________________
78
EPIGRAPHIA INDICA
[VOL. XXXII
this chief earned the distinctive title Dandinagova meaning 'the protector of the army like the Cowherd God'. He is also referred to in the record by another title Nigalanka which is an abbreviation of Nigalankamalla meaning 'a warrior adorned with the chain of distinction'. The inscription further relates that this Barma-bhūpāla proceeded at the behest of his overlord and suzerain on a conquering expedition along the four quarters and acquired the tracts of Lōkapura-Twelve, Holalgunda-Thirty, Doddavada, NavilgundaForty and Kolenūru-Thirty, all of which came under his direct rule. The areas mentioned above as being governed by Barma-bhūpāla embrace parts of the present Bijapur, Belgaum and Dharwar Districts.
An examination of the above details together with the provenance of the coins leads us to the conclusion that it was this Barma-bhüpala who issued them under his distinguished title Dandinagova. The period in which Barma-bhūpāla lived was characterised by a state of uncertainty caused by the decline of imperial power, both the later Chalukyas of Kalyana and their adversaries of the Kalachuri dynasty having virtually vanished from the political arena, making way for enterprising leaders like Bhillama of the Yadava family. It was under these circumstances that Barma-bhūpāla appears to have made a bold bid for territorial expansion and power and issued coins as an independent king.
As for the remaining two coins of the group, they appear to be what are known as Padma Tankas, generally associated with the rulers of the Kadamba family. One of them (No. 11) is identical with the coin published in Elliot's Coins of Southern India, Plate II, No. 67. The other coin (No. 12) is of a similar pattern, though not identical in all respects.
I am indebted to Shri Parameswari Lal Gupta, Numismatist, Prince of Wales Museum, who was kind enough to give me an opportunity for studying these interesting coins.1
1 Coin No. 2 could not be illustrated.
