Epigraphia Indica Vol 29

SR No.: 032583
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Hirananda Shastri
Publisher: Archaeological Survey of India
Publication Year: 1951
Total Pages: 432
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 21 MB

Page 153

EPIGRAPHIA INDICA
[VOL. XXIX
ospecially peculiar to the Chalukyas, the other name being Vishnuvardhana. And oven among the Eastern Chalukyas the name of Vijayāditya as the founder of the dynasty was altogether unknown until the time of Vimaladitya. In view of these facts, it is not possible to accept Vijayāditya as a historical person and regard him as the founder of the Chāļukya family.
(6) The historical section of the genealogy constitutes a family chronicle in which are embodied the most outstanding events of the Eastern Chāļukya history. The history of the Eastern Chalukyas is traced from Kubja-Vishnuvardhana to Rajaraja I. It is practically indentical with similar accounts found elsewhere. There is, however, & small variation with regard to a minor detail which may be noted here. In this as well as in the Körumelli grant, in the description of the succession of early kings from Kubja-Vishņuvardhana and Jayasimha, we have tad-anuj-Endrarūja-nandanas=sapta dināni (line 33)* instead of the usual tad-anuj-Endrarājas=sapta dināni.
The genealogical account, as embodied in the present charter, discloses certain facts about Räjarāja's reign, unknown from other sources. It refers, no doubt, like the Körumelli and the Nandampūndi grants to Vimalāditya's marriage with Kundavvai and the birth of a son to them called Rajaraja as well as the coronation of the latter in Saka 944 (expired) on Thursday, ba. di. 2, Uttaräbhädra, when the sun was in the sign of the lion (lines 50-51, 63-55). The new information found is that Rājarāja, when still a boy, was invested with the necklace (kanthikā), the insignia of the office of yuvarāja (lines 52-53); and that his uncle, the Chola emperor Rajendra-Choda Madhurāntaka, having heard of his great qualities, bestowed on him with affection the hand of his daughter, the princess Ammanga, who became his chief queen (lines 62-64). In this connection occurs an elaborate description of the greatness of the Chola emperor, his supremacy over the kings on the earth, and the extent of the dominion subject to his authority (lines 56-62). The stanzas beginning with the words, Ekasy-äsid api sa Himavän and Sa-dvipäri chatur-amburasi-parikhāṁ (lines 58-62), probably allude to Räjëndra-Chēļa's Gangetic expedition and his transmarine conquests respectively.
Thus, four important events of Rājarāja's life are mentioned here : (i) his birth, (ii) investiture as yuvarāja, (iii) coronation, and (iv) marriage.
(i) The date of his birth is not known. (ii) The investiture of Rājarāja as yuvarāja must have taken place duly without any obstacle.
(iii) His coronation, however, does not seem to have been performed without obstruction. For the date of this event which is stated to have taken place according to the present inscription in Saka 944, Bhadrapada, ba. di. 2, Guruvära, corresponding to 16th August, 1022 A.C.,' is nearly four years later than the last date, i.e., 1018 A.C., August, of his father and predecessor Vimaladitya. This reveals a gap of four years in the Eastern Chāļukya chronology between the close of Vimalāditya's reign and the coronation of Rājarāja I, and the events of this interval are by no means clear. Several scholars who have attempted to bridge up the gap have been at great pains to
1 Ind. Ant., Vol. XVI, p. 21. Samastabhuvanaśraya-Saruralökābraya-Vishnuvardhana.Vijayadity-ddi-vibishanánari -ja-ratndnamudbhava-bhūmil. It may be noted that these two names are alternately assumed by the Eastern Chalukya kings and it may be suggested that these names were assumed at the time of coronation.
Ind. Ant., Vol. XIV, p. 52, 1. 37.
* The data is corroborated by his Körumelli and the Nandampūndi grants; Ind. Ant., Vol. XIV, p. 53 ; abova, Vol. IV, p. 307.
Above, Vol. VI, pp. 358, 361. According to the Rapastipandi grant, Vimaladitya, the father of Räjarāja I, was crowned on 10th May, 1011 A.C., and as this insciption is dated in the Simha month of his 8th regnal year, corresponding to August, 2018 A.C., he must have been ruling until this date. How long his rule lasted subsequent to this date it is difficult to discover ; but since in all the records of his successors a period of seven years (reckoned in round numbers) is invariably assigned to his reign, he must have died before the end of his 8th regnal year.