________________
Оотовна, 1916]
KOLLIPAKA
213
KOLLIPAKA.
BY LEWIS RICE, C.LE.
A
PLACE of this name, and one evidently of some importance, is mentioned in inscriptions, chiefly in connexion with the wars of the Chôlas against the Western Châlukyas in the 12th century. But, so far as I am aware, it has not hitherto been identified.
A record at the Tanjore temple, of the 6th year of Râjêndra Chôla (1018 A. D.), says that he conquered Kollippåkkai, whose walls were surrounded by Sulli trees or bushes (SII, ii, 90). A similar statement is made in a record at Nandigunda, in the Nanjanguḍ tâluq of Mysore (EC, iii, Nj 134), whose date is the Saka year 943 (1021 A. D.). In this the name is Kollipâke. It occurs again in a record at Tadi Mâlingi, in the Tirumakûḍal Narsipur tâluq of Mysore (EC, iii, TN 34), of the same king's 10th year. This being in Tamil, the place is again called Kollippâkkai. Yet another, of his 12th year, on the Tirumalai hill in North Arcot (SII, i, 95) repeats the same. In a revised version (EI, ix, 233) the phrase surrounded with Sulli trees' is rendered 'surrounded with brushwood.' In support of this, the Dictionnaire Tamoul-Français is quoted, which gives for Sulli a meaning-broutilles, menu bois sec pour brûler,' and it is suggested that this was perhaps done by the besieging Chôla army when setting fire to the city. But there is no mention of its being burnt until more than 20 years later.
The next mention of the place is in a Hala Kannada record at Bhairanmațți, in the Bijapur District of Bombay (EI, iii, 230). It states that in the Saka year 955 (1033-4 A. D.) the Western Châlukya king Jagadêkamalla (Jayasimha II) was reigning Kollipâkeya bidino!, in the camp or residence of Kollipâke. Somewhat later, a record of 1045 at Belgâmi, in the Shikârpur tâluq of Mysore (EC, vii, Sk 323), of the time of the Western Chalukya king Trailôkyamalla (Sômêsvara I), gives to a governor under him the titles-guardian of Kollipâke '(Kollipakeya kâvam) as well as door of the south region' (dakshina-disa-kavaṭam). The latter would seem more appropriate to the place.
We then come to Tamil records of 1046 A. D. at Gangavarapalli, in the Dêvanhalli tâluq of Mysore (EC, ix, Dv 75), and at Manimangalam, in the Conjeeveram tâluq of Madras (SII, iii, 51), of the time of the Chôla king Rajadhiraja, He, in a war against Ahavamalla (the Western Chalukya Sômêévara I), is said to have caused Kollippåkkai of the enemies to be consumed by fire.
Then follows a Telugu record at Chebrolu, in the Bâpatla taluq of Kistna District (EI, vi, 233). It is of the Saka year 1049 (1127 A. D.), the 9th year of Vikrama Chôla. A feudatory of his, named Nambaya, is styled lord of the city of Kollipâka' and was governor of the Six Thousand country on the southern bank of the Krishnavennâ
river.
The last mention is found in copper plates at the British Museum, obtained by Sir Walter Elliot in the Chingleput taluq of Madras (EI, iv, 1). They are of the time of the Vijayanagar king Sadasiva Raya, and are dated in the Saka year 1478 (1566 A. D.). They are composed in Sanskrit, and record a grant of 31 villages, made at the request of Rama Raja, the ruler of the Karnâts kingdom, on behalf of a prince named Konḍaruja, to a great sage Râmânuja, for the worship of the god Vishnu and the support of his devotees.
