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The Indian Analyst
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South Indian Inscriptions |
KALACHURI OF TRIPURI sacred Buddhist institutions and killed altogether five men, out of whom four were ordained monks and one an upāsaka. Ultimately, through the efforts of the renowned Buddhist monk Atiśa Dīpamkara, who risked his life several times in crossing the rivers that lay between the contending parties, a treaty was signed, by which friendship was established between the two kingdoms.1 This expedition seems to have taken place some time before 1040 A.C., which is the approximate date of Atiśa’s departure for Tibet. As Gāngēya was ruling till the beginning of 1041 A.C., the invasion of Magadha cannot be placed in the reign of Karna himself. It seems to have occurred towards the end of Gāngēya’s reign. In that case Karna may have been obliged to patch up a peace with the king of Magadha as his presence was required elsewhere by the approaching end of Gāngēya. Gāngēya was fond of residing at the foot of the holy banyan tree at Prayāga,2 which became his second capital. He died at the same place. His hundred wives are said to have immolated themselves on his pyre. The date of his death can be accurately determined from that of his first annual śrāddha which was performed by his son Karna at Prayāga. According to Karna’s Banaras grant, which was made on the occasion, the śrāddha was performed on the second tithi of the dark fortnight of Phālguna in the Kala- churi year 793. Gāngēya must, therefore, have died on Phālguna va. di. 2 of the Kalachuri year 792, corresponding to the 22nd January 1041 A.C.
Gāngēya was one of the most illustrious members of the Kalachuri dynasty. When he ascended the throne, Kalachuri power was weak and effete. By his valour and diplomacy, he revived the imperial glory of his family. He extended his kingdom so far in the north as to include a major part of the modern Uttar Pradesh. As the Pratīhāras were too weak to defend the holy places of the north against the attacks of the Muslim iconoclasts, he took them under his own protection, and to guard them effectively, he made Prayāga his second capital.3 From the grants of his grandson Yaśahkarna, we learn that he assumed the coveted title of Vikramāditya.4 Even in the records of his enemies he was called a world-conqueror (jita-viśva).5 At his death, he left a fairly large empire, which was further extended by his son Karna. Gāngēya was an ardent Śaiva. According to the Bhērā-Ghāt inscription of Narasimha,6 he erected a matchless temple of the Mēru type, which was probably dedicated to Śiva. His Piawan rock inscription also seems to have recorded the installation of a Śiva-linga.7 Gāngēya introduced the Lakshmī type of coinage, which became very popular in North India. The obverse of these coins is wholly occupied by the king’s name in bold Nāgarī characters in three lines, and the reverse, by the figure of Lakshmī sitting cross-legged.
Gangeyaâs coins exist in all the three metals, gold, silver and copper, and in four denominations
which Smith calls dramma, half-dramma, quarter-dramma and one-eighth dramma.8
1J. B. T. S., Vol. 1, pp. 9 ff.
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