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by the title Kopaṇapuravaradhiśvara owned by these chiefs; and this title, as in analogous instances, denotes their supremacy over the town at one time. The epigraphs furnishing this information range from the 11th century onwards. Hence we may place the rule of the Silahāra chiefs over Kopbal and the adjoining region roughly during the period of the 9th and 10th centuries A. D.
Instances are also available of chiefs, who did not belong to the Śilāhāra stock, using the characteristic title Kopanapuravaradhiśvara, symbolic of their former authority over the famous town. For example, the feudatory chief Mahamandalēśvara Bibbarasa figuring in Inscription No. 2 of the present collection claims this title. An unpublished inscription from Hodal, of my private collection, dated in A. D. I180, states that chiefs born in the lineage of Nabhiraja were overlords of Kopana. This statement is substantiated by the title Kopanapuravaradhiśvara as applied to a scion of the family, Mahamandalesvara Vira-Ramadēvarasa, mentioned in an unpublished record from Harasur, of my private collection, dated in A. D. 1172. From this it is possible to surmise that these chiefs of Nabhiraja's extraction appeared on the political horizon of Kopbal subsequent to the period of the Silāhāras. Proceeding further, an inscription from Kalhole' in the Belgaum District introduces a subordinate chief Mahamandalēśvara Raja II who belonged to the Yaduvamsa and claimed the title 'supreme lord of Kupana, the best of towns'.
Such was the eminence of Kopbal. But unfortunately all its old glory was completely forgotten during the past centuries till its memory was revived about two decades ago by the activities of scholars interested in historical research. It is difficult to trace the causes that contributed to its sudden downfall and reduced it to a state of abject oblivion. The fact that the place retained much of its grandeur till A. D. 1560, is indicated by the following two inscriptions: i) An epigraph from the Shimoga District, dated about A. D. 1530, mentions Kopana as the fore-most among the holy resorts wherein the great teacher Vadi Vidyananda is stated to have performed acts of piety. ii) In a copper plate record of Sadasiva Nayaka of Keladi, dated in A. D. 1556, mention is made of Chandranatha of Kopana along with Gummatanatha of Belugula and Nemisvara of Ujjantagiri. It is significant to note that Kopana disappears from the scene during the subsequent period and the name figures nowhere in the epigraphical or literary sources. As this period synchronises with the defeat and disruption of the Vijayanagara Empire, we should possibly associate this event with the fall of this great holy centre.
2
1 Ep. Indica., Vol. XII, p. 308.
2 Ep. Carn., Vol. VIII, Nagar 46.
3 Ep. Ind., Vol. XX, p. 94.
