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 376

No. 321 NANDURU PLATES OF VETANANTI RAJENDRA-CHODA : SAKA 1091227
he was the son of Narēndramrigarāja-Vijayāditya II and not of Vishnuvardhana V. It would seem that the engraver, while copying the grant on copper-plates, got confused and changed the order or sequence of the verses on the plate. He should have written verse 19 after verse 17; in other words, the proper order of the verses should be, first, verse 17, then verse 19 and lastly verse 18. If the inscription is read in this order the apparent confusion disappears. Krishna Sastri's observation, viz., that “The reign of Vishnuvardhana IV is altogether omitted and a new Vishnuvardhana, a son of Vijayāditya (II), is mentioned with a rule of 50 years, followed by Kali-Vishņuvardhana", need no longer be held as complicating the genealogical position. Another discrepancy is in respect of the reign of Dānārņava who is said to have ruled for 30 years (line 50), instead of 3 years. The reign of Vira-Vijayaditya or Vijayaditya VIII, younger brother of Rajaraja I is altogether omitted. Yet another erroneous statement is that Kulottunga-Chēļa I is said to have ruled for twentyfive years (line 58) instead of fifty as known hitherto. Except for these errors the genealogical account is accurate. It is noteworthy that the historical account contains some new information about a few kings. Chalukya-Bhima I is said to have destroyed his enemies on numerous battlefields, and to have built several temples of Mahādēva (Siva) at sacred spots (lines 42-43). His son Vijayāditya IV who is well known by his surname Kollabhiganda from the records of the family, is stated to have obtained a decisive victory in the battle of Virajāpuri, captured the city and went to heaven (line 44), a statement which may be taken to indicate that he died shortly after the battle, a fact not known hitherto. Virajāpuri may be properly identified with Jajpur (which is apparently a variant of Virajāpuri) the chief town of the Jajpur tahsil of the Cuttack District, Orissa. It lies on the Vaitaraņi, a tributary of the Mahānadi situated about fifty miles due north-west of Cuttack. During the ancient period, it was a great and renowned tirtha, "& place of pilgrimage," according to the Mahābhārata. Virajā or Virajāpuri was for a long time a provincial capital of the Bhauma-Kara kings of Utkala and the Sõmavamsi kings of DakshiņaKosala who bore the epithet, Trikalingādhi pati. Kollabhiganda's son was Amma I who is said to bave performed many Tulāpurusha-dīnas (gifts) year after year during his brief rule of seven years (line 44). Vikrama-Choļa, son and successor of Kulõttunga-Chola I, is given the correct period of rule, viz., seventeen years (lines 60-61), which is in conformity with the regnal years recorded in some of the inscriptions of the Andhra country and in Tamil inscriptions as well. His son Kulõttunga-Chöļa II is said to have reigned for fifteen years in succession (linos 64-65). Lastly, the relationship between Kulottunga-Chēļa II and Rājarāja II, which has not been hitherto correctly. known, is clearly stated in the present record as that of father and son (lines 65-66).
The second part of the inscription contains a brief account of the Velanānți family. It gives a complete genealogy which in some respects supplements the account given in the Pithāpuram inscription of Velanänți Prithvīśvara. The following genealogical table represents the information that is contained in the present inscription.
ARSIE, 1917, p. 118.
Dr. Flect was not aware of Bädapa the usurper, who was also a Vijayaditya and therefore would be Vija. yaditya VII. Ind. Ant., Vol. XX, p. 276. • Aranya-Parvan, 83, v. 6.
Tato Vaitaranit gatvå nadir papa-pramochanim
Virajar drihamasadya virajali yutha tatil . Above, . DJ, p. 127.
Ibid., Vol. V, p. 131, text-liue 17. Ibid., Vol. IV, p. 32.