Later Gangas Mandali Thousand

Author(s): Nagarajaiah Hampa
Publisher: Ankita Pustak

Page 53

10/ The Later Gangas : Mandali-Thousand
the regional proximity of Aralaguppe, the find spot of the charter and Mandali-sāsira territory. In that case Aralaguppe inscription will be the earliest to mention the ruler of Mandalinād. Next in the chronology comes a charter of Būtuga-1, which mentions that he was ruling the Mandali region in C.E. 915 (Sh. 96. p. 106. Alahalli), which provide copious attestation to the fact that the Mandali rulers are of the same Ganga-kula. The very fact that the Mandalisāsira rulers are referred in many inscriptions as the Ganga Mandalinād itself is a clear indication of the obvious fact, which does not warrant much debate. But, by that time the ancient city Talkād, the Ganga capital finally fell into the hands of Rājendra Coļa in 1004, assuming the title of Gangai Konda Coļa.
The Mandali-Thousand region, comprising an administrative unit of the Thousand villages, gained its independent status of prominence after the rise of the Kalyāņa Cālukyas. It is during this period, i.e. after tenth century, that a methodical dynastic chronology can be traced. To be more precise, it is during the long regime of Vikramāditya-VI, that the Mandalinād was bifurcated from Gangavādi-96000, with an independent status of a mahāmandalesvara ruling the seperate divison. Perhaps, the wise emperor Vikramāditya must have felt the need for a solid base for his political hegemony in the extreme southern region of the vast kingdom. Hence, he judiciously preferred the well established Mandali branch of the erstwhile Ganga family. The Cālukya king is said to have given the headship of the Mandali-1000, along with all the rights, as regards treasure trove and underground stores, according to the rule of one-third tribhogābhyantara (Sh. 10. 1085). The Mandalinād chiefs also reciprocated their desire to serve. Many of the cognomen of the Mandali chiefs indicate their gratitude and a willing affiliation to the Cālukya benefactor. This was obviously a period of significant shift of loyalty, from the Rāştrakūtas to the Cālukyas, which eased their anxiety. When once the political uncertainity was cleared, the Ganga Mandali family safely settled to persue their religious activities to the great benefit of the state in general and Jainism in particular.