V I , page 3 1 ) h e l d Palaéika, r e ig n edt h e r e be fo r e t h e m i dd l e o f t h e VI ce n tu r y . I t h as t o ben oted t h at w e do n o t k n ow o f a n y K ada m ba docume n t da tedf r o m Palasikaw h i c h i s pos te r i o r t o t h e o n e w e h a v e j u stme n t i o n ed ; i t i s t h e r e fo r e p r obab l e t h at H arivarman w as
a l m ost th e co n te m po r a r y o f Pu lakesin I a n d w as v a n qu i s h edby h i m . T h e Sa n go l i p l a tes (Ep . I n d .
,Vo l . X I V , page 1 6 5 )
me n t io n a n ast r o n o m i ca l p h e n o m e n o n a n d M r . K . N . D iksh it
o f Poo n a h as obse r v ed t h a t du r i n g t h e V I ce n t u r y t h i sp h e n o m e n o n cou l d h a v e o c c ured o n ly t h r i ce : i n 507 , i n 5 26and in 545 . T h e Sa n go l i p l ates be ing dated i n t h e 8 t h yea ro f H arivarman
’
s r e i g n,t h i s k i n g m ust h a v e co m e to t h e t h r o n e
on l y i n 526-8=5 1 8 A . D . o r i n 54 5 -8=5 37 A . D .,i f w e be l i e
ve t h a t t h i s e v e n t h appe n ed i n t h e V I ce n t u ry. T h e l at t e r dateag r e es pe r fec t ly w e l l w i t h th e c h r o n o l ogy w e h a v e adopte dw e s h al l t h e r e fo r e ad m i t t h a t H arivarman asc e n ded th e
th r o n e ‘
in 537 A . D .
“
Le t u s now p r oceed to sum up t h e h i story o f th i s d y n as t y .
T h e T alagnnda i n sc r ip t i o n (Ep . I n d .,Vo l V I I I
,page 30)
g i v e s a v e r s i o n , p r obab l y h i s to r i ca l , o f t h e o r ig i n o f t h eKadam bas . T h e r e was a b r a h m an be l o n g i n g to t h e Manavyagot r a n am ed Mayorasarman w h o was a n a t i v e o f S thanakundur(Falgu nda) a n d be l o n ged t o a fa m i l y ca l l ed K ada m bas i n ce a kada m ba t r ee s h e l te r ed t h e i r h o use . H e ca m e to th e
cap i ta l o f t h e Pa llava e m p i r e to s tudy th e Vedas a n d t h e r e h ada qua r r e l w i t h a h o r se m a n . H ea r i n g i t said t h a t th e b r a h m ancaste w as i n fe r i o r to t h a t o f t h e li s h atrias
,h e go t a n g r y
,pu t
h i m se l f a t t h e h ead o f a ba n d o f ad v e n t u r e r s a n d at ta cked t h ePallavas i n t h e fo r ests o f S r i Parvata. Wi t h t h e h e l p o f BrihadBan zr a n d ot h e r k i n gs, h e succeeded i n fou n d i n g t h e k i n gdo mo f w h ic h Ba n a v as i (Va i j aya n t i ) was t h e cap i t a l . M r . K . G .
Sa n ka r a [ye r o f T rivandram i n h i s exce l l e n t a r t i c l e o n “T h e
age o f K a l i d a sa” pub l i s h ed i n t h e “
Qua r te r l y j ou r n a l o f t h eM y t h i c Soc i e ty
, (Ba n ga lore ,Vo l. V I I I ., j u ly 1 9 1 8 ) says :
“I t
i s p r obab l e t h a t Mayurasarr'
n a vr took ad v a n tage o f th e co n fu s i o ncau sed by Sam udragup ta
’
s so u t h e r n exp ed i t i o n t o se t h i m se l fu p as a n i n depe n de n t r u l e r T h i s h ypo t h es is acco r d s w i t h th ec h r o n o l ogy w e h a v e adop ted .
D r . A . Ve nkatasubbrah , t h e l ea r n ed office r o f t h e M ys o reA rc h zc o logical Depa r t m e n t
"
,h as w r i t te n a n a r t i c l e o n “
T h e
K ada m ba p r ak r i t i n sc r i p t i o n o f M a l ava l l i lnd,A n t .
,Vo l.
XLV I,page in w h i c h w e find t h e exac t te n or o f t h a t
doc u m e n t . I t i s a K ada m ba i n sc r i p t i o n,bu t t h e n a m e o f th e
k i n g i s n o t m e n t io n ed . How e v e r,as i t i s i n prfi krit w e m ay
suppO s e t h a t h e w as t h e m ost a n c i e n t k i n g o f t h e dy n as ty a n dt h a t th e docu m e n t i s d at ed i n th e r e ig n o f Mayurasarman
, t h ati s,t h e m i dd l e o f t h e IV ce n t u r y .
T h e 8 th v e r se o f t h e Aj a n t a i n sc r i p t i o n (ca v e N o . XVI,
A r c h . Su r v . \V. I n d .,Vo l IV,
pages 5 3 a n d 1 24) say s t h a t th e
Vakataka k i n g Prrth ivish é na l . v a n qu i s h ed t h e k i n g o f K o n t a l a,i . e . th e K ada m ba k i n g . I t i s ce r ta i n t h a t I ’rith ivish r
'
na I .r e ig n ed fo r a l o n g t i m e t r ad i t i o n says t h a t h e r e ig n ed fo r abou ta h u n d r ed ye a r s a n d .\ Ir. V i n ce n t A . S m i t h i s o f op i n i o n t h a t i tm e a n s “ f r o m abou t fo r ty to s i x ty yea r s \Ve k n ow t h a t h is so nRudrasena If. m a r r i ed t h e daug h te r o f C h a n d r a -Gup ta I I . abou t395 A . D . W e m ay t h e r e fo r e be a l m ost su r e t h a t Prith ivish éna I .re ig n ed be tw ee n 350 a n d 390 A . D . Acco r d i n g to o u r c h r o n ol ogy h e mus t h ave bee n th e co n te m pora r y o f t h e Kad nnba
k i n g Kangavarman (360-385 A . D . ) a n d i t i s p r obab le t h a t t h i sk i n g o f Kun tala is t h e o n e w h ose de fea t i s m e n t i o n ed i n t h eAjari ta i n sc r i p t i o n a n d t h e Talgunda i n sc r i p t i o n see m s toco n fi r m t h i s s uppos i t i o n , as i t says t h a t Kangavarman ae co m
p lish ed“ l o f ty exp l o i ts i n te r r i b l e w a r s" .
We h a v e n o t got a n y i n fo r m a t i o n abou t Bhagirath afRag h’ u “subdued e n e m i es by h i s v a l ou r I t i s p r obab ly
i n h i s r e ig n t h a t h is b r ot h e r Kakus th a bo r e t h e t i t l e o fYuvamah araja a n d r u l ed o v e r Palasika (H al s i i n Be lgau m ) i nth e yea r 80 of a n u n k n ow n e r a w h i c h p r obab ly bega n w i t h t h efou n d i n g o f t h e dy n asty by Mayurasarman . I n t h a t case
,t h e
H a l s i p lates (I n d . A n t .,Vol . V I , page 2 3 ) w ou l d be dated abou t
the yea r 420 A . D . a n d Kakusth a wou l d h a v e c ome to t h et h r o n e i n 42 5 a n d r e ig n ed t i l l Jr50 A . D .
T h e Ba lag h at p l a tes (Ep . lnd .,Vo l . I X .,
page 268) say t h a tN aréndraséna w as t h e g r a n dso n o f Prabhavati-Gupta a n d t h a th e m a r r i ed t h e daug h te r o f t h e k i n g of Kun tala n a m ed A jjh itabh at tarika. W h e n d i d t h i s m a r r i age t ake p l ace \Ve h a v ead m i t ted w i t h M r . V i n ce n t A . S m i t h (j. R . A . S .
,Ap r i l 1 9 1 4 ,
p age 3 26 ) t h a t t h e m a r r i age o f Rudrasana I I w i t h t h e daug h te ro f C h a n d r a-Gupta II
, th e quee n Prabhavati-Gupta, took p laceabou t 395 A . D . w e m ay suppose t h at t h e m a r r i age o f t h e i rg r a n dso n took p l ace 50 yea r s l a te r . So t h e m a r r iage o f t h e p r i n ceGup ta-V fi k é taka w i t h t h e daug h te r o f t h e k i n g o f Kun taIa m ustbe p laced abou t 445 A . D . W e h a v e sa i d abo v e t h a t i t i s ce r t a i nt h a t th e Kun tala k i n gdo m was n o o t h e r t h a n t h e k i n gdo m o f t h eKadambas (see Ep .
Ind .,V o l . X I I I , page 299, v e r se s 5 8—62 1. We
may t h e r e fo r e p u t th e quest io n w h o was t h e K ada m ba k i n g t h a tre i g n ed i n 445 a n d ga v e h i s daugte r i n m a r r i age to t h e Gup taVakataka k i n g? In ou r c h r o n o l ogy Kakusthavarman is s h ow nto h a ve r e ig n ed f r o m 42 5 to 4 50 a n d i t is qu i te poss i b le t h a ti n 445 h e h ad a daugh ter o f m arr i ageab l e age : a n d t h e ee lebrat~ed i n sc r i p t i o n o f Talagunda w h i c h co n ta i n s th e eu l ogy o fKakusth avarman a n d i s w r i t h e n i n t h e “box - h e aded" a l p h abetsays t h a t Kakusthavarman ga v e h i s daug h te r s i n m a r r i age toth e Gup tas a n d o t h e r k i n gs .
T h e p l ates of Mrigé s’
a a n d Mandhatri,t h e so n s of San tivare
man, are a l so w r i t te n in t h e sa m e a l p h abe t .Two se t s o f Copper p l a te s d i scove r ed a t D évagiri (I n d .
Ant . ,Vo l. VI I, page 35 and page 37) are dated i n t h e 3 r d
was r e i g n i n g at Va i j aya n t i (I n d . A n t., vo l . VI , page h e
ga v e o r de r s fo r t h e co n s t r u c t i o n o f a te m p l e a t Palas’
ika.
I t i s p r obab le t h a t o n t h e deat h o f Mandh atri,th e c r ow n
o f t h e Kadambas ca m e , as a m a tte r o f r i g h t , to Ravivarman
t h e so n o f Mandh atri ; t h i s p r i n ce be i n g yo u n g, h i s cou s i nVish nuvarman t r i ed to s i ze u po n t h e t h r o n e w i t h t h e h e l p o f
t h e Pallavas ; bu t Ra v i k i l l ed h i s ad v e r sa r y . I n fac t,a se t o f
H a l s i p l a tes (I n d . A n t ., Vo l . V I , page 3 2 ) say t h a t Rav ivarman
“acqu i r ed t h e r ega l pow e r by t h e s t r e n g t h a n d p r ow ess o f h i sown a r m a n d a n o t h e r set o f H a l s i p l a tes (I n d . A n t . ,Vo l . V I
,page 29) a l so add t h a t Rav ivarman
“ h a v i n g s lain
S r i -Vishnuvarman and o t h e r k i n gs,a n d h a v i n g u p r ooted
Ch andadanda, t h e l o r d o f Kafi c h i h as estab l i s h ed h i m se l f a tPalasika
”. T h e N i l a m bu r p l a tes (Ep . I n d .,
Vo l . V I I I ., page1 46 ) a r e dated i n t h e 5 t h yea r o f Rav ivarman
’
s r e ig n ; and
t h e r e are t h r ee set s o f p l ates (I n d . A n t .,Vol . V I , page 2 5 , 28
ind 29 ) t h a t a r e da ted i n t h e same r e ig n f r o m Palasik é . T h eAjjibad-S i r s i p l a tes (P r og r ess Repo r t, A r c h . Su r v . W e st . I n d .,
fo r 1 9 1 7 -1 9 1 8 , page 3 5 ) a r e dated i n t h e 3 5 th yea r o f h i s r e ig nw h i c h co r r espo n ds p r o bab l y to c i r c . 5 3 5 A . D . a n d i t i s l i ke ly ,t h a t
,h a v i n g c ome t o t h e t h r o n e abou t 500 A . D . w h e n sufh
c ien tly you n g , h e r e ig n ed fo r abo u t 40 yea r s a n d d i ed i n 5 37A . D . T h e i n sc r i p t i o n o n t h e s to n e a t Kavadi (So r ab 5 23
,
S h i m oga (Ep . Ca r n .,Vo l. V I I I , page 1 67) m e n t i o n s t h e
deat h o f Ra v i a n d o f h i s w i fe w h o p r obab ly beca m e a sa t i .H is so n H arivarman succeeded h i m a t Va i j aya n t i (Sa n go l i
p lat es Ep . I n d ., Vol . X IV .
, page 1 6 5 8 th yea r o f t h e re i gn)a n d a t Palasik fi (H a l s i p l a tes, Ind . A n t .
,Vo l. VI .,
page 3 1‘
Sth
yea r o f h is r e i g n ) . We h a v e sa i d t h a t h e asce n ded th e t h r o n e i n5 37 A . D .
Abou t th e yea r 5 50 A . D .,Pu laké s
’
in I . o f th e C h a lukyafa m i ly i n s ta l l ed h i m se l f a t V fi tap i (B a da m i ) . T h i s tow n be ings i tu a ted exac t l y i n t h e m idd l e of t h e n o r t h e r n p r o v i n ces o f th eK ada m ba k i n gdo m , it is a l m ost ce r ta i n t h a t H arivarman l os t,abou t 5 50 A . D ., all t h e cou n t r y t h a t h ad fo r i t s cap i t a l sPalas
'
iké (Ha ls i ) a n d T riparvata :W e h a v e see n t h a t Rav ivarman k i l l e d Vish nuvarman , h i s
cous i n a n d se t t l ed at Palas’
iké Simh avarman,th e so n o f
Visriuvarman, p r obab ly r emai n ed in an i n fe r i o r p os i t i o n du r ing
th e re ig n o f Ravivarman bu t the son of Sin'
i h évarman wh o
- l 0
W IN ca l l ed Krishnavarman I l . asce n ded th e t h r o n e o f Vanayan t i.T h e Be n n u r p l a tes (Ep . Ca r n . ,
Vo l. V. ,page 594 Be l u r 245 )
speak o f a m i l i ta r y exped i t i o n a n d t h e Ben nah alli p la tes (Ep .
Ca r n . , Vo l . V , Be . 1 2 1 a n d Ep . I n d . ,Vo l . V I . , page 1 8 ) say
t h a t Ix’ rish ri avarman I I . “ h as ga i n ed t h e fo r t u n e o f r o y a l t y byh i s h e r o i s m " . T h e k i n gdo m o f Krish navarman I I . exte n dedbe tw ee n th e Clialu kva k i n gdo m i n t h e n o r t h a n d t h a t o f t h eGangas i n t h e sou t h . Madh ava I I . o f t h e Ganga dy n a stym a r r i ed t h e s i s te r o f Ix
’
rish navarman I I . P r obab ly , i t w as
Krish navarman I I . t h a t w as de fea ted b y th e C h a l uka Kirtivarm a n I . s h o r t ly be fo r e 5 70 A . D . a n d w h ose cou n t r y was m i n edby t h e Pallavas (A riaii insc . ,
Ep . Ca r n .,Vol . XI
,D g . No .
Fo r a l o n g t i m e i t w as be l i e v ed t h a t t h e dy n asty w as co mp l e te ly dest r oyed . How e v e r
,t h e d i s co v e r y o f th e T agare p l a tes
(M yso r e A r c h . Repo r t fo r 1 9 1 8 , page 40 a n d p l a te X I ) see m sto p r o v e t h a t t h e so n o f Krish navarm an I I . w h o w as ca l l edAjavarman
,d i d n o t r e i g n
,bu t t h a t BliOg ivarman
,t h e so n o f
Ajavarman,was t h e “acqu i r e r o f a n exte n s i v e k i n gdo m by t h e
s t r e n gt h o f h i s ow n a r m ”. I t i s p r obab l e t h a t t h i s k i n gdo m d id
n o t l as t l o n g,fo r
,i t appea r s t h a t t h i s cou n t r y w as occu p i ed ,
s h o r t l y a f te r,by t h e Ga i'igas (T agare p lat es o f Po lavira, M yso r e
A r c h t Repo r t fo r 1 9 1 8 , page Vish n uvarman so n o f B h og iy a r m a n p r obab l y l i v ed i n t h e begi n n i n g o f t h e VI I ce n tu r y .
T h e C h a lukya k i n g Pulakesin I I bes i eged Ba n a v a s i (A ih o leinsc .) a n d , i n t h e K ad a m ba cou n t r y t h e r e a r e i n sc r i p t i o n s o f
Pulakesin I I (S h , V ikramaditya (Sa. Vinayaditya
(8 11 . 1 54 ) a n d V ijayad ity a (Sk .
A t t h e e n d o f t h e V I I I c e n t u r y,t h e Pallava k i n g Da n t i
varman m a r r i ed Aggaian immat i,“t h e daug h te r o f t h e ce l eb r a ted
k i n g,a c r es t j ew e l o f t h e K ada m ba fa m i l y" (Vé lurpalaiyam
p l ates,v e r s 1 8 S . l . I . ,
Vo l . I l . , Pa r t V . , page
2 . T h e Gangas .
Up to th e m o m e n t o f w r i t ing t h i s , th e ge n ea l ogy o f t h i sdy n as ty h as r e m ai n ed u n se t t l ed fo r t h e fo l l ow i n g r easo n sT h e fi r s t docu m e n t s t h a t w ere d i sco v e r ed w e r e n o do u b tspu r i o u s . T h ey gave t h e fo l lowmg ge n ea l ogy
a r m a n ,
Mad h a y a I ) ,
H arivarman,
Kishni igopa,
Madh ava I Il
A vin ita,e tc .
1 91 3 , w e r e d i sco v e r ed t h e Pe n ukondag i v e t h e fo l l ow i n g ge n ea l ogy
Ko r’
rgan ivarman ,
Madh ava,
Ayyavarman ,
Madhava .
T h i s docu m e n t was ce r t a i n l y a ge n u i n e o n e ; i t was ad
m itted t h a t t h e ge n ea l ogy g i v e n i n t h e sp u r i ou s r eco r ds ise rro ne o us i and t h a t t h e o n ly r e l i ab l e o ne i s w h a t i s g i v e n i nt h e Pe n uko n da p lates . I t h as t h e r e fo r e bee n ad m i t t ed t h a tt h e fo l l ow i n g i s t h e co r r ec t ge n ea logy
Ko r’
rganivarman ,
Madh avaz l
Ayyavarma n
Madhava I I .,
dy n asty bu t i t i s q u i te c e r tai n it was n ot t h e case . T h e documen t s sav t h a t M ad h a y a I I . m a r r i ed t h e s i s te r o f t h e Kada m baKrishnavarman
,bu t t h i s k i n g was I a m su r e, t h e seco n d o f
t h at n a m e a n d n o t t h e fi r s t . I dec l a r e t h a t M ad h a y a I I . m a r r i edth e s i ste r o f Krish navarman I I
T h e fi r s t k i n g,o f w h ose dat e w e a r e su r e , r e ig n ed i n th e
V I I I ce n tu r y : i n 1 9 1 8 , M r . R . N aras imh ac h ar d i sco v e r ed at
H alkur (S i r a t a l uk ) a n i n sc r i p t io n o n a s ton e be lo n g i n g to th e
re i g n o f érip urusha a n d dated 8 . 7 1 0 o r 788 A . D . T h i s k i n g w asth e so n o f Sivam fi ra (Vallimalai i u sc . ,
No . 9 1 of a n dg ra n dso n (éfldl p l ates , Ep . I n d Vo l . V I I I , p . o fBhuv ikra
ma. S i n ce éripurush a r e i g n ed i n 788 A . D . w e m ay suppose t h a th is g r a n d fat h e r B huvikrama asce n ded t h e t h r o n e i n t h e fi r s tqua r te r o f t h e V I I I ce n tu r y (700-72 5 A . T h e fa t h e r o fB huv ikrama n a m ed m us t h a v e r e ig n ed t h e r e fo r ein t h e 4th qua r te r o f t h e V I I ce n t u r y (675 -700 A . D . ) a n dh is g r a n d fa t h e r M u s h ka r a i n t h e 3rd qua r te r o f t h e sa m ece n t u r y (650-675 A . W e k n ow t h a t D u i v inita t h efa t h e r o f M us h ka r a r e i g n ed fo r a lo n g t i m e t h e Gummareddi
pu r a p l ates (Repo r t, A r c h aeo l . Depa r t . M yso r e, fo r 1 9 1 2
pa r as 65 -69) a r e , i n fac t , dated i n t h e 40th yea r o f h i sre ig n , a n d, as i t i s p r obab l e t h at h e l i v ed a few yea r s m o r e ,w e m ay gi v e h i m a r e i g n o f 4 5 yea r s w h i c h w i l l ex te n d f r o m605 t o 650 A . D . H i s fat h e r A vin ita p r obab l y r e ig n ed fo r a ne qua l l y l o n g pe r i od
,fo r
,t h e S r i n ge r i p l a tes, w h i c h a r e da ted i n
t h e seco n d ye a r o f h i s r e ig n,say t h at h e obt a i n ed t h e “so v e
re ign ty w h i l e st i l l o n t h e l ap o f h i s d i v i n e m ot h e r a n d t h eg r a n t o f Ep . Ca r n .
,9,Dodda -Ba l lapu r , 68 , i s da ted i n t h e 29 th
yea r o f h i s r e ig n . W e m ay t h e r e fo r e be l i e v e t h a t h e r e ig n edfo r a fu r t h e r pe r i od o f 1 1 yea r s a fte r m ak i n g th e l a t te r g r a n ta n d t h at h i s r e ig n l as ted abou t 40 yea r s . Av in ita w ou ld t h e r efo r e h a v e r e ig n ed f r o m 5 6 5 t o 605 A . D . Acco r d i n g to t h eseca l cu lat i o n s
,M ad h a y a I I t h e fat h e r o f Av in ita, w ou ld h ave
r e ig n ed fro m 540 to 565 A . D . a n d t h i s i s exac t ly t h e epoc h w e
h a v e ass i g n ed to t h e K ada m ba Krish navarman I I . I f w e n ow
bea r i n m i n d t h a t th e Ganga Madh ava I I . a n d t h e K ada m baKrish navarman 1 1 . bot h r e ig n ed o v e r M yso r e , t h e o n e i n t h eN o r t h a n d th e o t h e r i n t h e Sou t h
,a n d t h at
,i n c o n seque n ce,
t h ey w e r e n e ig h bou r s,i t w ou l d seem t o be qu i te n a tu r a l t h a t
M ad h ay a I ] . s h ou l d marrv t h e s i s te r o f Krish navarman I I . I t i s
— io7
c l ea r t h a t l l i s a bso l u te l y i m poss i b le t h a t M ad h a y a I I,w h o
l i v ed i n th e m idd l e o f t h e V I Ce n t u r y , s h ou ld h a v e m a r r i ed th es i s te r o f Krish navarma t i I . w h o l i v ed i n t h e m i dd l e o f th eV ce n t u r y . s h a l l t h e r e fo r e co n c l ude by say i n g “
Madhava I I,
t h e fa t h e r o f A vm ita,m a r r i ed th e s i s te r o f t h e K ada m ba Krish
navarm an I I . a n d r e ig n ed f r o m 540 t o 5 65 A .
T h i s c h r o n o logy is i n pe r fec t acco r d w i t h a l l t h e docum e n t s . s h a l l p r ese n t ly s e e t h a t Ayyavarman was p l acedo n th e t h r o n e abou t 480 A . D .
,by S imh avarman
,t h e Pa l ia v a
k i n g t h a t r e ig n ed f r o m 47 5 t o 500 A . D .,a n d t h a t t h e so n o f
Ay yavarman w as c r ow n ed by t h e Pallava Skandavarman
(500 -5 2 5 A .
we ge t t h e r e fo r e t h e fo l l ow i n g ge n ea l ogy a n d c h r o n o l ogy :Ko ngan ivarman
, (o f t h e Kanvavana gé tra) ,
M ad h a y a I
A vyavaiman (480 - 505 ) H arivarman
Madliava (50 5 -5 30 ) Vish n ugdpa
Krish navarman Mi dhava I I (540 5 65 )(ac e . c i r c . 5 30 )
(Paruvi d y n as t y ) Avin ita (56 5 -6 0 5 )
D urvin ita (605 -650)
M us h ka r a1seco n d h a l fo f t h e
S rivrkramal V I I ce n t u r y
Bli t’
ivikran ia tirs t IL t I '
o f th e
S ivamitra V I I I ce n t u r y
Sripurush a (78 8 A . D .)
e tc .s h a l l now t r y to gi v e th e h i s to r y o t t h ese k i n gs .
1 08
W e h a v e sa i d t h a t, abou t 480 A . D .,th e K ada m ba Mrige s
’
a
foug h t w i t h the Gangas a n d was a v e r y fi r e o f des t r uc t io n o fth e Pallavas (H a l s i p l a tes, I n d . A n t Vo l . V I ., page T h i si n fo r m at i o n i s v e r y i m po r ta n t as i t p r o v es t h a t abou t 480 A . D .
th e Pallavas a ided t h e Gangas in t h e i r fig h t w i t h t h e Kadambas.
T h e Pallava k i n g a t t h i s epoc h was p r obab ly Sirh h avarman wh o
r e ig n ed a t Kafi c h i a n d to w h o m w e h a v e ass ig n ed t h e date475 to 500 A . D . ; a n d t h i s fac t i s co n fi r m ed by t h e Pe n ugondap la tes t h a t say t h a t t h e Ganga k i n g Ayyavarman
“was du ly
i n s ta l led o n t h e t h r o n e by Sir'
nhavarman Maharé ja, t h e lo r d o ft h e p r ospe r o us Pallava fa m i ly (Rep . o n Ep . fo r 1 9 1 3-1 4 ; G . O .
,
No . 920, 4th Aug . T h e so n o f Ayyavarman wh o was
ca l led Madh ava a l i as Simh avarman was“ in s ta l l ed o n t h e
t h r o n e by t h e i l l us t r i o u s Pallava (k i n g) Skandavarman"
.
h a v e sa i d t h a t Skandavarman o f K ar'i c h i , so n o f Simh avarmanr e ig n ed f r o m 500 t o 5 2 5 A . D . I t is p r o bab l e t h at t h i s Pallavak i n g h ad a lso to co n te n d w i t h t h e Kadambas fo r s t r e n gt h e n i n gth e sove r e ig n ty of t h e Ganga k i n g fo r
,t h e H a l s i p l a tes (I n d .
A n t., Vo l . V I ., p . 29) say t h a t Ravivarman s t r ugg l ed aga i n s t“Ch andadanda, t h e l o r d o f K anc h i" . S i n ce we do n o t k n owo f a n y Pallava k i n g o f t h a t n ame
,we m ay suppose t h a t t h e
na m e “Ch an danda
”was a biruda
re i g n ed at t h i s epoc h (500-52 5 A . D .)Madhava a l i as Sir
‘
nh avarman,w h o m ade th e g r a n t c om
memorated by t h e Pe n ugo nda p la tes, r e ig n ed o v e r Paruviv ish aya a n d m ust be i de n t ifi ed w i t h th e Madhava o f t h eB endig fi nh alli p l ate s (M yso r e A rc h ze . Repo r t fo r 1 9 1 4-1 5 , p lateXI I I) w h ose son Vijaya-Krish navarman r e ig n ed o v e r Paruvish aya. T h i s k i n g Krishnavarman m us t h a v e r e i g n ed i n t h e m idd leo f th e V I ce n t u ry , fo r , t h e a l p h abe t o f t h e Bendiganhalli p la tesis a l m ost i de n t i ca l w i t h t h a t o f t h e Ban nahalli (Ep .
I n d,Vo l.
V I , p . 1 8) a n d Ch ikkulla (Ep . I n d .,Vo l . I V ..
p. 1 96) p l a tes.
Krishnavarman i s t h e l as t k n ow n k i n g o f t h e Paruvi dy n as ty .
T h e k i n g Madhava I I , w h o be l o n ged to th e dy n asty o f t h eGangas o f Talakfi d, “boug h t t h e so v e r e ig n ty w i t h t h e s t r e n g t ho f h is own a r m
”
, a n d m a r r i ed t h e you n ge r s i s te r o f t h e K ada mba Krishnavarman (I w h o , in t h e m i dd le of th e V I ce n tu r y,re ig n ed ove r a l a rge pa r t o f Myso r e
.
H is son Avinita (56 5-605 A . D .) m a r r ied the daug h te r o fSkandavarman k i ng o f Pa n n ata.
o f Skandavarman w h o
- 1 l l
5 3 . T h e C h a luk y as .
T h e ge n ea l ogy a n d t h e c h r o n o l og y o f t h e C h aluk y as p r ese n t n o d i ffi cu l ty
Jayasii ii h a (o f t h e Manavva go t r a)
Ranaraga
Ranavikrama Pu lakesin I (c i z e . 5 50 A . D .\
Kirtivarman I (566 Mél r'
lgnlvéa (597
Pulake sm I l K u lna-Vish nuvardhana(609-642) (fo u n de r o f t h e Eas t e r n C hal ukya d y n as ty )
T h e o r ig i n o f t h i s dy n asty i s obs cu r e [ t h e l ege n d g i v e ni n t h e “g r a n t o f V i r a -C h oda ,
" S . I . I . ,Vo l. I . , page 5 0 ,
h a sn o t h i n g h i s to r i ca l i n I I J . In 1 905 , (j. R . A . S .
,fo r 1 90 5 , page
360) F lee t fo u n d o u t t h at t h e h y pot h e ses fo r m ed o n t h i s su bj e c tw e r e a l l o f t h e m base l ess . I sh all , h owe v e r , m ake a re m a r kt h e g r a n t o f Undivat ika (Ep . I n d Vo l . V I I I ., page 1 6 3 ) w h ic hi s p r obab l y da t ed I II t h e fi r s t h a l f o f t h e V I c e n t uuv says t h a tt h e co m m a n de r o f t h e fo r t o f H arivatsako t ta was a ce r ta i n
jay as imh a (see also I n d : A n t . , Vo l XXX ) . Ca n t h is Jay as imh abe t h e fo u n der o f t h e C h a l u k y a d y n as t y
I’ u laké éin I ., w h o p r obab l y ca m e f r o m a t ow n ca l l edIndukan ti i n s t a l l ed h imse lfabo u t 5 50 A . D . ,
at Vatap i (Badaun ) .h a v e sa i d t h a t t h i s m i l i ta r y ope r a t i o n cou ld h a v e bee n
e ffec t ed o n l y by h a y i n g de fea ted t h e K ada m ba k i n g (p r obab l yH arivarman ) wh o r e i g n ed , w i t h H a l s i fo r cap i ta l , o v e r t h em ode r n p r o v i n ces o f Kaladge e , Be lgau m ,
a n d D h a r wa r . T h e
h i s to r i ca l d ocu m e n ts sa y t h a t h e pe r fo r m ed a h o r se sac r i fice .
W'
e k n ow also (Bfidam i insc . ,I n d . A n t Vo l . 1 1 1
, page 305 ;
Vo l . V I . page 3 6 3 : Vo l . X , p age 5 8 ) t h a t h e m a r r i ed D u rlabh a
dévi o f t h e Batpura fa m i ly . T h i s fa m i ly l i v ed p r obab ly n o tfar from Go a a t Révatidvipa (G o a p late s ; J . B . B . R . A . S., Vo l .
X.,page H is e l des t so n Kirtivarman I ° succeeded h im
i n 566 -7 A . D .
T h e i n sc r i p t i o n o f Mah akuta (n ea r Bada m i ) [ I n d . A n t .,Vol . X IX ,
page 7 ] says t h a t Kirtivarman ga i n ed v i c to r i es i n th efo llowmg cou n t r i es Vanga and Anga (E . a n d W . Be n ga l ) , Kav
Iir’
iga, Vattura , Magadha, Madraka,K e r a la , Gar
’
iga,M us h aka
,
Pandya, D ram il a, Ch é Iiya‘
, Aguka (t h e Aluvas o r Alupas , in th eN .
-E o f Ba n a vas i ) a n d Vijayanti. Aga i n , t h e A ih o le i n sc r i p t i onsays t h a t Kirtivarman was a “ n ig h t o f doo m to t h e N a las
,th e
Mauryas a n d t h e Kadambas . T h e Na las p r obab ly occup i edN alavadi (m e n t i o n ed i n p la tes o f Vikramaditya I ) n ea r Be l l a r ya n d K a rm
‘
i l d i s t r i c ts . T h e Mauryas w e r e a peop l e o fNo r t h e r n K onka n (se e Bo m bay Gaz et tee r , Vol . I , Pa r t . I I .,page A sto n e d i sco v e r ed at Vfida i n t h e T h a n a d i s t r i c t(see Bo m bay Gaze t te e r , Vo l. X IV , page 373 ) me n t i o n s th eM au r ya Seke tuvarman . W e h a v e a l r eady spoke n o f th e de fe a to f th e Kadambas a l i t t l e be fo r e 5 70 A . D . I t w ou l d app ea r t h a tKirtivarman de fea ted a c o nfedarat io n o f K ada m ba p r i n ce sp r obab l y Krishnavarman I I a n d h i s fe udato r i es . I n th e 1 2 th
yea r o f h i s r e ig n,K irtivarman h ad as Yuvamaharaja h i s you n g
b r ot h e r Mangalesa ; a n d i t i s t h i s p r i n ce t h a t h ad o ne of th eca v es o f Bada m i d ug in t h e yea r 500 o f th e Baka era
,w h i c h
co r r espo n ds to 5 78 A . D . (I n d . A n t ., Vo l . I I I , page 305 Vo l.
V I,page 363 ; Vo l . X , page Kirtivarman married a p r ince ss
o f th e Sé ndraka fa m i l y w h o was th e daug h te r o f Sé nanandar aj a (C h i p lun p l a tes, Ep . I n d .,
Vo l . page Of t h i su n i o n w as bo r n a s o n n a m ed Pu lakésin I I . T h i s p r i n ce w as
p r obab ly v e r y you n g w h e n h i s fa t h e r d i ed a n d th e c r ow n passed to Mar
’
xgalé éa, t he b r o t h e r (o r h a l f-b r o t h e r , I n d . A n t .,Vol . X I X .
,page 1 5 ) of Kirtivarman I .
T h e i n sc r i p t i o n o f Mahakuta w h i c h i s dated i n th e 5 thyea r o f t h e r e i g n o f Mangalé s
’
a i-e . 60 1 -602 A . D . say (I n d . A n t .,Vo l . X I X ,
page 7 ) t h a t t h i s k i n g v a n qu i s h ed Budd h a, a n d th e
Ne r u r p l a tes (I n d . A n t ., Vo l . Vl l ., page 1 66 ) say t h a t h e pu tt o fli g h t é zimkai‘agana
'
s so n Buddharaja and k i l l ed Swam irajao f th e Chal ikya fa m i ly (see a l so I n d . A n t ., Vo l . V I , pageW e h a v e a l r eady spoke n of t h e de feat o f Buddharfi ja w h enstudy i n g ! th e Kalac h uri dynasty . T h e A ih o le i n sc r i p t i o n (Ep .
— 1 14
W e c l ose t h e A n c ie n t H i s to ry of th e D ecca n w i t h th e year6 1 0 A . D . A t t h i s e poc h , Pulake éin I I . has bec ome maste r oft h e w h o l e o f t h e Decca n t h e Pal-la vas h a v e be e n r ep u lse d in
t h e sou t h , a n d all t h e o t h e r o ld dy n ast i es h a v e bee n destro y ed .
F r o m 6 1 0 A . D . t h e docu m e n t s ha v e be co m e m o r e nu m e r ous .
a n d c h r o n o l ogy h as be co m e m o r e p r ec i se w e en te r i n to a
n ew epoc h i n t h e h i sto r y o f t h e Decca n , t h e m idd le age s .
Pond irh e rrv. D ecember 1 0 1 9 .
CONTENTS .
I n troduc tion
I . Th e early kings .
l ) As‘oka2 ) Kubei
‘
a o f B ltat t iprt‘
i h i
3 ) Ix'
li ."
irave la o f Kalii'
iga
4 ) T h e ea r l i est Ski tavkh aua k i n gs
Ch i t/Var 1 1 . Si t /m perio d of th e h is to ry orthr D a m n .
I ) T h e Ks l'
iah at‘
at as
2 ) C h ash tan a, to u nde r o f t h e éaka e ra
k
3 ) T h e la t e r 8 i tav zi h aua k i n gs
Ch apte r I I I . 7 110 Pa l/arias .
t ) T h e I’al lava m y s t e r y
T h e c \'
p c d itio u o f San i t idra-G u p t a.i ) T h e Pal lavas fro m 340 to 6 1 0 A . I ) .
I I'
. Th e ( i’vim st ivs of
'
t'
mi tm l D ro w n .
t ) T h eT h e k i n gs o f
Chapter l‘
h i ' i i’
vim s/ii ‘
s o f l l'
este i‘
n Ih '
rrm i .
l ) T h c Ali h it ' as3 ) T h e
3 ) T h e Kalac h u ris
Ch apter Th e «(wa ist /us of Easter n ”f ro n t .
I ) T h e I li SIlY tA
l k l tS
3 ) T h e l irih atph alay an as
3 ) T h e Bala i'
ikriy anas
4 ) T h e V is l inu kundii is
5 ) T h e k i n gs o l Kalii'
iga
Chapte r Th e i fi ' h i rs l irs n/ Afa r/a ris e i fi'
sfrirts.
I ) T h e
2 ) T h e (‘
xa i'
igas
3 ) T h e C lifih iky as
W ORKS B Y THE SA M E AUTHO R .
IN FRENCH
~1 1 ' rh éo lc‘
fgie d z : Sud dc Z’
I n de— fA nnales (In Musée G-mm e t
Bi b l i o t h eque d E tn cie q - M
’
I‘
om e s v ingta ix iem e e t v ing fi
Sep tiem c jTO M E I o n -A v ec 7 ] figu r es at 0 4 p la n c h es
h'
o z'
s tex t e - 1 9 2 pages , L ibrairl e Pau l Gen t h n e r , 1 3 ,m e jacob, Pa r i s , 1 9 1 4
TO M E I I .
”term ! n « A v ec 40 fi gure s a t 1 4 p lan c h e g
h o r s tex t e— H o p ages . Libran'
i e 1 2m ] G en th ne ,I 3
JD
rue jacob , Pa r i s , 1 9 1 4 .
IN ENGLISH
P a l lava A nnqm fi es,V0 1. l .
—\V i t h 3 2 p la t es . —P1'
o bsth ain
a n d Co ,,4 1 , G r ea t Russe l l S t r ee t , Lo n do n , 1 9 1 6 .
D i amdm '
n A rch z z‘eeiu rc w zt h 3 5 fi gu re s .
— Ed i t ed XV l Ih‘
P r e facea n d No t es b y S . Kris h nasw am i A iy angar, M .A . ,
R R . H ss t . S .,P r o fesso r o f I n d i a n H i s t o r y a n d A r c h aeo l ogy
,
Un ixe rs ity of M ad r as , P r i n t ed a t t h e Press,
Vepe r y,Mad r as
,1 9 1 7 .
Th e — So l d by t h e Au t h o r , 0 , D um as s t r ee t,Po n d ;
ch e r r y,1 9 1 7 (Prl c e 2 Rupees ) .
Pa lla va A n tit g’
s , Vo i . I I . —V\7 i t h 8 p l ates . -So ld bv t h ea u t h o r , Po n d i c h e r r y , 1 9 1 8 (P r i ce As .
Conjeez'am m u rea / iption of Mah éndrava rmm f 1 ,
— Si
o ld bv th e
au t h o r ‘ Po nd ic h e rrv,1 9 1 9 (P r i ce A c .
