Epigraphia Indica Vol 21

SR No.: 032575
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Hirananda Shastri
Publisher: Archaeological Survey of India
Publication Year: 1931
Total Pages: 398
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 18 MB

Page 195

162
EPIGRAPHIA INDICA.
[VOL. XXI.
is found in other records of the Ratanpur kings and may therefore be accepted as correct. Suvarnnapura of verse 6 is probably identical with Sonpur on the Mahanadi, the present capital of the homonymous state now transferred to Bihār and Orissa from C. P. But we are not aware of Bhujabala the ruler of Suvarnapura from any other source. Suvarnapura is mentioned in the Sonpur platest of Kumāra Sõmēsvaradēva and the Jatesinga Dungri Plates of Mahāśivagupta which show that Sonpur was at an earlier time under the suzerainty of the Somavamsi rulers of Trikalimga. Only two chiefs of Sonpur are mentioned in the Sonpur Plates, viz., Abhimanyudēva and Sõmēsvaradēva.This as well as other inscriptions of the rulers of Ratanpur show that their relations with the Eastern Gangas, their immediate neighbours on the east, were not friendly. Chodaganga, the lord of Kalingadesa who was defeated by Ratnadēva II, is identical with the Eastern Ganga king Anantavarman Chödaganga. The king Jatāśvara who was defeated in battle by Prithvidēva II is no other than Kámārnava, the son of Anantavarman Chōdaganga as we know from an inscription in the ästhāna-mandapa at the Mukhalingam temple dated Saka 1070.
My reading of verse 13 in the text throws some new light on the genealogy of the Ratanpur kings after Jäjalladēvá II. Kielhorn and following him, Hiralal, were under the impression that Somalladēvi was the wife of Jājalladēva II and that Ratnadēva III was their son. No other inscription of Jājalladēva mentions the name of his wife. But in verse 13 of the present inscription it is clearly stated that after the death of Jājalladēva II, Jagaddēva, probably his elder brother, came from the eastern countries and became king. The reading appears to be jyāyan-asya and not -putro or =suto. If Jagaddēva was the son of Jājalladēva the succession would have been in quite a natural order. But if Jagaddēva was the elder brother of Jājalladēva and thus the eldest son of Prithvidēva, as the reading of verse 13 appears to show, I do not understand why he did not become king after the death of his father Prithvidēva II. The most plausible explanation seems to be that Jagaddēva was all the time engaged in a conflict with the Eastern Gangas and was thus obliged to be absent from the capital and that owing to his long absence Jâjalladēva took the reins of government in his own hands. The verse under consideration seems to imply that Jājalladēva's death took place somewhat suddenly and that was probably the reason why Jagaddēva hastened back from the eastern countries to take charge of the government.
Of the geographical places mentioned in the inscription several have already been identified by Hiralal. Thus Tummāna, the original capital of the Ratanpur Kalachuris, exists under the name of Tumāna in the Lāpha Zamindari of Bilāspur. Suvarppapura, as has been pointed out already, may be Sonpur. Ratnapura is the present Ratanpur and Närāyapapura and Poratha are still known by the same names (the latter as Portha) and are situated, respectively, about 20 miles 8. W. and 30 miles N. E. of Kharod. The name read as Vanavauda by Hiralal, I have read as vana Vadada which may be Balodā near Kharod. If the reading Sönadara is correct, it may be identified with the present-day Sendri between Bilaspur and Ratanpur. Uluva is probably the same as Ulba in Raipur District. I cannot identify the other places mentioned in the inscription.
1 Above, Vol. XII, pp. 237 f. 'J.B. O. R. 8., Vol. II, pp. 52 ff.
B. O. Majumdar identifies this domē vars with the king defeated by Jajalladēvs as mentioned in the Ratanpur stone inscription (above, Vol. 1, pp 32 ff.). Hiralal, however, identifies this latter Bomēdvars with the Nügavamal king of Bastar. If Mr. Majumdar is correct in his identification, then Blujahala would be only a biruda of Sörösvars.
.8. I. I., Vol. V, No. 1044.
[Baluda, 30 miles north of Kharod, must be the Vadada of this record. Being the beadyuarters of forent range, it is aptly called vane. Balods (or Baloda Bazar, as it is called) le the headquarter of a Tabul in Raipur District, but there is no forest in its immediate vicinity.-Ed.)