South Indian Inscriptions

INTRODUCTION

all imperial titles, indicating that he was the ruler. As we find records of king Dēvarāya II in the same year and thereafter it is quite likely that both the father and the son ruled jointly for sometime. Dēvarāya is referred to as the son of Vijaya-Bukkarāya in a record from Varāṅga in South Kanara District (No. 98).

        A record from Viriñchipuram (No. 101) in North Arcot District contains two dates, one equivalent to the 26th of April 1430 A.D. and the other corresponding to 8th May of the same year. It registers the gift of income from taxes viz., jōdi and śūlavari for worship and offering to the deity of Mārgasagāyadēva by the king. It also registers the gift of 428 varahas to the deity Virūpākshadēva by Vijayarāya-mahārāya on Monday the 15th in the month of Vaiśākha in the cyclic year Sādhāraṇa corresponding to the second equivalent mentioned above.

       The identification of Vijayarāya is rather doubtful and difficult. He may be identified with Bukka III, who ruled till 1428 A.D., if the statement of Nuniz is accepted. But the present record is dated two years later than the above date. It is worthwhile to note that Dēvarāya II was succeeded for a very brief period by a Vijayarāya of whom we have a record from Vaṅkāyalapāḍu dated Śaka 1363 corresponding to 1441 A.D. (A.R.Ep., 1915, No. 420). This Vijayarāya may be identified with the second king of that name.

       A record from Varāṅga (No. 98) dated Śaka 1346, Krōdhi corresponding to 1424 A.D. belongs to the reign of Vīrapratāpa Dēvarāya, son of Vīra Vijaya Bukkarāya. This king, in all probability be identified with Dēvarāya II. The Puttūru inscription dated Śaka 1353 (1431 A.D.) also refers to this king as Pratāpa Dēvarāya (No. 105).

       It was thought that Virūpāksha was the son of Pratāpa Dēvarāya, who is referred to as the second son of Vijayarāya and whose elder brother was Dēvarāya II. This is confirmed on the basis of Satyamaṅgalam plates. It is evident from the above records that Dēvarāya II was also known as Pratāpa-Dēvarāya.

       An undated record from Śrīraṅgam (No. 125) written in Kannaḍa language and Grantha characters, belonging to the reign of Dēvarāya II, refers to a royal order (nirūpa) issued to Chardappa, the executive officer (pārupatya) of Tiruchchirāppaḷḷi, to restore to Uttamanambi, the sthānika of Śrīraṅgam, certain concessions granted to the sthānikas of the place during