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JULY, 1884.]
THE GANGA AND BANA DYNASTIES.
[] vayyeti-mâhanabhi!
vayyeti-mahabhil
panikoluchenerakapañchinavrasi(?se)
[] vayyeti-mahanabbiyul sa(?)kala-konthokal sa[r]vvalôk[a Járaya-mahasatthaval ["] perdda(?tta)! ne(ni?)ravadya-mahâsartthava! pasindi(Pati) mudhluvetandalacharuvayya
Vishnuvarddhana-ma
["] ha-satthava! pasukshevula-konthukal achchakarravaniya-kontbuka! gajabum(?)sedhra(?)la[*] nadupu! prithimi (vi)-mahasartthava! vetanda! po(Pau)nikanthi(?)ramakola-nadupu Vishnuvarddhana
Fourth plate.
[30] mahasatthavala-konthukalu niravadya-prithivi-kanadiraju! gunavana-mahanabhiya! [] mudda(?ṭṭa) kañchiko! Ramisvara-prithivi-malasartthavala apayajanuva-kala-kondu (Pata)kal korindhiko!
éri-maha
187
["] karigala-prithivi-mahasatthavala-konthukal [3] satthavala saka[la*]lôk[*]śrayya(ya)-prithivi-mahasartthavala-Div[*]karayya-pañcha(?)[kol śri-jashtipendaṭṭarragandhanthu
nandi-maha-navila-nadupu
THE GANGA AND BANA DYNASTIES.
BY LEWIS RICE, M.R.A.S.
Fresh light which adds to our knowledge of former times in India is always welcome, and for such we are indebted to the Rev. T. Foulkes. In an appendix to Mr. Le Fanu's Manual of the Salem District, he has given accounts of several inscriptions found in that part, among which are four containing grants by Bâna kings. From these we not only obtain a long and circumstantial history of the Bana dynasty, but also particulars regarding the Ganga kings which go to confirm their genealogy as compiled by me,' and supply new information regarding them.
in two a great stone pillar at a single stroke with the supple sword which he held in his hand; and when the assembly of his enemies saw his principal great white-winged banner raised in the van of battle, they were filled with fear. In his line, illustrious for the birth of Sri-Vishnugopa, Hari, Madhava, Darvinita, Bhûvikrama, and other kings, Prithuy as â was born, the wealthy, the great hero Prithivipati, the son of Sivamara. He saved both Dindikojeriga and Nagadanda when they were affrighted, by giving them the assurance of his protection; the one from king A môg havarsha, the other from the jaws of an unprecedented death. He, by whom his enemies' troops were slain with the sword in the battle of Vaimbalguli, cut a piece of bone out of his own body with a sharp knife, and cast it into the waters of the Ganges. He, who with his own arm conquered the brave Pândya king Varaguna in the great battle of Sripura, went to heaven by sacrificing his own life, when he had justified his friend's title of Aparajita. Sri-Marasimha was born as his son, lord of men, a bright light of the Ganga race, the sole abode of honour, and mighty as the sun in dispelling the darkness of the race of his enemies. He had a son, Kê sari, of a placid countenance, honoured from his birth, a sure wishing-tree to his friends, and a destroying fire to his Mysore Inscriptions, Intro., p. xl.
A grant by the Bâna king Hastimalla, undated, but followed by one in the 15th year of the reign of the Chola king Kopparakesarivarma who took Madura, made on the application of Mâvali Vâna Raya, contains verses thus translated by Mr. Foulkes :-"May the Ganga dynasty, chief of conquerors, flourish; of which the great muni Kanva was the founder, born in the illustrious line of Kasyapa, and distinguished for his great austerities; and which derived increased importance from king SimhaNandi. There was a king named Kongani, the most distinguished prince of all the Ganga race, of the line of Kanva, who dwelt in the great city of Kuvallapura, the abode of the goddess of fortune; he was consecrated to conquer the kingdom of Bana. While he was yet a little boy playing at big boys' games, he cut
