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No. 18.]
SRAVANA-BELGOLA EPITAPH OF MARASIMHA II.
165
him an inscription at Kulagere, in Mysore, which mentions the ruling prince as the DharmaMaharajadhiraja Nitimårga-Kongunivarma-Permanadi, and is dated Saks-Sarhvat 831 (expired), = A.D. 809-910. The Iggali inscription has given a date for him in A.D. 891-92. That, however, is a date for him in the time of bis predecessor. And, from an inscription at Honnayakanhalli, it would appear that his rule began in S.-S. 815 (expired), =A.D. 893-94, It would seem that he did not secure the succession without some opposition. We have, just after the date mentioned above for the commencement of his rule, an inscription at Tåyalar, in Mysore, 1.c. within the Western Ganga territory, which is dated 6.-S. 817 (expired), = A.D. 895-96, and mentions, as then reigning or ruling, a certain Nolambadhiraja,- that is to say, the Pallava prince of the Nolambavadi province. The explanation of this is evidently furnished by the statement in the Bêgur inscription that, when that record was drawn up, Ereyappa was governing, after having deprived all his enemies of their power ; plainly, his accession to the leadersbip of the Western Gangas was opposed, and chiefly by the Pallavas of Noļambavadi, who succeeded in occupying for a time part at least of his hereditary possessions.
From the Atakar inscription, we know that Ereyapps bad a son named Rachamalla I., and that it was by fighting and killing Rachamalla that another member of the family, Bataga II., obtained the succession. As will be seen further on, this occurred in or before A.D. 840. We have no records attributable to Rachamalla I. But the length of time from the initial
note 3), appears to have obtained evidence that Ayyapadevs was a Pallava.-The evidence seems to be the HireBidanûr inscription (mentioned by Mr. Rice as the Goribidnur inscription in Mya. Inacra. Introd. p. 45), which, according to a transoription that Mr. Rice has kindly sent me, distinctly mentious Ayya padeva as Pallar-droaya and a baving also the name of Noļambadhiraja.
1 Ep. Carn. Vol. III., MI. 30. As I have already intimated (page 152 above), my identifications, upon which this part of the succession is arranged, must be taken as tentative for the present: the miscellaneous subordinate items of information, contained in the records at present available, do not help at all; and we want more facsimiles in the case of records which are not dated. But my identifications are at any rate more satisfactory than those proposed by Mr. Bice. Thus (ibid. Introd. p. 4, and see also his Classified List wbich follows page 36), be woald identify the Nitimárga of the Kalagere insoription, and Breyappa, with, respectively, the Nitimarga and his son Satyavákya (whom I identify with Banavikrams, the son, and Rajamalls, the grandson, of Muttarasa) of the Doddahundi inscription (page 168 above); whereas, the date of the Kalagere inscription, and the period in which we must of pecessity place Erosappa, are altogetber inconsistent with the use of the old form of the kh in the Doddahundi insoription. And he would further identify with the Nitimarga of the Kulagere inscription the Satyavákya (whom I identify with Batuga I.) of the Iggali inscription (page 184 above); whereas, it seems clear to me that. Nitimarga is not to be identified with any Satyavákya.
Mentioned by Mr. Rice in Ep. Car. Vol. III. Introd. p. 4. I assume that Mr. Rice means that this record actually contains the appellation of Nitimargs, and that he does not simply allot it to a Nitimârga (namely, to the Nttimbrga to whom he would allot also the Doddahundi and Kalagere records) on some merely inferential grounds.
Here, again, I am dealing with only the really important records. Other records of Eregappa, in E.. Carn. Vol. JIL, are TN. 116, at Bannùr, and Nj. 78, at Husukára. For others which mention him with his predecessor, and for one which may belong to either of them, see page 164 above, note 4. And we may perhape allot to him records of a Nitimarga at Kannegala (TN. 140), and at Gattavadi (Nj. 98).
Ep. Carn. Vol. III., Md. 18.-Mr. Rice (ibid. Introd. p. 4) speaks of it a "apparently an independent grant by Nolambadhirkja, but also suggests that Noļambadhiraja wu "perhaps subordinate to Nitimirga," i... to Broyappa. I think, however, that the true expisnation is that which I suggest. He also (loc. cit.) PRODOB to treat us "an intrusive Pallars inscription" another record at Tiyalar (Ma. 14, with a lithograph). which is dated in the month S ep (July Aug.), Baka-Sévat 820 (expired), falling in A.D. 937 : bere, however, there is nothing to refer the record to any particular family ; it only registers grant made by villagers, and it does not mention the ruler at all
. See page 166 2., below.
• The Hameha inscription (see page 168 abovs, note 4) appears to give his name in the form of Rajamalla; As, also, probably does the sparious 8Adi grant (page 167 below, note 2). The sadi grant would give him the appelletion of Nitimarge, and the binda of Kacbobeys-Gangs, "the quarrelsome or fighting Gangs; " but the Hamaba i nacription appears to shew Bajamalla and Kachcheya-Ganga a separate persons.
