INSCRIPTIONS OF THE SILAHARAS OF SOUTH KONKAN
the King, cows and Brāhmaṇas. Then begins the genealogy of the Rāshṭrakūṭa kings, to
whom the Śilāhāra rulers of South Koṅkaṇ owed allegiance. The following are mentioned in
this connection—Śubhatuṅga (Kṛishṇa II) ; his son Jagattuṅga ; his son Nityavarsha (Indra III) ; his younger brother Amōghavarsha (III); his son Kṛishṇa (III), well-known
by his biruda Vanagajamalla ; and his brother Khōṭṭiga. After the death of Khōṭṭiga, his
successor Baddiga was overthrown by Tailapa.
..It is noteworthy that in this genealogy the name of Gōvinda IV, the son of Indra III,
who was overthrown by Baddiga-Amōghavarsha III, is omitted. Again, Vanagajamalla is
mentioned as a biruda of Kṛishṇa III, and, finally, the last Rāshṭrakūṭa ruler Karka II is
mentioned by the name of Baddiga. This name of his is not mentioned elsewhere, but since he
was a grandson of Baddiga alias Amōghavarsha III, this name is not unlikely as grandsons are
often named after their grandfathers.
..
In line 13 commences the genealogy of the reigning Śilāhāra king Avasara. It mentions
first the mythical Vidyādhara Jīmūtavāhana, who sacrificed his life to Garuḍa for the protection of a Nāga. The family descended from him became known as Śilāra. The record then
mentions the following—Dhammiyara, who founded Balipattana¬—his son Ammalla—his
son Aiyapa—his son Ādityavarman—his son Avasara (I)—his son Indra—his son Bhīma, who annexed Chandramaṇḍala—his son Avasara (II), who was reigning when the present
inscription was issued. It is noteworthy that the name of Saṇaphulla, the first member of the
Śilāhāra family mentioned in the other two records [1] of the Śilāhāras of South Koṅkaṇ, is here
omitted. Again, Ammalla, named here as the son of Dhammiyara, is omitted in the latter,
while they mention Avasara as the son of Aiyapa, but his name does not occur in the present
record. These discrepancies look strange as all the three are official records of the Śilāhāras
belonging to the same period. We shall discuss elsewhere how they can be reconciled. From
Ādityavarman onwards both the genealogies agree.
..The inscription is dated in the expired Saka year 910 (expressed in words), the cyclic
year being Sarvadharin, on Monday, the fifth tithi of the bright fortnight of Karttika. The date is irregular. The cyclic year corresponding to the expired Saka year 910 was Sarvadharin according to the southern luni-solar system, but the stated tithi fell on Thursday, not
on Monday as required. The equivalent date in the Christian era is the 18th October A.D. 988.
..
The object of the inscription is to record that three merchants named Nāgai-śrēshṭhin, Lokkai-śrēshṭhin and Ādityavarman paid 40 dīnāras as pādapūjā (nazarāṇā) to the reigning
king Avasara (II) for the confirmation of certain hereditary rights [2] in the villages Kiñjala and
Pulīsa. They were to pay in addition two lakhs of betel-nuts by way of an annual cess [3]. It is,
however, stated that the share of Nāgaī-śrēshṭhin was exempt from this cess. The reference to
dīnāras occurring in such a late record of the tenth century A.D. is interesting. Other Śilāhāra
records mention gadyāṇas and drammas.
..
The agreement is communicated for information to the following—Rēvaṇa Mantrin,
Ukkai-śrēshṭhin. Nāgapāla Amātya, Pulēna Haḍapa [4] and other principal royal officers,
together with all people, young as well as old, artisans (hañjamānas) and guilds (nagaras) as _________________
Nos. 41 and 42 below.
The meaning of jīvalōka, which occurs in this connection, is uncertain. It seems to be used here in the
sense of vṛitti ‘a source of maintenace’. The latter occurs in several grants of the Śilāhāras of North
Koṅkaṇ.
Namasya seems to mean ‘free from taxes’. The expression Namasya-vṛittyā (as exempt from taxes) occurs
in several grants of the Śilāhāras of North Koṅkaṇ.
Haḍapa is Kannaḍa word meaning ‘a betel-box’ (Sanskrit, Tāmbūla-karaṇḍaka). It seems to be used in
line 39 in the sense of Hadapavaḷa ‘a betel-box-bearer’ (Sanskrit, tāmbūla-vāhaka), an attendant in the
royal palace. He is included among the eighteen tirthas (dignitaries) of the State.
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