South Indian Inscriptions

INTRODUCTION

epithets are generally held by the Āḷupa rulers. The record refers to Chikkāyitāyi as paṭṭada-piriyarasi of the Hoysaḷa King Ballāḷa, as also Mahāpradhāna Vayijappa-daṇṇāyaka and Ajaṇṇa-sāhiṇi.

        In the Hosāḷa record (No. 37) dated in the next year (1334 A.D.), the above queen is referred to. Besides the queen, Lōkanāthadēva belonging to the family or line of Dattāḷuva is mentioned. Chikkāyitāyi is probably an Āḷupa princess. The queen Chikkāyitāyi, had another name called Kikkāyitāyi, is known through the inscriptions from Bailūru (No. 39) Bārakūru and Śṛiṅgēri (A.R.Ep., 1929-30, No. 583 SII., Vol. VII, No. 312; Ep. Carn., Vol. VI, Sg. 1). This is confirmed from the usual epithets found mentioned commonly to both Chikkāyitāyi and Kikkāyitāyi.

       After the end of the rule of Āḷupa Sōyidēva, somewhere in 1335 (K.V. Ramesh, A History of South Kanara, pp. 140-41), his successor Kulaśēkharadēva occupied the Āḷupa throne. While the record from Hatyaṅgaḍi (No. 40) dated Śaka 1260 (1337-38 A.D.) gives a reference to the rule of Hoysaḷa Ballāḷa, the record from Handāḍi (No. 236) dated in the next year i.e., Śaka 1261 (1339 A.D.) states that Kulaśēkhara was ruling from his principal palace at Bārahkanyāpura. Interestingly the latter record mentions hiriyaramane, which was in that place.

       The Nīlāvara inscription (No. 237), dated in Śaka 1267, Tāraṇa, Mārgāśira corresponding to 1344 A.D., November, also belongs to king Kulaśēkhara. But in the next month i.e., December 1344 A.D., we find Kīkkāyitāyi and her son (avara-kumāra) Kulaśēkharadēva ruling the area (No. 238). This inscription also mentions dānabamurāri and parabaṭa-jagadaḷa Lōkanāthadēvarasa. It may be noted that Kulaśēkharadēva, son of Chikkāyitāyi seems to be different from Kulaśēkhara who was ruling in 1344 A.D., as seen from the Nīlāvara record (No. 237). The former who is mentioned in the Melaḍupu records does not bear any epithet and we find his mother Chikkāyitāyi still in power. What happened to this prince is not known. It is quite likely that he died a premature death. In all probability Chikkāyitāyi continued to rule till 1348 A.D., as is known through the Kanyāna record. It is also known from this record that this queen had another son named Kumāradēva Bānappa or Kumāra Dēvabānappa.

       In the present volume, more than one hundred and sixty Vijayanagara inscriptions are included. These inscriptions give the names of governors who were administering Bārakūru-rājya. Sometimes Bārakūru-rājya by itself was known as Tuḷu-rājya, comprising of Bārakūru, Maṅgaḷūru and other areas