Later Gangas Mandali Thousand

Author(s): Nagarajaiah Hampa
Publisher: Ankita Pustak

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48 / The Later Gangas : Mandali-Thousand
a position of equal importance and with the permission of king, made grants of land at their will. The consorts of Mandalināļ chief had the usual cognomen of the Ganga-Mahādevi, apart from a different first name, suggesting that the important lady is the queen of a king in the line of Ganga. These spouses were allowed to favour the tenets of their choice, to practice the talents whatever they possessed, and fine arts, even to the extent of giving public performance; music and dancing being liberally patronised. Bigamy was in vogue.
The Ottighattiyaņņa, a mahāsāmanta ruling the gāvundike in Kotepura belonging to the chiru-Balle - a Thirty kampaņa of the Mandali-Thousand, had a biruda Colamāņikya' (ruby of the Co!a). This is the only instance of a person of Cola lineage enjoying a place of recognition in the Mandali-Thousand [HL. 14 1076]. Another inscription of the same period also refers to a mahāsāmanta Ghattiyarasa (SII. IX-i 135. 1071. Hūvina-Haďagali (Bellary dt];
hether OttiGhattiyanna and Ghattiyarasa are identical or just contemporaries, is worth pondering. Similarities between Mandali-Thousand and Sāntalige-Thousand
The MandalināĐ-Thousand and the Sāntaļigenād-Thousand, ruling concurrently, are marked by some striking similarities and developments in administration, art, architecture, language and religion. The Sāntaļige-sāsira, adjacent administrative unit, serving as subordinates under the same sovereigns like the Rāştrakūtas and the Călukyas, was ruled by a dynasty called the Sāntaras alias the Ugra-vamsa. [Nagarajaiah, Hampa: SāntararuOndu Adhyayana: 1997-A).
The Mandali and Sāntalige-Thousand families were contemporaries for several hundred years sharing common traits. They were not only neighbour states but also closely related by matrimonial alliances. Instead of dealing the subject at length, a comprehensive list of some common factors is given below: a. both the Sāntaras and the Mandali Gangas were contempo
rary dynasties. b. The beginning history of both the kulas are overladen by
legend.