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EPIGRAPHIA INDICA
[VOL. XXXI occurred in Magha and the tithi su. 10 of the succeeding Asvayuja was a Monday would be the date of our record. During the period in question lunar eclipses in Magha occurred in the years 668, 669 and 670 A. D. Leaving out of consideration the year 668 as improbable for the other date, viz., the date on which the record was committed to writing (the 10th day of the bright half of Äévayuja), the month Aévayuja of the year 668 having preceded Magha in which the grant was made, we have to see whether the tithi of the succeeding Aévayuja in the year 669 coincided with a Monday. The English equivalent for the details in this year works out to September 11, Monday, on which the nakshatra Sravana was also current. This much therefore can be said that on the date the grant was committed to writing, namely 11th September 669 A. D., the 30th regnal year of the king was current. Whether the lunar eclipse in Mägha in che preceding year, i.e. 668 A. D., also fell in the same regnal year, it is not possible to determine. The year 669 A. D. being thus the 30th year of reign of king Jayasiniihavallabha, his initial year of reign will be 669--30-639-40 A. D. Deducting 17 years covering the reign of Kubja-Vishnuvardhana from this, we get 639-4017-622-23 A.D. as the year of commencement of the Eastern Chalukya rule.
76
A point arises here as to how Vishnuvardhana II, with the title of Mahārāja, could issue a charter under his own royal seal bearing the legend Vishamasiddhi, during the very reign of his uucle Jayasimha. We know for certain that his own father Indravarman, whom he succeeded to the throne, ruled as king, although for a very short duration, and issued the Kondanāgūru grant. Vishnuvardhana II calls himself the son of Indra-bhaṭṭāraka in his Pamidimukkala plates (second set) which he issued in the 3rd year of his reign; but in another, viz. his Pamidimukkala plates (first set), which is undated, he is described as the son of Jayasimha. Some of the Eastern Chalukya grants assign to Jayasimha a reign of 30 years while the majority of them state that he ruled for 33 years. Whatever be the case, the fact remains that the plates under review belonged almost to the fag end of Jayasinha's reign. It is not improbable that, at this period of his life, the king associated in the regal duties, his nephew, Vishnuvardhana with full authority even to issue royal grants as the one under review under his own seal. In lines 22-24, the record enumerates a number of officials who were all notified of the gift by an order of the king. Among them the mention of the Talavara is noteworthy. This reminds us of the Mahatalavara known from such records as the Nagarjunikonda inscriptions. Among the village officials in South India, the Talāri or Talayari holds even today a responsible post.
The village of Kopeld, is stated to have been situated in Palli-rashtra. It can be identified with the village Kōnańki, not far from Gurazala in the Palnad Taluk, Guntur District. There is another village of the same name in the Narasaraopet Taluk of the same District. But as this village is far away from Gurazala, the findspot of the plate, Kōnanki in the Palnad Taluk seems to be the village intended. Palli-rashtra, in which the gift village lay, appears to be the ancient name of the modern Palnad. In inscriptions the name occurs variously as Pallinandu," Pallinandu' or Pallidesa, and it is referred to as a 300-division. In Telugu literature, some chātu verses ascribed to Srinatha (c. 1385-1475 A.D.), the court poet of the Reddi kings, give a graphic picture of this tract variously called Pallenādu, Palnadu and Palledēsamu. It may be
1 In calculating the details of the date I have followed the method suggested by L. D. Swamikannu Pillai in An Indian Ephemeris, Vol. I, part i, pp. 1.53 ff.
Above, Vol. XVIII, pp. 1 ff.
A. R. Ep., 1917, p. 115, para. 20; C. P. No 15 of 1916-17.
Ibid., C. P. No. 14 of 1916-17.
Above, Vol. XX, p. 5 and p. 7, f.n.l.
A. R. No. 834 of 1936-37.
A. R No. 18 of 1941-42.
A. R. No. 575 of 1909; SII, Vol. X, No. 66.
V Prabhakara Sastri, Spingåra Srinathumu, pp. 237-238, 249.
