Epigraphia Indica Vol 16

SR No.: 032570
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: F W Thomas, H Krishna Sastri
Publisher: Archaeological Survey of India
Publication Year: 1921
Total Pages: 474
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 22 MB

Page 359

[VOL. XVI.
as Rama was anointed by Vasishtha, his family priest, Venkatapati-devaraya's coronation was performed by the learned Tatayarya, his guru. Having conquered the Yavanas, he ruled the earth. He defeated Mahammanda Sahu, the son of Malikibharams, in battle, and during the continuance of the war the latter used to return home day by day after losing his elephants, horses, weapons and umbrella. Venkatapati-deva-Mabaraya was extolled by the kings of the Kambhoja, Bhoja, Kalinga, Kerahața and other countries, waiting at the entrance of his palace. He bore the birudas, Chaurasi-durg-aika-vibhāla-varya, Hosabirudara-ganda, Raya-rāhuttaminda, Avahalu-raya-mana-mardin, Biruda-manniyara-ganda, Utkal-endra-jaya-pandita-vira, Manniyansamul, Gandara-guli, Manya-puli, Mandalika-dharani-varaha, Venga-tribhuvani-malla, Trigola-suratranu, Ranamukha-Kamabhadra, Mandalika-ganda, Araṭṭa-Magadha-manya-pada, Chalikka-chakravartin, Ebiruda-raya-rahuta-věsy-aika-bhujanga, Kalyana-pur-adhipa, Oddiyaraya-disapaṭṭa, Bhashege-tappuva-rayara-ganda and Muru-rayara-gandu.
Having obtained the throne of the Karnața kingdom by the prowess of his arms, and defeating his enemies, Venkatapati-deva-Raya ruled the earth from the Himalayas to Sōtu (Ramosvaram).
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EPIGRAPHIA INDICA.
The genealogy as given in this grant agrees as far as Tirumala-Raya with those given in the Kondyata, the Kallakursi, the Kuniyur and the Vilappakkam grants and entirely with that found in the Dalavay-Agraharam Plates of this king. This grant, like the last mentioned, omits the names of Rama III and Raghunatha among the sons of Tirumala-Raya and gives only those of Sriranga-Raya (Ranga II) and Venkatapati I.
The historical importance of the events narrated in relation to the individual kings, the ancestors of Venkatapati I, as also about Tatayarya, his family priest, has been discussed already in my article on the L'alavay-Agraharam Plates of Venkatapati-deva-Maharaya (Ep. Ind., Vol. XII, pp. 159-187), and therefore need not be repeated here.
The present grant is dated the Saka Samvat 1520, computed by the moon (indu), the arrows (kalamba), the eyes (netra) and the sky (vyoma), which corresponded with the cyclic year Vilambin. On the dvadasi tithi of the bright half of the month Sravana the king Vira Venkatapati-Maharaya granted as an agrahara to a large number of Brahmanas the village of Vell ngolli together with Keiyattankurichchi, Uppu-vaniyan-puttür and Manamangalam in Perumpattu,-all clubbed together under the name of Virabhupa-samudram, at the request of prince Krishna-Bhupati of Madura. The villages granted were in the Mulli-nādu, which formed part of the sub-division Añjarakkarē of the Tiruvadi-desa. Their boundaries are stated in vv. 56-66.
The prince Krishna Bhupati, at whose request the grant was made, was the then Nayaka of Madura. His pedigree is traced thus:-In the Kasyapa gōtra was born Naga, a devotee of the god Visvesvara (evidently of Kasi or Bapärast). His son was Visvanatha. This prince conquered the Tiruvadi, the great Pandys, the Väṇadaraya and other kings in pitched battles and took from them their kingdoms solely by the prowess of his arms and became the lord of the Madhura country. Krishna, the lord of the south, possessed of valour, justice, intelligence and courage, was born to Viśvanatba. The queen of Krishna was Lakshmyambika. To these was born Vira-Bhupati, of charming manners. This last mentioned prince constructed a mandapa, containing several beautifully sculptured pillars, in front of the shrine of the god Saundara-nayeka (that is, Sundaréévara of the famous Siva temple at Madura) and presented to the goddess Minakshi a golden covering (kavacha) set with gems. He is described as having performed the gifts called hem-asva, hema-garbha, tula-purusha (weighing against gold and precious stones), visva-chakra, brahm-ända, go-sahasra, elephant chariot and kama-dhenu made of gold, sapt-am.bhodhi, horse chariot made of gold, mahabhuta. ghata, svarna-kshma and ratna-dhēnu. Tirumalambika was the wife of Vira-Bhupati, To them was born Krishna-Mahipati. This prince, who was well read in all sorts of