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Appendices : 97
Inscriptions of Mandali - Thousand
Inscriptions of the Mandalināļu, with the exception of Sh.96 and Sh. 26, mostly belong to the period of three imperial dynasties of medieval Karņāțaka, viz, the Cālukyas of Kalyāņa, the Kalacuris and the Hoysaļas. The two early inscriptions, bearing number Sh.96 and Sh. 26 of C.E. 915 and C.E. 970 respectively, belong to the period of the Rāştrakūtās. Inscriptions of Sh. 26 and 27 of 1524 and 1621 respectively, belong to the Vijayanagara period, by which time the Mandalinād had virtually lost its significance. A predominant ruling dynasty which held sway during the major period of the Mandali Gangas was of the Cālukyas of Kalyāna, and the present day Karnataka State was under their rule. After the Cālukyas of Kalyāņa rose to the highest power, and brought a vast region under one umbrella, the Gangas were indirectly supressed. The fall of the Rāştrakūtas, who were totally obilterated from the political scene, was a severe shock and blow to the Gangas, who could not really rise to the power again, though there was nominal re-establishment of the Mandali-Gangas under the Cālukya hegemony. An analysis of the charters will throw light on this aspect.
There are about fifty charters directly dealing with the Mandalināạ, dating from the early tenth century (C.E. 915) to mid seventeenth century, covering the reign of the Räștsaküțas, the Cālukyas of Kalyāņa, the Kalacuris, the Hoysaļas and the Vijayanagara empires, as mentioned above. Prominent among these major dynasties, aprops of the Ganga Mandalinäd, are only two, the Cālukyas and the Hovsalas. In tote. the lion's share of the epigraphs go to the period of the Cālukyas of Kalyāņa. Shimoga 96 (C.E. 915) and Shimoga 24 (C.E. 970) are the earliest, and only two charters which belong to tenth century. There are three
criptions, Nos. 6, 10 and 58, which belong to eleventh century; but there are twenty records of twelfth century. Totally about 23 inscriptions cover the period of Cālukya regime. Inscription number 27 of 1621 is perhaps the last inscription which refer to the GangaMandalinādu.
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