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 285

214
EPIGRAPHIA INDICA.
[VOL. XVI.
giri-durgam and translate the passage 'he took from him the hill-fort of Adavani.' In agreement with this it is also clearly mentioned in the Telugu poem Rämarajiyamu, or Narapativijayamu, of Andugula Venkayya that Rama crushed Kasappuḍaya, who had hid himself in Adavani-durga. Adavani is the modern Adoni in the Bellary district. Kasappudaya? [Kasappa-Udaiyar.-F. W. T.], from whom Ramaraja took this hill-fort, has not been identified. Ramaraja conquered also Kamdanavõlu (modern Kurnool); and the Vasu-charitramu informs us that he had his residence at that historic town. Ramaraja had according to this latter poem three sons, viz. Timmaraja, Konda and Sriranga, of whom the inscription mentions only the last.
Tirumala's appearance in epigraphical records ranges from about Saka 1465 to Saka 1493. In Saka 1465 (A.D. 1543) Tirumala was governing the Udayagiri-durga, perhaps as a deputy of his elder brother Ramaraja, under the name Ramaraja-Timmayya-deva-Mahārāja.5 Subsequently too he governed the province Udayagiri-rajya till Saka 1473. In this year it is stated that he was enjoying the nayankaram (lordship) of this province, governing it through his agent Bayacharajayya," and that he was succeeded in that office by Timmayyadēva-Mahārāja, son of Kōnēṭayya-dēva-Mahārāja.7
From Saka 1473 to 1477 Tirumala seems to have remained at the capital as the minister of Sadasiva. From Saka 1477 to Saka 1481 he filled the office of the minister. It may be observed that Caesar Frederic states that during the regency of Ramaraja his younger brothers, Tirumala and Venkatadri, were respectively minister and commander-in-chief. In Saka 1488 Tirumala was raling over the Kondaviḍu-rajya.10 After the battle of Talikōṭa (25-1-1565 A.D.) he became the most important person in the court and kingdom of Vijayanagara owing to the death of Ramaraja in that battle. The period Saka 1489 to Saka 1493 (the date of this inscription) is a rather doubtful one, for which we do not find any inscriptions which definitely describe the position of Tirumala. In the first of these years Tirumala made a gift in his own name, and in the last, we are told that he was 'ruling the earth.' We know also that the latest year for Sadasiva was Śaka 1492.12 Tirumala thus could only have ruled for three years,
1 These facts are also mentioned in the Vasu-charitramu. "
2 Kasappaḍaya could be identified with Kachapa-Nayaka of Adavani or his son Immadi Kachapa-Nayaka mentioned in the Madras Epigraphical Collection for 1917, No. 719; see also paragraphs 12 and 69 of 4. R. on Epigraphy for 1920-21.
Archeological Survey Report for 1908-9, Table opposite page 200.
Sewell's Lists of Antiquities, Vol. II, p. 76, mentions a record, dated Śaka 1499, which mentions him and his minister Chennappa-Nayadu. The record must be of a time subsequent to the close of Tirumala's reign; see Archeological Survey Report for 1911-12, p. 184.
5 Nellore Inscriptions, Udayagiri 30.
Ibid., Nellore 104.
Ibid., Udayagiri 22.
See Archæological Survey Report for 1911-12, p. 180. Mr. Sewell refers to a revolt of Tirumala and his younger brother Venkatadri against their brother Ramaraja, about A.D. 1551 (i.e. Baka 1473; see Archeological Survey Report, 1911-12, p. 178). According to Ferishta (Brigg's Translation, Vol. II, pp. 104 & 105) Ramaraja and Venkatadri were busy with Bahmani affairs and so absent from the capital just about this time. In the Budihāļa plates (Epigraphia Carnatica, Vol. IX, p. 44), dated in Saka 1473, Tirumala assumes the titles of sovereignty.
See Nellore Inscriptions, Nellore 112 and Gudur 113. Probably he was also the titular governor of the Gutti fortress at this time, since he is called Gutti-Yaga-Tirumalarija in No. 412 of the Madras Epigraphical Collection for 1911, dated in Saka 1477. From this year onwards he appears under this name invariably. Ferishta too calls him Yeltumraj (Brigg's Translation, Vol. III, pp. 128, 130, etc.).
10 Nellore Inscriptions, Ongole 29.
11 Brigg's Translation of Ferishta, Vol. III, p. 414. 12 See Archæological Survey Report, 1911-12, p. 181. Ramaraja was 96 years old in A.D. 1565 (Mr. Sowell's Forgotten Empire, p. 203). Allowing even a decade for the difference in the brothers' ages, Tirumala must then have been 86 and over 90 when he ascended the throne. This fact partly explains his short rule and the scanty number of his inscriptions.