________________
216
EPIGRAPHIA INDICA.
[Vol. XXIII.
Rashtrakūtası has placed Govinda III's expeditions against the Pallava and Eastern Chalukya kings before his northern conquests which according to him occurred during the period A.D. 806-808. The draft adopted in the Wani-Dindori and Rādhanpur plates states, however, that from Srivardhana Govinda marched with his forces to the bank of the Tungabhadra, where he despoiled the Pallavas of their riches and humiliated the lord of Vēngi. Dr. Altekar, therefore, supposes that this was a second expedition of Govinda III against thera, which must have been necessitated by their revolt during his absence in the north. According to him this second southern campaign may have terminated in A.D. 810 or 811.
The discovery in recent times of several records of Govinda III, in which the second draft descriptive of his glorious achievements has been regularly used, must lead to a revision of the above conclusions regarding the chronological order of events in his reign. Besides the Manne plates (first set) of Saka 724, we have nine other records with dates ranging from Saka 727 to Saka 734 in which the same draft is met with, viz., the Nēsari plates of $. 727, the Sisavai grant of $. 729, the Waņi-Dindori plates of $. 730 (for 729), the Rädhanpur and the Badangupper plates, both of 8.730, the Bahulāwād plates of Saka 732 (for Saka 731). the B. I. S. Mandala and the Manne plates (second set), both of $. 732, and the present Lõhārā grant of S. 734. Of these the Badanaguppe plates, like the Manne plates of $. 724, were issued by Govinda III's brother Stambha, while the rest were issued by Govinda III himself. The combined testimony of so many plates from different parts of the country renders probable the genuineness of Manne plates of $. 724. It may be noted again, that the first of these, viz., the Nēsari plates were issued only three years after the Marne plates of $. 724 and clearly show that all the important campaigns of Govinda III had been completed, in any case, before $. 727 (A.D. 805). As for the other arguments which seemed to render the authenticity of the Manne plates open to question, it may be pointed out that they are not inexplicable. A careful study of the British Museum plates of Saka 726 will show that it was the second time that Govinda was encamped at the tirtha of Rāmēsvara on the bank of the Tungabhadrā when he had gone to exact tribute from the king of Kāñchi in 8. 726. Obviously his first visit to the tirtha must have occurred when he was encamped on the bank of that river in the course of his earlier expedition against the Pallavas as stated in the Manne, Něsari and other later inscriptions of his reign. This second expedition must have been necessitated by the refusal or failure of the Pallava king to pay the tribute which had been forced on him when he was vanquished. The date of the Manne plates also is not so suspicious as might appear at first sight. It is clear that some
1 See his Rashtrakúfas and Their Times, p. 64, n. 42 and p. 65, n. 49. • Ibid., p. 69. • Mysore Archæological Survey Report for 1927, pp. 112 ff.
• Sources of the Mediaval History of the Deccan, Vol. II, p. 13. The name of the cyclic year Sarvadharin shows that the Saka year 732 is a mistake for Saka 731 (according to the Northern system); or the year may be taken as ourrent. It may be noted that the plates were issued from Mayrakhand and the writ Aruņāditya. So the system adopted here was the northern luni-solar as in other similar cases.
• Journal of the Mythic Society, Vol. XIV, p. 88.
• The Nesari plates have undoubtedly a sound date. The ogelio year according to the northern luni-solar system was Tarana as stated in the grant. The sankranti took place 55 ghafikas after mean sunrise on the 21st December, A.D. 805, when the 13th tithi of the dark half of Pausha was current as stated in the grant. The titki onded 42 ghafikas after mean sunrise on the next day when the religious rites must have been performed and the gift made.
Soo Floet's translation .... when baving at (his) first (visit) approved of the tirtha called Ramdhvara became there again) to spear the boars, etc.' Ind. Ant., Vol. XI, p. 127.
See c.g., v. 15 of the present inscription
