________________
800 EPIGRAPHIA INDICA
[VOL. XXX 40 Seers or about 82 pounds) of rice, possibly per day, to the deity with the cognizance of Mahādēva Pathin known from Nos. 1 and 3. The grant was made with clarified butter, curds, curry and betel-leaf as in the other cases analysed above. The other piece of land measured 10 Mānas (i.. 1 Vati) and was apparently situated in the same locality and dedicated to the same god. It is stated to have been granted for making provision for the supply of ten bundles (? hala) of fragrant flowers probably per day. This grant was made with the cognizance of a person called Kalud-mālani.
The dates of the inscriptions under discussion raise certain interesting questions, the first of which relates to the initial year of the reign of Anangabhima III. The late Mr. M. Chakravarti believed that the said Ganga king ascended the throne in Saka 1133 (1211-12 A.D.) and this suggestion has been generally accepted by scholars. Our inscriptions, however, show that á date in his 13th regnal year (16th Anka) fell in Saka 1147 (1225-26 A.D.), while the end of the 24th 29th Anka) and the beginning of the 25th (31st Anka) year of his reign fell in the month of Kumbha or Phälguns in Saka 1158 (1236-37 A.D.). This fact would suggest that Anangabhima III ascended the throne not in Saka 1133 but in the month of Phälguna in Saka 1134. that is to may, about the beginning of 1213 A.D. Inscription No. 3 is dated in Saka 1158, Kumbha-sudi 6, corresponding to February 3, 1237 A.D. This date fell in the king's 29th Anka or 24th regnal year, while Inscription No. 4, is dated in Saka 1158, Phälguna (Kumbha)-badi 1 corresponding to February 12, 1237 A.D. and falling in his 31st Anka or 25th regnal year. Thus the end of the 24th and the beginning of the 25th regnal year of Ganga Anangabhima III fell on a date between the 3rd and 12th February, 1237 A.D. His accession or the beginning of his first regnal year therefore fell on a date in the corresponding period of 1213 A.D. It may be recalled in this connection that a Bhubaneswar inscription of Narasimha I, son and successor of Anangabhima III, is dated in Saka 1165 and in the Anka year 5 (i.e. the 4th regnal year) of that king's reign and that this suggests a later date than the one proposed by Chakravarti for this prince's accession. It has, however, to be admitted that, among other known records of the time of Anangabhima III, some would support the evidence of the inscriptions under study while some others would suggest & slightly earlier date for his accession. Similarly there is no uniformity in the epigraphic evidence relating to the date of the accession of Narasimha I. Much of this discrepancy is no doubt due to the mistakes committed by the scribes responsible for the epigraphs.?
According to Chakravarti, the characteristics of the Anka system of regnal reckoning are the following: (1) 1 and all figures ending in 0 (except 10) and 6 should be omitted ; (2) the last Anka of one king and the second Aoka (i.e. regnal year 1) of the succeeding king fall in the same year ; and (3) the year begins on the day of Suniya, Simha (Bhadrapada) kukla-dvadasi. Inscriptions
1 JASB, 1903, p. 118. *JAHRS, Vol. VII, p. 233.
Ind. Cult., Vol. III, p. 121. But this discrepanoy may possibly be rectified if the Saka year is regarded as current (see IHQ, Vol. XXXI, pp. 81 ff.).
Seo 811, Vol. V, No. 1290-equating his 22nd Anka or 18th regnal year (Sinha-sudi 7, Friday) with Saka 1152
Ibid., No. 1282 dated Baka 1139 and the 9th Anks or 7th regnal year, and No. 1318 dated Saka 1147 and the 17th Anka or 14th regnal year (Mithuna-sudi 11, Wednesday).
Cf. ibid., No. 1261 dated Baka 1176 (not 1179 w printed)=19th Anka or 16th regral year (Tula-sathkranti, hadi 1, Monday), and No. 1266 dated 1179 (not 1129 es printed) -24th Anks or 20th regnal year (Tula-sudi 3, Tuesday) which appear to suggest that Narasimha I Ascended the throne in the month of Tula in Saka 1161 (October, 1239 A.D.). But some inscriptions point to a date several months earlier. Cf. No. 1272 dated Saka 1163-4th Anka or 3rd regnal year (Rishabha-sudi 13, Thursday), No. 1308 dated Saka 1167=10th Ankl or 8th regnal year (Mins-sudi 6, Friday), eto.
CE. , Vol. XXVIII, pp. 342 ff., for the responsibility of astrologers. JA8B, 1903, p. 100.
