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EPIGRAPHIA INDICA
(VOL. XXVII
A large number of epigraphs collected from the Hävēri taluk of the Dharwar District reveals the existence of an ancient line of Silahāra chiefs that had domiciled in that region. The earliest of these records referring itself to the reign of the Rashtrakūta monarch Amõghavarsha (9th century) mentions Kaliyammarasa, the first known member of this family, as holding the office of nālgāmundu. An examination of several records containing references to this family shows that this office was held hereditarily by its members and that their authority extended over the tract of Bāsavura-140. This humble position of these chiefs seems to have improved in course of time, for, they are addressed as Mahāsāmantas under the Western Chalukyas and Mahamandalesvaras under the Yādavas of Dēvagiri during the 11th and the 13th centuries. While giving their prasasti reference is frequently made to their Khachara race and the serpent banner. The usual Silāhāra title denoting connection with the city of Tagara is not found in it. Unlike the other branches, this family appears to have been a follower of Jainism, as Padmavati of the Jain pantheon was their tutelary goddess.
A petty offshoot of the Silābāra lineage stretching over three generations, apparently bearing no connection with the Silahára families noticed above was functioning at Terdal in the Belgaum District during the twelfth century. Jains by persuasion, they adored the goddess Padmăvati. They had the emblem of peacock feathers as their ensign.
One more family of Silāhāra Mahamandalesvaras, who had migrated further south to the region of the Kurnool District of the Madras Presidency, has been lately brought to light by the inscriptions copied in that area. One of these from Erramatham dated in A. D. 1075 during the reign of the Western Chalukya king Bhuvanaikamalla (Sõmēśvara II) introduces his feudatory Satyarasa of the Silāhāra family, who constructed a temple at the village in the name of his father Bikkarasa. This chief figures again in another record" from the same area, a few years later (A. D. 1082) during the subsequent reign of Vikramaditya VI. A damaged record of the latter reign coming from the same parts mentions another chief named Rājāditya of the Silāhāra lineage, who seems to have been connected with the family of Satyarasa. In the first of these records Satyarada is given the titles, Tagarapuravarëkvara,' Pratyaksha-Jimütavāha-kuļa-sambhava and Mandākinivaraprasadodita (prosperous through the grace and boon of the goddess Ganga). It may be noted that the combination of these titles, which are rather characteristic, distinguishes this family from others.10
It may be seen from the foregoing that besides the three hitherto known branches of the Silahāra stock, there flourished at least seven other distinct branches including the Akkalköt line of the present record.
1 Above, Vol. XIX, pp. 180 ff. and B. K. Nos. 10, 12, 19, 32, 37, 41, 78, 123, 163, etc., of 1932-33. • B. K. No. 24 of 1932-33.
Above, Vol. XIX, p. 184, eto. • The phrase, pannagadhtaja-virajamana or sarpadhtaja-88bhita, is met with in some records describing the titles of this family. The Northern Konkan and other branches generally mention their banner of the Golden Eaglo (Suvarna-garuda-dhuaja).
Ind. Ant., Vol. XIV, PP. 22 ff. • A. R. No. 317 of 1987-38.
Ibid. No. 83 of 1942-43. • Ibid. No. 64 of 1942-43.
• Slight verbal alterations in the eminent Silahāra title denoting Authority over Tagara seem to have been devised for distinguishing the different branches. The Northern Konkan branch used the title Tagarapu apara. mituara. The Bijapur, Akkalkot and Kolhapur families had it in its modified form Tagarapuravaradhivars. The Elamela family had changed it into T'agaranagaradhitara. Tagarapurasaribvaru of the Kurnool branch is one more instance to the point.
Some of the rooords referred to in the course of the above diaounion of several Silähåra families are unpublished. I am grateful to the Government Epigraphist for India for having kindly permitted me to study this material.
