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EPIGRAPHIA INDICA.
[VOL. IV
No. 33.- PITHAPURAM PILLAR INSCRIPTION OF MALLAPADEVA;
SAKA-SAMVAT 1124.
BY E. HULTZSCH, PH.D. This is the third of the four inscriptions on the pillar at the entrance of the KuntiMadhava temple at Pithapuram. It is engraved on the east face of the pillar, below the end of the second inscription (No. 10 above). Like the two other inscriptions, it is in a state of fair preservation and is written in the Telugu alphabet. The languages of the inscription are Sanskrit (verse and prose) and Telugu prose lines 85-90). Two passages are in a mixture of Telugu and Sanskřit prose (11. 90-93 and 1. 96). Among the numerous orthographical mistakes, the following deserve to be mentioned as being due to faulty pronunciation. The vowel e is used for a, especially after y, in Yemuna for Yamuna (1. 26); tên=éyen for tên=@yam (1. 47); -yesd for yasah (1. 64); jảyetê for jáyaté (1. 94); nirupamáne for sirupamana (1. 54); and Potame for Potama (1. 92). O occurs instead of 8 in nanddand for Handano (1.4); €kana for ékóna (1. 20); and thánår for bhánôr (1. 79). 1 and ê are interchanged in chakri for chakre (1. 17) and kalâvat-êti for kalavat=iti (1. 70). Consonants are prefixed in Yibaḥ for Ita) (1. 17); vuttama for uttama (1. 64); sinipa, indripa or indripa for nyipa (11. 69, 51 and 55, and twice in 1. 66) and dripu for ripu (1. 56). The diphthong ai is improperly used in the second syllable of Haihaiya for Haihaya (1. 69) and in -saijfák for -sarjñaḥ (1. 64). Finally, instead of Jyaishtha we find Srêshtha (1. 79), as in the Ekâmranátha inscription of Ganapati.
About two thirds of the inscription are taken up with the genealogy of the Eastern Châlukya kings, which agrees on the whole with the account given in the Koramelli plates of Rajaraja I., the Chelldr plates of Vira-Choda, and the second Pithapuram inscription. There are, however, a few independent statements which deserve to be noticed. The third king of the dynasty, Indrabhattaraka or Indraråja, is here called Induraja (1. 34); he is stated to have ruled for seven days, as in the second Pithapuram inscription and in three copper-plate grants." The eleventh king, Narendra, is said to have fought 108 battles, and to have founded on the sites of these battles 108 temples, to which tanks and gardens were attached (v. 8.)
The thirteenth king, Guna[ga]-Vijayaditya, bore the surname Tribhuvanankusa. He is reported to have played the game of ball on the battle-field with the head of Mangiraja; to have burnt Chakrakûța ; to have frightened Sankila, residing in Kiranapura and joined by Krishņa; to have restored his dignity to Vallabhêndra; and to have received elephants ss tribute from the king of Kalinga (vv. 9 and 10). Some of these deeds are alluded to in two other inscriptions. One of them states that Vijayaditya III., "prompted by the lord of the Rattas, having conquered the unequalled Gangas, cut off the head of Mangi in battle," and that," having frightened Křishņa (and) Sankila, he completely burnt their city." A second inscription says that Vijayaditya III. was "renowned through killing Mangi and burning Kiranapura." Krishna, the enemy of Vijayaditya III., used to be identified with the
1 Compare above, Vol. III. p. 22.
· Ind. Ant. Vol. XXI. p. 201, text line 14. In an inscription at Srile armam (No. 308 of 1806) hoth Sratha and Jydalpha occur instead of Jyaishtha, as in lines 79 and 86 of the third Pithapuram inscription.
* See above, p. 84, and notes 5 and 6. • See South Indian Inscription, Vol. I. p. 32, note 4.
Compare ibid. p. 37, and p. 38, note 8; and Ind. Ant. Vol. XX. p. 101. • Compare ibid. p. 100.
* Ind. Ant. Vol. XII. p. 221, and South Indian Inscriptions, Vol. I. pp. 88, 89 and 42, where sarkila is rendered by fire-brand.' The inscription now published proves that Sankila is a proper dame, and that, I.e. p. 39, note 11, we must read bully draw.
. ibid. p. 88, note 3. The present inscription shows that I was wrong in altering Kiranapira into Krishnapura.
