Epigraphia Indica Vol 15

Author(s): Sten Konow, F W Thomas
Publisher: Archaeological Survey of India

Page 20

No. 2.]
SRISAILAM PLATES OF VIRUPAKSHA: SAKA-SAMVAT 1388.
of the sun and the moon, and on its proper right a short dagger, one of the emblems of the Vijayanagara dynasty. It is not quite certain whether there existed on the proper left of the bull a figure of a boar, another of the emblems of the same dynasty ; for just where we should look for this figure the ring is slit from the seal. Whether the ring was purposely cut by any one, or whether the split was due to defective soldering, is not patent; therefore, if we take it that the ring was unskilfully cut, it is not possible to say whether the figure of the boar was dislodged from its position. The edges of the plates are made thicker to protect the writing from the damage which it would otherwise have suffered by the plates rubbing against each other. The preservation of the inscription is very good, but the engraver has not done his duty properly : numerous errors, corrections and a few interlineations are noticeable in the document. The first side of the first plate and the second side of the third plate, the two outermost sides of the set, were originally left unengraved; but the present owner has had the word Sirumalātukūr and the letter a engraved for his reference in modern Telugu characters. The numerals one, two and three are engraved on the right of the ring-holes of the second side of the first plate, the second side of the second plate and the first side of the third plate respectively. The size and shape of the plates are exactly similar to those of other plates of the Vijayanagara dynasty.
The alphabet of the inscription is Naudi-nagari, and that of the sign-manual of the king at the end is Telaga-Kannada. The language of the record is Sanskrit, with the exception of the portion giving the details of the boundary, which is in Kannada. The Nandi-nāgari of the present document offers no peculiarities worth noticing. The uuiform use of the antsvāra in places where the corresponding nasals of the consonants ka, cha, etc., should occur is a feature which this record has in common with others of this dynasty.
The grant, after invoking Siva, Ganpati and Vishnu, opens out with the genealogy of the first Vijayanagara dynasty, which is traced from the inoon. In tho Lunar race was born Yadu; from his lineage was descended Sangama, and the regular bistorical genealogy is given as follows:
Sangama
Bukka I.
Harihara IT, md. Mēlambika.
Pratápa-dēva-Raya; md. Dēmāmbikā.
Vijaya-Bhūpati, md. Nārāyaṇāmbika. Pratāpa-Rāya, md. Siddbala-dēvi.
Virupaksha Concerning the various royal personages mentioned above the record supplies a certain ainuunt of eulogy. For instance, Sangama is said to have conquered his enemies, who were a scourge to the world, to bave been learned in all arts and charitable in disposition. Harihara appeared as though he combined the aspects of Hari and Hara in protecting the world; he had performed all the sixteen mahaidānas. His son Pratāpa-dėva-Raya was so powerful, indeed, that the Turushkas were dried up in the fire of his prowess, while the other hostile kings fled to the forests and hid themselves therein. Concerning Pratápa-Raya, the son of VijayaHhāpati, the record states that he obtained the Ghanadri najya from his elder brother. Viräpäksha is said to have secured the throue by his own prowess. He conquered his foes with his sword and possessed all sources of happiness. He defeated the Suratrāņa and drove