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No. 46] TWO NISHIDHI INSCRIPTIONS FROM SONDA
295 noted in this connection that the principality of Hăduvalli or Sangitapura also came into being approximately at this period. The chiefs of Sangitapura seem to have accepted the spiritual leadership of hese preceptors from the beginning and extended their support to Srutakirti I in establishing & monastery of pontifical status in their capital. Hence, as we shall see in the sequel, these preceptors were designated the pontiffs of the Sangitapura throne (Sangitapura-simhāsanapaffācharya). The influence wielded by these preceptors over the rulers of Sangitapura is illustrated by the following assertion in the above epigraph. It states that Vijayakirti I earned renown by securing the throne for Indrabhūpāla of Sangitapura. In regard to Vijaya kirti II, the second epigraph from Biligi observes that he became eminent from his seat at Sang tapura.
We may reckon a few more facts about these teachers, indicating the sphere of their influence as gathered from the first inscription from Bīligi and a few other records. Vijayakirti II caused to be constructed a well-planned town named Battakaļa (modern Bhatkal) on the west coast for his pupil Dēvarāya who may be identified as the namesake elder brother of the Häduvalsi chief Gururāya who lived approximately in the first quarter of the 16th century. Soon after this and by the middle of he 16th century, the Häduvalli chiefs lost their entity as a political unit.
It was about this time that the chiefs of Biļigi, another principality in the neighbourhood, were rising to power. The influence of these teachers is learly discernible on these rulers du ing the next few generations. Thus we are told that Akalanka I and Chandraprabha illuminated the path of the Jina by confiding the spiritual truths to their pupils Narasimha and Timma. These two chiefs were the sons of Ghantëndra I of the Biligi family. This Narasimha's grandson Rangarāja was fervently devoted to Akalanka II and calls himself the foremost and favourite pupil of the latter.? Rangarāja's son Ghantēndra II was equally attached to Akalanka II and more so to Bhattākalanka. Arasappa Nāyaka II, the founder of Svādi or Sõndā, another chiefdom nearby, seems now to have come under the direct influence of these teachers, more so, probably on account of his matrimonial alliance with the Biļigi family.
Epigraphic evidence is precise to prove that the chiefs of Sõndā accepted the religious leadership of the above-noticed teachers of Sangitapura and revered them as their own spiritual preceptors. A copper-plate inscription from Sönda, dated Saka 1490 or 1567 A. C., and issued by the Sönda ruler Arasappa Nayaka II, recounts the genealogy of his preceptors from Vijayakirti II of the above account, who is characterised as the lord of Sangitanagara.' In this epigraph the chief styles himself the favourite pupil of Akalanka II. In the light of the above facts, it is easy to see how and under what vicissitudes the teachers who were originally at Sangitapura, passed on from that place to Biļigi and thence to Sönda. It is in the fitness of things to assume that a monastery of pontifical status was founded for his preceptor Akalanka II by Aragappa Nāyaka II in his capital at Söndā. The above review thus lends support to the prevalence of the tradition noticed in the
1 An. Rep. on Kan. Res. in Bom. Prov., 1939-40, p. 47. The genealogy of the Häduvalli chiefs set forth here commences with Sāļuvēndra who might have lived about the closing part of the 14th century, as his son Mallirājs has Saka 1332 or 1410 A.C. as his last date. .
This Indrabhūpala may be identified with Indra in the genealogy of the Hāļuvalli chiefs, who has the date Saka 1394 or 1472 A.C.; loc. cit.
• The passage in question reads as follows: T'at-santāna-kramé yata Sangil-akhya-puré babhax dhimda Vh jayakiriy-aryah paramāgama-panditah !!
• Loc. cit., the genealogy of the Hiduvalsi chiefs.
An. Rep. on Kan. Res. in Bom. Prov., 1939-40, pp. 45-46. • Jaya Karnataka, 1925-26, copper plate records of Svādi, No. 2; Madras Epi. Coll., C.P. No. 2 of 1940-41. * Op. cit., copper plate records of Svadi, No. 2.
• Biligiya Arasugaļa Vamávali (Kannada work), verse 125. Ararappa Nayaka II's daughter Virsma in bi was married to Ghanţêndra II of the Biligi family.
Jaya Karnataka, 1925-26, copper plate records from Svādi, No. 6.
