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EPIGRAPHIA INDICA
[VOL. XXXIII There can be no doubt that Marakke-arasa of our record is identical with the Marakka-arasa1 of the Naregal inscription. It is possible that the same fight is referred to in both the inscriptions. The same Marakka-arasa figures in an inscription from Siḍenur in the Hirekerur Taluk of the Dharwar District. In this record also he is stated to have been governing the Banavasi-nādu as a subordinate of Dhorapparasa, i.e. Dhruva. In yet another record from Kachavis in the Hirekerur Taluk, belonging to the reign of Dhōra-Dhärävarsha, i.e. Dhruva, a certain Mara is introduced as administering the Banavasi 12,000 province. He is apparently the same as Marakka-arasa. Therefore the inscription under study may be assigned to the reign of the Rashtrakuta king Dhruva. In this connection, two records from Nülgeri in the Hirekerur Taluk may be noticed. One of them refers itself to the reign of a king Gōndra under whom a certain Marake-arasa was governing Banavasi 12,000. Gōndra may be the Rashtrakuta king Govinda II or III. The other record belongs to the time of Kannara, possibly Krishna I, and mentions his feudatory Marakersa as administering the nadu which may be taken to represent Banavasi-nādu. Mārakersa may be the same as Mārakka-arasa. Unfortunately the records are not illustrated. If, however, the identification of the kings mentioned in them with Krshna I and Govinda II is accepted, it follows that the Marakkaarasa was the governor of the Banavasi province from their time onwards. And, so far as I know, Mārakka-arasa is the earliest known governor of the Banavasi 12,000 province under the Imperial Rashtrakuta kings. The Kachavi record informs us that he had a son named Kattyara from his senior queen Appa-Vineti and the Siḍēnur inscription apparently refers to the same queen as Binaĕti-Abbe who is stated to have been administering the village (i.e. Siḍēnur).
Only one geographical name occurs in the record, viz. Nareyamgal which is the modern Naregal situated about 2 miles from Hombļi, the findspot of the inscription. Nareyamgal is also mentioned in the Naregal inscription referred to above.
TEXT. Section A
258
1 Svasti srl-Märakke-arasar-Banavă
2 si-pannirchcha(rchchha)siranum-ale Nareyagam-7
3 lla Madammana eda(di)rol Karga
4 mundara Badugilti-gamunḍann-e
5 ridu geldu sa (ava)rggala[ya*]kke eridan [*]
Section B
6 Sri Kargāmundara [Priya] menți
7 ya maga[m] Animenti. 10 le
8 gadol atavita11 kōl[a] . la
9 mēle kondu tänun sa(sva)
10 rggalayakk=#zidan [/*]
1 The slight difference in the spelling of the name may be attributed to scribal error. Its form in the Naregal record seems to be correct.
A. R. Ep., 1935-36, App. D., B. K. No. 94.
Prog. Kan. Res. Bomb. State, 1947-52, p. 43.
Ibid., p. 35.
Prabhutavarsha Govindarasa under whom one Räjädityarasa was governing Banavasi-Mandala according to an inscription at Mäväll in the Sorab Taluk of the Shimoga District (Ep. Carn., Vol. VIII, Sb. 10) has been identi fied with Govinda III (794-814 A. D.), son and successor of Dhruva. Cf. above, Vol. IX, p. 16. Similarly Prabhatavarsha Govindarasa under whom one Ereyammarasa was the governor of Banavasi-nadu as stated in another record from the same place (Ep. Carn., Vol. VIII, Sb. 9) may be identified with Govinda III.
From the impressions.
7 Read Narenaṁga
There is some trace of a subscript of r of this lost akshara which may be restored as pri. See above, p. 257, note 2.
10 Two aksharas lost here may be suggested to be a ka from the context.
11 This expression may mean 'here and there'.
12 One akshara is lost here, which may be resorted as ha from the context.
