Epigraphia Indica Vol 26

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

Page 52

No. 2.) RAJAHMUNDRY MUSEUM PLATES OF TELUGU CHODA ANNADEVA.
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5. Annadēra's family : Bhaktirāja had, as stated in an earlier context, two sons, Annadēva and Bhima-Linga. The latter married a daughter of king Annavēma, and got by her a daughter called Vēmāmba ; and she espoused Allāda and gave birth to four sons, Vēma, Virabhadra, Dodda and Anna.
Annadēva narried Irugămbikā, the daughter of Chakravarti of the Solar race, and a sister of Pina-Undirāja who helped him to win the victory over the Karnatakas at Kamkaraparti (III, 1. 28, IV, 11. 29, 33-34). Pina-Undirāja and his father Chakravarti were probably related to Pedalindiraja of the Solar race who granted the village of Ravulaparti to Brahmans in Saka 13041, though the exact connection between the two families is not definitely known. Annadeva had by Irugamba, a son called Virabhadra (IV, 1. 30). Though no information is furnished by the present Plates about Virabhadra's activities, a line in Srinatha's Bhimesraru-purām suggests that he helped his father in fighting against his enemies and was consequently slain by Allāda.
6. The date on which the Rajahmundry Museum Plates were issued is not known, owing to the loss of some plates belonging to the set. Nevertheless it is not impossible to discover the probable date when the gift was made. As the inscription describes the submission of Vēma's family to Annadēva, the gift must have been made after the occurrence of this event. We have already stated that Kātava-Vēma died about the middle of A.D. 1416, and that his family submitted to Annadera about the end of the same year. Now it is stated in an epigraph at Palivela dated 17th January A.D. 1417 that Dodda ya Alla. after the death of Kätava-Vēma. destroved the family of the latter's enemy completely. The enemy referred to in this inscription, as pointed by Mr. V. Apparao in his article on the Rajahmundry Plates, was Annadiva. The defeat, if not the destruction, of Annadeva and his son Virabhadra is alluded to by the poet Srinatha in the introduction to his Bhinnerunt primum. It follows from this that Annadēva did not long survive his victory. Therefore, the Rajahmundry Plates which he issued after Kataya Vema's death must be assigned to the end of A.D. 1416.
Seven golden kundas (vessels) 21' x 21' or 10' x 10' in dimensions (height and width) and weighing from 7 to 1,000 palas, according to the means of the donor, must be secured. They should be placed first on sesamum and then on the skin of an antelope. Next, each of the seven pots should be filled with salt, milk, ghee, molasses, curds, sugar and water respectively to symbolise the seven oceans of the Hindu mythology: and the images in vold respectively of Brahman, Vishnu, Siva, Surya, Indra, Lakshmi and Parvati, and gems and grains of different varieties must be added to them. Twenty-five Brāhmans (8 Ritciks, 8 drarapalakas, 8 japa-Brahmanas and 1 guru) have to be engaged, and hômas for all the gods installed in the manda pa must be performed. When the home for Varuna is completed, the yajamina has to bathe and go around the vedi three times chanting mantras. On the second day the home has to be performed a thousand timex: and finally the kuwdas must be given away as a gift to the Brahmans. (Hemaclri. Chaturvirgo.chintamuwi. Dina khanda (Bibl. Ind.), ('h... pp. 337-339).
The Suvarnamēru comes under Mērudānas. The representation of the Mēru mountain can be made in any kind of metal or grain. In case it is made of grain, it is called the Dhanya Jeru. If it is suvarna or gold Meru. the representation must have three ridges weighing three palas. When the representation of the Meru is rendy. worship is offered to it in the prescribeul manner. And then on occasions like colipses, it is presented as a gift to a Brāhman invited for the purpose. This dawe is given to propitiate the god Variha, (Hêmädri, op. cit., pp. 391-92.)
1 Madras Ep. Rep., 1918, Part ii, p. 173. 2 Bhimēsvara-puranam, 1 : 62. * 8.1.., Vol. V, No. 113.
J. 4. H. R. S., Vol. I, p. 179. 5 Bhimabeura-puranam, 1 : 62.