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EPIGRAPHIA INDICA.
[VOL. XVI.
derived hosūr, the second element of the modern name. The stone is rounded at the apper corners, and in a band on the top are sculptures of the sun (proper right) and moon (left). Below this is an inscribed ares about 2 ft. 34 in. high and 17 in. broad. It is somewhat damaged on the proper right side, from the top downwards to 1. 5.-The character is a bold Kanarese hand of the period, somewhat affectedly angular in 11. 1-5; the letters vary in height from in. to 1 in., and belong to the transitional type. The vowels & and 8 are written in the later manner, except in trayodasi (1.7), janakke (1.9), and bēļva (1. 10).--The language is Old Kanarese, but not of the more archaic type.
The record opens by referring itself in 11. 1-4 to the reign of Akāļavarsha Kannara-dēva (the Răshtrakūta Krishna III, on whom see Dynast. Kanar. Distr., pp. 418-422), while his subordinate Garvindara was, governing the Banavāsi nadul (11. 4-5). It then states that on a given date in Saka 884 an impost of 55 gadyanas was required of the Mahājanas of Posavor, from the interest of which certain Bråhmans were to be fed at the sankranti in the house of Binaga, son of Māļakka (11. 6-13); and it concludes with a pious prayer that religion may increase for all time (11. 13-14).
The date is specified on 11. 6-9 as Saka 884, Dundubhi; Pausha su. 18, Sunday; the uttardyana-sankranti. There is a slight irregularity here. The Saka year intended is the current year, corresponding to Dundubhi of the Northern Cycle; the tithi Pausha su. 13 was connected in that year with Sunday, 22 December, A.D. 961, ending 18 h. 8 m. after mean sunrise (for Ujjain). The uttardyana-sainkrinti occurred on the following Monday, 29 December, at 6 h. 25 m. after mean sunrise. Thus the tithi ended at 0.8 A.M. and the samkrānti occurred at 12.25 A.M. on the same day, Monday. These calculations are by true tithis, but if we reckon with mean tithis and months the result is rather different, for thus su. 13 corresponds to Monday, 23 December (being current during 20 h. 36 m. of the preceding Sunday, and ending 3 h. 24 m. after mean sunrise on the Monday), while the samkrānti occurred 16 h. 54 m. 22 s. after mean sunrise on the Monday. It is thus impossible to say whether the date in the inscription was calculated by true or by mean tithis.
The only place-names mentioned are the Banavisi nāļu (1. 5) and Posavõr, i.e. Dévihosor (1. 9).
TEXT. 1 [Svasty-A]kāļavarsha-deva Śr-Prithvi valla2 [bha ma]häräjädhiraja parame3 B[va)(sva)ram (para"]mabbattārakam Kandara-dēva[m] ri4 [iyam)-geyye tat-pada-padm-Opajt5 [vi] Garv vindaram Banaväsi-nädan-ble 6 Sa(sa)kal-varsha 884 Dundubhi-saro vatsa7 r-antarggata-Pausha-su(su)ddha-trayodasi(si) A. 8 dit y8-vāram-uttara yans-samkranti9 yandu Posavura mahajanakk-- 10 yvatt-aydu gadyåpa ponna belva kara[rn] 11 Māļak kana magam Binagamge sar12 krintiyol-maneyo!=orvvar-brahmana13 reunda phalam chandr-adityar-ulina[in] 14 dbarminam-abhivriddhige salvudu maingala
This same Garvindars appears in record of Saka 890 (Prabhava) me roling part of the Banavisi Twelve-thousand under Khottiga (Epigr. Cam., Vol. VIII, Sb. 581).
1 This name seems to be the same as Benaka, derived from the Banskrit Pinayaka. .I am indebted for these resnlts of mean calculation to Mr. Sewell. • From the ink-impression. • Ouly the second half of the lo visible, but it is enough to shew that the engraver cut an, not al.
