________________
DECEMBER, 1890.)
CHELLUR GRANT OF VIRA-CHODADEVA.
427
There are some interesting stone inscriptions at Pittapuram, at the temple of KuntiMadhavasvami, which ought to be properly copied and edited, in connection with the history of this period. One of them, dated Saka-Samvat 1124 (Telugu Sasanams, p. 501 ff.), states, - differing from the present record, and from the grant of Kulôttunga-Chôdadêva II. (ante. Vol. XIV. p. 55), - that Rajaraja I. reigned for only forty years ; and his son, KulôttungaChôdadêva II. for fifty years, over the five Dravidas with the Andhra vishaya (?); it seems also to mention the latter as being at first a Yuvarája. It also states that his son Vikrama. Chôda, - apparently having been first installed in the Veigi country, - went away to govern the Chola mandala, and left Vengi without a ruler (nayaka-rahita). Another, dated Sakar Samvat 1108 (id. p. 703 ff.), says that Kulôttunga-Chôdadêva I., while reigning over the whole earth,gave the Vengi mandala to the prince Vira-Chôdadêva. It then introduces a feudatory family, several members of which are mentioned. One of them was Gonka, who served Kulôttunga. Chôdadêva I. A brother of his, named Gunda, had a son named Vedura, who served ViraChôdadêva, and conquered Pandyadêva for him. Vira-Chodadêra thereapou gave him half his throne, and a province lying between two rivers (sindhu-yugm-antar-akhyann désam). Also, Gonka had a son named Chôdabhûpa ; and Kulôttunga-Chôdadêva I. treated him as his own son, and gave him, - perhaps after the death of Vira-Châ¢adêva, – the Vengi mandala, consisting of sixteen or eighteen thousand villages. And a third, dated Saka-Samvat 1113 (id. p. 715 ff), seems to mention, in connection with the history just about the time of Rajara ja I., a certain Rajendra-Chôda, to whom his paternal grandfather Rajadhirajêndra-Chôda gave the Vengi country; but the transcription is not very intelligible.
TEXT.
First Plate, 1 Omlo [11] Srill.dhâmnah purushottamasya mahato Narayanasya prabbôr=nnabhi
pam karuhát babhêva 2 jagata[1,*] srashțâ Svaya[m*Jbhastata[ho] jajõe mânasa-sûnur-Atrir=iti yas=
tasman-manêr-Atritas-Somo vamsa-ka3 ras=sudh-Amáur=udita[ho] Srikantha-chûdimaņih (11] Tasmad12_abhät=sudha-sûtêre
Bbudho budha-nutasutatah jatah Pura4 rava nåma chakravartti sa-vikrama! 11 Tasmåd=&yus=tató Nahusbaħ tatê
Yayatik-chakravartti vamsa-kartta 1 ta
was that the intended word migh' be fikhi-khadvay-Sthlu ; giving the year 1003. And calculating for Saka-Sarvat 1008 expired, and for Bhadrapada bukla 13, which here again wa sun into Sinha, which took place at about 9 gh. 40 p. on the 27th July A.D. 1031, - with Prof. K. L. Chhatre's Tabler, I obtained approximate results which led me to submit this year also t: Mr. Sh. B. Dikabit for accurate determination of the details. And he has given me the following results, calculated, as before, for the apparent times at Rajamahén. dri: -The tithi Bhadrapada sukla 13 began two or three palas after sunrise on Thursday, 19th August, A. D. 1081, and ended on the Friday, at 3 gh. 42 p. ; on the Thursday, the moon was in the Sravana nakshatra, at suprise, and up to 35 gh. 36 p.; and there was the Vrischika lagna from 12 gh. 4 p. to 17 gh. 86 p. It seemed possible, therefore, that this might be the real day. Since then, however, I have heard from Dr. Hultzsch that he has obtained another grant of Vira-Chôdadêva, dated in his twenty-third year, which gives the same details for the date of his installation ; and that, with a small and immaterial difference, the Baka year is expreased by the words sa ii-kh-ambar-endu, which ara perfectly distinct and indisputable. Accordingly, the real year undoubtedly is Saka-Sarvat 1001 current.
+ The transcription has tat-putrlapi yuu.Ahya-purva-furushi rajerdra-choda sthitaḥ śrl-pancha-dravidan sahandra-vishayan parcha ad-abdan arat. The word panchiad is altered (wrongly) into pahchadasa (sic). -It
the present inscription does not say exactly that Rdjarfja I. reigned for forty-one years, but for " forty years and again for one." This suggests the idea of a break in the full period. It may be that he was Yuvardja for one year, before his coronation as king. Or it may be that towards the end of his reign he made over the sove. reignty to his son, but subsequently assumed it in person again for one year more. The passage is in verse; but there is no reason why forty-one years should not have been specified in it in a plain and ordinary manner, if that was the real unbroken length of his reign.
The transcription bas pritashida tasdarah. It is difficult to say whether this represents prita shidata sahasran, or prito=shtAdısao. • From the original plates.
10 Represented by an ornate symbol. 11 Metre, Sardalavikridita.
19 Metre, Bloka (Anushţabh).
