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No. 16) COPPER-PLATE GRANT OF KADAMBA TRIBHUVANAMALLA; SAKA 1028 73
The epigraph belongs to the Goa branch of the later Kadamba family and is the first copper-plate record so far known, issued by king Tribhuvanamalla whose identity wo shall consider presently. Before doing this it would be useful to take into account some new facts brought to light by recent epigraphical discoveries concerning some of the early members of this family.
The "tiger-slayer" Gūhalla, Guhala or Güvala I appears to be the real founder of the Goa branch of the Kadambas, though the Marcella plates seem to furnish the names of a few more ancestors of the family. For Gühala I and his son and successor Bhashtha I we have no reliable contemporary records. In the Annual Reports on South Indian Epigraphy for the years 1939-40 to 1942-43 a number of inscriptions from Somanalli and Yasale in the Sirsi taluk, North Kanara District, have been listed. These range in date from Saka 891 to 915 (.e., 969 to 992 A.C.) and refer to the rule of Chattayadeva over Banavāse Twelve-thousand and Santaļige Thousand. As the sway of Shashtha I of the Goa family never extended over the above territory, we have to identify Chattaya of these epigraphs with his namesake of the Hängal branch of the Kadambas."
Jayakabin I and his elder son Gühala II are represented by a good number of inscriptions." Güvala of the Kädarõļi inscription of 1098 A.C., noticed by Fleet, has to be identified with Gühala II. Jayakēsin I had a younger son named Vijayaditya, no records of whose reign have been discovered so far. In spite of the fact that we are in possession of not less than half a dozen records testifying to the rule of Gühals II at least from 1079 to 1125 A. C., it is rather strange to note that he is not generally mentioned in the inscriptions of Vijayāditya's son, Jayakēsin II and his suocessors. These might make us think that Jayakēģin I was succeeded to the kingdom by Vijayāditya who in turn by Jayakēsin II. But the facts as revealed by contemporary records seem to bo otherwise. The absence of Vijayaditya's records can be explained on the assumption that he did not rule for any considerable length of time probably on account of his premature death. On the contrary the existence of the records of his son Jayakēsin II from 1104 A. C. onwards right within the reign of Guhala II, would indicate that the latter had no issue and that the former W&s 88sociated earlier with the latter's rule.
Reverting to our record we note that it mentions the king merely as Tribhuvanamalla which is obviously a title. That this title was borne by Gühala II is made clear by two inscriptions
1 The Panjim plates of Jayakēbin I, examined in 1951-52 by the Office of the Govt. Epigraphist for India, Murgo plates of Permādidēva (An. Repe. on S. I. Epigraphy, 1939-40 to 1942-43, p. 282) and Goa plates of Shashthadeva II (Ind. Ant., Vol. XIV, p. 289), besides others (e.g., JBBRAS, Vol. IX, p. 266), commence the genealogy from Gahala only. Basing his interpretation on the faulty reading of the Marcella plates which require to be edited moro soientifically, Prof. G. M. Moraes thinks that this Gühala was preceded by Kantakachārya, Nāgavarmā, Gahala I and Shashtha I. A careful examination of the published text and translation of this record (Kadamba Kula, App. III, No. 1) will make one entertain genuine doubts regarding his deductions. Consequently his genealogy (op. cit., facing p. 167) seems to represent one Gühala and one Shashtha in excess.
* The earlier portion of the Gudikatti inscription may be assigned to Shashtha I, but its genuineness is not beyond question ; see Bomb. Gaz., Vol. I, part ii, p. 567.
Appendix E, Nos. 66, 67, 84 and 86-91.
• Compare Kadamba Kula, pp. 95 ff.; Bomb. Gaz., Vol. I, part ii, pp. 560-61. Prof. Moraes' assumption that Ep. Carn., Vol. VII, Sk. 184 furnishes the earliest date in 980 A. C. for Chattaya of the Hängal family is not free from doubt, for the date and the chief's name are both missing therein. It is now seen that the Somanalli inscription of 969 A. C. is the earliest authentic epigraph so far known mentioning this chief ; see An. Reps. etc. (op. cit.), App. E. No. 69. The name Shashtha is changed to Chatta in Kannada usage.
* SI1, Vol. XI, part ii, Intro. p. iii. . Above, Vol. XIII, p. 299.
See for instance JBBRAS, Vol. IX, pp. 272-73 and 282-83; Ind. Ant., Vol. XIV, p. 289. The correct position of Gahala II in the genealogical account of the family is revealed by the Naröndra inscription ; seo abovo, Vol: XIII, p. 299.
.811, Vol. XI, part ii, Intro. p. iii.
