Epigraphia Indica Vol 21

Author(s): Hirananda Shastri
Publisher: Archaeological Survey of India

Page 48

No. 7.]
CONJEEVERAM INSCRIPTION OF RAJARAJA I.
31
Kämārnava V and Vajrahasta IV are reported to have reigned for 19 years, 3 years, 6 months, and 35 years respectively, before the accession of Vajrahasta V, we get A.D. 980 or thereabouts for the end of the reign of Kämārņņava IV. And since that king is said to have ruled for a period of 25 or 30 years his reign must have lasted from A.D. 950 or 955 to 980. These dates fall within the rule of Dānārņņava which commenced in A.D. 970. It is very likely that the Eastern Gangas made a counter invasion on Vēngi which must have eventually resulted in the deposition of the aggressive Dānārnnava and given occasion also to the Telugu Chola chief Bhima-npipa to acquire possession of a part of the Eastern Chālukya dominione. Perhaps Dānārņņava continued to live after his deposition, for the Chellūr? plates of Kulõttunga-Chōda II attribute to him a reign of 30 years, a period that exactly covers his actual reign of three years and the so-called interregnum of 27 years which immediately followed it, as reported in other Eastern Chalukya charters. What favoured these events seem to be the internal dissensions that were prevailing in the country for a long time as is clearly disclosed by the rule of kings Yuddhamalla, Badapa and Tāla of the collateral branch of the Eastern Chalukyas. It would not be wrong, therefore, to surmise that the deposed king Dānārņņava applied for help to the Chõļas against his enemies. In this connection, the following facts revealed by the Chola and the Eastern Chalukya records are worthy of note. Vimaladitya's coronation is stated, in his Raņastipūndi grant, dated in the 8th year of reign, to have taken place in Saka 933 (A. D. 1011). Since his predecessor Chalukya-chandra SaktiVarman is said to have reigned for 12 years before this date', his accession must be placed in A.D. 999, which is very near the date when the Chola king Rājarāja I invaded the Vēngi country. The invasion of Rājarāja I resulted in placing over the Vēngi country & member of the direct line of the Eastern Chälukyas, namely, Saktivarman, whose brother Vimalāditya was married to Kundavā, the daughter of the invading Chola kinge. In view of these facts it may safely be surmised that the Chõļas must have helped Dānārņņava at the time of his difficulties. This inference is further supported by the fact that the Chola invader Räjaraja I captured Bhima-npipa, who was then in possession of the Eastern Chāluky& dominions, and proceeded straightway against the Kalinga country and subdued it.
The date of the accession of Saktivarman to the Eastern Chālukya throne being A.D. 999, as shown above, the period of the so-called intenegnum of 27 years in the Vēngi country and the rule of Danarnnava for 3 years before it, must fall in A.D. 972-3 to 999 and A.D. 970 to 972-3. Dānārnnava's fight with Kämārnnava and his deposition will have to be placed in A.D. 972-3. It may be observed here, in passing, that the Rashtrakūta power in the Deccan became practically ruined about this time when Siyaka Harsha, the Paramāra king of Malwā, pillaged their very capital, namely, Mänyakhēta, and Taila II, the first member of the revived Chalukya line, ousting the Rashtrakūtas, extended his rule right up to the borders of the Eastern Chalukya and the Eastern Ganga kingdoms. Possibly it was about this period when there was so much of confusion in the Deocan tha the Telugu-Chöļa chief Bhima-ntipa, also called Karikāla-Chola and Jaţă-Choļa, of the solar race, found it possible to capture a portion of the Eastern Chalukya domi nion.
1 [See Ind. Ant., Vol. XX, p. 272.-Ed.) • Ibil., Vol. XIV, pp. 56 ff. . Above, Vol. VI, p. 351.
As copper-plates attribute only a reign of 7 years to this king the 8th your must be counted from the data of his nomination to sucosio.
. Above, Vol. VI, p. 361. Ind. An., Vol. XX, p. 277.