Indian Antiquary Vol 58

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Charles E A W Oldham, S Krishnaswami Aiyangar, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarka
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 66

THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
[MARCH, 1929
Shih-li-ch'a-ta-lo) included the eastern part of mod ! The essential points in the Mahamahopa. ern Mymensingh and the northern part of modern dhyâya's noto, which otherwise only repeats the Tippera, and was, therefore, probably contiguous views already expressed in the Journal of the Royal with Samatata. Ka-mo-lang-ka he regards as Asiatic Society for 1920 (pp. 1-19), are indicated having comprised the eastern portion of the present above. While not prepared to accept all his Tippera district, the town of Comilla indicating its suggestions and identifications, I have had his position, thus lying south-east of Shih-li-ch'a-ta-lo. own sketch map reproduced, so that his views may To-lo-po-ti he identifies with Hill Tippera, which be correctly presented, , the previous map at that time, he holds, extended up to the southern published in 1926 was defective in this respect. part of Cachar and included Noakhali in the south, For the information of readers who are interested and he thus places it east of Ka-mo-lang-ka. in this subject, it may be noted that the MahaI-shang-na-pu-lo he identifies with the whole of mahopadhyâya has published other articles urging
mahopådhvava has published othe the Manipur valley, which he considers may be similar identifications, and joining issue with M. regarded as lying more east than north-east of Louis Finot, in The Hindustan Review for July To-lo-po-ti. Mo-ha-chan-p'o he identifies with 1924 and The Indian Historicul Quarterly for March *Sampenago,' and as comprising the whole of 1928. Attention is drawn, in this connexion, to northern Burma.
the Journal of the Burma Research Society for He locates Yen-mo-na-chou as comprising the August 1924 (pp. 158.182), where the question of middle and south-western part of Burma, reaching the sites of these countries named by Hiuan Tsiang up to Chittagong, chou being the equivalent of the has been discussed at great length, and the results Sanskrit defpa, which does not necessarily mean of the most recent researches have been cited. an island surrounded by water.
R. C. TEMPLE.
BOOK-NOTICES. THE ARAVIDU DYNASTY OF VIJAYANAGARA, vol. I, century recognized the old Hindu royal family of
1542-1614, by the Rev. HENRY HERAS, S.J., Vijayanagara. Father Heras now takes up the M.A., Madras. B. G. Paul & Co., 1927; 81 X 51;
story from the death, in 1541, of Achyuta Raya, pp. xliv, 681; with 13 illustrations and 4 maps,
the last powerful king of the Tuluva or 3rd dynasty, and a Preface by Sm R. C. TEMPLE, Br., C.B.
and proceeds to record the history of the Aravida
or 4th dynasty. Though the work is modestly en. C.I.E.
titled The Aravidu Dynasty of Vijayanagara, it is This volume affords striking testimony to the
really much more than this. Father deras has in rapid strides made in the knowledge of the history
fact undertaken the difficult and important task of of Southern India during the past few decades, as &
dealing with the history of the whole of Southern result of the research work done by zealous scholars
India, excluding only Malabar, from the middle of like the author. It also reveals the importance of
16th to the middle the 18th century. In the present the enormous mass of inscriptional records already
volume he carries us down to the death of discovered, which have been so carefully examined
Venkatapatideva (Venkata II), Tirumala's fourth and utilized where relevant. Less than thirty years
son, in 1614. This Venkatapatideva has hitherto have elapsed since the late Mr. Robert Sewell, in his
been known as Venkata I, but Father Heras's work entitled A Forgotten Empire (Vijayanagar),
researches have necessitated his assigning may be said almost to have unveiled to students of
that title to Kumara Venkaçadri, the son history the real splendour of the old Vijayanagara
of Achyuta Raya, who, being under age, reigned for empire and the dominating role it played in the
about six months in 1541-42 under the regency of history of the peninsula during the 14th, 15th and
his tyrannical uncle Salakam Timma Raju. 16th centuries. In his Introduction, however, that
The exhaustive bibliography detailed on pp. xvii scholar, to whom we owe so much in connexion with the antiquities and history of South India, was
to xliv will give some idea of the labour involved in careful to state that he had but collected material
the compilation of this work. Father Heras has
not only listed all the available known literature " to form a foundation upon which may hereafter be constructed a regular history of the Vijayanagar
bearing upon the period in question, but, as is empire." Sewell may be said to have practically
abundantly evident, he has studied it thoroughly 1 confined his story to the history of the empire down he has searched the archives of the Portuguese to the epoch-making battle of Talikota (1565)
Government at Goa, of the Society of Jesus at and the subsequent destruction of the capital, after
Madure, of the Diocese of Mylapore, and other which events he considered the empire had dis
collections of records : he has traced out many integrated and fallen rapidly to decay. He added hitherto unpublished documenta, several of which but brief notes of later times down to the middle of are reproduced verbatim in Appendices A to D. the 17th century, when the MarАth power was He has handled this mass of material in the tree rising in the Dekkan under sivaji, though he pointed historical spirit ; and the result is a work, the value out that many grants engraved as late as the 18th of which to the student of South Indian history it