Epigraphia Indica Vol 07

Author(s): E Hultzsch
Publisher: Archaeological Survey of India

Page 96

No. 8.]
Gôparâja is called
Têkal was given under the orders of Devaraya-mahârâya of Vijayanagara. a Mahamandalésvara and the "setter-up of Ganga Hale Sambâ Râya." The copy of the inscription from which the translation was made appears to have been so imperfect that no safe conclusions can be drawn from it. But a thorough examination of this inscription seems likely to throw some light on the history of the Sâluva chiefs. Tippa's eldest brother Gunda had, by his wife Mallamba, two sons: Timma and Nrisim haraya,3 and Nrisimharâya had, by his wife Śrirangamâmbâ, a son named Immaḍi-Nrisimha or Nrisimha II.
DEVULAPALLI PLATES OF IMMADI-NRISIMHA.
From all accounts Nrisim haraya appears to have been a very powerful prince. Both according to Ferishta and the author of the Burhan-i Ma'âsir he was the most powerful prince in all Karnâța and Telingana and owned extensive territories on the east coast right up to Masulipatam. According to the latter authority Nrisimharâya was constantly at war with the Bahmani king Muḥammad II. They met first at Rajamahendri, "on the further side of which the infidel Narasimharâya with 700,000 cursed infantry and 500 elephants like mountains of iron had taken his stand." No battle took place, however, as Nrisimharâya is said to have taken to flight on the arrival of the Sultan's army. This was probably in the year 1479 A.D. Next year they seem to have met again at Kondaviḍu, the people of which, "throwing themselves on the protection of Narasimharâya, had altogether withdrawn from their allegiance to the rule of Islâm." After quelling this rebellion, the Sulțân marched against the kingdom of Nrisimharâya, because "the destruction of the infidels was an object much to be desired: and as the infidel Narasimha who, owing to his numerous army and the extent of his dominions, was the greatest and most powerful of all the rulers of Telingana and Vijayanagar, had latterly shown delay and remissness in proving his sincerity towards the royal court by sending presents and nal-baha (money given to foreign troops to abstain from plunder and devastation)." The Sultân laid siege to the fort of Mâlûr (in the Mysore territory), "the greatest of the forts of that country," and was ultimately bought off with valuable presents of jewellery and other valuables, elephants and horses, and with a confession by Nrisimharâya of his weakness and a promise of obedience and submission. This did not, however, prevent the Sulțân from straightway marching against Kâñchi, "situated in the centre of the dominions of that malignant one" (Nrisimharâya), and sacking the town and temples "which were the wonder of the age."
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We shall now turn to the Hindû accounts of the same period. The Jaimini-Bharatam gives Nrisimharâya credit for having vanquished the kings of the Tigula (or Tamil) and Oddi (or Orissa) countries and for having conquered the forts of Kapâladurga, Penugonda," Bonagiri, Cheñji, and Kommadhârâpura. In another part of the Jaimini-Bharatam we are told that Nrisimharâya "dee rated the golden palaces (temples ?) of Kâñchi, Venkata (Tirupati) and Kalahasti with the precious stones annually given as tribute by the kings of Pâñchâla, Dravida, Anga, Malava, Saka and Prâgjyotisha."10 This is, of course, hyperbolical, but shows that the three important places of pilgrimage referred to were in the dominions of Nrisimharâya.
1 Mr. Rice's Mysore Inscriptions, p. 208.
[The Ranganatha temple at Srirangam contains a Sanskrit and Tamil inscription (No. 59 of 1892), dated in Saka-Samvat 1385, Subhânu, of Sâļuva-Gopa-Timma-nripati, who is also called the Mahamandalésvara Médinimisaraganda Kaṭṭâri Sâļuva Dharanivaraha .. Saļuvasaļuva Tirumalaidéva-mahârâja. Another inscription of the sune king at Tanjore, dated in Saka-Samvat 1377, Yuvan, has been published in South-Ind. Inser. Vol. II. No. 23; and a third one at Tirukkâttuppalli (No. 55 of 1897) is dated in the Vikrama year (i.e. SakaSamvat 1382).-E. H.]
See v. 12 of the Dêvulapalli plates.
Ind. Ant. Vol. XXVIII. p. 283.
See v. 21 of the same plates. Loc. cit. p. 289.
7 Tigula is a Kanarese name for Tamil; see Dr. Kittel's Kannada-English Dictionary, s.r.
8 Jaimini-Bharatam, p. 5.
Jaimini-Bharatam, p. 95. Bonagiri is apparently the well-known town of that name in the Hyderabad territory. Cheñji is Gingee in the South Arcot district. I am unable to identify Kcmmadhârâpura. Jaimini-Pháratam, p. 115.