Indian Antiquary Vol 43

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarkar
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 36

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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
FEBRUARY, 1914.
Besides, on inquiry, it is found, that the people of the country commonly use the words Mávalivanam and Mâvalivaram, quite indifferently, and interchangeably; and that there can be no reason whatsoever to question the application of the name in our MS. to the place called on the spot, more usually Mâvalivaram. Hence we presume that the certainty of the reference may be taken for granted. We further remember speaking to an intelligent native, who, alluding to the ancient division of Soradêsam, said, that after the partition of it hy a Soren king in favour of his son, this part of the country came to be called Soramandalam (that is, we suppose Tondlamandalam) and that the capital of this latter kingdom was Mavalivaram."'87 This interpretation, however, must be described as absurd. Mr. Nelson was happier in his endeavour to clear the mystery. He surmises that, from the fact that Mavalivânan is not mentioned in the list of the palayams of the day, it must have been the name of some obscure chief, probably a scion of the old Pandyan line. The eminent epigraphist, Rao Bahadur V. Venkaiyah was the first to give, with the aid of epigraphy, some information which goes to elucidate the early history and activities of the Mávalivana kings.
The Previous History of the Banas. He points out that the Banas or Vanassa originally owned a kingdom which extended as far as Kalahasti in the east and Punganûr in the west, i.e., "the whole of the modern North Arcot District to the north of the river Palár."'89 In the beginning of the 10th century the great Chôļa king Parántaka I. deprived the Banas of their dominions. One branch of them, in consequence, sought their fortunes in the Telugu country in the Guntûr District.00 Another branch migrated apparently to the banks of the Southern Pennar, and gave their new home the name of Vanagopadi. Chiefs of these branches evidently continued to acknowledge allegiance to the Chola Emperors of the 10th, 11th, 12th, and 13th centuries.91 With the decline of the Chola Empire the Vanada Râyars, like other feudatories, displayed a spirit of disaffection, and one of them, whose inscriptions are found at Kudumiamalai in the Pudukottah State, and who reigned from 1243 to at least 1278, claims to have defeated the Chola monarch. In later times, the Bânas seem to have gone further South and settled in the Madura District, where we find inscriptions of Mâvilivâna Rêyars in the 16th century."92 Mr. Gopinatha Rao, the. Superintendent of Archæology in Travancore, is more explicit in describing the circumstances of the Bâna advent and advancement in the district of Madura. “About the beginning 03 of the 13th century A. D.” he says, “when the Chola supremacy was getting weakened, and the Pâidyas were rising in importance, a chief of Nadu Nadu (or Magadhai Nadu), Raja Vanakövaraiyan by name, rebelled against his overlord, 9+ and seems
87 O. H. Mss., II, 140.44. Mr. Taylor often writes absurdity and this is a good illustration of it.
8! Madr. Ep. Rep. 1903, 1906 eto. Tiruvallam was ancient Vanapuram in North Arcot District. The connection with Mahabalipuram is a pure fancy and there is no clue to any extension of territory as far As that place. (Ep. Rep. 1904, p. 16), Ep Ind. Vol. XI, 230-8 contains a very detailed account of the Banag and their emigrations.
89 Ep. Rep. 1906-7, p. 79, An insc. at Tiruvallam of the 9th century says that the Binas were the masters of 1200 villages of Vaduga vali; i. e., the road of the Vadugås or Telugus. (S. Ind. Insc. III P. 20.01 and 06-96) A Chola king of the 10th century changes the name of their region on the Palar at the instance of a Mâvalivana Raya to his own name Viranarayanacheri (Ibid. II, p. 389). See also Ep. Ind. XI pp. 222-229, for five Båna insc. from Gudimallam.
90 Mr. Venkaiyah says that a descendant of this branch was at Kondavidu in the 12th century A. D: See Ep. Rep. 1899-1900,para 85 ; 1900, etc.
91 Eg. Rep. 1906-7, p. 79-80 gives rome instances. See also Ep. Ind. Vol. XI, p. 239. 92 Eg. No. 585 and 587 of 1902.
93 Trav. Arch. Series, p. 53. 94 Sendamit, III, 423-432. Magadhai Nadu is the region between Trichinopoly and S. Arcot districts. See Ep. Ind. VI. and XI, p. 239-40 for detailed examination of the term.