South Indian Inscriptions

EPIGRAPHIA INDICA

Vijayanagara,^[1] and that his chief minister was Narasa[ṇ]ṇa-Nâyaka^[.]2 This Narasaṇṇa-Nâyaka may be identical with the founder of the Tuḷuva dynasty and the “Narsanaque” of Nuniz. If this identification is correct, Narasiṁha’s usurpation of the throne of Nṛisiṁharâya, or rather of his son and successor Immaḍi-Nṛisiṁharâya, cannot have taken place earlier than A.D. 1499-1500.3

Mr. Sewell quotes five inscriptions of “ Narasiṁharâya of Vijayanagara ” appertaining to years prior to A.D. 1500.^[4] One of these inscriptions was dated in 1451, one in 1469, and one in 1471. It is clear that these three inscriptions cannot be referred to the founder of the Tuḷuva dynasty, as they came into existence long before he could have become king of Vijayanagara according to any account. The last of the five inscriptions belongs to Sâḷuva Immaḍi-Nṛisiṁha,5 son of Nṛisiṁharâya. The remaining inscription is to be found at Conjeeveram, and it is possible that, when examined, it will be found to belong to the time of Sâḷuva-Nṛisiṁharâya.

As Dr. Hultzsch informs me, a Bârukûr inscription (No. 152 of 1901) of the Mahârâjadhirâja Râjaparamêśvara Vîrapratâpa Vîra-Narasiṁharâya of Vijayanagara is dated in Śaka-Saṁvat 1424, Durmati (= A.D. 1501-02). This date suggest that Immaḍi-Nṛisiṁharâya was ousted by Narasiṁha (or by his son Vîra-Narasiṁha ?) between A.D. 1499 and 1502. In accordance with this fact the subjoined copper-plate inscription of A.D. 1504 does not represent him any more as a king of Vijayanagara, but as the ruler of the province of Penugoṇḍa.

TEXT.^[6]
First Plate.

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^[1] In v. 22 of the present inscription this city is alluded to by the statement that Immaḍi-Nṛisiṁha “ascended the throne existing on Hêmakûṭa.” This is the local and traditional name of the hill adjoins the temple of Virûpâkshasvâmin, the principal deity in the city of Vijayanagara and the patron god of the kings of that empire.
^[2] The same two persons are mentioned in an inscription of Śaka-Saṁvat 1418, Nala ( = A.D. 1496-97) at Ḣañche in the Mysore tâluka (Ep. Carn. Vol. III., My. 33), where however Immaḍi-Narasiṁharâya is called simply Narasiṁharâya.
^[3] Mr. Sewell places it between A.D. 1487 and 1490 (A Forgotten Empire, p. 98) and elsewhere in A.D. 1498 (ibid. p. 110).
^{[4 ]} List of Antiquities, Vol. II. pp. 62-64.
^[5] Mr. Sewell’s Lists of Antiquities, Vol. I. p. 116.
^[6] The transcript has been prepared by Dr. Hultzsch from ink-impressions.
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^[12] Read ºº.
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^[14] Read ºº.
^[15] Read º.