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No. 32). NANDURU PLATES OF VELANANTI RAJENDRA-CHODA : SAKA 1091
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It would appear that during the last years of Kulõttunga-Chola I almost every one of the vassals of Vēngi became hostile to the Chõļa-Chāļukyas, opposed the policy of the emperor and only eagerly waited for a favourable opportunity to overthrow the Chola-Chaľukya suzerainty. On the other hand, the Durjaya and other clans of the Chaturtha-kula holding nefdoms and military holdings in the region lying to the south of the Krishṇā river would appear to have remained loyal to the imperial throne of the Chālukya-Chõlas and proudly called themselves, Chalukya-rijya-bhavanamüla-stambhāyamānulu, Vèngi-Chalukyan-ankakāra, "the champion warriors of the Chåļukyas (of Vēngi)," and lastly Chalukya-rajya-samuddharulu, "the uplifters of the sovereignty of the Chalukyas." Those who proved refractory and sought opportunity to put an end to the ChalukyaChöļa domination, were the Telugu (Tenugu) Choda clans of the Southern Andhra country, the Haihaya feudatories and other Kshatriya vassals including the descendants of the junior branches of the Imperial Chalukyas who held principalities all over the country.
Shortly before the death of the aged emperor Kulottunga-Chola I, it would appear, Parāntaka, his surviving eldest son, returned to the Chöļa country. The Pithapuram inscription of Mallapadēva states that when Vikrama-Chola, whose other name was Tyāgasamudra, had gone to protect the Chola-mandala, the country of Vēngi became devoid of a ruler. At that juncture, the kingdom of Vengi, it would appear, was divided against itself. The Chalukya emperor, Tribhuvanamalla, who was evidently watching the turn of ovents in Vangi despatched armies to invade and occupy the country. There are reasons to believe that some of the powerful Kshatriya vassals in Vengi openly joined the invading armies, now led by Mahäsämantadhipati Mahüprachandadandanāyaka Anantapāla, and welcomed them. Foremost among the rebels who welcomed the invaders was probably Mahamandalika Kolanu-Bhima or Bhimanīyaka, the Haihaya ruler of the Kolanu vishaya, or Sagara vishaya which was the other name for the region round the Kollēru. lake. He and his confederates particularly the Haihayas of Palnād and Kõna-mandala acknowledged the suzerainty of the Western Chāļukyas and quoted the Chālukya-Vikrama year in their records. But Velanānți Gorkarāja II, as the commander-in-chief (samasta-senādhipali) of the king of Vēngi, soon assumed the authority of the ruler of Vengi and stoutly opposed the invading armies. The Western Chāļukya invasion resulted in the temporary occupation of the kingdom, from. bout 1117 to 1135 A.C., roughly for a period of two decades.
During the period of confusion and anarchy an Eastern Chūļukya prince, Vishnuvardhana, probably lord of Niravadyapura (modern Nidadavõlu), or Rājahmahēndravaram, crowned himself king of Vogi and assumed imperial titles. His coronation would seem to have taken place about Saka 1046 corresponding to 1124 or 1125 A.C. It would appear that he was soon brought to subjection and pardoned. Yet another prince, Vijayāditya, lord of Pithapuram :ind a descen
* SII, Vol. IV, Nos. 668, 796918, 980, 1127, 1128 and 1138. . Ibid., Vol. IV., Nos. 717, 762. * Ibid., Vol. IV Nos. 1167, 1177 and 1242. + Above, Vol. IV, pp. 226 ff. verse 24, text lines 60-62. * SII, Vol. IX, Part I, Nos. 193 and 196. 6 SI. Vol. III, Part II, No. 79, text line 8; ARE, No. 49 of 1909, Abovo, Vol. IV, p. 32, vorso 45.
There are numerous records on stone dated in the C.V. era scattered all over the Eastorn Andhra country which prove the Western Chalukya occupation of Vengi. Notable among them are those found at Tripurantakam (SI1, Vol. IX, Part 1, No. 213), Kolluru (ibid., Vol. IX, Nos. 193 and 196), Gurizala (ibid., Vol. X, No. 27) and Drākshăräma (ibid., Vol. IV., Nos. 1356 (1120 A.C.), 1308 and 1310 (1121 A.C.), Nos. 1216, 1250, 1311 (1122 A.C.), No. 1367 (1123 A.C.) No. 1265 (1124 A.C.) No. 1264 (1125 A.C.), and 1229 (1126 A.C.) and again, ibid., Vol. IV, Nou. 1156, 1156, 1082 and 1090 dated in the years C.V. ora, corresponding to 1133-34 and 1135 A.C., and lastly at Chalukya-Bhimavaram (SII, Vol. V, No. 68).
• Annual Report on S.I. Epigraphy, 1912, para 66, page 79. • Ibid. 10 The (Rajahmundry) stone inscription in question is dated the 21st year of his rule, Saka 1067.
