South Indian Inscriptions

EPIGRAPHIA INDICA

NANDURU PLATES OF VELANANTI RAJENDRA-CHODA : SAKA 1091

It would appear that during the last years of Kulōttuṅga-Chōḷa I almost every one of the vassals of Vēṅgi became hostile to the Chōḷa-Chāḷukyas, opposed the policy of the emperor and only eagerly waited for a favourable opportunity to overthrow the Chōḷa-Chāḷukya suzerainty. On the other hand, the Durjaya and other clans of the Chaturtha-kula holding nefdoms and military holdings in the region lying to the south of the Kṛishṇā river would appear to have remained loyal to the imperial throne of the Chālukya-Chōḷas and proudly called themselves, Chālukya-rājya-bhavana-mūla-staṁbhāyamānulul,^[1] Vēṅgi-Chālukyan-aṅkakāra,^[2] “ the champion warriors of the Chāḷukyas (of Vēṅgi), ” and lastly Chāḷukya-rājya-samuddharulu,^[3] “ the uplifters of the sovereignty of the Chāḷukyas.” Those who proved refractory and sought opportunity to put an end to the Chālukya-Chōḷa domination, were the Telugu (Tenugu) Chōḍa clans of the Southern Andhra country, the Haihaya feudatories and other Kshatriya vassals including the descendants of the junior branches of the Imperial Chāḷukyas who held principalities all over the country.

Shortly before the death of the aged emperor Kulōttuṅga-Chōḷa I, would appear, Parāntaka, his surviving eldest son, returned to the Chōḷa country. The Piṭhāpuram inscription of Mallapadēva^[4] states that when Vikrama-Chōḷa, whose other name was Tyāgasamudra, had gone to protect the Chōḷa-maṇḍala, the country of Vēṅgi became devoid of a ruler. At that juncture, the kingdom of Vēṅgi, it would appear, was divided against itself. The Chāḷukya emperor, Tribhuvanamalla, who was evidently watching the turn of events in Vēṅgi despatched armies to invade and occupy the country. There are reasons to believe that some of the powerful Kshatriya vassals in Vēṅgi openly joined the invading armies, now led by Mahāsāmantādhipati Mahāprachaṇḍa-daṇḍanāyaka Anantapāla,^[5] and welcomed them. Foremost among the rebels who welcomed the invaders was probably Mahāmaṇḍalika Kolanu-Bhīma or Bhīmanāyaka, the Haihaya ruler of the Kolanu vishaya, or Sagara vishaya which was the other name for the region round the Kollēru lake. He and his confederates particularly the Haihayas of Palnāḍ and Kōna-maṇḍala acknowledged the suzerainty of the Western Chāḷukyas and quoted the Chālukya-Vikrama year in their records. But Velanāṇṭi Goṅkarāja II, as the commander-in-chief (samasta-sēnādhipati) of the king of Vēṅgi, soon assumed the authority of the ruler of Vēṅgi and stoutly opposed the invading armies. The Western Chāḷukya invasion resulted in the temporary occupation of the kingdom, from about 1117 to 1135 A.C., roughly for a period of two decades.^[7]

During the period of confusion and anarchy an Eastern Chāḷukya prince, Vishṇuvardhana, probably lord of Niravadyapura (modern Niḍadavōlu), or Rājahmahēndravaram, crowned himself king of Vēṅgi and assumed imperial titles.^[8] His coronation would seem to have taken place about Śaka 1046 corresponding to 1124 or 1125 A.C.^[9] It would appear that he was soon brought to subjection and pardoned.^[10] Yet another price, Vijayāditya, lord of Piṭhāpuram and a descen-

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^[1] SII, Vol. IV, Nos. 668, 796918, 986, 1127, 1128 and 1138.
^[2] Ibid., Vol. IV., Nos. 717, 762.
^[3] Ibid., Vol. IV Nos. 1167, 1177 and 1242.
^[4] Above, Vol. IV, pp. 226 ff. verse 24, text lines 60-62.
^[5] SII. Vol. IX, Part I, Nos. 193 and 196.
^[6] SII, Vol. III, Part II, No. 79, text line 8 ; ARE, No. 49 of 1909, Above, Vol. IV, p. 32, verse 45.
^{[7 ]}There are numerous records on stone dated in the C.V. era scattered all over the Eastern Andhra country which prove the Western Chālukya occupation of Vēṅgi. Notable among them are those found at Tripurāntakam (SII, Vol. IX, Part I, No. 213), Kollūru (ibid., Vol. IX, Nos. 193 and 196), Gurizala (ibid., Vol. X, No. 27) and Drākshārāma (ibid., Vol. IV., Nos. 1356 (1120 A.C.), 1308 and 1310 (1121 A.C.), Nos. 1216, 1250, 1311 (1122 A.C.), No. 1357 (1123 A.C.) No. 1255 (1124 A.C.) No. 1264 (1125 A.C.), and 1229 (1126 A.C.) and again, ibid, Vol. IV, Nos. 1156, 1156, 1082 and 1090 dated in the years C.V. era, corresponding to 1133-34 and 1135 A.C., and lastly at Chāḷukya-Bhīmavaram (SII, Vol. V, No. 68).
^[8] Annual Report on S.I. Epigraphy, 1912, para 66, page 79.
^[9] Ibid.
^[10] The (Rajahmundry) stone inscription in question is dated the 21st year of his rule, Śaka 1067.