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No. 8.]
THREE INSCRIPTIONS OF LAKSHMESHWAR
(Verse 21.) As truly he is called a brother to public women bright with the glances from their white eye-corners, one who honours worthy master-poets and sages, a son of Śiva, one with the form of the Love-god, a sou to others' wives, a friend to the lotus-pool of his own race, who can equal Mechi, the right eastern face on the floor of the edifice of the religion of Śiva.
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(Verse 22.) Vennala-devi and Laliya-devi, the good wives of that treasure of courtesy the General Mechi, have flourished on earth, renowned in the world, as digits of the moon to the fresh water-lilies of their race.
(Verse 23.) In the realm of Bharata the land of Kuntala shews itself in beauty. In it appears forsooth the province of Purikara; the capital city radiant within that district is Purikara town.
(Verse 24.) The seignior of this county, the world-renowned Jayakeśidēva, has become eminent by his glory, being known as a seat of Fortune, an ornament of the Mapala race, a thunderbolt shattering the Mainaka his foes.
(Verse 25.) There has arisen amidst joy the god Somanatha of the South, with whom are seen (the sacred bull) Nandi, the ornament of snakes, the Gauges, the high-braided hair, the Mountain's Daughter, and the half-moon.
(Lines 42-43.) As regards the line of priors of the establishment of this god MahaSvayambhu-Sōmanatha :
(Verse 26.) of the world-revered ascetic Devasōms (there was a son) sprang from the family of great ascetics, exalted in all virtues; of this ascetic Mahendrasōma (there was) a son, Jñanasōma-Pandita-deva.
(Verse 27.) Kesava, minister of king Sōmēšvara, has verily maintained the merit of desiring not others' wives, of abiding not in falsehood, of being known as an incarnation of righteousness, so that the earth praises him.
(Verse 28.) The incomparable Jñanasoma, lord of ascetics, has so distinguished himself that men say: "Is it the Love-god who has assumed a brilliant abounding mass of highbraided locks? is it the Tree of Desire that joyfully has settled permanently in happiness at the establishment of Someśvara in Purikara under the guise of an ascetic? is it the Ocean that displays its profundity in the form of a Yogi ?"
(Line 47.) While this continuous sequence of the succession of sons of great ascetics was flourishing :
(Verse 29.) On the temple of Somesa of the South, which is, as one may say, a massive finial of gold on the crest of the Golden Mountain, the incomparable Mecharasa has set a solid finial of gold.
(Verse 30.) The ornament of his lineage, having purchased for payment of gold a hundred nivartanas at Kunduravalli, within (the district of) Ekkalavada, for (defraying the expenses of) the golden finial, presented it under the name Kalasada-bāļu.
(Lines 49-55.) Hail! He who possesses all titles of honour, the high minister, son to others' wives, brother to public women, son of Siva, restorer of the four churches, controller of the county of Puligere, the General Mecharasa, having presented money to the thousand retainers of the Maha-Mandalêsvara Jayakēsi-devarasa and to Maddiraja, mayor of Kunduravalli, Sōvimayya, and Kesimayya, and having (thereby) purchased with washing of feet and
A poetic term for the sun.
The word purva-prächi is not clear to me. It seems to mean "the east-of-uast face," i.e. a person holding a very prominent and representative position, in the church. Most temples face towards the east. The Saivas, Vaishnavas, Jains, and Buddhists.
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