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AUGUST, 1891.)
THE EASTERN CHALUKYA CHRONOLOGY
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Vikramaditya VI., at Drakshârâm in the Godavari District.39 The wars with the Choļas had commenced, as a fact, before this time; for, the poem claims that Sômêśvara I. stormed Kanchi," the capital of the Cholas," driving its ruler into the jungles (p. 318 a, 11. 8, 18 f.); and certain inscriptions establish, on the one hand, that the Cholas successfully invaded the territory of Sômêśvara I. as far as Lakshmêsh war, and, on the other hand, that the Western Chalukya king repulsed them, and gave them a serious defeat in a battle in which the Chôļa leader apparently lost his life (see Dynasties of the Kanarese Districts, p. 46). And, though of course in the Vikramankadévacharita the victory is always claimed for the Châluk yas, it is doubtless to his time that we must refer the defeat of the people of Kalyana, and the defeat of the Kuntalas at Kûdal-Samgam, i.e., in both cases, of the Western Châlukyas, — which are claimed for the Cholas in the Kalingattu Parani.40 The most interesting, however, of the events between Vikramaditya VI. and the Chôļas, occurred, according to the poem, after the death of Sômêśvara I. (p. 319 6, line 6 from the bottom) and the accession of Sômêśvara II. (p. 320 a, 1. 9). Vikramaditya VI. was then contemplating another campaign against the Cholas (p. 320 a, 1. 3 from the bottom). The Chola king, feeling himself unable to resist, sent an ambassador, asking for friendship, and offering his daughter's hand in marriage to the Châlukya king (p. 320 6, 1. 12). By an amicable arrangement, Vikramaditya VI. retired to the Tungabhadra ; and there the marriage was celebrated (ibid. 1. 21 f.). Hardly was this done, when the Chola king died, and the kingdom fell into a state of Anarchy (ibid. l. 25 f.). Vikramaditya VI. proceeded at once to Kanchi, and subdued the rebels there ; next he visited Gangakunda again, and secured the Chôla succession for his wife's brother; and then, after a further stay of a month at Kanchi, he returned to the Tungabhadrâ. Within a few days, however, after his return, the news reached him that his brother-in-law had lost his life in a fresh rebellion (ibid. 1. 2 f. from the bottom), and that Bajige, the lord of Vengi, had taken possession of the throne of Kanchi (p. 321 a, l. 1).41 Vikramaditya VI. marched at once against Rajiga. The latter induced Sômêsvara II. to combine with him; and a battle was fought. But the victory rested with Vikramaditya VI.; and Räjiga fled, and Sômêśvara II. was taken prisoner (p. 321 6, 1. 4). This lost Somêśvara the throne ; and shortly afterwards, according to the poem, Vikramaditya VI. allowed himself to be proclaimed ruler of the Dekhan (ibid. 1. 11). Subsequently to this, the Cholas are mentioned again in a passage which says that, after a variety of wars against annamed enemies, Vikramaditya once more had to "extinguish" the Chola (ibid. 1.21). Whether this refers to the Eastern Chalukyas, es holders of the Chola crown, or to an attempt on the part of the real Chôļas to reassert themselves, is not apparent. But we may note that this event
See, e.g., Newell's Lists of Antiquities, Madras, Vol. I. p. 25 ff. - The fact of the existonco of the inscriptions Beeme certain. But what historical deductions may be drawn from them, is not clear, because the dates appear, in many instances, to be so capricious; thus Nos. 18, 100, and 155, which connect the fiftieth and forty-fifth years of the era with Baka-Samvat 1052 and 1045, are approximately correct; but it seems inexplicable how, in Nos. 34, 93, 94, and 157, the ninth year is connected with 8.-S. 1057, the fifth year with 8.-S. 1043. and the seventh year with 8.-8. 1054 and 1055
40 loc. cit. p. 331, 11. 16, 10, from the bottom. - Kadal-Sangam is the junction of the Krishna with the Tungabhadra (p. 340, 1. 7). -Mr. V. K. Pillai has referred this event, first to Kulottunga-Chôdadēva I. (p. 838, 1. 4 f.), and secondly to his maternal grandfather Gangaikonda-Rajendra-Choda (p. 339, 1. 31 ff.). But I think that the translation (p. 381, 1. 10 f. from the bottom) plainly refers it to the last real Chola king, the immediate predecessor of Kulôttunga-Chodadeva I. - The Tungabhadr seems to have formed part of the southern frontier of the Western ChAlukys kingdom, separating it there from the Chola territory (ante, Vol. V. p. 320, notes 11, 1).
41 It is unfortunate that the poem gives no indication as to the names of the Chôļa father-in-law and brotherin-law of Vikramaditya VI. But it is plain that they were real Chns; and also that they were the last two kings of that dynasty. For an identification of them which cannot be upheld, bee the next note. My own impression is that they were respectively Rajendra-Chôda (the father-in-law of RAjar ja I.) and Rajendradeva (the father-in-law of Kulottunga-Chodadêva I.). But, pending further elucidation of the Chola history, it is
seless to make any pretence to certainty on this point. - Among the wives of Vikram Aditya VI., one was Savaladevi, who is described as being born in the Solar Race (Sir Walter Elliot's Karnataka. Disa Inscriptions, Vol. I. p. 277). This is suggestive of a Chôļa intermarriage. But her father is mentioned as the Mahamandal. Svara Jogamarasa; and her mother was Taradevi (id. p. 449).
