Indian Antiquary Vol 62

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

Page 16

THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
[ JANUARY, 1933
But objections may be raised against such an idontification. If Krishna Deva Raya really was the great-grandson of Tirumal or Timma, who was the son of Saļuva Gopa, then why is it that neither in the numerous inscriptions of the same ruler and of his successors, nor in literature, is this fact mentioned ? Secondly, how can we explain the fact that the ages of Timma, Isvara, and Narasa overlap each cthcr to a certain cxtont? Tho latter point I am unable to explain. As regards the former, the fact that Krishna Deva Raya and his successors, as I shall point out in a subsequent paper, assumed Saļuva birudas suggests that they were not unaware of their Saļuva descent. Now comes another consideration. If Timma or Tirumala was the son of Saļuva Gôpa, then why is the lattor not mentioned in any of the epigraphs of Narasa and his successors? Wo must remember that Narasa's importance in Vijayanagara history lies in the fact of his having been a regent; and that really it was only in the days of his eldest son, Vira Narasimha, that the branch to which he belonged assumed imperial dignity.69 According to Hindu lawgivers only three generations previous to that of the actual ruler need be given in the genealogical lists.70 Since it was only in the times of Vîra Narasimha that the so-called Tuļuva dynasty was firmly establishcd on the Vijayanagara throne, both that ruler and his brother Krishna Deva Raya were justified in tracing their descent from Timma or Tirumalai Deva or Gopa-Timma. However that may bo, there cannot be any doubt that the only way of reconciling tho statements made ic epigraphs in connection with Yadu and Turvasu, is by realising that Saļuva Nrisimha traced his origin to the former through Gunda, and Krishna Dôva Raya to the latter through Tippa, the oldost and the youngest sons rospoctively of Gauta.
Såluvas and Tujuvas. (B) A further link in the Saluva and Tuļuva alliance is given by Nuniz, who tolls us that Krishna Deva Raya married "a very beautiful woman of the family cf the kings of Narsy mga ....."(71) Who she was, and whether she was directly connected with Saluva Nộisinha. or whether she was a member of the many collateral branches of the Saluvas spread over the country, we aro unable to determino at the present stage of our investigations. If Nuniz could be roliod upon, Kșishna Deva Raya seems to have made mattors doubly sure by marrying a Sáļuva princess.
IV. Tuļuva-Aravlţi Continuity. The relationship between the Araviti and what has been till now stylod the Tuluva dynasty is well known. Krishna Dova Raya's daughter Tirumalåmba was given in marriage to Rama Raja, the famous Rogont. The last figure in Vijayanagera history of any consequence, Sriranga Råya (1643-1664 A.D), was, we may incidentally note, the greatgrandson of Rama Raja of the Araviti family. According to the Karnata grant of this samo ruler Sriranga Raya, Rama Raja soems also to have married a sister of Sadasiva. If this were really so, then, the claims of the great regent to control the destinies of the Vijayana. gara Empire were to great extent valid.T3
The conclusions formulatod above have been indicatod on the genealogical tablo below. 69 386 of 1904 ; Ep. Rep. for 1905, p. 54; Ep. Rep. for 1912, p. 80.
70 Fleet, Dynastics of the Kanaresc Districts of the Bombay Presidency, p. 18. (1882 od.) Cf. Burnell, Elements of South Indian Palæography, p. 109. (1878 ed.)
71 Sowell, A Forgotten Empire, p. 363. 72 Ramarajiyamu, The Sources of Vijayanagara History, p. 187.
73 Sowell, A Forgotten Empire, pp. 181, n. (4), 182 ; Hultzsch, Karnața Grant of Ranga II, Indian Antiquary, XIII, pp. 154-155 ; Horo Sadasiva Raya's descent is slightly different to that given by Rico, Ep. Car., III, Intr., p. 27. Kielhorn explains that the statement that Rama Raja was the hustend of the sister of Sadasiva Raya need not bo takon in its literal senso. British Musoum Plates of Sadasiva Raya, Ep. Ind., IV, pp. 3-4. Soe Ramar Ajiyamu, The Sources of Vijayanagara History, pp. 102-103, 188, for details regarding the Araviţi family. Horas, The Aravidu Dynasty of Vijayanagara, pp. 19-20, may also bo read in this connoction. Krishwa Sastri gives a detailed account of the Araviti rulers, Annual Report, 2.5.1. for 1908-9, p. 197 f.