The original of the subjoined inscription belongs to the Government Central Museum, Madras. According to Mr. Sewell,Lists of Antiquities, Vol. II, p. 25.Eḍeru near Ākiripalle in the Kistna District, 15 miles north-east of Bezvāḍa, a village belonging to the present Zamīndārī of Nūzivīḍu. The plates were presented to the Madras Museum by the then Zamīndār.” A rough transcript and paraphrase of the inscription were published by S. M. Naṭeśa Śāstrī.Ind. Ant. Vol. XIII, p. 50; Archaeological Survey of Southern India, Vol. IV, p. 176. An earlier abstract of the same inscription had been published in the Proceedings of the Madras Government, Public Department, 7th April 1873, and reprinted with notes in the Indian Antiquary, Vol. II, p. 175 f.Chalukyas, I now edit it from the original plates, the use of which I owe to the kindness of Dr. E. Thurston, Superintendent, Government Central Museum.
The document is engraved on five copper-plates with raised rims, which are not less than (1/4) inch thick. Each plate measures 9(1/4) by 4(1/4) inches. The first and fifth plates are inscribed only on their inner sides, while the three middle ones bear writing on both sides. The characters are extremely elegant and must have been engraved by an accomplished calligraphist. The plates are strung on a slightly elliptic ring, which is (1/2) inch thick and measures about 5 inches in diameter. The well-cut circular seal, which is attached to the ring, rests on an expanded lotus-flower and measures 3(1/4) inches in diameter. It bears, at the top, a recumbent boar, which faces the right and is surmounted by the moon and the sun, two chāmaras, an elephant-goad and a symbol which I cannot make out; across the centre, the legend side-view),—all in relief, on a counter-sunk surface. Both the plates and the seal are in excellent preservation.
The inscription opens with a maṅgala, and then notices in prose and in verse the ancestors of the Eastern Chalukya king Amma I. Of the kings from Kubja-Vishṇuvardhana to Vishṇuvardhana IV. nothing but the names and the length of reigns is mentioned. The next king was Vijayāditya II., who is called Narendra-mṛigarāja in other inscriptions. He fought 108 battles during 12 years with the armies of the Gaṅgas and Raṭṭas, built 108 temples of Śiva in commemoration of his victories and ruled over Veṅgī for 44 years (verses 2 to 4). As Mr. Fleet has pointed out,Ind. Ant. Vol. XII, p. 218.Gaṅgas here referred to were mahāmaṇḍaleśvaras, feudatories of the Rāshṭrakūṭas, whose inscriptions are found in the Beḷgaum and Dhārwāḍ Districts.” The Raṭṭas mentioned in the grant were the Rāshṭrakūṭas themselves. If we deduct the sum of the reigns of the Eastern Chalukya kings from Kali-Vishṇuvardhana to Chālukya-Bhīma II. from the date of the accession of Amma II.—Śaka 867Ibid. VII, 16.Kali-Vishṇuvardhana and the death of his predecessor Vijayāditya II. would fall in Śaka 764. Most inscriptions assign to the latter a reign of 48 years, two inscriptions a reign of 40 years,ibid. VIII, 77, and the inscription No. 37.Śaka 716, 724 or 720. Hence the war between Vijayāditya II. and the Raṭṭas—as suggested by Mr. Fleet—may have taken place during the reigns of the two Rāshṭrakūṭa kings Govinda III. and Śarva Amoghavarsha, who ruled at least from Śaka 726Ind. Ant. Vol. XI, p. 126. The original of the inscription is dated in Śaka 726 expired, the Subhānu year. The latter corresponds to the current Śaka year 726.Ibid. XII, 219. The current fifty-second year of Amoghavarsha's reign corresponded to Śaka. 788 expired and the Vyaya year current.Ibid. XIII, 135. The inscription is dated in Śaka 799 expired.Śaka 730,Ibid. VI, 68. The date in the original is Śaka 730 expired, the Sarvajit year. The latter corresponds to the current Śaka year 730.Veṅgī is described as the servant of Govinda III., and as in a grant of Śaka 789Ind. Ant. Vol. XII, p. 219.Amoghavarsha was worshipped by the lord of Veṅgī, it seems that each party claimed the victory over the other. The fact, that Vijayāditya II. built 108 temples of Śiva, is also alluded to in two other inscriptions, where it is said, that he founded 108 temples of Narendreśvara, i.e., temples of Śiva called after his surname Narendra.Ibid. VIII, 77: ashṭottara[śata*]-Narendreśvarāyatanānāṁ kartā; ibid. XIII, 213: ashṭottaraśata-mita- Narendreśvara-karaṇ[aḥ].
Nothing of importance seems to have happened during the short reign of Kali-Vishṇuvardhana. His successor Vijayāditya III., who reigned from Śaka 765-66 to 80910, “having been challenged by the lord of the Raṭṭas, conquered the unequalled Gaṅgas, cut off the head of Maṅgi in battle, frightened the fire-brand Kṛishṇa and burnt his city completely” (verse 10.) The killing of Maṅgi and the burning of the city of Kṛishṇa is also reported in another inscription.Ibid. XIII, 213: Maṅgi-hanana-Kiraṇa-(read Kṛishṇa)-pura-dahana-vikhyāta-kīrtiḥ.Kṛishṇa, whom Vijayāditya III. defeated, is probably identical with the lord of the Raṭṭas, who challenged him, and with the Rāshṭrakūṭa king Kṛishṇa II., whose earliest known date is Śaka 825.Ibid. XII, 221. The inscription is dated in Śaka 822 expired, the Dundubhi year. The latter corresponds to the current Śaka year 825.
After the death of Vijayāditya III., the Rāshṭrakūṭas, as noticed by Mr. Fleet, seem to have been victorious; for his nephew Chalukya-Bhīma I., alias Drohārjuna, who ruled from Śaka 809-10 to 839-40, had to reconquer “the country of Veṅgī, which had been overrun by the army of the Raṭṭa claimants” (line 28f.) The length of the reign of Vijayāditya IV., the successor of Chalukya-Bhīma I., is not mentioned in the subjoined inscription; according to other grants he ruled six months.
There followed the king, who issued the grant, Amma I., alias Rājamahendra or Vishṇuvardhana VI. He, “having drawn his sword, which broke the dishonest hearts of his feudatory relatives, who had joined the party of his natural adversaries, won the affection of the subjects and of the army of his father (Vijayāditya IV.)” and of his grandfather (Chalukya-Bhīma I.)” (line 39 ff.) The natural adversaries of Amma I. were probably the Rāshṭrakūṭas under Prabhūtavarsha III., whose inscription is dated in Śaka 842.Ibid. XII, 223. The date of the original is Śaka 840, the Pramāthin year. The latter corresponds to the current Śaka year 842.
The grant proper, which takes up the remainder of the inscription, is an order, which Amma I. addressed to the inhabitants of the Kaṇḍeṟuvāḍi-vishaya, and by which he granted the village of GoṇṭūruLists, Vol. II, p. 26) it remains doubtful, whether the village of Goṇṭūru is identical with the modern town of Guṇṭūr in the Kistna District.Bhaṇḍanāditya, alias Kuntāditya, one of his military officers. The donee belonged to the Paṭṭavardhinīvaṁśa. His ancestor Kāḻakampa had been in the service of Kubja-Vishṇuvardhana, the first of the Eastern Chalukya kings, and had killed a certain Daddara in battle. Bhaṇḍanāditya himself had already served the donor's father, who is here called Vijayāditya-Kaliyarttyaṅka. The second part of this name corresponds to the Kollabhigaṇḍa or Kollabigaṇḍa of other inscriptions. The grant closes with the enumeration of the four boundaries of the village granted and of the names of the twelve hamlets included in it, and with two of the customary imprecatory verses.
sarvvākāramaśeṣasya jagataḥ sarvvadā śivaṁ
svasti
śikīvaraprasādalabdharājyānāṁ mātṛgaṇaparipālitānāṁ svāmimahāsenapādānudhyātā
nāṁ bhagavannārāyaṇaprasādasamāsāditavaravarāhalāṁchanekṣaṇakṣaṇava
śīkṛtārātimaṇḍalānāṁ Aśvamedhāvabhṛthasnānapavitrīkṛtavapuṣāṁ calukyā
nāṁ kulamalaṁkare
śa varṣāṇi
ndano viṣṇuvarddhanaḥ nava varṣāṇi
tatsūnurjjayasiṁhastrayodaśa saṁvatsarān·
ṣaṇmāsān·
tputro vijayādityabhaṭṭārakaḥ Aṣṭādaśābdān·
dabdān·
khaḍgasahāyo nayavikramaiḥ
layān·
sa veṁggīś
teḥ
nāṁ kaḷau kṛtī
ktabāhu
bdhatejāḥ
dabhiṣiktaḥ kulonnateḥ
tiḥ
ratārātivrātānanekadhareśvarān·
ṇonnatiḥ
tyo nityaṁ guṇaiśca jigāya saḥ
jitvā maṁgiśiroharat· yudhi mahābāhvāptavīryyāryyamā
ṁkitākhilabalaprāptorusadvikramo
nirddadāha prabhuḥ
ṁśadvarṣāṇi
nābhivyāptam· veṁgīmaṇḍalam· tadanujavikramādityasūnuścalukyabhīmā
dhipo drohārjunāparanāmā svavikramaikasahāyataravāriprabhayāvabhā
syādhipatirabhūtkiṁ ca
va sakheva gururivābhilaṣitaṁ vistīryya kalpatarupratimaścetāṁsi dānena saṁta
rpya triṁśadvarṣāṇi
tatputro vijayādityaḥ śaiśavā
ra viśrutaḥ
nnijamajitamahāśaktisaṁpannamantra
bhogaiḥ kṛtārttho rājyāśīrllabdhatejāḥ samadalamadhipo jetumindraṁ prayā
taḥ
ramārānnihatya prakṛtisapatnapakṣanikṣiptasāmantakulyakuṭilamanobhaṁ
ṁgakaraṁ karavālamutkṛ
prakṛtibalaḥ prajñayā suraguruṁ tejasā bhānumantaṁ kṣamayā kṣamāmama
ragiriṁ vividhabudhasamāśrayatayānukurvvan· sarvvalokāśrayaśrīviṣṇuvarddhanama
hārājaḥ svarājyābhiṣekakṛtakalyāṇaḥ siṁhāsanārūḍhaḥ kaṇḍe
nivāsinaḥ sarvvānkuṭuṁbinassamāhūyetthamājñāpayati sma
raṁp
na
mānaṁ vinihatya taccihrāni
nekayuddhalabdhapratāpaḥ pritiviyarājaḥ
yudhaḥ
pratimukhā
tumuleṣu vīrapaṭahaṁ saṁśrāvya jitvā balaṁ kuṁtāditya Iti
kīrttipratāpālayaḥ
nekabalāribhūpavijay
goṁṭūru nāma grāmaḥ sarvvakaraparihārīkṛtyāsmābhirddatta Iti
stu vosmābhiḥ
ḥ
potu
ruvāti ku
ṁgoṇḍa monadurgga bhadhavati
ṁṭṭa
ti tathā ca vyāsenoktaṁ
yasya yadā bhūmistasya tasya tadā phalam·
rettu vasu
(Verse 1.) Let there be prosperity of all kinds for ever to the whole world, prosperity for ever to cows, brāhmaṇas and princes !
(Line 2.) Hail ! Kubja-Vishṇuvardhana,—the brother of Satyāśraya-Vallabha, who adorned the race of the glorious Chalukyas, etc.ruled) for eighteen years. His son Jayasiṁha-Vallabha (ruled) for thirty-three years. Vishṇuvardhana, the son of his brother Indra-rāja, (ruled) for nine years. His son Maṅgi-yuvarāja (ruled) for twentyfive years. His son Jayasiṁha (ruled) for thirteen years. Kokkili, his younger brother from a different mother, (ruled) for six months. His elder brother Vishṇu-rāja, having expelled his younger brother, (ruled) for thirty-seven years. His son Vijayādityabhaṭṭāraka (ruled) for eighteen years. His son Vishṇuvardhana (ruled) for thirty-six years. His son,—
(Verses 2 and 3.) The brave king Vijayāditya,—having fought 108 battles, in which he acquired power by his arm, with the armies of the Gaṅgas and Raṭṭas for twelve years, by day and by night, sword in hand, by means of polity and valour,nayavikramaiḥ instead of the dual nayavikramābhyām.i.e., 108) large temples of Śiva.
(Verse 4.) Having ruled his kingdom for forty-four years, this lord of Veṅgī became a companion of Indra.
(Verses 5 to 7.) His son. Kali-Vishṇuvardhana, the brave lord of Veṅgī,—who knew (the science of) polity; who was skilled in fighting (kali) with all weapons;his subjects), as he was able to enforce the rules of the castes and orders; whose arms were engaged in the conquest of hostile cities; who acquired glory on the whole earth, which was made prosperous by his ministers, whose chief aim was always to cherish the three objects of life; who was skilled in fighting with elephants and horses; and who know (how to follow the precepts of) polity in ruling,—was the anointed lord of his prosperous race for one and a half years.
(Verse 8.) His son was a ruler of all princes and a lord of all wealth, who was renowned for a frame, which possessed the splendour of beauty, (that appeared the more) spotless on account of his valour, liberality, firmness and justice.
(Verse 9.) Having conquered by his flashing sword crowds of warlike enemies (and) many princes, this Vijayāditya (i.e., the sun of victory), who possessed natural power, and whose rise was due to an inheritance of abundant majesty, daily conquered the sun in the world by his virtues, which consisted of valour and glory.
(Verse 10.) Having been challenged by the lord of the Raṭṭas, this lord,—who possessed the strength of Śiva, (who resembled) the sun by the power obtained by his strong arm, and who had gained great and excellent mighturusadvikrama, a comparison with Vishṇu (Trivikrama) is hinted.Gaṅgas, cut off the head of Maṅgi in battle, frightened the firebrand Kṛishṇa and burnt his city completely.
(Line 27.) This asylum of the whole world, the illustrious Vijayāditya (ruled) for forty-four years. After him, the son of his younger brother Vikramāditya, (viz.) king Cḥalukya-Bhīma, whose other name was Drohārjuna, illumined the country of Veṅgī, —which had been overrun by the army of the Raṭṭa claimants, just as by dense darkness after sunset,—by the flashing of his sword, the only companion of his valour, and became king. Then, having fulfilled, like parents, like a friend, (or) like a preceptor, the desires of the distressed, the helpless, the naked, the dancers, the singers and those who gained their livelihood by (carrying) the banner of virtue, having gratified (their) minds by gifts, like the tree of paradise, and having ruled for thirty years, he became a companion of Indra, as though he had delighted him by his virtues.
(Verse 11.) His son Vijayāditya was famed for his wonderful strength, which was the means of his sway over all enjoyments, and through which he gained prosperity from his infancy.
(Verse 12.) Having destroyed the crowd of his (viz., his father's) foes by the strength of his arm (and) through his valour, while his father was still living, and having conquered after (his father's death) the crowd of his own enemiesthis) lord,—whose plans were backed up by invincible and great power, who was satisfied by the enjoyment of (all) his desires, who longed for (another) kingdom, and who had obtained glory,—went to Indra, in order to conquer one equal half (of Indra's throne).
(Line 38.) His son Amma, whose other name was Rājamahendra,—having destroyed from afar his enemies, as the rising sun (destroys from afar) the darkness, and having drawn his sword, which broke the dīshonest hearts of his feudatory relatives, who had joined the party of his natural adversaries,—won the affection of the subjects and of the army of his father and of his grandfather by his might, which was backed up by the three (regal) powers. (He) who resembled the teacher of the gods in wisdom, the sun in glory, the earth in patience and the mountain of the immortals through his being the resting-place of many learned men (or gods), the asylum of the whole world, the illustrious Vishṇuvardhanamahārāja, who had celebrated the festival of his anointment to the kingdom, and who had ascended the throne, having called together all the householders, who inhabit the district of Kaṇḍeṟuvāḍi, thus issued his commands:—
(Line 44.) The chief of the Paṭṭavardhinī family, which was (always) charged with appointments by the prosperous succession of our race, he who was famed by the name of Kāḻakampa, the follower of Kubja-Vishṇuvardhana, killed in battle with his permission (a king) called Daddara, whose army was difficult to be overcome, and seized his banners. The son of Somāditya, who descended from his race, was Pritiviya-rāja (!), who acquired glory in many battles.
(Verses 13 and 14.) His son, whose weapons destroyed the pride of all enemies, a servant of king Vijayāditya-Kaliyarttyaṅka, (was) Bhaṇḍanāditya, of whom his enemies were afraid, when they perceived him approaching, his face covered with collyrium and his cheeks flushed, as if it were Yama, whose (elephant) Añjanathem), and the temples (of whose elephant) were shining (with rutting-juice).
(Verse 15.) For, having sounded the drum of heroes in tumultuous conflicts with the enemies and having defeated (their) army, he,—(who was also called) Kuntāditya, and who was the abode of the splendour of great fame combined with sacred knowledge,—pleased my mind, entered my service and obtained my favour; his long arms were the origin of the splendour of victory over hostile kings, whose armies were large and numerous.
(Line 53.) “To him we gave the village called Goṇṭūru together with twelve hamlets, having exempted it from all taxes. Thus be it made known to you by us. Its boundaries (are):—on the east, Goṅguva; on the south, Goṇayūru; on the west, Kalucheṟuvulu; on the north, Maḍapalli. The hamlets,Kshetrasīman seems to have the same meaning as grāmaṭikā in line 58.four villages), (are):—on the east, Potuṟāyu; on the south-east, Peddakoyilamu; on the south, Kuṟuvapoṭi; on the south-west, Peruvāti (and) Kuṟuva; on the west, Pālaguṇṭa (and) Paḍumaṭikaṭṭa; on the north-west, Polakuṅgoṇḍa, Monadurga (and) Bhagavatī; on the north, Maḍapallipaṟṟu; on the north-east, Chāmiṟeniguṇṭa. Nobody shall cause obstruction to this (grant). He, who does it, becomes (guilty) of the five great sins. And Vyāsa has said thus: [Here follow two of the customary imprecatory verses.]”
Digital edition of SII 1.36 by
See also edition by Daniel Balogh (Eḍeru plates of Amma I).