tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17573037090624921612024-03-05T09:53:09.365-08:00My collection of South Indian CoinsUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1757303709062492161.post-84503225134331819472009-10-16T13:08:00.001-07:002010-11-10T12:14:58.788-08:00Home<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh70Ph-aozYxGTw_WhLAbUiRPk8JraoHdwOLAbAsiN9AZWtV1P-0K9pU8bQckjqAnyn_SUK2tGy_YsvVLvAmTyU5WE_oMWATBsfUPm70mDohwRhqQbBZs6le0jDs7H1-poBpPL1JXh872k/s1600/02.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh70Ph-aozYxGTw_WhLAbUiRPk8JraoHdwOLAbAsiN9AZWtV1P-0K9pU8bQckjqAnyn_SUK2tGy_YsvVLvAmTyU5WE_oMWATBsfUPm70mDohwRhqQbBZs6le0jDs7H1-poBpPL1JXh872k/s200/02.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT88Szzwl-nSCjlKQKhAVRQ3Qn5eNyENLO3ymCCkaqGUhPwJ-SlXfjCLS_DeBLaKAR0NJXDm6vNyiG8aZ3lGCYfTivMFrQ27Wup47jsP99gXBoWi0B0aDHGO1WLrGlfaf3VPYC5HeJcMg/s1600-h/rajesh.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><strong>A private collection of South Indian Coins from 100 BC to 1900 AD.</strong></div></div><br />
The intention of this web site is to educate and be educated by others about numismatic aspects of the South Indian.This collection is the continuing work of over twenty years accumulation of high quality, rare and interesting pieces. None of the coins shown are for sale .I would love comments, corrections, suggestions, information regarding any of the coins in the collection. <br />
<div style="text-align: right;"> <strong><span style="font-size: large;"> -- Rajesh Kotha</span></strong></div><br />
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Monetary System <br />
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1 Dudu = 10 Cash 8 Dudu = 1 Fanam 36 Fanam = 1 Pagoda 31/2 Rupees = 1 Pagoda <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNpoXSEpJEzXJD3L_NA2gQaDqSmhGOcQjOIFyLnK94Dje3P8SSV8yqgGvN1KgPXPVsaCUm5uZATWd5Pycsg5PPs3BFuyVmMniu5_ScgQKHpqgdpGyV1w7bMZEK6QiWKDpvDMGQYBzjqt8/s1600-h/1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rs="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNpoXSEpJEzXJD3L_NA2gQaDqSmhGOcQjOIFyLnK94Dje3P8SSV8yqgGvN1KgPXPVsaCUm5uZATWd5Pycsg5PPs3BFuyVmMniu5_ScgQKHpqgdpGyV1w7bMZEK6QiWKDpvDMGQYBzjqt8/s320/1.JPG" /></a><br />
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1 Cash (copper) K-314 1803 <br />
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5 Cash (copper) K-316 <br />
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10 Cash (copper) K-319 <br />
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20 Cash (copper) K-321 <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbG1K2GThGUyMsmUeFoc-G9927PW_uHKpBJ2Id5mFp_GiHzmscPFRoDssltIkUAc7K7t1g84XuKylUpthuVhLO734aRi3j-97dXXiWj7RldYHbGF52WyKg6t1MEofVyghzKKMODOttn6Q/s1600-h/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rs="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbG1K2GThGUyMsmUeFoc-G9927PW_uHKpBJ2Id5mFp_GiHzmscPFRoDssltIkUAc7K7t1g84XuKylUpthuVhLO734aRi3j-97dXXiWj7RldYHbGF52WyKg6t1MEofVyghzKKMODOttn6Q/s320/5.jpg" /></a><br />
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10 Cash (copper) K-326 <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQujoasSDk9u11WdzVkzIhx-B9fUkLrW8Nz0woET9xZCUxnFfiSMYqn5A9DAJCDyPQBJlZDGc9EOl8wT7h9ov1RLJ6b5LKnPGYWUwL7Yq07OPGSjuK-OwPF1cT1B3kq9071cMMjS_swds/s1600-h/6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rs="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQujoasSDk9u11WdzVkzIhx-B9fUkLrW8Nz0woET9xZCUxnFfiSMYqn5A9DAJCDyPQBJlZDGc9EOl8wT7h9ov1RLJ6b5LKnPGYWUwL7Yq07OPGSjuK-OwPF1cT1B3kq9071cMMjS_swds/s320/6.jpg" /></a><br />
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20 Cash (copper) K-328 <br />
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40 Cash (copper) K-331 <br />
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1 Fanam (Silver) K-307 <br />
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2 Fanam (Silver) K-308 <br />
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2 Fanam (Silver) K-350 <br />
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1/4 Pagoda (silver) K-352 1807-15 <br />
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1/2 Pagoda (silver) K-353 1808-15<br />
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The firman granted to the East India Company by Venkatdri Naik in 1639 permitted it to "perpetually enjoy the privilege of mintage." This mint was run on contract by various dubashes - Komati Chetties all - but used gold imported by the Company. In the 1650s, the Company decided it would run the mint itself and appointed English supervisors.<br />
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The Madras mint struck coins for in and around the company's territories in for the Northern Circars for nearly 200 years. The initial coins were dump coinage similar to those of the neighboring Hindu territories followed by close imitations of the Moghul coins of the Subah of Arcot.<br />
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In 1692, the mint was permitted to mint the silver rupees of the Mughals. A new mint was built in the Fort in 1695, then rebuilt in 1727 in the northwest corner of the Fort, by what became known as the Mint Bastion. In 1742, a second mint was established in Chintadripet. The same year, the Fort mint was permitted to strike the Arcot rupee and Arcot coins of lower denominations. In 1792, the Chintadripet mint was moved to the Fort and the two mints became the gold and silver mints, minting star pagodas, which were replacing the Madras Pagodas, Arcot rupees and Madras and Arcot fanams and doodoos.<br />
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Early Coins : Dump Coins<br />
The earliest coins of the company in Madras were small silver pieces issued from their factory at Fort St. George in about 1670's. These coins were undated with two interlinked C's on the reverse (assigned to the reign of King Charles II).<br />
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During the 18th century silver coins were minted bearing the Company's bale mark(an orb and a cross) inscribed C.C.E (Charter Company of England) and in some cases G.C.E (Governor and company of merchants trading into the east Indies). All these issues were meant for use within the company's factory and surrounding areas and also for exchange with European traders. They were not meant for circulation in the interior of the country.<br />
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In 1742 company obtained permission from Nawab Sadatulla Khan of the Subah of Arcot to coin rupees in imitation of those struck at the imperial mint at Arcat. These coins were poorly struck with dies bigger than the blanks used. Hence, only a part of inscriptions are generally visible. They bear the name of Alamgir II with Sixth year of reign and have a 'lotus - mint mark'. This undated series continued for about 50 years. Subsequent issues had Hegira Date '1172' equivalent to 1758 A.D. irrespective of the year of minting. The R.Y-6 also appears on all issues.<br />
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Machine Struck Coins<br />
In 1807 new machinery was introduced and mint produced 2 silver coin in European style with oblique milling. One series based on Hindu standard consisted of One and Two pagoda in gold, Half and Quarter pagoda and Fanams in silver. The copper coins consisted on Cash denominations.<br />
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The other series based on moghul standard were gold mohurs and fractions of mohurs : ¼, ⅓ and ½ . They issued rupees together with fractions down to ⅛ and 1⁄16 rupee in silver. Madras also issued 2 rupees coins. Although minted in 1807 and later all bear the frozen date "1172"A.H.<br />
Copper coins in this series were Faluce(Dub) with inscriptions in persian on one side and Tamil and Telugu inscriptions on the other side indicating the value in Dub units.<br />
In Madras, there were copper coins for 2, 4 pies, 1, 2 and 4 paisa, with the first two denominated as ½ and 1 dub or 1⁄96 and 1⁄48 rupee. Madras also issued the Madras Fanam until 1815.<br />
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Although the two systems of coins were in circulation at the same time but they were unrelated.<br />
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3360 Cash = 42 Fanams = 1 Pagoda =31/2 Rupees = 168 Faluce (Dub)<br />
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1 Rupee = 48 Faluce (Dub)<br />
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1 Faluce (Dub) = 20 Cash; 1 Fanam = 4 Faluce(Dub) = 80 Cash<br />
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After 1818, Rupee was made the standard coin and the weight was fixed at 180 grains with smaller pieces in proportion. The pagodas and fanams were demonetized from that year.<br />
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Next issues were :-<br />
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1. 1812-1835 : Struck at Madras Mint with 'Lotus' mint mark and indented cord milling.<br />
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2. 1823-1825 : Struck at Calcutta with 'Rose' mint mark and upright milling.<br />
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3. 1830-1835 : Struck at Calcutta with 'Rose' mint mark and upright milling but with a small crescent added on the reverse (rupee and half rupee coins) and on obverse(1/4 rupee coins).<br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1757303709062492161.post-55036419472623347452009-10-16T12:59:00.002-07:002010-03-30T21:49:30.100-07:00Travencore State Coins<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK9qpeh8HKv6IBnOu3EMUArBasIIBWSjMFbcIT-niHe8AHXCWK3EvQIz2aJBFAlqMFM3D1pqKs-D-b5grm7ynXQkZ5jC02hP0mMw3CW0zry0XFJUpFXOAzhm93TlKiFnv8AmTVb5lSWkY/s1600/travencore1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK9qpeh8HKv6IBnOu3EMUArBasIIBWSjMFbcIT-niHe8AHXCWK3EvQIz2aJBFAlqMFM3D1pqKs-D-b5grm7ynXQkZ5jC02hP0mMw3CW0zry0XFJUpFXOAzhm93TlKiFnv8AmTVb5lSWkY/s320/travencore1.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Rama Varma IV (1860-80) Silver chuckram</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<strong>Travancore </strong>was a princely state in India under the British Raj, with its capital at Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram) ruled by the Travancore Royal Family. The name Thiruvithankoor might be derived from Thiruvithankode (in Tamil, 'thiru' means wealth, 'vidanam' means roof, and 'kodu' means hill) where the capital Padmanabhapuram was situated. It comprised most of modern day southern Kerala and the modern Nagercoil and Kanyakumari districts of Tamil Nadu. Its ruler was accorded a 19-gun salute during the long period under the suzerainty of the British Empire. The Travancore Royal family claims descent from the Cheras of the three South Indian Mandala Kingdoms namely Chera Mandalam, Pandya Mandalam and Chola Mandalam. A branch of the Chera family was sent to the extreme north of Kerala where they settled and came to be known as the Mooshika Royal family or the later Kolathiris while another branch was deputed to go south to grapple with the Pandyan invasions. This became the Kupaka Royal family and were the original ancestors of the Travancore royal family [1]. Later Kerala was ruled by a line of Perumals of whom Cheraman Perumal was the last and he is said to have divided Kerala among his relatives and friends and left for a pilgrimage [2]. However the Kolathiris and Travancore were already existent, although under the suzerainty of the Perumals [3]. From the 11th century onwards began the rise ofindependant Travancore or Venad as it was known then. Ravi Varma Kulasekhara (1299-1314) invaded the territories of the Pandyas and Cholas and performed imperial coronations at Madurai and Kanchipuram and thus threw of the Pandyan hegemony in the region[4]. However his success was short lived and after him his successors could not hold on to these acquisitions of the Pandyas and Cholas. The line of kings after Ravi Varma continued through the Marumakkathayam law of succession and family. Soon after Ravi Varma's death two princesses were adopted from the Kolathiri Royal family and installed as Ranis or Queens at Attingal. The Venad Royal family continued thus in the female line. Whenever there were no females to take forth the line, princesses were adopted from the Kolathiri family, the latest adoption being in 1994 [5]. Travancore went briefly under the subjugation of the Vijayanagar Empire but soon regained its independence. Umayamma Rani who reigned towards the end of the 17th century was a prominent ruler. Marthanda Varma, the "maker of modern Travancore" and Dharma Raja were powerful rulers who reestablished the power of monarchy in the state and destroyed that of the nobles. By the early 19th century the kingdom became a princely state under the British. Swathi Thirunal was one of the most popular rulers of the 19th century. The regency of Sethu Lakshmi Bayi was a time which heralded many new reforms which were continued by Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma.<br />
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<strong>Kulasekhara Dynasty (1721 onwards)</strong><br />
Rajah Rama Varma 1721-1729<br />
Anizham Tirunal Marthanda Varma 1729–1758<br />
Karthika Thirunal Rama Varma (Dharma Raja) 1758-1798<br />
Balarama Varma 1798-1810<br />
Gowri Lakshmi Bayi 1810-1815 (Queen from 1810-1813 and Regent Queen from 1813-1815)<br />
Gowri Parvati Bayi (Regent) 1815-1829<br />
Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma 1829-1846<br />
Uthram Thirunal Marthanda Varma 1846–1860<br />
Ayilyam Thirunal Rama Varma 1860–1880<br />
Visakham Thirunal Rama Varma 1880–1885<br />
Sree Moolam Thirunal Rama Varma 1885–1924<br />
Sethu Lakshmi Bayi (Regent) 1924–1931<br />
Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma 1931–1949<br />
Uthradom Thirunal Marthanda Varma 1991-Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1757303709062492161.post-74763914127486397122009-10-16T12:59:00.001-07:002010-03-30T21:45:20.252-07:00Venad chera coins<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEganUubP4y8QOXs9jXKmiB6HKon3ySB9h2XwdaMAlWZH2p7F_2tyI0EBMiVxrQfZSfTpeiS5kyERpqVdIvk_qxgOkqVeXdEpbLRE2_KOo6KJD4ZT1btYh4b03Wrp99cjxnCfll4o6tVD28/s1600/VENAD1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEganUubP4y8QOXs9jXKmiB6HKon3ySB9h2XwdaMAlWZH2p7F_2tyI0EBMiVxrQfZSfTpeiS5kyERpqVdIvk_qxgOkqVeXdEpbLRE2_KOo6KJD4ZT1btYh4b03Wrp99cjxnCfll4o6tVD28/s320/VENAD1.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNzRr7KQV2t_u6UUJGtrsdA1tfISCyapC9IMs_mYHMJqdLDFBSX9A0BtivxnMOIVSIQCpQS3f8DYDdCZpwdkpF7-3x2S9ZXPcZijrRYvr_2g-b6ACfWzWjR5FFQ271MF6hIoFblycjKAU/s1600/VENAD2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNzRr7KQV2t_u6UUJGtrsdA1tfISCyapC9IMs_mYHMJqdLDFBSX9A0BtivxnMOIVSIQCpQS3f8DYDdCZpwdkpF7-3x2S9ZXPcZijrRYvr_2g-b6ACfWzWjR5FFQ271MF6hIoFblycjKAU/s320/VENAD2.jpg" /></a></div>Venad was one of the eighteen kingdoms of the ancient Cheran empire. Later, it was periodically under the suzerainty of the Madurai Pandiyan kingdom, until Pandiyan power declined after 880 AD.<br />
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Pliny, in the 1st century AD, recorded that the representative of Pandiyan kings invited him to places south of Thrissur (Kodungalloor), which were under the suzerainty of the Pandiyan king, offering spices. The Pandyan kings had their capital at Nelkinda (Nelcynda) (Niranam), while Thiruvattuvai Nadu (Thiruvalla), Quilon and Pandalam were minor capitals. The Ay Vel rulers of this area were vassals of the Pandyan kings.<br />
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Venad included most of modern day Kollam, the Thiruvananthapuram districts of Kerala, and the Kanyakumari District of Tamil Nadu. Trivandrum was established as its capital by Nedumchadaya Pandyan after consecrating the Sri Padmanabha Swami Idol in 785 AD.<br />
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Venad was the forerunner to the modern Kingdom of Travancore, established by King Marthanda Varma, who annexed Ilayidathu Swarupam (Kottarakkara), Desinga Nadu (Kollam), Pandalam, Kayamkulam, Chempakasseri (Ambalappuzha), Thekkumkur (Kottayam), Vadakkumkur (Vaikkam), and some parts of Kochi to Venad.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1757303709062492161.post-60162930210780484502009-10-16T12:58:00.001-07:002009-11-16T16:35:53.501-08:00Sivaganga Coins<strong></strong><br />
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<blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGg_Z2P_OmiBNmc0tq2RvIbyz5OnG0sBiu-QNepU4zRlg5Td8YkPfHr3kIv4WASlUTBla8I97eyRGQHOfgYRQZbQagY1HCTQbtwvVGqaLKoxwbxArp7zc6p20x_i1zvT954s5kuRrrCeI/s1600/sivaganga1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGg_Z2P_OmiBNmc0tq2RvIbyz5OnG0sBiu-QNepU4zRlg5Td8YkPfHr3kIv4WASlUTBla8I97eyRGQHOfgYRQZbQagY1HCTQbtwvVGqaLKoxwbxArp7zc6p20x_i1zvT954s5kuRrrCeI/s320/sivaganga1.JPG" /></a><br />
</div></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Two uncertain deities standing / Crude lingam on altar within a dotted border. 13mm, 3.4 grams. Scarce this nice. KM 3.1<br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtQ-GlcDWofsynFBqaVEeiGIZ69gz_pSfHASfQ4EQ5Snnab1fqWByA1KE9dvZOz4tHaH3UYaZU4Ps1LsIeD-aFW9OZfLGNa06KSjAzgwN9cJsjYQEJ2PvTHC6n4OCx8l9k5ibpdiBevko/s1600/sivaganga2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline! important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtQ-GlcDWofsynFBqaVEeiGIZ69gz_pSfHASfQ4EQ5Snnab1fqWByA1KE9dvZOz4tHaH3UYaZU4Ps1LsIeD-aFW9OZfLGNa06KSjAzgwN9cJsjYQEJ2PvTHC6n4OCx8l9k5ibpdiBevko/s320/sivaganga2.JPG" /></a><br />
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</div>Two uncertain deities standing / Crude lingam on altar within a dotted border. 13mm, 3.4 grams. Scarce this nice. KM 3.1<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR6VVxAy32XUyTTyLMIJf75YkV7uMNgVhGz9fta7mXCACM3Bu66s5aPa7XO1WtBgT_RGrtGVtItCj5qGINz3IceP95-KxtUo3P6B24VeeiMyuHJvvI7xpSlBeIftB2SV7XBFquoIwg9cU/s1600/sivaganga3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline! important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR6VVxAy32XUyTTyLMIJf75YkV7uMNgVhGz9fta7mXCACM3Bu66s5aPa7XO1WtBgT_RGrtGVtItCj5qGINz3IceP95-KxtUo3P6B24VeeiMyuHJvvI7xpSlBeIftB2SV7XBFquoIwg9cU/s320/sivaganga3.JPG" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Two deities enthroned / Lingam surrounded by an outline of dots. 14mm, 3.0 grams. KM 6.2. </span><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkxIrTy8Z2wWTOCmLrL1OTGxFtQBhTLFT2XgteSTScuaKZf5hIScFtGHD2S4zKGYjnFeuXwBq_HERfZaPZoMhizrWI2jfEaF28pR-zhbS_iFikGDyPNy58zEnuKIlJtkE_7ju1D0fgLLM/s1600/sivaganga4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkxIrTy8Z2wWTOCmLrL1OTGxFtQBhTLFT2XgteSTScuaKZf5hIScFtGHD2S4zKGYjnFeuXwBq_HERfZaPZoMhizrWI2jfEaF28pR-zhbS_iFikGDyPNy58zEnuKIlJtkE_7ju1D0fgLLM/s320/sivaganga4.JPG" /></a><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Two deities enthroned / Lingam surrounded by an outline of dots. 12mm, 3.1 grams. KM 6.2. </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMch-Etg1RO5W7UzhZVTR6ygYhvVICDV2l0BP9fEGLRaaQ4_Zf-Seikj7nC1zXppCn0KDXe5vg9IzZ-m5TLIdhTS9vyDo-HsO2Llbd32DotjQMxZ1wrLq1C3jVh8m69_8Wi3ew5wkYKI4/s1600/sivaganga5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline! important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMch-Etg1RO5W7UzhZVTR6ygYhvVICDV2l0BP9fEGLRaaQ4_Zf-Seikj7nC1zXppCn0KDXe5vg9IzZ-m5TLIdhTS9vyDo-HsO2Llbd32DotjQMxZ1wrLq1C3jVh8m69_8Wi3ew5wkYKI4/s320/sivaganga5.JPG" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMch-Etg1RO5W7UzhZVTR6ygYhvVICDV2l0BP9fEGLRaaQ4_Zf-Seikj7nC1zXppCn0KDXe5vg9IzZ-m5TLIdhTS9vyDo-HsO2Llbd32DotjQMxZ1wrLq1C3jVh8m69_8Wi3ew5wkYKI4/s1600/sivaganga5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline! important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px;">Two deities enthroned / Lingam surrounded by an outline of dots. 13mm, 2.9 grams. KM 6.2. </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjLtxfnB-BO7EmOGCOeLCqW8nPzsBpHZ30iw434hsUNy1s_4MwoDF3nDEzQbcrZVGgFRKcxYqw1QeR4eEBrj0AsM3lVtzzx5uS_peV1NZeKRkOrRM25AHsQdpSrSe3DP-7gcqWdjvFb0o/s1600/sivaganga6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjLtxfnB-BO7EmOGCOeLCqW8nPzsBpHZ30iw434hsUNy1s_4MwoDF3nDEzQbcrZVGgFRKcxYqw1QeR4eEBrj0AsM3lVtzzx5uS_peV1NZeKRkOrRM25AHsQdpSrSe3DP-7gcqWdjvFb0o/s320/sivaganga6.JPG" /></a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Two deities enthroned / Lingam surrounded by an outline of dots. 13mm, 2.9 grams. KM 6.2. </span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8N4AVGsX_TLHCZRMxt7QCy8yLU5BpJWSLpcrbo8y_oKTQF9QAUjiWQU2RDEUpHNEyyNB87xABamQXPGWq5wSLMpr0y9mIIxLHtb8IDsOmeH8tBiFXdtvLE-7AY-R-Ml5y7Kt0kpsjJfQ/s1600/sivaganga7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8N4AVGsX_TLHCZRMxt7QCy8yLU5BpJWSLpcrbo8y_oKTQF9QAUjiWQU2RDEUpHNEyyNB87xABamQXPGWq5wSLMpr0y9mIIxLHtb8IDsOmeH8tBiFXdtvLE-7AY-R-Ml5y7Kt0kpsjJfQ/s320/sivaganga7.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px;">Two deities enthroned / Lingam surrounded by an outline of dots. 13mm, 2.9 grams. KM 6.2. </span><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcjCMCR3h_nNiYSveOe6hh0ZDyisGzdWayvoM_KndmE8QNvlqk7RbRlDchlDMHtopoEwZ8X5H7zwAnFgM2Z3lTDPyp2vcqLdYEqFL4mdlT1Sr97b1BAciv_iCQ0dx6qqnhWp-PskS6W8Y/s1600/sivaganga8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcjCMCR3h_nNiYSveOe6hh0ZDyisGzdWayvoM_KndmE8QNvlqk7RbRlDchlDMHtopoEwZ8X5H7zwAnFgM2Z3lTDPyp2vcqLdYEqFL4mdlT1Sr97b1BAciv_iCQ0dx6qqnhWp-PskS6W8Y/s320/sivaganga8.JPG" /></a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Two deities enthroned / Lingam surrounded by an outline of dots. 13mm, 3.0 grams. KM 6.2</span><br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7sWeYgcsXjOJjWkyQVLXTDj8R5FjJOys00JybIoAkdeZzDmHyjqyQrYxJeIbVrRNTCK2XYPVhBNF2dOzwXsu6Pf4s8kuVGbtOZ7ZZdy3i7jjGNCn-0G76n4uwgy9zRbCrerbn46WlN38/s1600/sivaganga9.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7sWeYgcsXjOJjWkyQVLXTDj8R5FjJOys00JybIoAkdeZzDmHyjqyQrYxJeIbVrRNTCK2XYPVhBNF2dOzwXsu6Pf4s8kuVGbtOZ7ZZdy3i7jjGNCn-0G76n4uwgy9zRbCrerbn46WlN38/s320/sivaganga9.JPG" /></a><br />
Two uncertain deities standing / Crude lingam on altar within a dotted border. 14mm, 3.6 grams. Scarce this nice. KM 3.1<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp1JBYkvYW_ESkjrRSAvwsh9J1FpsP2eFHUN4A22loW8HhptKvrRGfvfEne4LHKTlkN4asDVwID1NnxLgxwV5FAE4voPLiiW2KBuj97AValefFLU4CK5pAbVEHnhTTyFb3Vb5Z2Vk-EqE/s1600/Sivaganga_all.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp1JBYkvYW_ESkjrRSAvwsh9J1FpsP2eFHUN4A22loW8HhptKvrRGfvfEne4LHKTlkN4asDVwID1NnxLgxwV5FAE4voPLiiW2KBuj97AValefFLU4CK5pAbVEHnhTTyFb3Vb5Z2Vk-EqE/s320/Sivaganga_all.JPG" yr="true" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">THE HISTORY OF SIVAGANGA:</span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Sivaganga, located in the extreme south of India, was the larger portion of the Kingdom of Ramnad controlled was controlled by Raja Sasivarnan (1730 - 1750) who divided Ramnad into five parts and retained three for himself and his successors. He granted the two parts to Sasivarnan of Nalukottai conferring on him the title of "Rajah Muthu Vijaya Regunatha Peria Oodayan ". The following rulers of Sivaganga were Raja Sasivarnan (1730 - 1750 ), Raja Muthu Vaduganathan (1750 - 1772), Rani Velu Nachiyar(1772 - 1780)Maruthu brothers (1748-1801). In 1801 the territory was annexed by the British.</span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi91yZEtlAIK6sxAoUmCRFhAt-J7p2dNhTLhLdvsEcRc7zdWXBiBf44drP6mZ6nYKpkFin3TY7-yzRbZ0reC43V2BZQKcvFA8IKQ79ooYHhHGmt28Fke7-qd6X58k2qW_a9HM16f5GCm_Y/s1600/Maruthu1.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi91yZEtlAIK6sxAoUmCRFhAt-J7p2dNhTLhLdvsEcRc7zdWXBiBf44drP6mZ6nYKpkFin3TY7-yzRbZ0reC43V2BZQKcvFA8IKQ79ooYHhHGmt28Fke7-qd6X58k2qW_a9HM16f5GCm_Y/s320/Maruthu1.gif" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Maruthu Pandiyar</b> brothers (Periya Maruthu and Chinna Maruthu)<br />
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</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">The Kingdom of Ramnad originally comprised of the territories of Ramnad, Sivaganga and Pudukottai of today. Regunatha Sethupathy alias Kilavan Sethupathy, the 7th King of Ramnad reigned between 1674 and 1710. Kilavan Sethupathy, came to know of the bravery and valour of Peria Oodaya Thevar of Nalukottai, 4 Kilometres from Sholapuram near Sivaganga.</span><br />
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The King assigned to Peria Oodaya Thevar of Nalukottai a portion of land sufficient to maintain 1000 armed men. Vijaya Regunatha Sethupathy became the 8th King of Ramnad in 1710 after the death of Kilavan Sethupathy. The King gave in marriage his daughter AKILANDESWARI NACHIAR, to Sasivarna Thevar, the son of Nalukottai Peria Oodaya Thevar. The King gave Sasivarna Thevar lands as dowry, free of taxation, sufficient to maintain 1,000 men. He placed him in charge of the fortresses of Piranmalai, Tiruppathur, Sholapuram and Tiruppuvanam as well as the harbour of Thondi. Meanwhile Bhavani Sankaran, the son of Kilavan Sethupathy conquered Ramnad territory and arrested Sundareswara Regunatha Sethupathy, the 9th King of Ramnad. Bhavani Sankaran proclaimed himself as the Rajah of Ramnad. He became the 10th king of Ramnad and he reigned from 1726 to 1729. He quarrelled with Sasivarna Peria Oodaya Thevar of Nalukottai and drove him out of his Nalukottai palayam. Kattaya Thevan, the brother of the late Sundareswara Regunatha Sethupathy fled from Ramnad and sought refuge with the Rajah of Tanjore Tuljaji. While Sasivarna Thevar was passing through the jungles of Kalayarkoi, he met a Gnani (sage) named Sattappiah, who was performing Thapas (meditation) under a jambool tree near a spring called `SIVAGANGA' . The deposed king prostrated himself before him and narrated all the previous incidents of his life. The Gnani whispered a certain mantra in his ears (Mantra Opadesam) and advised him to go to Tanjore and kill a ferocious tiger which was kept by the Rajah especially to test the bravery of men. Sasivarna Thevar went to Tanjore. There he became acquainted with Kattaya Thevan a refugee like himself. Satisfied with the good behaviour of Sasivarma Thevar and Kattaya Thevan, the Rajah of Tanjore wanted to help them to regain the States again, ordered his DALAVOY to go with a large army to invade Bhavani Sankaran. Sasivarna Thevar and Kattaya Thevan at once proceeded to Ramnad with a large army furnished by the king of Tanjore. They defeated Bhavani Sankaran at the battle of Uraiyur and captured Ramnad in 1730. Thus Kattaya Thevan became the 11th King of Ramnad.<br />
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Ist RAJAH SASIVARNA THEVAR (1730 - 1750 ) Kattaya Thevan divided Ramnad into five parts and retained three for himself. He granted the two parts to Sasivarna Thevar of Nalukottai conferring on him the title of "Rajah Muthu Vijaya Regunatha Peria Oodaya Thevar".<br />
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2nd RAJAH - MUTHU VADUGANATHA PERIA OODAYA THEVAR (1750 - 1772).<br />
Sasivarna Peria Oodaya Thevar died in or about the year 1750. He was succeeded by his only son Muthu Vaduganatha Peria Oodaya Thevar. He was the second Rajah of Sivaganga. His wife Rani Velu Nachiar acted as "friend, Philosopher and guide" to him. Tandavaraya Pillai was the able minister of Sivaganga country. Muthu Vaduganatha Peria Oodaya Thevar granted commercial facilities to the Dutch only after the English rejected a similar offer, made to Colonel Heron. Further the aim of the English was to oblige the ruler of Sivaganga to serve the Nawab or to pay tribute to him or to dissuade them from establishing relations with foreign powers like the Dutch. A two pronged offensive was made by the English. Joseph Smith from the east and Benjour from the west invaded Sivaganga Palayam in June 1772. The country was full of bushes of cockspur thorn, though there were villages and open spaces here and there. Rajah Muthu Vaduganatha Thevar, in anticipation of the invasion, erected barriers on the roads, dug trenches and established posts in the woods of Kalayarkoil. On the 21st of June of 1772 the detatchment of Smith and Benjour effected a junction and occupied the town of Sivaganga. The next day, the English forces marched to Kalayarkoil and captured the posts of Keeranoor and Sholapuram. Now, Benjour continuing the operations came into conflict with the main body of the troops of Sivaganga on the 25th June 1772. Muthu Vaduganatha Rajah with many of his followers fell dead in that heroic battle. The heroic activities shown in the battle field by Velu Nachiar is praised by the Historians. The widow queen Velu Nachiar and daughter Vellachi Nachiar with Tandavaraya Pillai fled to Virupakshi in Dindigul. Later they were joined by the two able Servaigarars Vellai Marudu and Chinna Marudhu.<br />
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3rd RANI VELU NACHIAR (1772 - 1780) Rani Velu Nachiar and her daughter Vellachi Nachiar lived under the protection of Hyder Ali at Virupakshi near Dindigul. Frustrated by the joining of forces against him, the Nawab ordered that Velu Nachiar and Marudhu Brothers were permitted to return to Sivaganga and rule the country subject to payment of Kist to the Nawab. Abiding by this Order, Rani Velu Nachiar accompanied by Marudu brothers and Vellachi Nachiar entered Sivaganga. An agreement was reached where by Rani Velu Nachiar was permitted to govern the Sivaganga Country and Chinna Marudu, the younger was appointed her minister and the elder Vellai Marudu as the Commander-in-chief. Thus the widow Queen Velu Nachiar succeeded her husband in 1780.<br />
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The Queen Velu Nachiar granted powers to Marudhu Brothers to administer the country in 1780. Velu Nachiar died a few years later, but the exact date of her death is not known (it was about 1790). Marudu brothers are the sons of Udayar Servai alias Mookiah Palaniappan Servai and Anandayer alias Ponnathal. They are native of Kongulu street of Ramnad. They belonged neither to the family of the ancient poligars nor to their division of the caste.<br />
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Servaikaran was the caste title and Marudu the family name. The Marudu Brothers served under Muthu Vaduganatha Thevar. Later they were elevated to the position of Commanders. Boomerangs are peculiar to India. Two forms of this weapons are used in India. These weapons are commonly made of wood. It is cresent-shaped on end being heavier than the other and the outer edge is sharpened. Their name in Tamil is VALARI stick. It is said that Marudu Brothers were experts in the art of throwing the valari stick. It is said that Marudus used Valari in the POLIGAR wars against the English. The Marudu brothers with 12,000 armed men surrounded Sivaganga and plundered the Nawab's territories. The Nawab on the 10th of March 1789 appealed to the Madras Council for aid. On 29th April 1789, the British forces attacked Kollangudi. It was defeated by a large body of Marudu's troops. He was in close association with Veera Pandiya Kattabomman of Panchalankurichi. Kattabomman held frequent consultations with Marudhus. After the execution of Kattabomman in 17th October 1799 at Kayattar, Chinna Marudhu gave asylum to Kattabomman's brother Oomadurai (dumb brother). He issued an epoch-making Jumboo Deweepa proclamation to the people in the island of Jamboo the peninsular South India to fight against the English whether they were Hindus, Mussalamans or Christians. At last the Marudhu Pandiyars fell a victim to the cause of liberating the motherland from the English supremacy. Marudu Pandiyan the popular leader of the rebels, together with his gallant brother Vellai Marudu were executed on the ruins of fort at Tiruppathur in SIVAGANGA District on 24th October 1801. They showed their determination and spirit at the outset of the final struggle of 1801 by setting their handsome village Siruvayal on fire to prevent its being made use of by the English forces.<br />
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Marudu brothers were not only warriers and noted for bravery, but they were very great Administrators. During the period from 1783 to 1801, they worked for the welfare of the people and the Sivaganga Seemai was reported as fertile. They constructed many notable temples (i.e Kalayarkoil) Ooranis and Tanks.<br />
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After, so many successions of legal heirs ruled the estate, lastly, Sri D.S. Karthikeya Venkatachalapathy Rajah succeeded to the estate of late Sri. D. Shanmuga Rajah and he was the Hereditary Trustee of Sivaganga. Devasthanam and Chatrams consisting of 108 temples, 22 Kattalais and 20 Chatrams. Sri. D.S. Karthikeya Venkatachalapathy Rajah passed away in 30.8.1986 leaving a daughter named Tmt.. Maduranthagi Nachiyar as his heir. At present, Tmt. Maduranthagi Nachiyar is administering the Sivaganga Estate , Sivaganga Devasthanam and Chatram of Sivaganga Royal Family now. Based on the "District Gazette" 1990 of Ramanathapuram, and the history of Sivaganga maintained by Samasthanam, Sivaganga District has been formed mostly with an area of entire Sivaganga Zamin and part of Ramnad Zamin.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1757303709062492161.post-61349173792044825982009-10-16T12:57:00.002-07:002010-03-30T21:53:24.280-07:00Bana - Samarakolakalan Tamil Coins<div class="text"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5I3j1WsW_M4Bd_RzyN6um-CQnqSIPldjbQIAlZEYxwqc1YYOviaIvdpbg_2K4Ej0GspqYbd-Y40IbJgKrHq-V2cQDlMV9ThfSR7udd96RjncB1lCsOvBywVKB303woFzuKzXJmmJ3eQI/s1600/bana1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5I3j1WsW_M4Bd_RzyN6um-CQnqSIPldjbQIAlZEYxwqc1YYOviaIvdpbg_2K4Ej0GspqYbd-Y40IbJgKrHq-V2cQDlMV9ThfSR7udd96RjncB1lCsOvBywVKB303woFzuKzXJmmJ3eQI/s320/bana1.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"Samarakolakalan" Copper jital, Garuda type</div><br />
The Banas were a dynasty of powerful chieftains, who appear on the Tamil scene from the beginning of the Christian era, and played a subordinate role to all the major powers of the Tamil country. During the early Pallava period they were active in the northern part of Tamilnad serving the Pallavas. Towards the end of the Pallava rule they shifted their field of activity towards the Kavari region near Trichy. At the height of the Chola reign they were absolutely subordinate to the Imperial power. But when the Chola power showed signs of weakness, they showed their might and were sought after by both the Cholas and Pandyas. When Kulottunga III, conquered Madurai in the 13th century A.D., he installed the Bana as the ruler and gave him the title Pandya. Bu within a short period Maravarman Sundara Pandya, captured the Chola country with the help of the Bana and honoured him with some territories. This was the signal for the Banas to achieve independence. So long as the mighty Jatavarman Sundara Pandya and Maravarman Kulasekhara maintained their power till 1310, Banas bid their time and with the family feud of the Pandyas showing their ugly head in the 14th century, the Banas asserted their independence. They are seen ruling Madurai, a part of Ramnad, and even a part of Kongu country. From 14th to middle 16th century their epigraphs are found in regions Madurai, Ramnad and Pudukottai. </div><div class="text">They were called in all these recors, Mahabali Vanadarayar. They were great Vaishnavites and were deeply devoted to Lord Vishnu of Alagar Koil and the Andal temple at Srivilliputtur. The main Vimana of the Andal shrine of Srivilliputtur was built by the Bana Chieftain. Before the advent of the Ramnad Sethupati Chieftains, Ramesvaram and its pilgrim route were under the control of the Banas. They assumed the title Bhuvanekavira and Setumula Raksha durandharan. </div><div class="text">An inscription from Sevalur, in Thirumeyyam Taluk Pudukkottai district, mentions a Bana whose same is given as Sundaratoludaiyan and Thirumalirunjolai ninran (after the name of the deity of Alagar Koil). His number of titles are also recorded in the epigraph. Among them Samara Kolakala and Bhuvanekavirare the important titles worthy of note. From another village-Nekkonam, dated in Saka era 1045 (1483 A.D.) comes anoter inscription of the same Bana ruler, whose following titles are significant. </div><div class="text">Samarakolakalan Bhuvanekaviran Sethumula Raksha durandaran Madhurapuri mahanayakan Pandyakulantakan Rajakula sarpa garudan Garudaketanan etc. </div><div class="text">It is evident from the above that he had the Garuda as his royal crest. That he conquered Pandyas and was master of Madhurapuri is also significant. </div><div class="text">Against this background may be viewed the number of coins assigned to the Pandyas by all scholars on S. I. Numismatics. These coins bear two distinguishing titles Bhuvanekavira and Samarakola kalan. Type 1: Obverse: a seated Garuda on a fish; flanking the Garuda are conch and discus. Reverse: The legend reading Samarakolakala. The legend is in three lines separated by line markings. Type 2: Obverse: Garuda with conch and discus Reverse: Legend Samarakolakala in beteen lines. Type 3: Obverse: Gauda with conch and discus Reverse: Legend Samarakolakala in between lines. Palaeographically earlier. Type 4: Obverse: Garuda. Sankha and Cakra, a beautiful umbrella above. Reverse: legend ‘Bhuvanekavira’. Type 5: Obverse: Garuda holding a snake in the arms. Sanka Cakra present in the obverse. Reverse: the legend Bhuvanekavira separated by lines. Type 6: Obverse: Garuda with conch and discus. Reverse: Two fishes shown horizontally with a crozier in between. </div><div class="text">All the above types ascribed to the Pandyas by earlier writers were the issues of the Banas of Madurrai-Ramnad area. The fact that the Garuda is shown seated over the fish indicate that they have put down the Pandyas. The title “Valudisekharan” shows their conquest over Pandyas. The title Garudaketanan would show why they depicted Garuda on the coins. Another interesting title is ‘Rajakulasarpa Garuda” the Garuda to the snake of Rajakula (literally the very death to other Rajas). As if to portray this, the Garuda in their coin is shown holding a snake in its arm. </div><div class="text">Over the head of Garuda is a well executed umbrella. </div><div class="text">As mentioned earlier that there is some palaeographical difference in the letters of the coins which indicate that all do not belong to the same period. Some of them are 15th century and others 16th century coins. In the initial stage the Banas seem to have tried to maintain the continuity of Pandya tradition. So the coin bearing two fish and a sceptre on one side and the Garuda on the other but with no legends may be taken to be the earliest series of the Banas. </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1757303709062492161.post-21419416777793005202009-10-16T12:57:00.001-07:002010-03-30T21:56:01.377-07:00Sangam Pandya Coins<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhttF4UuIo5A-gfBa_0yHeqCoLM-UhKjVymFwBgeHsm8t9yVk4Fdq71G5TE1aw5arSEbGMCzdhPBg5qbj6MxdKI2p-vTfQVJOpzEXV7xN6MMFjIp7VIXXZEksWkjVkj65Rw61mocDpHLH4/s1600/sangam+pandya1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhttF4UuIo5A-gfBa_0yHeqCoLM-UhKjVymFwBgeHsm8t9yVk4Fdq71G5TE1aw5arSEbGMCzdhPBg5qbj6MxdKI2p-vTfQVJOpzEXV7xN6MMFjIp7VIXXZEksWkjVkj65Rw61mocDpHLH4/s320/sangam+pandya1.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Elephant type </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The Pandyas coins have been discovered at Madurai and other places in the Pandyan region and also in Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka. The coins of this dynasty are mostly in copper and sometimes in sliver. They are usually die-struck but some are punch-marked, The motifs appearing on the obverse of the Pandyan coins are the elephant, horse, bull, tortoise, fish, Sivalinga, svastika, domed temple, etc. Some of these coins bear legends on the reverse in the Tamil language and Tamil Brahmi script which convey the name or the title of the ruler. The reverse of most of their coins portrays the fish which was their dynastic emblem.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1757303709062492161.post-45792775281719892082009-10-16T12:56:00.001-07:002009-12-09T20:14:18.466-08:00Hyderabad Nijam CoinsThe Princely State of Hyderabad was founded around 1724 when Mir Qamar-ud-Din, the Mughal Viceroy of the Deccan, assumed independence under the title of Asaf Jah and founded the dynasty of the Nizams of Hyderabad. In the post 1857 era, the State of Hyderabad was one of the largest Princely States in India and later came to be known as the 'Dominion of His Exalted Highness, the Nizam'. The State which covered territories presently included in Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Karnataka was assimilated into the Indian Union in September 1948. In matters of currency and coinage, the coins of the Nizams were issued in the name of the Mughal Emperor till 1858 when a coin legend was introduced with the name of the founder of the state, Asaf Jha. Thereafter, they were struck independently and the new coins were termed the 'Hali Sicca', i.e., the current coins. In 1903-04 coins were machine struck for the first time. These coins featured the Charminar on the obverse with Persian inscription Nizam-ul-mulk Bahadur Asaf Jah around it. The reverse carried the value. These coins confirmed to the British coins in denominations and metals.<br />
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THE COINS AND CURRENCY NOTES OF THE NIZAM DOMINION.<br />
When the English assumed the power of administration, there were more than three hundred native states minting their own independent coins. These native states found that the retention of the name of the Mughal Emperor on their coins are not justified and so they gradually removed the same. However, they retained the old practice of having Persian inscriptions on their coins.<br />
The English administration, after sanctioning this, conceded the right of minting coins only to 34 states put in to 3 categories.<br />
a) The fifteen states which imprinted the name of the English Queen on their coins.<br />
b) Ratlam & Sailana states inscribed the name of state,date and denomination of the coins.<br />
c) Hyderabad, Travancore, Gwalior, Indore and Baroda states ignored in placing the name of the king, but placed their name of the ruler.<br />
First modern series of coins incorporating the historical Charminar were minted and remained till 1948.<br />
Gold coins – it was not legal tender, but used for ceremonial and ornamental purposes and also as gift to the Nizam’s.<br />
Design of the Gold coins are,<br />
Ashrafi = 172.5 gms.<br />
Half Ashrafi = 86.25 gms.<br />
Quarter Ashrafi = 43.125 gms.<br />
One-eighth Ashrafi = 21.562 gms.<br />
In 1930, the value of gold Ashrafi’s in terms of O.S Rupees was full Ashrafi – Rs 29/-, half Ashrafi – Rs 15/-, quarter Ashrafi – Rs 8/-, and one-eighth Ashrafi – Rs 5/- .<br />
Silver coins – Silver coins were in 4 denominations Rupee,8 Annas,4 Annas,and 2 Annas.<br />
Copper coins – There were 3 copper coins, the half, one-sixth, and one-twelfth anna.<br />
Currency Act – In 1911, the Currency Act was passed and in 1936, the Act was modified and nickel coins followed by several other modifications and amendments to the original Act.<br />
Paper Currency – Paper currency was introduced in 1918<br />
Hundred Rupee Note – 1918.Ten Rupee Note – 1918Five Rupee Note – 1919One Rupee Note – 1919One Thousand Rupee Note – 1926<br />
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Qamar-ud-din Khan, Asaf Jah I (1720-1748) <br />
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Mir Ahmed Ali Khan Siddiqi, Nizam-ud-Dowlah Nasir Jang (1748-1750) <br />
Nawab Hidayat Mohi-ud-din Sa'adu'llah Khan Bahadur, Muzaffar Jang (1750-1751) <br />
Nawab Syed Mohammed Khan Siddiqi, Amir ul Mulk, Salabat Jang (1751-1762) <br />
Nawab Mir Nizam Ali Khan Siddiqi Bahadur, Nizam ul Mulk, Asaf Jah II (1762-1803) <br />
Nawab Mir Akbar Ali Khan Sikandar Jah Siddiqi, Asaf Jah III (1803-1829) <br />
Nawab Mir Farkhonda Ali Khan Siddiqi Nasir-ud-Daulah, Asaf Jah IV (1829-1857) <br />
Nawab Mir Tahniat Ali Khan Siddiqi Afzal ud Daulah, Asaf Jah V (1857-1869) <br />
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Fateh Jang Nawab Mir Mahboob Ali Khan Siddiqi, Asaf Jah VI (1869-1911) <br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Fateh Jang Nawab Mir Osman Ali Khan Siddiqi, Asaf Jah VII (1911-1967) <br />
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Nizam a shortened version of Nizam-ul-Mulkedw, meaning Administrator of the Realm, was the title of the native sovereigns of Hyderabad State, India, since 1719, belonging to the Asaf Jah dynasty. The dynasty was founded by Mir Qamar-ud-Din Siddiqi, a viceroy of the Deccan under the Mughal emperors from 1713 to 1721 and who intermittently ruled under the title Asaf Jah in 1724, and After Aurangzeb's death in 1707, the Mughal Empire crumbled and the viceroy in Hyderabad, the young Asaf Jah, declared himself independent.<br />
By the middle of 18th century, the scions, known as The Nizams, had quickly surpassed the Mughals ruling a vast dominion of about 125,000,000 acres (510,000 km2) in south India. They were among the wealthiest people in the world. Seven Nizams ruled Hyderabad for two centuries until Indian independence in 1947.<br />
The Asaf Jahi rulers were great patrons of literature, art, architecture,culture, jewelry collection and rich food. The Nizams ruled the state until its integration into the Indian Union in September 1948 after independence from the British. Nizams were Shia muslims.<br />
Family OriginsThe Asaf Jahi dynasty originated in the region around Samarkand, but the family came to India from Baghdad in the late 17th century. Shaikh Mir Ismail (Alam Shaikh Siddiqi) Alam ul-Ulema,son of Ayub younus Salim, son of Abdul Rehman Shaikh Azizan Siddiqi, fourteenth in direct decent from Sheikh Shihab-ud-din Siddiqi Suhrawardy, of Suharwada in Kurdistan, a celebrated [Sufi] mystic, or dervish, maternal (first), a lady of the family of Mir Hamadan (a descendant of the Prophet Mohammed), a distinguished Sayyid of Samarkand.<br />
Origin of the Nizam TitleNizām-ul-mulk was a title first used in Urdu around 1600 to mean Governor of the realm or Deputy for the Whole Empire. The word is derived from the Arabic word, nizām (نظام), meaning order, arrangement. The Nizam was referred to as Ala Hadrat /Ala Hazrat or Nizam Sarkar, meaning His Exalted Highness (The last Nizam was awarded this title. It is a heredity title).<br />
Rise of the NizamsThe first Nizams ruled on behalf of the Mughal emperors. But, after the death of Aurangazeb, the Nizams split away from the Mughals to form their kingdom. When the British achieved paramountcy over India, the Nizams were allowed to continue to rule their princely states. The Nizams retained power over Hyderabad State until September 1948 when it was integrated into the Indian Union.<br />
The Asaf Jah dynasty had only seven rulers; however there was a period of 13 years after the rule of the first Nizam when three of his sons (Nasir Jung, Muzafar Jung and Salabath Jung) ruled. They were not officially recognized as the rulers.<br />
A legend about the first Nizam states that, on one of his hunting trips he was offered some kulchas (an Indian bread) by a holy man and was asked to eat as many as he could. The Nizam could eat seven kulchas and the holy man then prophesied that seven generations of his family would rule the state.<br />
The Nizams, by an honoured Hyderabad tradition that no Nizam has ever left India no matter how good a reason might exist for doing so, they believed, "the Sovereign is too precious to his people ever to leave India.".<br />
Ever since Hyderabad stood aloof from the great first war of Indian Independence of 1857 while betraying many Indians and also at time acting against those who opposed the British such as Haidar Ali and Tipu Sultan, its Royal Family had been accorded by British Royalty special honours and the Nizam was given the official status of Faithful Ally.<br />
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<strong>HYDERABAD FEUDATORIES</strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: blue;">ELICHPUR</span></strong><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">C# 10a PAISA<br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">11.5000 g., Copper Obv: Tiger left Note: Size varies 18-20mm.<br />
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<strong><span style="background-color: white; color: blue;">WANPARTI</span></strong> <br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">C# 80 RUPEE<br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Silver Obv: “J” Obv. Inscription: Muhammad Akbar (II)<br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Rev: “A” in Nagari Note: Weight varies 10.70-11.60 grams.<br />
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<strong><span style="color: blue;">SHORAPUR</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: blue;">AURANGABAD</span></strong><br />
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C# 30 TOKA CASH<br />
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Copper Note: C#28 and #30 were named after Toka Raj who<br />
operated the Aurangabad Mint under a state license from about 1830.<br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><strong><span style="color: blue;">NARAYANPETT</span></strong><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">C# 40 RUPEE<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">Silver Obv. Inscription: Shah Alam (II) Note: Weight varies<br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">10.7 - 11.6 grams.<br />
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<strong><span style="color: blue;">KALAYANI</span></strong><br />
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</div><span style="color: blue;"></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1757303709062492161.post-70525507499643042742009-10-16T12:54:00.002-07:002009-11-16T16:36:49.305-08:00Arcot Nawab Coins<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh75PcqmYTCjavYAZUWufUDl8uIaC8ywee_Yimt7wuLNKmDObmi9xy3CtEbWk19NaarAbt0oZ2XNckMUGtznb6rU58MaFDR3DBHJJ8tz6PeiCNCGEju-s04alu0304dg1QHZ-re6qNF9jk/s1600/arcot1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh75PcqmYTCjavYAZUWufUDl8uIaC8ywee_Yimt7wuLNKmDObmi9xy3CtEbWk19NaarAbt0oZ2XNckMUGtznb6rU58MaFDR3DBHJJ8tz6PeiCNCGEju-s04alu0304dg1QHZ-re6qNF9jk/s320/arcot1.JPG" yr="true" /></a><br />
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</div>The Nawabs of Arcot, issued many coins in copper and a few in gold and silver. The earliest coins of the Arcot Nawabs were issued in the name of the Mughal emperor and later the Nawabs began to issue coins in their own name. Most of their coins bear inscriptions in Persian while a few coins have inscriptions in Tamil. Various motifs such as the flower, horse, elephant, fish, flag, sun, moon, dagger, peacock and geometric designs have been featured on their coins. Although the Arcot Nawabs were Muslims, they often portrayed several Hindu deities and symbols such as the Siva Linga and Nandi on their coins, mainly to please their Hindu subjects.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/33/Wallajah2.jpg"><img alt="File:Wallajah2.jpg" height="372" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/33/Wallajah2.jpg" width="244" /></a><br />
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<div align="justify">The Mughal emperor, Aurangazeb, appointed a Nawab as the governor for the provinces of North and South Arcot in Tamil Nadu. Thirteen years after Aurangazeb's death, the Nawab claimed to be an independent ruler and founded the dynasty of the Nawab of Arcot. The important Arcot Nawabs were Sadat-uulah Khan I, Muhammad Ali also known as Walajah and Umdat-ul Umara. In the 19th Century, the English captured their territory.The Nawabs issued many coins in copper and a few in gold and silver. The earliest coins were issued in the name of the Mughal emperor. Later, they issued coins in their own name.<br />
</div><div align="justify">Most of the coins bear inscriptions in Persian while a few are in Tamil. Various symbols and motifs such as the flower, horse, elephant, fish, and geometric designs have been featured. Although the Arcot Nawabs were Muslims, they often portrayed Hindu deities and symbols on their coins. These coins are preserved in several museums in south India.<br />
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</div><div align="justify"><br />
</div><div align="justify"><br />
</div><div align="justify">Nawabs of the Carnatic (also referred to as the Nawabs of Arcot), ruled the Carnatic region of South India between about 1690 and 1801. They initially had their capital at the town of Arcot near Chennai. Their rule is an important period in the history of Tamil Nadu, in which the Mughal Empire gave way to the rising influence of the European powers, eventually culminating in the British Raj.<br />
</div><div align="justify"><br />
</div><div align="justify">Carnatic<br />
</div><div align="justify">The old province known as the Carnatic, in which Madras (Chennai) was situated, extended from the Krishna river to the Coleroon, and was bounded on the West by Cuddapah, Salem and Dindigul, all of which formed part of the State of Mysore. The Northern portion was known as the Mughal Carnatic, the Southern the Maharatta Carnatic with the Maharatta frontier fortress being Gingee. Carnatic, the name commonly given to the region of Southern India between the Eastern Ghats and the Coromandel Coast and the Western Ghats, extends from Palghat to Bidar and stretches from the Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh in the North, to Cape Comorin at the Southern-most tip of Tamil Nadu State.[citation needed]<br />
</div><div align="justify"><br />
</div><div align="justify">History<br />
</div><div align="justify"><br />
</div><div align="justify">Mohamed Ali Khan Wallajah, (1717 - 1795)The Nawabs of the Carnatic trace their origin back to second Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab.[1] The Nawabdom of the Carnatic was established by the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, who in 1692 appointed Zulfikar Ali Nawab of the Carnatic, with his seat at Arcot as a reward for his victory over the Marathas[citation needed]. With the Vijayanagara Empire in serious decline, the Nawabdom of the Carnatic controlled a vast territory south of the Krishna river. The Nawab Saadetullah of (1710-1732) moved his court from Gingee to Arcot. His successor Dost Ali (1732-1740) conquered and annexed Madurai in 1736.<br />
</div><div align="justify"><br />
</div><div align="justify">Muhammad Ali Wallajah (1749 - 1795 ) was freed from his suzerainty and made the independent ruler of the Carnatic by the Mughal emperor in 1765. His rule was long and mostly peaceful. He donated generously to Churches, Temples and Mosques. The temple at Sri Rangam was one which benefited from his generosity.<br />
</div><div align="justify"><br />
</div><div align="justify">The growing influences of the English and the French and their colonial wars had a huge impact on the Carnatic. Wallajah supported the English against the French and Hyder Ali, placing him heavily in debt. As a result he had to surrender much of his territory to the East India Company.<br />
</div><div align="justify"><br />
</div><div align="justify">The thirteenth Nawab, Ghulam Muhammad Ghouse Khan (1825–1855), died without issue and the British annexed the Carnatic Nawabdom applying the doctrine of lapse. Ghouse Khan's uncle Azim Jah was created the first Prince of Arcot (Amir-E-Arcot) in 1867 by Queen Victoria, and was given a tax free pension in perpetuity. This privilege continues to be honoured by the Government of India. This status is protected by the Indian Constitution and the family continues to retain its privileges and titles. The current Prince of Arcot Abdul Ali came to the title in July 1994.<br />
</div><div align="justify"><br />
</div><div align="justify">List of rulers<br />
</div><div align="justify"><br />
</div><div align="justify">Nawabs of the Carnatic<br />
</div><div align="justify"><br />
</div><div align="justify">First Dynasty<br />
</div><div align="justify">Nawab Muhammed Saadatullah Khan I (1710 - 1732)<br />
</div><div align="justify">Nawab Dost Ali Khan (1732 - 1740) (d.1740)<br />
</div><div align="justify">Nawab Safdar Ali Khan (1740 - 1742) (d.1742)<br />
</div><div align="justify">Nawab Muhammed Saadatullah Khan II (1742 - 1744) (d.1744)<br />
</div><div align="justify"><br />
</div><div align="justify">Second Dynasty<br />
</div><div align="justify">Nawab Anwaruddin Muhammed Khan (1744 - 31 July 1749) (b.1672 - d. 1749)<br />
</div><div align="justify">Nawab Chanda Shahib (de-facto nawab between 1749 to 1752)<br />
</div><div align="justify">Nawab Muhammed Ali Khan Wallajah (31 July 1749 - 16 October 1795)<br />
</div><div align="justify">Nawab Umdat Ul-Umra (1795 - 1801)<br />
</div><div align="justify">Nawab Azim-ud-Daula (1801 - 1819)<br />
</div><div align="justify">Nawab Azam Jah (1819 - 1825)<br />
</div><div align="justify">Nawab Ghulam Muhammad Ghouse Khan (1825 - 1855)<br />
</div><div align="justify"><br />
</div><div align="justify">Princes Of Arcot<br />
</div><div align="justify">Nawab Azim Jah (1867 - 1874)<br />
</div><div align="justify">Nawab Sir Zahir-ud-Daula Bahadur (1874 - 1879)<br />
</div><div align="justify">Nawab Intizam-ul-Mulk Muazzaluddaula Bahadur (1879 - 1889)<br />
</div><div align="justify">Nawab Sir Muhammad Munawar Khan Bahadur (1889 - 1903)<br />
</div><div align="justify">Sir Ghulam Muhammad Ali Khan Bahadur (1903 - 1952)<br />
</div><div align="justify">Nawab Ghulam Mohiuddin Khan Bahadur (1952 - 1969)<br />
</div><div align="justify">Nawab Ghulam Mohammed Abdul Khader (1969 - 1993)<br />
</div><div align="justify">Nawab Muhammed Abdul Ali (1994 - current)<br />
</div><div><br />
</div><br />
<div align="justify"><br />
</div><div align="justify"><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1757303709062492161.post-15861913696031199482009-10-16T12:54:00.001-07:002010-03-30T22:28:33.898-07:00Nayaks of Gingee Coins<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimkoUbR_BTIgmEZHy9NBlcEpAAMMR1IjMgNm39d0FqqwVH1uh0yjcOiWN_ec658QoPehd9cv1Lz70dkRfRzCfZxJYrbiIHDt8K4M5XeLSASKnDACE39yiqbUP1CpcKAgZ1hQ9RGECokxg/s1600/gingee1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimkoUbR_BTIgmEZHy9NBlcEpAAMMR1IjMgNm39d0FqqwVH1uh0yjcOiWN_ec658QoPehd9cv1Lz70dkRfRzCfZxJYrbiIHDt8K4M5XeLSASKnDACE39yiqbUP1CpcKAgZ1hQ9RGECokxg/s320/gingee1.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD59bwpYFdq45p6YsyyvlQSc4ExuU2hrRpCL34_XBKkwdHTuX3uEeNh0v0t1-03xLmHzZLtjbNq5AnExDw3jGEw1JvRCkjE54Br_PiBj8Mb5RP4aaR4CdINBbE0RBUaI_QHFNCX7ez-Q0/s1600/gingee2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD59bwpYFdq45p6YsyyvlQSc4ExuU2hrRpCL34_XBKkwdHTuX3uEeNh0v0t1-03xLmHzZLtjbNq5AnExDw3jGEw1JvRCkjE54Br_PiBj8Mb5RP4aaR4CdINBbE0RBUaI_QHFNCX7ez-Q0/s320/gingee2.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>The Vijayanagar dominion gradually expanded over South India and divided the administration into three important provinces, which were under the control of Nayaks. These were the Nayaks of Madura, Nayaks of Tanjore and Gingee. Information about the Gingee Nayaks and their rule is very scanty. It is said that Tupakula Krishnappa Nayaka (1490 to 1521) of Chandragiri family was the founder of the Nayaka line of Gingee kings. He seems to have ruled gloriously all over the coast from Nellore down to the Coleroon up to 1521 A.D. Under the Nayaks the Forts were strengthened and the town was greatly enlarged.<br />
<br />
<br />
The last Nayak of Gingee was forced to surrender to the Bijapur army towards the end of December 1649 A.D. The booty acquired by the Mohammedan rulers of Bijapur was 20 crores of rupees in cash and jewels. Gingee assumed a new and enhanced strategic importance under the Bijapur governors. Bijapur was in possession of the fortress of Gingee till 1677 A.D., when the famous Sivaji, the son of Shaji fell upon it in his momentous Carnatic expedition. The Marathas greatly strengthened and fortified its defences.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1757303709062492161.post-92179664711530880172009-10-16T12:52:00.001-07:002009-11-03T14:10:33.490-08:00Madurai Sultan<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8pfSPBBNDK6Aasd9N7l42WIlCenh5l9Kb7bV9lkTZi73eiBKRRYrvjABgJ8GPTw_8Pp1SxMnsiBsXQXzsOhKepJl78GqZyX6rmerQ4LBKCXreF6nfNvWWpJj7EJ3YI23FwNPlm_yb6Uk/s1600-h/MADHURAI+SULTAN1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="105" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8pfSPBBNDK6Aasd9N7l42WIlCenh5l9Kb7bV9lkTZi73eiBKRRYrvjABgJ8GPTw_8Pp1SxMnsiBsXQXzsOhKepJl78GqZyX6rmerQ4LBKCXreF6nfNvWWpJj7EJ3YI23FwNPlm_yb6Uk/s320/MADHURAI+SULTAN1.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
</div><br />
<td class="vs_w-a"><br />
<br />
</td><td class="vs_w-spr" id="vv4-0_sp"><br />
</td><td>The Madurai Sultanate or the Ma'bar Sultanate was a short lived independent Muslim kingdom based in the city of Madurai in Tamil Nadu, India during the 14th century CE. It lasted from 1335 until 1378. It came into existence following the decline of the Second Pandyan empire and was destroyed by the rise of Vijayanagar.<br />
</td><br />
Origins<br />
<br />
In the early 14th Century, South India was subjected to repeated invasions by armies of the Delhi Sultanate. There were three separate invasions within a period of fifteen years. The first invasion was that of Malik Kafur in 1311 CE which sacked Madurai. Following this there were two more expeditions from the Delhi Sultanate - the second in 1314 CE led by Khusrav Khan and the third in 1323 CE by Ulugh Khan. These invasions shattered the Pandyan empire beyond revival. While the previous invasions were content with plunder, Ulugh Khan annexed the former Pandyan dominions to the Delhi Sultanate as the province of Ma'bar. Most of South India came under the Delhi's rule and was divided into five provinces - Devagiri, Tiling, Kampili, Dorasamudra and Ma'bar..<br />
In 1325, Ulugh Khan acceded to the throne in Delhi as Muhammad bin Tughluq. His plans for invading Persia and Khorasan, bankrupted his treasury and led to the issuing of token currency. This led to counterfeiting and further worsened the sultanate's finances. He was unable to pay his huge army and the soldiers stationed in distant provinces revolted. The first province to rebel was Bengal and Ma'bar soon followed. The Governor of Ma'bar, Jalaluddin Ahsan Khan declared independence and set up the Madurai Sultanate. The exact year of founding of the Madurai Sultanate is not clear. Numismatic evidence points to 1335 CE as the founding year . The Persian historian Firishta however places the year of Ma'bar's revolt as 1340 CE.<br />
Jalal-ud-Din Ahsan Khan<br />
<br />
Jalaluddin Ahsan Khan declared independence from Delhi Sultanate around 1335 CE. His daughter was married to the historian Ibn Battuta and his son Ibrahim was the purse bearer of Muhammad bin Tughluq[6]. When Tughluq heard of Jalaluddin's rebellion he had Ibrahim killed in retaliation. Jalaluddin is variously referred to as "Syed", "Hasan" or "Hussun" by the historians Firishta and Ziauddin Barani. Tughluq tried to conquer Ma'bar back in 1337 CE. But he fell ill at Bidar on the way to Ma'bar and had to return to Deogiri. His army was defeated by Jalaluddin. Jalaluddin was killed by one of his nobles in 1340 CE.<br />
Ala-ud-Din Udauji and Qutb-ud-Din Firuz<br />
<br />
After Jalaluddin's murder, Ala-ud-Din Udauji Shah took power in 1340 CE. He too was soon assassinated during a battle with Hindu armies. He was succeeded by his son in law Qutb-ud-Din Firuz Shah, who in turn was assassinated within forty days of taking power. Qutbuddin's killer Ghiyas-ud-din Dhamagani took over as Sultan in 1340.<br />
Ghiyas-ud-Din Muhammad Damghani<br />
<br />
Ghiyasuddin was originally a soldier in the service of Muhammad bin Tughluq. He consolidated his position by marrying a daughter of Jalaluddin Ahsan Khan. Ibn Battuta visited Madurai during his reign and wrote about Ghiyasuddin's atrocities. Ibn Battuta writes about how the sultan impaled hindus alive and cut the throats of women and children. An appalled Battuta wrote that it was for this reason that God fastened Ghiyasuddin's death.<br />
Ghiyasuddin was defeated by the Hoysala king Veera Ballala III at first, but later managed to capture and kill Ballala in 1343 CE during the siege of Kannanur Koppam. Ghiyasuddin captured Balalla, robbed him of his wealth, had him killed and his stuffed body displayed on the walls of Madurai. Ghiyasuddin died in 1344 CE from the after effects of an aphrodisiac.<br />
Decline<br />
<br />
Ghiyasuddin was succeeded by his nephew Nasir-ud-Din Mahmud Damghan Shah who killed all the officers likely to disturb his possession of the throne. Between 1344 and 1357 CE, the Madurai Sultanate went into a decline due to infighting and the rise of Vijayanagar in the North. This is inferred by the lack of any coinage issued during this period. However coins from 1358 to 1378 bearing the names of three Madurai Sultans - Shams-ud-Din Adil Shah, Fakhr-ud-Din Mubarak Shah and Ala-ud-Din Sikandar Shah - have been found. This indicates an interruption of the Muslim power during 1344-57 CE and a brief revival during 1357-78 CE.<br />
<br />
Fall<br />
<br />
The Vijayanagar empire under Bukka Raya I made a series of efforts to conquer Southern India. There were a series of Vijayanagar invasions in the middle of the fourteenth century which succeeded in initially restricting and finally ending the Madurai Sultanate's rule over South India. Vijayanagar's armies were led by Bukka's son Kumara Kampanna Udaiyar. Kampanna first subdued the Sampuvarayars in present day Kanchipuram district and then conquered Madurai. Kampanna's invasion has been chronicled in the sanskrit epic poem Madhura Vijayam (The conquest of Madurai) or Vira Kamparaya Charithram (History of Kampanna) written by Kampanna's wife Gangadevi. Kampanna's victory is symbolised by the restoration of Srirangam temple to its old glory in 1371 CE. Vijayanagar formally declared Madurai to be its possession during Harihara II's rule in 1378 CE<br />
<br />
Rule<br />
<br />
From contemporary historical accounts, the rulers of Madurai Sultanate come across as tyrants and persecutors of Hindus. Both Ibn Batutta's and Gangadevi's accounts contain graphic descriptions of atrocities committed by the Musilm Sultans on the Hindu population.<br />
Ibn Batuta describes Ghiyasuddin Dhamgani's actions as:<br />
“<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>the Hindu prisoners were divided into four sections and taken to each of the four gates of the great catcar. There, on the stakes they had carried, the prisoners were impaled. Afterwards their wives were killed and tied by their hair to these pales. Little children were massacred on the bosoms of their mothers and their corpses left there. Then, the camp was raised, and they started cutting down the trees of another forest. In the same manner did they treat their later Hindu prisoners. This is shameful conduct such as I have not known any other sovereign guilty of. It is for this that God hastened the death of Ghiyath-eddin.<br />
One day whilst the Kadhi (Kazi) and I were having our food with (Ghiyazu-d-din), the Kazi to his right and I to his left, an infidel was brought before him accompanied by his wife and son aged seven years. The Sultan made a sign with his hand to the executioners to cut off the head of this man ; then he said to them in Arabic : ' and the son and the wife. ' They cut off their heads and I turned my eyes away. When I looked again, I saw their heads lying on the ground.<br />
I was another time with the Sultan Ghiyath-eddin when a Hindu was brought into his presence. He uttered words I did not understand, and immediately several of his followers drew their daggers. I rose hurriedly, and he said to me ; ' Where are you going ' ? I replied : ' I am going to say my afternoon (4 o'clock) prayers. ' He understood my reason, smiled, and ordered the hands and feet of the idolater to be cut off. On my return I found the unfortunate swimming in his blood.<br />
”<br />
Gangadevi's Madhura Vijayam declares the Muslim rule to be the pain to the three worlds:<br />
“<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>O mighty and brave king! Go forth then, and without further delay uproot from my lands this Kingdom of turuShkas, pain to the three worlds. Go forth my dear Lord, and securing your victory, establish One Hundred Victory Pillars in middle of the famed rAma-setu.<br />
<br />
<h2><span id="List_of_Madurai_Sultans">List of Madurai Sultans</span></h2><table class="wikitable"><tbody>
<tr> <th>Sultan<br />
</th> <th>Years of Reign<br />
</th></tr>
<tr> <td>Jalaluddin Ahsan Khan<br />
</td> <td>1335–1339 CE<br />
</td></tr>
<tr> <td>Ala-ud-Din Udauji<br />
</td> <td>1339 CE<br />
</td></tr>
<tr> <td>Qutb-ud-Din Firuz<br />
</td> <td>1339–1340 CE<br />
</td></tr>
<tr> <td>Ghiyas-ud-Din Muhammad Damghani<br />
</td> <td>1340–1344 CE<br />
</td></tr>
<tr> <td>Nasir-ud-Din Mahmud Damghani<br />
</td> <td>1344–1356 CE<br />
</td></tr>
<tr> <td>Shams-ud-Din Adil Shah<br />
</td> <td>1356–1358 CE<br />
</td></tr>
<tr> <td>Fakhr-ud-Din Mubarak Shah<br />
</td> <td>1358–1368 CE<br />
</td></tr>
<tr> <td>Ala-ud-Din Sikandar Shah<br />
</td> <td>1368–1378 CE<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1757303709062492161.post-76584471734566185142009-10-16T12:49:00.003-07:002010-02-01T10:41:23.845-08:00Vishnukundina Coins<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQtw8gsmIUe1cHgfuUwFO7f9uarmj70lnAXQ-UzHu5ki67wDUOcsGSM6nx5J5smvgTqny7xJ6J8cCLNqRUGkRW64yhUS1y9V2vKsALY1fcGbTAn6AYwBHQglUjpDRP_3xlrOsqlGGjWvo/s1600-h/vishnu1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQtw8gsmIUe1cHgfuUwFO7f9uarmj70lnAXQ-UzHu5ki67wDUOcsGSM6nx5J5smvgTqny7xJ6J8cCLNqRUGkRW64yhUS1y9V2vKsALY1fcGbTAn6AYwBHQglUjpDRP_3xlrOsqlGGjWvo/s320/vishnu1.JPG" /></a></div><strong><span style="font-size: x-small;">VISHNU KUNDIN (405 - 615) </span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-small;">OBV: LION TO RIGHT UPRAISED POW</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-small;">REV: CONCH SHELL BETWEEN TWO TRIDENTS</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ref: MITCHINER KARNATAKA ANDHRA 179 -182</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-small;">WEIGHT : 8gms (APPROX)</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-small;">COPPER BARE ALLOY UNIT</span></strong><br />
Since the fall of the Ikshwakus, the Vishnukundins were the first great dynasty, which held sway way over the entire<br />
Andhra country including Kalinga and parts of Telangana and<br />
played an important and imperial role in the history of Deccan<br />
during the 5th and 6th centuries of the Christian era. So far<br />
9 copper-plate inscriptions and one stone inscription pertaining<br />
to this dynasty have been discovered. Though they supply<br />
us a lot of information, they do not speak any thing about<br />
the origin and originator of the dynasty. Several attempts were<br />
made to solve the problem. But no difinite conclusion has<br />
yet been reached. It is generally believed that the Vishnukundins<br />
were an Andhra family and they hailed from Vinukondd<br />
in the Guntur district. On the basis of the discovery of two<br />
tndrapalanagara grants, B.N. Sastri assumes that the early<br />
rulers of the dynasty migrated to the west in search of employment<br />
and under the Vakatakas they might have attained<br />
feudatory status with Indrapalanagara in the Nalgonda district<br />
as their capital. He further says that later in the time of<br />
Madhavavarma, the great, they became independent and conquered<br />
the coastal Andhra from the Salankayanas and might<br />
have shifted their capital to a place in the coastal Andhra.<br />
<br />
THE GENEALOGY OF THE V1SHNUKUNDINS : It has been<br />
a matter of controversy. The scanty source material does not<br />
give any clue to formulate a satisfactory theory. The inscriptions<br />
give the names of the two or more of their forefathers<br />
with their titles and achievements. But they do not speak<br />
of any thing about the founder of the dynasty and about the<br />
approximate date of their rule. Several writers have formulated<br />
their own schemes, some maintaining that there was unilateral<br />
succession and others proposing a scheme with colleteral<br />
branches. The main difference between the two schools lies<br />
in the identification of Madhava Varma, who was the performer<br />
of many sacrifices. One school argues that there were<br />
two kings with the name Madhava Varma of great repute and<br />
the other schools point to the improbability of the two kings<br />
of same name and time performing equal number of sacrifices<br />
with in a short span of time.<br />
Prior to the discovery of the Indrapalanagara plates, of<br />
the earlier records, the Ipur plates second set was the earliest<br />
on the basis of palaeography. It gives the following genealogy—<br />
In point of antiquity, next comes the Ramatirtrram plates of<br />
Indravarma and the Chikkulla and Tundi grants of Vikramendra<br />
Varma These three records give the following genealogies—<br />
RAMATIRTHAM CHIKKULLA TUNDl<br />
72 HISTORY OF THE ANDHRAS<br />
On the basis of the titles, the extolling epithets and other descriptions<br />
of the rulers of the above three records, the following<br />
genealogy may be arrived at —<br />
Here M.S. Sharma and others identify Madhavavarma II of the<br />
Ipuru plates second set with Madhavavarma of the above three<br />
records. This is untenable because the Trikuta-malayadhipati'<br />
Madhavavarma of the Ipuru plates-ll set was not a performer<br />
of many sacrifices and not Maharaja tike Madhavavarma of the<br />
other grants. On the other hand the epithets given to Madhavavarma<br />
I of the same lpur-ll set and those attributed to the<br />
Madhavavarma of the three records seem to be similar. Therefore<br />
it is probable that Madhava Varma I of the Ipur second<br />
set and Madhavavarma of the other grants were one and the<br />
same. If so Maharaja Madhava Varma had two sons—Devavarma<br />
and Vikramendravarma (through the Vakataka princess).<br />
Accordingly the following genealogy may be derived —<br />
The Ikshvakus of Vijayapuri . 73<br />
On the basis of the similarities in the two records, the following<br />
pedigree may be arrived at —<br />
Now in combining the first (I) and second (II) pedigrees<br />
to arrive at final conclusion, scholars differ from one another<br />
in assuming Madhavavarma of the Ipur I set and Polamuru<br />
plates to be the same at Maharaja Madhava Varma of the other<br />
records. Dr. D.C. Sircar, Dr. Ramarao and K. Gopalachari<br />
advocate the following shorter genealogy —<br />
However a careful examination of the titles of Mahandravarma<br />
of the Ipur plates-l set and Polamuru grant and those of<br />
Madhavavarma of the other grants and the other evidences<br />
point out there were two Madhavavarmas of great repute :<br />
(1) Dr. Hultzch thinks that the Ipur plates-II set was earlier<br />
than the Ipur ptates-I set.<br />
74 HISTORY OF THE ANDHRAS<br />
(2) The Ipur plates-l set and Polamuru plates indicate The<br />
matrimony of Madhavavarma with the princess of Tivaranagara<br />
whereas Maharaja Madhavavarma of the other records is said<br />
to have married the Vakataka Princess,<br />
(3) The title 'Janasraya' given to Madhavavarma in the<br />
Polamuru grant is not given to Madhavavarma of the other<br />
records.<br />
(4) Further the donee Sivasharma of the Polamuru inscription<br />
of Madhavavarma was the father of Rudrasharma, the donee<br />
of another Polamuru inscription of the Eastern Chalukya Jayasimha<br />
I. If this Polamuru Madhavavarma was the same as<br />
Maharaja Madhavavarma of the other records, there would<br />
be a gap of a century or more between Madhava Varma and<br />
Jayasimha I which is unwarranted.<br />
(5) Moreover the reference to Madhavavarma in the literary<br />
work 'Sri Krishna Vijaya' of a later date and the reference to<br />
his rule in Saka 514 in an inscription of the 12th century A.D.<br />
in the Malliswaraswamy temple at Vijayawada definitely place<br />
one Madhavavarma at the end of the dynasty.<br />
If these two Madhavavarmas were not one and the same,<br />
then how to combine the first and the second genealogical<br />
lists? Dr. N.V. Ramanayya identifies Vikramahendra of the<br />
Polamuru inscription with Vikramendravarma I of the other<br />
grants. But the epithets show that Vikramahendra was a more<br />
powerful king than Vikramendravarma I. On the other hand<br />
Vikramahendra may be identified with Vikramendravarma II<br />
because the titles given to the former were more or less similar<br />
to those of the latter. This identification alone would place<br />
Madhavavarma (Ipur I set) at the end of the dynastic lists,<br />
who was probably uprooted by the Eastern Chalukyan ruler,<br />
or it may be his son who faced this calamity. Hence K.A.N.<br />
Sastri and others give the following genealogy—<br />
The Ikshvakus of Vijayapuri 75<br />
Almost all the scholars unanimously agree that the Indrapalanagara<br />
grant of Vikramendra II gives the same genealogy as<br />
we have already had from Maharaja Madhavavarma to Vikramendravarma<br />
II. But it adds one more name that of Govindavarma<br />
(prior to Maharaja Madhavavarma) to the genealogy<br />
already arrived at.<br />
In regard to the place of the kings given in the Indrapalanagara<br />
grant of Govindavarma in Vishnukundin genealogy.<br />
Dr. Rama Rao thinks that the rulers mentioned in the grant<br />
of Govindavarma (Maharaja Indravarma, his son Madhavavarma<br />
and his son Govindavarma) could be collaterals who occupied<br />
the Vishnukindin territory after Vikramendravarma II. Or. Rama<br />
Rao and Prof. Mirashi try to fill in the gap between 569 A.D,<br />
and 615 A.D. or 624 A.D. the former being the last date of<br />
Vikramendravarma II and the latter being the date of the<br />
Eastern Chalukyan occupation of Vengi from these collecterals<br />
However Dr. Ramacrrandraiya and B.N. Sastri fill in this gap<br />
by placing here the genealogy of the Polamuru grant and the<br />
Ipur plates I set, i.e. by identifying Vikramendravarma II with<br />
Vikramahendra.<br />
How are we then to explain the relationship of the three<br />
kings given in the Indrapalanagara grant of Govindavarma with<br />
76 HISTORY OF THE ANDHRAS<br />
the other known kings? After a careful study of the two<br />
Indrapalanagara grants. Dr. Ramachandraiya and B.N. Sastri<br />
come to the conclusion that the Indrapatanagara grant of<br />
Govindavarma was the first record of the Vishnukundins and<br />
that Govindavarma of the Indrapalanagara grant (issuer) and<br />
Govinda Raja of the Indrapalanagara grant of Vikramendra<br />
Bhattaraka were one and the same. The basis for the identification<br />
is the leanings of the two Govindavarmas towards<br />
Buddhism. Thus with the above assumptions, we get—<br />
CHRONOLOGY:— Opinion is actutely divided even with<br />
regard to the chronology of the Vishnukundins Their rule<br />
may be fixed between the end of the Salankayanas and the<br />
rise of the Eastern Chalukyan power in 624 AD "The last<br />
year of the Salankayana rule is dated differently by different<br />
scholars on the basis of varying theories of Satavahana chronology.<br />
So naturally the initial year of the Vishnukundin rule<br />
The Ikshvakus of Vijayapuri 77<br />
varies from historian to historian". All the Vishnukundin grants<br />
with the lone exception of the Indrapalanagana inscription of<br />
Vikramendravarma II were dated in the regnal years. The<br />
Indrapalanagara grant of Vikramendravarma II was dated in his<br />
11th regnal year corresponding to Saka 488, With the help<br />
of this date and taking into consideration the latest regnal<br />
years known from the inscriptions as the last years of rule<br />
of the rulers, the chronology of the Vishnukundins may be<br />
fixed.<br />
On the basis of the Indrapalanagara grant dated in the<br />
11th regnal year corresponding to Saka 488, Vikramendravarma<br />
II may be said to have ascended the throne in Saka 477<br />
i.e., 555 A.D. His Tundi grant gives his latest regnal year as<br />
fourteen. So his reign period may be placed between 555 A.D.<br />
and 569 A.D. His father Indravarma II, who issued the Ramatirtham<br />
plates in his 27th regnal year might have ruled from<br />
528 A.D. to 555 A.D. Vikramendravarma I, the father and<br />
predecessor of Indravarma II was the off-spring of a political<br />
marriage between the Vishnukundin and the Vakataka families.<br />
In accordance with the general principle, he can be assigned<br />
25 years rule i.e., from 503 A.D. to 528 A.D.<br />
The father of Vikramendravarma I i.e., Madhavavarma II<br />
had no record of his son. But in the records of his descendants,<br />
he was described as the greatest ruler of the Vishnukundins.<br />
The year 47 mentioned in the Ipur plates-II set issued<br />
by Madhava, son of Devavarma and grandson of the above said<br />
Madhava II. may be taken to be the year of Madhava II. Scholars<br />
do not consider Devavarma a ruler because he did not possess<br />
any royal titles. Devavarma's son Madhava was referred simply<br />
as Adhiraja and Trikuta-Malayadhipati, indicating the subordinate<br />
position of a feaudatory prince. Owing to the unusual<br />
longevity of the reign of Madhava II, his elder son, Devavarma<br />
predeceased his father and Madhava. son of Devavarma might<br />
have been made viceroy for the territory around Trikutamalaya.<br />
So the 47th year of the Ipur plates-ll set should foe that of<br />
Madhava II, who must have ruled from 456 A.D. to 503 A.D,<br />
78 HISTORY OF THE ANDHRAS<br />
Govindavarma I, father of Madhava II was the issuer of<br />
one Indrapalanagara grant dated in his 37th regnal year. So<br />
he might have ruled between 419 A.D. and 456 A.D. His<br />
predecessors, Indravarma I and Madhavavarma I who were<br />
having the title Maharaja should be deemed to have ruled in<br />
their own right. In general, 25 years rule, for each of them,<br />
may be allotted.<br />
Now coming to the successors of Vikramendravarma II<br />
(555-69 A.D.), Janasraya Madhavavarma IV issued the Polamuru<br />
inscription in his 48th year on a full moon day in the<br />
month of Phalguna when Lunar eclipse occurred. 621 A.D.<br />
may conveniently be taken as the date of Potemuru record<br />
because it brings the Vishnukundins close to the beginning of<br />
the Eastern Chalukyan rule in 624 A.D. (which was fixed by<br />
Dr. N.V. Ramanayya and supported by Dr. N. Ramesan). So<br />
621 A.D. was the 48th regnal year of Madhava IV. Consequently<br />
his reign period should be 573 A.D.-621 A.D. Madhava's father<br />
Govindavarma II was now left with only four years (569-573<br />
A.D.). Because no special achievement was attributed to him,<br />
it may said that he might have died at an early age.<br />
As regards the last ruler overthrown by the Eastern<br />
Chalukyas in 624 A.D., there is no definite information. If it<br />
were Madhava IV, he might have ruled for 3 more years after<br />
the issue of Polamuru plates. If the 48th year is the last year<br />
of Madhava IV, Manchana Bhattaraka, as his dear son, might<br />
have succeeded him in 621 A.D. and the Eastern Chalukyan<br />
catestrophe fell on this victim in 624 A.D. Thus we get the<br />
Following chronology :—<br />
The Ikshvakus of Vijayapuri 79<br />
POLITICAL HISTORY OF THE VISHNUKUND1NS<br />
The Vishnukundins were the main orbit of power in the<br />
eastern Deccan during the fifth and sixth centuries A.D. As<br />
their affinity with Sriparvataswami (Lord Mallikharjuna of<br />
Srisailam) and their family name Vishnukundin (derived from<br />
Vishnukundinapura which may be identified with modern Vinukonda<br />
in Guntur district) definitely trace their origin in Guntur<br />
district, it may be assumed that the early rulers of the dynasty<br />
migrated to the West in search of employment. Under the<br />
Vakatakas. They might have attained feudatory status with<br />
Indrapalanagara (Tummalagudem) in Nalgonda district as their<br />
capital. Later in the time of Madhavarma, the great, they<br />
became independent and conquered coastal Andhra from the<br />
Salankayanas and might have shifted their capital to a place<br />
in the coastal Andhra.<br />
According to the Indrapalanagara plates, Maharaja Indravarma<br />
is considered to be the first ruler of the dynasty. He<br />
might have carved out a small principality for himself probably<br />
as a subordinate of the Vakatakas sometime about the last<br />
quarter of the fourth century A.D. Not much information is<br />
known about the next two kings, Madhavarma I and his son<br />
Govindavarma. They might have kept in tact the inheritance<br />
or extended their sway to some extent.<br />
80 HISTORY OF THE ANDHRAS<br />
By the middle of the 5th century A.D., the dynasty began<br />
its imperial expansion under its most efficient ruler Madhavarma<br />
(II), the great. The reign of Madhavavarma (461-508 A.D.)<br />
nearly for half a century is a golden age in the history of the<br />
Vishnukundins. It was during this period, the small Vishnukundin<br />
dynasty was raised to the imperial dignity. A princess<br />
of the then powerful ruling family of the Deccan the Vakatakas<br />
was given in marriage to Madhavarma's son, Vikramendravarma.<br />
This alliance with the great power made easy the task of<br />
extending the Vishnukundin influence to the east coast and<br />
vanquishing the petty chieftains lingering on in that area.<br />
Madhavavarma II led his arms against Anandagotrins who<br />
were ruling over Guntur, Tenali and Ongole Taluks, probably<br />
enjoying subordinate position under the Pallavas of Kanchi.<br />
After occupying these areas from the Anandagotrins, he made<br />
Amarapura (modern Amaravati his capital. Keeping in view<br />
the constant threat from the Pallavas, he created an out-post<br />
to check their activities and appointed his son, Devavarma and<br />
after his death the grandson Madhavavarma III as its Viceroy.<br />
This southern out-post 'Trikutamalaya' is identified with Kotappakonda<br />
in Narasaraopet Taluk in the Guntur district.<br />
Madhavavarma II next turned his attention against the<br />
Vengi kingdom which was under the Salankayanas. The Vengi<br />
region was annexed. The Godavari tract became pan of the<br />
Vishnukundin territory. After these conquests the capital might<br />
have been shifted to Bezwada, a more central place than<br />
Amarapura. These extensive conquests entitle him to the title<br />
of the lord of Dakshinapatha. After these various conquests.,<br />
Madhavavarma performed many Asvamedha, Rajasuya and<br />
other sacrifices.<br />
The fortunes of the Vishnukundins were at a tow ebb during<br />
the reign of next ruler Vikramendravarma I (508-528 A.D.). The<br />
next two and half decades also experienced the constant strife<br />
and dynastic struggles during the reign period of Indrabhattarakavarma<br />
(528-555 A.D.). Though Indrabhattaraka overcame the<br />
troubles from the day a das like his cousin Madhavavarma III<br />
The Ikshvakus of Vijayapuri 81<br />
(Trikutamalayadhipati), he could not withstand the hostile<br />
Kaling subordinate Indravarma of the Jirjingi plates and lost<br />
his life. The Vishnukundins lost their Kalinga possessions north<br />
of the Godavari.<br />
With the accession of Vikramendravarma II (555-569 A.D),<br />
the fallen prestige of the Vishnukundin family was restored<br />
To have an immediate access to the Kalinga region, he shifted<br />
his capital from Bezwada to Lenduluru (modem Denduluru<br />
in the West Godavari district). He repulsed the attack of the<br />
Pailava ruler Simhavarman. He was successful enough to<br />
restore the fortunes of the Vishnukundins in the Kalinga region.<br />
After the victory, he donated Tundi (Tuni) village to a Brahmin<br />
and styled himself as 'Uttamasraya'. His son Govindavarma II<br />
enjoyed comparatively a short period of rule (569-573 A.D.).<br />
The Vishnukundin empire set its way again to the imperial<br />
expansions and cultural prosperity under its able ruler 'Janssraya'<br />
Madhavavarma (IV) (573-621 A.D.). This prudent king<br />
spent his early years of rule in consolidating his position in<br />
Vengi. The later part of his reign is marked by wars and<br />
annexations. According to his epithets in Ipur I set and<br />
Polamuru plates, Madhavavarma IV conquered Tivara, the<br />
Somavamsi king of Mahakosala and married his daughter and<br />
spent sometime in their capital, Trivaranagara. In his 37th<br />
regnal year, he suppressed the revolt of his subordinate chief<br />
the Durjaya Prithvimaharaja in Guddadivishya (modern Ramachandrapuram<br />
Taluk in the East Godavari district).<br />
Madhavarma IV had to face the Chalukyan onsteught in<br />
his last years of rule. By about 616 A.D., Pulakesin II and his<br />
brother Kubja Vishnuvardhane conquered Vengi from Vishnukundins<br />
and the Pithspuram area from their subordinate<br />
Durjayas. In 621 A.D. i.e., in his 48th regnal year, Madhava<br />
crossed the Godavari probably to oust the Chalukyas from his<br />
territories. However he lost his life on the battle-field. His<br />
son Manchanabhattaraka also might have been expelled by the<br />
Chalukyas. Thus the Vishnukundin rule was brought to a<br />
close by 624 A.D.<br />
6)<br />
82 HISTORY OF THE ANDHRAS<br />
CULTURAL CONDITIONS<br />
It is really a venture to try to speak, on the basis of a few<br />
records available, about the contribution of the Vishnukundins<br />
in various walks of life during that period. The society of the<br />
period appears to be based upon the traditional Hindu four-fold<br />
caste system. The Vishnukundins belonged to the priestly<br />
class committed to arms. The fourth class swelled the military<br />
ranks, in general people lived in harmony.<br />
ADMINISTRATION<br />
For administrative convenience, the empire might have<br />
been divided into a number of rashtras and Vishayas. Inscriptions<br />
refer to Palki rashtra. Karma rashtra, Guddadi vishaya etc.<br />
The ruler carried on administration depending upon the Sukraniti.<br />
Madhavavarma III as the Trikutamalayadhipati shows the<br />
appointment of members of the royal family as Viceroys for<br />
strategical areas. Vishayemahattaras might have been the heads<br />
of the vishayas. It seems that villages enjoyed autonomy within<br />
their jurisdiction.<br />
In judicial administration, the king was the highest court<br />
of appeal. Endowed with the knowledge of law and intelligence,<br />
the Vishnukundin rulers established various kinds of ordeals<br />
(divyas) in trails of disputes. They were known for their<br />
impartial judgment and high sense of justice. Their army<br />
consisted of traditional Chaturangabala. Hastikosa (officer-incharge<br />
of elephant forces) and Virakosa (officer-in-charge of<br />
land forces) were referred in records. These officers issued<br />
even grants on behalf of the kings. There might have been a<br />
well-organised administrative machinery for collection of land<br />
revenue. Agrahara villages enjoyed tax exemptions. Sixteen<br />
types of coins of the Vishnukundin rulers, brought to light by<br />
Dr. R. Subrahmanyam, speak well of the economic prosperity<br />
of the kingdom.<br />
RELIGION<br />
All the records of the Vishnukundins throw a flood of light<br />
on the religious conditions of the period. The kings prior to<br />
The Ikshvakus of Vijayapuri 83<br />
Madhavavarma II seem to be patrons of Buddhism. Govindavarma<br />
I was hailed as the Buddhist and builder of stupas and<br />
Viharas. His wife Paramabhattarikamahadevi also patronised<br />
Buddhism and built a monastery. Vikramendravaima II, though<br />
a 'paramamahesvara', made liberal grants to the same Mahadevi's<br />
Buddhist vihara. These things show that Buddhism<br />
was a considerable force to be reckoned with during the<br />
Vishnukundin period.<br />
However from the time of accession of Madhavavarma II,<br />
an aggressive self-assertion of the Vedic brahmanism is to be<br />
seen in Andhradesa. Elaborate Vedic ceremonies like Rajasuya,<br />
Purushamedha, Sarvamedha and Aswamedha were undertaken.<br />
The celebration of all these sacrifices represents the militant<br />
spirit of the brahmanical revival. Some of the rulers styled<br />
themselves as Paramamahesvaras. The inscriptions refer to<br />
their family deity Sriparvataswami (Lord Mallikarjuna of Srisailam).<br />
The names of rulers like Madhavavarma, Govindavarma<br />
etc. show their Vaishnava leanings. Thus both the sects<br />
might have received equal patronage from them. Rock-cut<br />
cave temples were constructed at Bezwada, Vimdavalli and<br />
Bhairavakonda which were dedicated to both the sects.<br />
LITERATURE<br />
The Vishnukundins were also great patrons of learning-<br />
Learned brahmins were encouraged by gifts of lands and<br />
ghatikasthanas (colleges) were established for the propagation<br />
of Vedic studies. Being a greet believer in the efficacy of<br />
sanatanadharma, Indrabhattaraka established many Ghatikesthanas<br />
for imparting education on Vedic literature. Performance<br />
of several elaborate Vedic ceremonies by Madhavarmas imply<br />
the faith of the rulers in Brahmanism and popularity of Vedic<br />
learning with the people during this period.<br />
Apart from being patrons of learning, some of the Vishnukundin<br />
kings were by themselves men of letters of high cadre.<br />
Vikramendravarma I was described as 'Mahakavi' in a record.<br />
Further, an incomplete work on Sanskrit poetics called 'Janasraya<br />
Chhandovichhiti', was attributed to Madhavarma IV who<br />
bore the title of 'Janasraya'. As is known from the available<br />
records, Sanskrit enjoyed royal patronage. Telugu had not<br />
yet grown to the stature of receiving royal patronage.<br />
ART AND ARCHITECTURE<br />
Being great devotees of Siva, the Vishnukundins seem to<br />
have been responsible for construction of a number of cave<br />
temples dedicated to Siva, The cave structures at Bezwada,<br />
Mogalrajapuram, Vundavalli and Bhairavakonds were dated to<br />
this period. Though some of these cave temples were attributed<br />
to the Pallavas (Mahendravarma I), the emblems found on the<br />
caves and the areas being under the rule of the Vishnukundins<br />
during this period clearly show that these were contributions<br />
of the Vishnukundins. The big four-storeyed cave at Vundavalli<br />
and the 8 cave temples in Bhairavakonda in Nellore district show<br />
however clear resemblances with the architecture of Pallava<br />
Mahendravarman's period.<br />
<br />
<br />
The Vishnukundina Empire was one of the Middle kingdoms of India, controlling the Deccan, Orissa and parts of South India during the 5th and 6th centuries, carving land out from the Vakataka Empire. It played an important role in the history of the Deccan during the 5th and 6th centuries CE. They are believed to be one of the ancestors of Pusapatis of Vizianagaram and three other clans of Kshatriya Raju community in Andhra Pradesh.[1]<br />
<br />
By 514 C.E., the Vakatakas were reduced to the areas of present day Telangana area. The area north of the Godavari, Kalinga, became independent. The area south of the Krishna River fell to the Pallavas. The Vishnukundin reign came to an end with the conquest of the eastern Deccan by the Chalukya, Pulakesi II. Pulakesi appointed his brother Kubja Vishnuvardhana as Viceroy to rule over the conquered lands. Eventually Vishnuvardhana declared his independence and started the Eastern Chalukya dynasty.<br />
<br />
Origin of Vishnukundins<br />
Vishnukundina is a Sanskritized name for Vinukonda. Several attempts have been made by scholars to find out the origins of this dynasty, but no definite conclusions have been reached as of yet. One theory states that they are of Vasistha gotra of Kshatriyas who migrated from Ayodhya (Oudh) during the early 5th century. The early rulers of the dynasty migrated to the west in search of employment and under the Vakatakas they might have attained feudatory status. They had Indrapalanagara in the Nalgonda district as their capital.<br />
<br />
During the reign of Madhava Varma the Great, they became independent and conquered coastal Andhra from the Salankayanas and might have shifted their capital to a place in the Coastal Andhra.<br />
<br />
Chronology<br />
The Vishnukundin reign might be fixed between the end of the Salankayana and the rise of the Eastern Chalukyan power in 624 AD. Some historians mention Vishnukundins reign was from 420 CE to 624 CE, while some other historian say there reign was from early 5th Century CE to 7th Century CE.<br />
<br />
Indra Varma<br />
Main article: Indra Varma<br />
According to the Indra Pala Nagara plates, Indra Varma is considered to be the first ruler of the Vishnukundin dynasty. He might have carved out a small principality for himself probably as a subordinate of the Vakatakas sometime about the last quarter of the fourth century C.E. Not much information is known about the next two kings, Madhav Varma I and his son Govinda Varma. They might have kept intact the inheritance or extended their sway to some extent.<br />
<br />
Madhav Varma II<br />
By the middle of the 5th century A.D., the dynasty began its imperial expansion under its most efficient ruler Madhav Varma II who ruled for nearly half a century. The reign of Madhav Varma (461-508 C.E.) was a golden age in the history of the Vishnukundins. It was during this period, the small Vishnukundin dynasty rose to imperial heights. A princess of the then powerful ruling family of the Deccan the Vakatakas was given in marriage to Madhav Varma's son, Vikramendra Varma.<br />
<br />
This alliance gave them great power and made it easy for them to extend their influence to the east coast and vanquishing the petty chieftains lingering on in that area. Madhav Varma II led his arms against Ananda Gotrikas who were ruling over Guntur, Tenali and Ongole, probably enjoying subordinate position under the Pallavas of Kanchipuram.<br />
<br />
After occupying these areas from the Ananda Gotrikas, Madhav Varma II made Amarapura (modern Amaravati) his capital. Keeping in view the constant threat from the Pallavas, he created an out-post to check their activities and appointed his son, Deva Varma and after his death the grandson Madhav Varma III as its Viceroy.<br />
<br />
Madhav Varma II next turned his attention against the Vengi kingdom which was under the Salankayanas. The Vengi region was annexed. The Godavari tract became part of the Vishnukundin territory. After these conquests the capital might have been shifted to Bezwada (Vijayawada), a more central location than Amarapura. These extensive conquests entitle him to the title of the lord of Dakshinapatha (southern country). After these various conquests Madhav Varma performed many Asvamedha, Rajasuya and other Vedic sacrifices.<br />
<br />
Successors of Madhav Varma II<br />
The fortunes of the Vishnukundins were at a low point during the reign of next ruler Vikramendra Varma I (508–528 C.E.). The next two and half decades also experienced the constant strife and dynastic struggles during the reign of Indra Bhattaraka Varma (528–555 C.E.). Though Indra Bhattaraka could not withstand the hostile Kalinga subordinate, Indra Varma and lost his life in battle. The Vishnukundins lost their Kalinga possessions north of the Godavari.<br />
<br />
Vikramendra Varma II<br />
With the accession of Vikramendra Varma II (555–569 C.E), the fortunes of the Vishnukundin family were restored. To have an immediate access to the Kalinga region, he shifted his capital from Bezwada to Lenduluru (modem Denduluru in the West Godavari district). He repulsed the attack of the Pallava ruler Simhavarman. He was successful enough to restore the fortunes of the Vishnukundins in the Kalinga region. His son Govinda Varma II enjoyed a comparatively short period of rule (569–573 C.E.).<br />
<br />
Govinda Varma II<br />
The Vishnukundin empire set about again to imperial expansion and cultural prosperity under its able ruler Janssraya Madhav Varma IV (573-621 A.D.). This prudent king spent his early years of rule in consolidating his position in Vengi. The later part of his reign is marked by wars and annexations. In his 37th regnal year, he suppressed the revolt of his subordinate chief the Durjaya Prithvi Maharaja in Guddadivishya (modern Ramachandrapuram in the East Godavari district).<br />
<br />
Madhav Varma IV had to face the Chalukyan onslaught in his last years of rule. By about 616 CE, Pulakesin II and his brother Kubja Vishnuvardhana conquered Vengi from the Vishnukundins and the Pithapuram area from their subordinate Durjayas. In 621 C.E. in his 48th regnal year, Madhava crossed the Godavari probably to oust the Chalukyas from his territories. However he lost his life on the battlefield. His son Manchana Bhattaraka also might have been expelled by the Chalukyas. Thus the Vishnukundin rule was brought to a close by 624 A.D.<br />
<div><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1757303709062492161.post-44214752346863586822009-10-16T12:49:00.001-07:002010-03-15T11:01:29.715-07:00Ikshvaku dynasty Coins<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5fWzsv9S2v_eMehhPFUQT3mLgjoXYpgSeOp4HQKxa7YAO6DvDyUzmruyYlokEIB4MOBnpA-I-tsjLFW7qmvTGmIUjFqeRtH3UsSgDRTU15VVO6LDEOoswKb8JqCFYrIYkL-Edl7XOl8o/s1600-h/Ikshvaku-1A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5fWzsv9S2v_eMehhPFUQT3mLgjoXYpgSeOp4HQKxa7YAO6DvDyUzmruyYlokEIB4MOBnpA-I-tsjLFW7qmvTGmIUjFqeRtH3UsSgDRTU15VVO6LDEOoswKb8JqCFYrIYkL-Edl7XOl8o/s200/Ikshvaku-1A.jpg" vt="true" width="199" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4_mVCCNgt6_UMSiQnb5zP-Yi4aCSaZddXT_wc8JnQEKZfCmLabkRP4deSQ5FK-N6fixvj42bs9fTZ7RoQBeXYVE74Z9rHkGzouDH_nNwMfEW95hsO9XBEV1_4uJdOynuHhcOBpCCLxLk/s1600-h/Ishavaku+1.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393306093574201474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4_mVCCNgt6_UMSiQnb5zP-Yi4aCSaZddXT_wc8JnQEKZfCmLabkRP4deSQ5FK-N6fixvj42bs9fTZ7RoQBeXYVE74Z9rHkGzouDH_nNwMfEW95hsO9XBEV1_4uJdOynuHhcOBpCCLxLk/s320/Ishavaku+1.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 166px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 320px;" /></a></div></div><div><div style="margin: 0px;"><strong><span style="font-size: 29px;"></span></strong></div></div><div><div style="margin: 0px;"><strong><span style="font-size: 29px;"></span></strong></div></div><div><div style="margin: 0px;"><strong><span style="font-size: 29px;"></span></strong></div></div><div><div style="margin: 0px;"><strong><span style="font-size: 29px;"></span></strong></div></div><div><div style="margin: 0px;"><strong><span style="font-size: 29px;"></span></strong></div></div><div><div style="margin: 0px;"><strong><span style="font-size: 29px;"></span></strong></div></div><div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ9vo6VW-byJ2gEwax6rMxgrLtWqpr1Oo1_wLCV_RB612LM-tNdiJ9hgIeO7jESZ7Lx3wxOSDwgBFiPgHBc-3Qp7Dql4UTmSmUi37RJgUaJej7N452Y3Lffsv5BxDS3Hk5s0uS-jrl-pU/s1600-h/Ikshvaku-1B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ9vo6VW-byJ2gEwax6rMxgrLtWqpr1Oo1_wLCV_RB612LM-tNdiJ9hgIeO7jESZ7Lx3wxOSDwgBFiPgHBc-3Qp7Dql4UTmSmUi37RJgUaJej7N452Y3Lffsv5BxDS3Hk5s0uS-jrl-pU/s200/Ikshvaku-1B.jpg" style="cursor: move;" unselectable="on" vt="true" width="200" /></a><strong>2nd - 1st CEN. B.C.<br />
OBVERSE - ELEPHANT FACING RIGHT<br />
REVERSE - UJJAINI SYMBOL<br />
CATALAGUE - MITCHINER 1978 - #5060</strong></div></div></div><br />
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<strong>Ikshvakus (2nd - 1st CEN. B.C.)</strong><br />
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After the downfall of the Satavahana power, the feudatory rulers declared their independence an established their own kingdoms in parts of the erstwhile empire. One among such new Kingdoms belonged to the Ikshvakus who ruled the eastern Andhra country from the last quarter of the second century A.D. The Puranas called them 'Sri Parvatiya Andhras' and 'Andhra Bhrityas'. From an inscription found at Nagarjunakonda. it has been made clear that in the beginnings of the Christian era, the mountain was called Sriparvata. But some scholars apply the term Sriparvata to the whole range of the Nallamala hills which stretch along the Krishna into Kurnool district. The number of the Ikshvaku Kings and the total duration of their reign as mentioned in the Puranas were contradictory to scholars On the whole, the Puranas gave a hundred year rule to the Ikshvaku line (with seven rulers). It is uncertain whether these Ikshvakus of the Andhra country represented a branch of the ancient Ikshvaku family of Ayodhya that might have migrated to the Deccan and settled down on the lower<br />
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Krishna or not. The oriental scholars like Buhler and Rapson expressed the view that the former were the descendants of the latter. The excavation of the site Nagarjunakonda from time to<br />
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time resulted in the discovery of many Buddhistic edifices containing numerous sculptures and inscriptions. To know the history of the Ikshvaku Kingdom which flourished in the<br />
<br />
Andhra country along the Krishna river, the Prakrit inscriptions incised in Brahmi script found at Nagarjunakonda and at Jaggayyapeta serve as the important authorities. The sporadic distribution of the lead coins of Yajnasri Satakarni and of the last Satavahana king Pulomavi IV in the early Ikshvaku layers, the designations like Mahatatavara etc. of officials under both the Satavahanas and the Ikshvakus and the matronymies, the practice prevalent in the later Satavahana period and among the Ikshvaku rulers, sufficiently testify to the fact that the Ikshvakus of Nagarjunakonda were the immediate successors of the Andhra-Satavahanas in the Krishna valley. The Ikshvakus, eventually the feudatory nobility 'Mahatalavaras'. became heirs to the political and religious traditions of the imperial Satavahana power.<br />
<br />
THE GENEALOGY AND CHRONOLOGY OF THE IKSHVAKUS<br />
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From the inscriptions, the names of four rulers of the Ikshvaku race have been traced. Not only this, even some of the regnal years of these rulers are also known. The information is as follows :-<br />
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a) Santamula I — 13th regnal year son<br />
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b) Virapurushadatta — 20th regnal year son<br />
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c) Santamula It — 24th regnal year son<br />
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d) Rudrapurshudatta — 11th regnal year brother<br />
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Virapurushadatta as prince<br />
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Thus according to epjgraphic evidence, the total years of the four known rulers come to not less than 69, whereas the Puranas give hundred years of rule to the seven Ikshvaku rulers. in deciding the chronology of the Ikshvaku rulers, two things are to be kept in mind:— (1) The Nagarjunakonda inscription of the Abhira Vasusena dated in the 30th year of the Chedi era which might have begun in 248-49 A.D. refers to the installation of the image of Ashtabhuja Swamy in<br />
<br />
the presence of Saka Rudradaman of Avanti, the Yavana princess of Sanjayapuri and Vishnurudrasivalananda Satakami of Vanavasi. (2) The two inscriptions of Nagarjunakonda, one issued in the reign of Virapurushadatta and the other in the reign of Santamula II, refer to the Cyclic year 'Vijaya'.<br />
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D.C. SIRCAR'S SCHEME OF CHRONOLOGY<br />
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He proposed the Abhira presence in the Ikshvaku territory in between 275 A.D. and 285 A.D. He also thinks that the two Cyclic years (Vijaya) referred to in the two inscriptions were different. He equates them with 273-74 A.D. and 333-34 A.D. respectively. Accordingly he gives the following scheme of Chronology —<br />
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1. Santamula I — 225-50 A.D.<br />
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2. Virapurushadatta — 250-75 A.D.<br />
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Abhirama interregunum — 275-85 A.D.<br />
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3. Santamula II — 285-333-34 A.D.<br />
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4. Rudrapurushadatte — 334-45 A.D.<br />
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However there are certain difficulties in accepting this theory. Sircar gives the years of rule assigned to kings differently which are not in consonance with the latest regnal years mentioned in the inscriptions of the concerned kings. He unnecessarily extends the rule of Santamula II to 49 years. This is because of the supposition that the cyclic years of the two inscriptions were different. Moreover, Sircar places the Ahira attack in between the reigns of Virapurushadatta and<br />
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Santamula II. But the available evidence of the continuous building activity in the reigns of Virapurushadatta and Santamula II at Nagarjunakonda points to the contrary. The Abhira<br />
<br />
The Ikshvakus of Vijayapuri 49 attack thus can not be placed in between these reigns. It can only be placed in the last years of the Ikshwaku rule.<br />
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THE CHRONOLOGICAL SCHEME OF DR. RAMARAO<br />
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Dr. Ramarao on the other hand takes into consideration the presence of Abhira Vasusena at Nagarjunakonda as a friendly visit. Regarding the cyclic years referred to in the inscriptions, he says it was not the practice to mention the cyclic years in the early inscriptions. Accordingly he suggests the following scheme of chronology :<br />
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1 Santamula I — 220-240 A.D.<br />
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2. Virapurushadatta — 240-60 A.D.<br />
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3. Santamula II — 250-84 A.D.<br />
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4. Rudrapurushadatta — 284-95 A.D.<br />
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However Dr. Ramarao's supposition of a friendly visit by Abhira Vasusena cannot be taken for granted. The Abhira inscription, which mentions some rulers who were present at the time of the installation of the image, does not mention the name of the Ikshvaku ruler and hence the hostile nature of the presence of the Abhiras in Nagarjunakonda must beaccepted.<br />
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SCHEME OF CHRONOLOGY AS SUGGESTED BY DR. O. RAMACHANDRAIYA<br />
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Dr. Ramachandraiya suggests the following scheme :—<br />
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1. Santamula I — 180-193 A.D.<br />
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2. Virapurushadatta — 193-213 A.D.<br />
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3. Santamula II — 213-37 A.D.<br />
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4 Rudrapurushadatta — 237-48 A.D.<br />
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5. Three unknown rulers (on the basis of Puranic evidence)— 248-78 A.D.<br />
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The basts for his chronology is as follows : (1) The Puranic evidence that the seven kings ruled for 100 years has been accepted and the corroboration from the inscriptions has been sought for four kings with a minimum total period of rule for 68 years. (2) The Abhira inscription is regarded as indicative of the victory of the Abhiras over the Ikshvakus and the event be placed in 278 A.D., which should also be the end of the Ikshvaku rule. (3) The cyclic years mentioned in the two inscriptions of Virapurushadatta and Santamuha II need not be different but could be one cyclic year. It must have witnessed the end of Virapurushadatta's rule and the accession of the<br />
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Santamula II, Since 278 A.D. is accepted as the last date of the Ikshwaku power, the cyclic year would be the year<br />
<br />
corresponding to 213 A.D. (4) The rule of the four kings known from inscriptions should be placed in between 180 and 248 A.D. From that date upto 278 A.D., when the Abhiras conquered the Ikshvaku territory, the three unknown Ikshvakus must have ruled in their own right.<br />
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POLITICAL FORTUNES AND THE CULTURAL DESTINIES OF THE DYNASTY<br />
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The Ikshvakus, who were the immediate successors of the Satavahanas, had performed the Asvamedha sacrifices with a view to proclaiming their independent and imperial status. It had become a common practice among the rulers of the subsequent dynasties to perform the Asvamedha sacrifice in token of their declaration of independent status From this fact, it can be inferred that it was Santamula I who first declared his independence and established the Ikshvaku dynasty. So far not even a single inscription of Santamula I had been traced. The scanty information about him was gathered from the inscriptions of the reign period of his son Virapurushadatta. SANTAMULA I : In the inscriptions, Santamula I was named as Vasistiputra Santamula. This is in accordance with the prevalent practice of the adoption of metronymy. This practice undoubtedly indicates the high social status accorded to women in those days. The numerous extolling epithets attached to the name of Santamula I indicates that he was the<br />
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The Ikshvakus of Vijayapuri 51 most powerful monarch of the day in Dakshinapatha and he was regarded as Samrat in Dakshinapatha, both by his contemporaries and the descendants. He was a follower of Brahmanism. He is said to have performed besides the Asvamedha, Agnistoma, Agnihotra and Vajapeya sacrifices. He was 3 devotee of God Mahasena (Kartikeya). He was a great donor. He gifted away crores of gold coins, lakhs of cows and lakhs of ploughs to the donees. By donating vast tracts of land and ploughs, he encouraged agriculture in his Kingdom. Santamula 1 had two sisters (his father's name was not given), Hammash and Chantisri. Crrantisri was the wife of Vasishtiputra Skandasri of the Pugiya family. Chantisri had also borne Mahatalavari and Mahasenapatni, the titles of her husband. This Chantisri had a son named Skandasagara and a daughter who was given in marriage to her nephew Virapurushadatta. The second sister, Hammasri of Santamula I, had two daughters namely Bapisri and Chatisri. Both these daughters were given in marriage to Santamula's son Virapurushadatta. VIRAPURUSHADATTA: Virapurushadatta was the son and successor of Santamula I through his wife Madhari. He had a sister named Adavi Santisri. She was the wife of Mahasenapati and Mahadandanayaka. Skandavisakha of the Dhanaka family. From the Ikshvaku inscriptions the names of different families such as Pugiyas, Dhanakas, Hiranyakas and Kulahakas can be traced. The territories that were colonized by these people were named after their family names. For example, the colony of the Pugiyas was called Pugiya rashtra; this incourse<br />
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of time came to be known as Pungi rashtra or Pakanadu. The inscriptions found at Nagarjunakonda and at Jaggayyapeta give the 20th regnal year of Virapurushadatta. The marriages of Virapurushadatta with his paternal aunts' daughters prove that there was the custom of cross-cousin marriages in the Andhra country. Among the queens of Virapurushadatta,. Three were the daughters of his paternal aunts. He entered into matrimonial alliances with the neighbouring kings and strengthened his position. One such alliance was made with the rulers of<br />
<br />
Ujjain. He married Ujjainee Maharajabalika, Mahadevi Rudradhara Bhattarika, probably a near relative of Saka Rudrasena I. EHUVALU SANTAMULA: Santamula II was the son and successor of Virapurushadatta. He had a sister by name Kodavalisri. She was the queen of the ruler of Vanavasi (Kamataka). Through this matrimonial alliance, Virupurushadatta strengthened his position. In the 24th year of the reign of Santamula II, his sister Kodavalisri erected a Vihara at Nagarjunakonda; the inference is that the reign of Santamula II must have lasted at least for 24 years,<br />
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RUORAPURUSHADATTA: An inscription found at Gurajala in Guntur district has revealed the name of another Ikshvaku ruler Rudrapurushadatta. This has been confirmed by another inscription which proved that he was a son of Santamula II. During his 4th regnal year, one Nudukasiri donated a piece of land to God Halampura Swamy. Some scholars identify this Halampura with Alampur in Kurnool district. But this conjecture is open to doubt. Halampura Swamy was no other than the Buddha himself. Halampura may be identified with the present Nagalapuram. Rudrapurushadatta must have ruled for more than 11 years. He was probably the last important ruler of the Ikshvaku family. After him there were three more unknown rulers according to the Puranas. In or about 278 A.D., the Abhiras might have put an end to the Ikshvakus. Most of the inscriptions of the Ikshvaku period record either the construction of the Buddhist viharas or the gifts made to them. All the donors and builders of the Viharas were the female members of the Ikshvaku royal family. Though Santamuta I is reported to have performed the Vedic sacrifices, nothing is stated about his son regarding his religious leanings.<br />
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Not only that, neither he nor his son is said to hove donated to the Buddhist establishments. From this it is inferred that Virapurushadatta and his successors were not Buddhists, but this was the period from which Andhra became a flourishing centre of Buddhism and a place of pilgrimage for the Buddhists all over the world. The patrons were ladies, many of them<br />
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The Ikshvakus of Vijayapuri 53 being royal ladies, the merchants and artisans and the people<br />
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at large. A new era began with the Buddhists of Krishna-Guntur region. The great stupas of Jaggayyapeta, IMagarjunakonda and Ramireddipalle were built, repaired or extended and Buddhist monks were coming for pilgrimage from all the Buddhist countries of the world to Nagarjunakonda, the celebrated- religious centre. In short, it may be said that Buddhism was in its hey day here at the time of the later Ikshvakus. The chief object of attraction was the Mahachaitya raised over a dhatu of the Buddha on Sriparvata. Monks of many Buddhist sects<br />
<br />
like Aparamahavinasailiyas. Bahusutiyas and Mahisasakas were residing at this centre. The attraction for this Buddhist centre can be accounted for from the sea trade which was carried on between Ceylon and the ports of other countries on one hand and those situated on the mouths of the Krishna and the Godavari on the other hand. During these days Nagarjunakonda was a renowned centre of higher education. What Dhanakataka was during the days of Satavahanas,<br />
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Nagarjunakonda was the same during the days of the Ikshvakus. Students from different parts of Asia flocked around this great centre of higher learning to prosecute their higher studies in the Buddhist lore.<br />
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The Andhra Ikshvakus (were one of the earliest dynasties of Andhra Pradesh. They ruled the eastern Andhra country along the Krishna river during the later half of the second century CE. Their capital was Vijayapuri (Nagarjunakonda). Some scholars have suggested that this dynasty was related to the ancient Ikshvakus of Hindu epics. Rama of Ramayana, who is considered as the incarnation of Vishnu belonged to the line of Ikshvaku. According to Hindu epics, Ikshvaku, who was the Manu and father of Kukshi, was the founder of the Suryavanshi dynasty, reigning from Ayodhya at the commencement of the Treta Yuga. There is however no direct evidence to suggest that the Andhra Ikshvakus were related to the Epic Ikshvakus. Archaeological evidence has suggested that the Andhra Ikshvakus immediately succeeded the Satavahanas in the Krishna river valley. Andhra Ikshvakus have left inscriptions at Nagarjunakonda, Jaggayyapeta, Amaravati and Bhattiprolu. Although the Ikshvaku rulers practiced the Vedic religion, they were also great sponsors of Buddhism. Buddhism was at its height in the Andhra country during their reign. The oriental scholars like Buhler and Rapson expressed the view that the northern Ikshvakus might have migrated south. According to the Vayu Purana, Manu, the great patriarch of ancient India had nine sons of whom Ikshvaku was the eldest. His capital was Ayodhya. He had one hundred sons, and the eldest Vikushi succeeded his father as the ruler of Ayodhya. Of the rest, fifty sons founded small principalities in Northern India. Forty eight of his sons migrated to the south and carved out kingdoms for themselves. Buddhist literature refers to the penetration of the Ikshvakus into South India and declares that they founded the Asmaka, Mulaka and other principalities. These Kshatriyas settled down in the south and merged with the races there. Jain literature also refers to the exodus of northern Indian princes to the south. In Dharmamrita a reference was made that during the lifetime of the 12th Tirthankara, a prince named Yasodhara hailing from the Ikshvaku family came from the Anga kingdom to Vengi in the south. We are informed that the prince was so impressed with beauty of the region and the fertility of the soil that he made it his permanent home and founded a city called Pratipalapura (Bhattiprolu). Inscriptions have also been discovered in the Nagarjunakonda valley, Jaggayyapeta and Ramireddipalli attesting this fact. The Puranas (epics) mention Andhra Ikshvakus as the Sriparvatiyas, Rulers of Sriparvata and Andhrabhrityas (Servants of the Andhras). [edit] HistoryAndhra Ikshvakus were originally feudatories of the Satavahanas and bore the title Mahatalavara. Although the Puranas state that seven kings ruled for 100 years in total, the names of only four of them are known from inscriptions. Vasishthiputra Sri Santamula (Santamula I), the founder of the line, performed the Asvamedha, Agnihotra, Agnistoma and Vajapeya sacrifices. Santamula performed the Asvamedha sacrifices with a view to proclaim his independent and imperial status. It had become a common practice among the rulers of the subsequent dynasties to perform the Asvamedha sacrifice in token of their declaration of independent status. From this fact, it can be inferred that it was Santamula I who first declared his independence and established the Ikshvaku dynasty. Santamula's mother was Vasishti, as evident from his name. Virapurushadatta was the son and successor of Santamula through his wife Madhari. He had a sister named Adavi Santisri. He took a queen from the Saka family of Ujjain and gave his daughter in marriage to a Chutu prince. Almost all the royal ladies were Buddhists. An aunt of Virapurisadata built a big Stupa at Nagarjunakonda. Virapurushadata's son Ehuvula Santamula (Santamula II) ruled after a short Abhira interregnum. His reign witnessed the completion of a Devi Vihara, the Sinhala Vihara, a convent founded for the accommodation of Sinhalese monks, and the Chaitya-griha (Chaitya hall) dedicated to the fraternities (Theriyas) of Tamraparni (Sri Lanka). Ceylonese Buddhism was in close touch with Andhra. The sculptures of Nagarjunakonda, which include large figures of Buddha, show decided traces of Greek influence and Mahayana tendencies. Rudrapurushadatta was the name of an Ikshvaku ruler found in inscriptions from Gurajala in Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh. He could have been a son of Ehuvula Santamula. Rudrapurushadatta ruled for more than 11 years. He was probably the last important ruler of the Ikshvaku family. After him there were three more unknown rulers according to the Puranas. Around 278 CE, the Abhiras might have put an end to the Ikshvakus. [edit] Patrons of BuddhismMost of the inscriptions of the Andhra Ikshvaku period record either the construction of the Buddhist Viharas or the gifts made to them. All the donors and builders of the Viharas were the female members of the Ikshvaku royal family. Although Santamula I is reported to have performed the Vedic sacrifices, nothing is known about the religious leanings of his successors. This was the period during which Andhra became a flourishing centre of Buddhism and a place of pilgrimage for the Buddhists. The patrons were ladies from the royal household, the merchants and artisans and the people at large. The great stupas of Jaggayyapeta, Nagarjunakonda and Ramireddipalle were built, repaired or extended during their reign. Buddhist pilgrims and scholars visited the Buddhist centre at Nagarjunakonda. The attraction for this Buddhist centre can be accounted for from the sea trade which was carried on between Lanka and the Ikshvakus though the ports situated on the mouths of the Krishna and the Godavari. gopdavari is the eiver joins to the ganga<br />
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<div></div><img height="94" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ9vo6VW-byJ2gEwax6rMxgrLtWqpr1Oo1_wLCV_RB612LM-tNdiJ9hgIeO7jESZ7Lx3wxOSDwgBFiPgHBc-3Qp7Dql4UTmSmUi37RJgUaJej7N452Y3Lffsv5BxDS3Hk5s0uS-jrl-pU/s200/Ikshvaku-1B.jpg" style="filter: alpha(opacity=30); left: 244px; mozopacity: 0.3; opacity: 0.3; position: absolute; top: 148px;" width="96" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1757303709062492161.post-79847050471679238282009-10-16T12:48:00.001-07:002010-03-30T21:34:03.476-07:00Kalachuri CoinsSouthern Kalachuris (1130 - 1184) at their peak ruled parts of the Deccan extending over regions of present day North Karnataka and parts of Maharashtra. This dynasty rose to power in the Deccan between 1156 and 1181 A.D. They traced their origins to Krishna who was the conqueror of Kalinjar and Dahala in Madhya Pradesh. It is said that Bijjala a viceroy of this dynasty established the authority over Karnataka. He wrested power from the Chalukya king Taila III. Bijjala was succeeded by his sons Someshwara and Sangama but after 1181 A.D, the Chalukyas gradually retrieved the territory. Their rule was a short and turbulent and yet very important from a the socio-religious movement point of view; a new sect called the Lingayat or Virashaiva sect was founded during these times. A unique and purely native form of Kannada literature-poetry called the Vachanas was also born during this time. The writers of Vachanas were called Vachanakaras (poets). Many other important works like Virupaksha Pandita's Chennabasavapurana, Dharani Pandita's Bijjalarayacharite and Chandrasagara Varni's Bijjalarayapurana were also written.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1757303709062492161.post-43142143877988626052009-10-16T12:46:00.000-07:002010-03-30T21:30:45.804-07:00Deccan sultanate - Bijapur, Golkonda, Ahmadnagar, Bidar and Berar Coins<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzcKZgwCm32bExBke8BzTJ975UL_5fTIOy2TnP47Ee1529aSITmIlL2D0SgglH1h2OdJ8mPuMEWZge05ZBzJmzZBkXj8FA476qLVnSm7WKsXg8RZjzf7f4gRzlb7gktNEJBhcukFTQk3M/s1600/Sultan1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzcKZgwCm32bExBke8BzTJ975UL_5fTIOy2TnP47Ee1529aSITmIlL2D0SgglH1h2OdJ8mPuMEWZge05ZBzJmzZBkXj8FA476qLVnSm7WKsXg8RZjzf7f4gRzlb7gktNEJBhcukFTQk3M/s640/Sultan1.JPG" yr="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The Deccan sultanates were five Muslim-ruled late medieval kingdoms—Bijapur, Golkonda, Ahmadnagar, Bidar, and Berar—of south-central India. The Deccan sultanates were located on the Deccan Plateau, between the Krishna River and the Vindhya Range. These kingdoms became independent during the breakup of the Bahmani Sultanate[1]. In 1490, Ahmadnagar declared indepenence, followed by Bijapur and Berar in the same year. Golkonda became independent in 1518 and Bidar in 1528.[2] In 1510, Bijapur repulsed an invasion by the Portuguese against the city of Goa, but lost it later that year.</div><br />
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Although generally rivals, they did ally against the Vijayanagar empire in 1565, permanently weakening Vijayanagar in the Battle of Talikota. In 1574, after a coup in Berar, Ahmadnagar invaded and conquered it. In 1619, Bidar was annexed by Bijapur. The sultanates were later conquered by the Mughal Empire; Berar was stripped from Ahmadnagar in 1596, Ahmadnagar was completely taken between 1616 and 1636, and Golkonda and Bijapur conquered by Aurangzeb's 1686-7 campaign.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1757303709062492161.post-15440238875019087862009-10-16T12:45:00.000-07:002010-03-30T21:28:28.053-07:00Bahmani Sultanate -Gulbarga coinsThe coinage of Bahamanis savoured a unique status. The currency of their previous masters of Delhi Sultans was primarily based on gold and silver. Though coins of gold and silver were issued but copper was mainly used for a smaller transaction. The amazing factor to be viewed of Bahamanis is that their economic basis was a copper coinage of four denominations that followed a very strict weight standard. It was Ismail Mukh who broke up relation with Delhi, usurped the royal authority over Deccan and adopted the title of Nasiruddin Ismail Shah. He issued some copper coins during this time following the style of Delhi coinage containing a simple legend `Nasiruddin Ismail Shah Abdul-fath`. His coins weighed approximately 54 grains. The first six rulers of Bahamnis minted coins similar to that of Tughlaqs. Nasiruddin Ismail Shah enjoyed authority only for a short span of time, renouncing in favour of Zafar Khan who founded the Bahmani dynasty. <br />
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The coins of Bahmani kingdom were issued in gold, copper and silver by the rulers. Though the gold coins are rare the copper coins are found in abundance. Among the seventeen rulers of the Bahmani dynasty, only nine rulers issued gold coins. The nine rulers of this dynasty who issued gold coins are Muhammad Shah I, Mujahid Shah, Muhammad Shah II, Firoz Shah, Ahmad Shah II, Humayun Shah, Ahmad Shah III, Muhammad Shah III and Mahmud Shah. As this dynasty reflects strong influence of the Delhi Sultanate, the coins of all the rulers except, Mujahid Shah and Firoz Shah, followed the standard weight of the `tankah` of the Delhi Sultans. These two rulers adopted the weight of the `dinar` of Muhammad Tughlaq. They maintained the weight standard of 197 grains. <br />
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Apart from the last two rulers, Waliullah and Kalimullah, who were nominal Sultans, all the other rulers issued silver coins. These coins are of 170 grains. Mujahid Shah and Muhammad Shah II issued coins weighing a two third `tankah` of 110 grains. Apart from these coins, some smaller coins of 27 and 17 grains were also issued by the early rulers. Almost all rulers of this dynasty issued copper coins and they vary in weight and are of a number of denominations. The earlier rulers followed the weight standard of 57 grains and issued coins of its multiples or sub multiples. The coins after Firoz Shah marked a revolutionary change in the coinage of this dynasty. Gradually the weight of the coins increased during the reigns of the subsequent rulers and the sub multiples of these coins were also introduced during this period. <br />
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The early coins of the Bahmani rulers strongly mirror the coinage patterns followed by the Delhi sultanate. The silver and copper coins of the first ruler Bahman Shah resemble the Khilji and the Tughlaq coins in their forms and executions. He adopted the Khilji legends word for word on both sides of his coins. The only change was done on the coins by substituting the name of Bahman Shah for Muhammad Shah. But in the later period, his son Muhammad Shah I gave altogether new legends to his coins. He introduced his name `Sultan-ul-ahd wa zaman hami-u-millat-i-rasul-ir-rahman` that connotes the king of the land and time, supporter of the community of the apostle of the merciful. He also included the title `al-muwayyid bi-nasr-i-allah` (helper of the cause of God) and `abu-muzaffar` (the father of victory). The latter title was retained invariably by all the succeeding rulers. Mujahid Shah seemed to have reverted to the Delhi coinage for the inscriptions of his coins. He retained the title `al-muwayyid bi-nasr-i-allah` and added to it `yamin-ul-khilafat nasir amir-al-momnin` (right hand of the Khilafat, helper of the commander of the Muslims), the titles of the Khiljis. No such epithets were found on the coins of the subsequent rulers, though almost all rulers proclaimed themselves supporters of Islam and used magniloquent epithets on their coins. The rulers included their titles along with their names started with `Sultan` and ended `Shah` but sometimes these names and titles were deduced from the coins. Some coins of this dynasty contained the name of the father or the names of father and grandfather along with the name of the king. <br />
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Though the Bahmani kingdom ceased to exist in 1490 A.D as the sovereign was seized either by the provincial governors or the minister of the central government, the coins manifest the great existence of the kingdom. Afterwards, the coins continued to be issued in the names of the nominal Sultans. These coins were issued during the lifetime of the kings and after the death of the rulers as in the case of the last ruler Kalimullah.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1757303709062492161.post-16727468727124656402009-10-16T12:44:00.003-07:002009-11-25T18:34:58.714-08:00Kingdom of Mysore coins<div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Tippu Sultan <br />
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The Kingdom of Mysore (1399–1947 AD) was a kingdom of southern India, traditionally believed to have been founded in 1399 in the vicinity of the modern city of Mysore. The kingdom, which was ruled by the Wodeyar family, initially served as a vassal state of the Vijayanagara Empire. With the decline of the Vijayanagara Empire (circa 1565), the kingdom became independent. The 17th century saw a steady expansion of its territory and, under Narasaraja Wodeyar I and Chikka Devaraja Wodeyar, the kingdom annexed large expanses of what is now southern Karnataka and parts of Tamil Nadu to become a powerful state in the southern Deccan.<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">The kingdom reached the height of its military power and dominion in the latter half of the 18th century under Haider Ali and his son Tipu Sultan, who deposed the Wodeyars to take control of the kingdom. During this time, it came into conflict with the Marathas, the British and the Nizam of Golconda which culminated in the four Anglo-Mysore wars. Success in the first two Anglo-Mysore wars was followed by defeat in the third and fourth. Following Tipu's death in the fourth war of 1799, large parts of the kingdom were annexed by British which signaled the end of a period of Mysorean hegemony over southern Deccan. The British, however, restored the Wodeyars to the throne by way of a subsidiary alliance and a diminished Mysore was now transformed into a Princely state. The Wodeyars continued to rule the state until Indian independence in 1947, when Mysore acceded to the Union of India.<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">Even as a princely state, Mysore came to be counted among the more modern and urbanized regions of India. This period (1799–1947) also saw Mysore emerge as one of the important centers of art and culture in India. The Mysore kings were not only accomplished exponents of the fine arts and men of letters, they were enthusiastic patrons as well and their legacies continue to influence music and art even today.<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">Early history<br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Kingdom of Mysore (1704) during the rule of King Chikka Devaraja WodeyarSources for the history of the kingdom include numerous extant lithic and copper plate inscriptions, records from the Mysore palace and contemporary literary sources in Kannada, Persian and other languages.According to traditional accounts, the kingdom originated as a small state based in the modern city of Mysore and was founded by two brothers, Yaduraya (also known as Vijaya) and Krishnaraya. Their origins are mired in legend and are still a matter of debate; while some historians posit a northern origin at Dwaraka,others locate it in Karnataka. Yaduraya is said to have married Chikkadevarasi, the local princess and assumed the feudal title "Wodeyar" (lit, "Lord"), which the ensuing dynasty retained.The first unambiguous mention of the Wodeyar family is in 16th century Kannada literature from the reign of the Vijayanagara king Achyuta Deva Raya (1529–1542); the earliest available inscription, issued by the Wodeyars themselves, dates to the rule of the petty chief Timmaraja II in 1551.<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">Autonomy: advances and reversals<br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">The kings who followed ruled as vassals of the Vijayanagara empire until the decline of the latter in 1565. By this time, the kingdom had expanded to thirty-three villages protected by a force of 300 soldiers.King Timmaraja II conquered some surrounding chiefdoms,and King Bola Chamaraja IV (lit, "Bald"), the first ruler of any political significance among them, withheld tribute to the nominal Vijayanagara monarch Aravidu Ramaraya. After the death of Aravidu Ramaraya, the Wodeyars began to assert themselves further and King Raja Wodeyar I wrested control of Srirangapatna from the Vijayanagara governor (Mahamandaleshvara) Aravidu Tirumalla – a development which elicited, if only ex post facto, the tacit approval of Venkatapati Raya, the incumbent king of the diminished Vijayanagar empire ruled from Chandragiri Raja Wodeyar I's reign also saw territorial expansion with the annexation of Channapatna to the north from Jaggadeva Raya – a development which made Mysore a regional political factor to reckon with.<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">Consequently, by 1612–13, the Wodeyars exercised a great deal of autonomy and even though they acknowledged the nominal overlordship of the Aravidus, tributes and transfers of revenue to Chandragiri stopped. This was in marked contrast to the major chiefs (Nayakas) of Tamil country who continued to pay off Chandragiri well into the 1630s.Chamaraja V and Kanthirava Narasaraja I attempted to expand further northward but were thwarted by the Bijapur Sultanate and its Maratha subordinates, though the Bijapur armies under Ranadullah Khan were effectively repelled in their 1638 siege of Srirangapatna. Expansionist ambitions then turned southward into Tamil country where Narasaraja Wodeyar acquired Satyamangalam (in modern northern Coimbatore district) while his successor Dodda Devaraja Wodeyar expanded further to capture western Tamil regions of Erode and Dharmapuri, after successfully repulsing the chiefs of Madurai. The invasion of the Keladi Nayakas of Malnad was also dealt with successfully. This period was followed by one of complex geo-political changes, when in the 1670s, the Marathas and the Mughals pressed into the Deccan.<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">Chikka Devaraja (r. 1672–1704), the most notable of Mysore's early kings, who ruled during much of this period, managed to not only survive the exigencies but further expanded territory. He achieved this by forging strategic alliances with the Marathas and the Mughals.The kingdom soon grew to include Salem and Bangalore to the east, Hassan to the west, Chikkamagaluru and Tumkur to the north and the rest of Coimbatore to the south.Despite this expansion, the kingdom, which now accounted for a fair share of land in the southern Indian heartland, extending from the Western Ghats to the western boundaries of the Coromandel plain, remained landlocked without direct coastal access. Chikka Devaraja's attempts to remedy this brought Mysore into conflict with the Nayaka chiefs of Ikkeri and the kings (Rajas) of Kodagu (modern Coorg); who between them controlled the Kanara coast (coastal areas of modern Karnataka) and the intervening hill region respectively.The conflict brought mixed results with Mysore annexing Periyapatna but suffering a reversal at Palupare.<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">Tipu Sultan (1782 – 1799), took Mysore to the height of its military powerNevertheless, from around 1704, when the kingdom passed on to "Muteking" (Mukarasu) Kanthirava Narasaraja II, the survival and expansion of the kingdom was achieved by playing a delicate game of alliance, negotiation, subordination on occasion, and annexation of territory in all directions. According to historians Sanjay Subrahmanyam and Sethu Madhava Rao, Mysore was now formally a tributary of the Mughal empire. Mughul records claim a regular tribute (peshkash) was payed by Mysore. However, historian Suryanath Kamath feels the Mughals may have considered Mysore an ally, a situation brought about by Mughal–Maratha competition for supremacy in southern India.By the 1720s, with the Mughal empire in decline, further complications arose with the Mughal residents at both Arcot and Sira claiming tribute.The years that followed saw Krishnaraja Wodeyar I tread cautiously on the matter while keeping the Kodagu chiefs and the Marathas at bay. He was followed by Chamaraja Wodeyar VI during whose reign power fell into the hands of prime minister (Dalwai or Dalavoy) Nanjarajiah (or Nanjaraja) and chief minister (Sarvadhikari) Devarajiah (or Devaraja), the influential brothers from Kalale town near Nanjangud who would rule for the next three decades with the Wodeyars relegated to being the titular heads.The latter part of the rule of Krishnaraja II saw the Deccan Sultanates being eclipsed by the Mughals and in the confusion that ensued, Haider Ali, a captain in the army, rose to prominence.His victory against the Marathas at Bangalore in 1758, resulting in the annexation of their territory, made him an iconic figure. In honour of his achievements, the king gave him the title "Nawab Haider Ali Khan Bahadur"<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;"><strong>Under Haider and Tipu</strong><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Though illiterate, Haider Ali has earned an important place in the history of Karnataka for his fighting skills and administrative acumen.The rise of Haidar came at a time of important political developments in the sub-continent. While the European powers were busy transforming themselves from trading companies to political powers, the Nizam as the subedar of the Mughals pursued his ambitions in the Deccan, and the Marathas, following their defeat at Panipat, sought safe havens in the south. The period also saw the French vie with the British for control of the Carnatic – a contest in which the British would eventually prevail.Though the Wodeyars remained the nominal heads during this period, real power lay in the hands of Haider Ali and his son Tipu.<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">By 1761, the Maratha menace had diminished and by 1763, Haider Ali had captured the Keladi kingdom, defeated the rulers of Bilgi, Bednur and Gutti, invaded the Malabar in the south and conquered the Zamorin's capital Calicut with ease in 1766 and extended the Mysore kingdom up to Dharwad and Bellary in the north.Mysore was now a major political power in the subcontinent and Haider's meteoric rise from relative obscurity and his defiance formed one of the last remaining challenges to complete British hegemony over the Indian subcontinent – a challenge which would take them more than three decades to overcome.<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">In a bid to stem Haidar's rise, the British formed an alliance with the Marathas and the Nizam of Golconda, culminating in the first Anglo-Mysore war in 1767. Despite early reverses, Haider Ali drove the British out of most of their forts in the Carnatic and dictated peace terms at the very centre of its power – South Madras (modern Chennai).In 1770, when the Maratha armies of Madhavrao Peshwa invaded Mysore(three wars were fought between 1764-1772 by Madhavrao against Haider, in which Haider lost), Haider expected British support as per the 1769 treaty but they betrayed him by staying out of the conflict. The British betrayal and Haider's subsequent defeat reinforced Haider's deep distrust of the British — a sentiment that would be shared by his son and one which would inform Anglo-Mysore rivalries of the next three decades.<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">By 1779, Haider Ali had captured parts of modern Tamil Nadu and Kerala in the south, extending the Kingdom's area to about 80,000 mi² (205,000 km²).In 1780, he befriended the French and made peace with the Marathas and the Nizam.However, Haider Ali was betrayed by the Marathas and the Nizam, who made treaties with the British as well. Between May 1780 and July 1781, the Mysorean army overran British territories, either killing or routing key British commanders, until the arrival of General Eyre Coote, when the fortunes of the British began to change.Haider Ali died on 7 December 1782, even as fighting continued with the British. He was succeeded by his son Tipu Sultan who continued hostilities against the British by recapturing Baidanur and Mangalore.<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">In 1783, even as the Mysore armies stood on the verge of scoring a decisive victory against the British, the French withdrew their support following the peace settlement in Europe.Undaunted, Tipu, popularly known as the "Tiger of Mysore", defeated the British in Wandiwash in 1783, but lost some regions in modern coastal Karnataka to them. He later lost the Kittur, Nargund and Badami territories to the Marathas. The treaty of Mangalore, which is known to have favored Tipu, was signed in 1784 bringing hostilities with the British to a temporary and uneasy halt.A start of fresh hostilities between the British and French in Europe would have been sufficient reason for Tipu to abrogate his treaty and further his ambition of striking at the British.His attempts to lure the Nizam, the Marathas, the French and the King of Turkey failed to bring direct military aid.<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">Tipu's unsuccessful attack in 1790 on the Kingdom of Travancore, a British ally, resulted in the third Anglo-Mysore war. In the beginning, the British made little progress, winning some ground and losing some. By 1792, seeking aid from the Marathas who attacked from the north-west and the Nizam who moved in from the north-east, the British under Lord Cornwallis successfully besieged Srirangapatna, resulting in Tipu's defeat and the Treaty of Srirangapatna. Half of Tipu's kingdom were seized and distributed among the allies, and two of his sons were held to ransom.A humiliated but indomitable Tipu went about re-building his economic and military power. He attempted to covertly win over support from Revolutionary France, the Amir of Afghanistan, the Sultanate of Turkey and Arabia. However, these attempts to involve the French soon became known to the British, who found in it enough of an excuse for war and in this, were backed by the Marathas and the Nizam. In 1799, Tipu died fighting in the fourth Anglo-Mysore war, heralding the end of the Kingdom's independence.Modern Indian historians consider Tipu Sultan an inveterate enemy of the British, an able administrator and an innovator.<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;"><strong>Princely State</strong><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">Following Tipu's fall, a part of the kingdom of Mysore was annexed and divided between the Madras Presidency and the Nizam. The remaining territory was transformed into a Princely State; the five-year-old scion of the Wodeyar family, Krishnaraja III, was installed on the throne with chief minister (Diwan) Purniah, who had earlier served under Tipu, handling the reins as regent and Lt. Col. Barry Close taking charge as the British Resident. The British now took control of Mysore's foreign policy and also exacted an annual tribute and a subsidy for maintaining a standing British army at Mysore.As Diwan, Purniah distinguished himself with his progressive and innovative administration until he retired from service in 1811 (and died shortly thereafter) following the 16th birthday of the boy king.<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">The years that followed witnessed cordial relations between Mysore and the British until things began to sour in the 1820s. Even though the Governor of Madras, Thomas Munro determined after a personal investigation in 1825 that there was no substance to the allegations of financial impropriety made by A. H. Cole, the incumbent Resident of Mysore, the civil insurrection which broke out towards the end of the decade changed things considerably. In 1831, close on the heels of the insurrection and citing mal-administration, the British took direct control of the princely state.For the next fifty years, Mysore passed under the rule of successive British Commissioners; Sir Mark Cubbon, renowned for his statesmanship, served from 1834 until 1861 and put into place an efficient and successful administrative system which left Mysore a well developed state.In 1876–77, however, towards the end of the direct British rule, Mysore was struck by a devastating famine with estimated mortality figures which ranged between 700,000 and 1,100,000, or nearly a fifth of the population.Shortly thereafter, Maharaja Chamaraja IX, educated in the British system, took over the rule of Mysore in 1881, following the success of a lobby set up by the Wodeyar dynasty that was in favour of rendition. Accordingly, a resident British officer was appointed at the Mysore court and a Diwan was to handle the administration.From then onwards, until Indian independence in 1947, Mysore remained a Princely State under the British Raj with the Wodeyars continuing their rule.<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">After the demise of Maharaja Chamaraja IX, Krishnaraja IV, still a boy of eleven ascended the throne in 1895. His mother Maharani Kemparajammanniyavaru ruled as regent until Krishnaraja took over the reins on 8 February 1902.Under his rule, with Sir M. Vishweshwariah as his Diwan, the Maharaja set about transforming Mysore into a progressive and modern state, particularly in industry, education, agriculture and art. Such were the strides that Mysore made that Mahatma Gandhi called the Maharaja a "saintly king" (Rajarishi).Paul Brunton, the British philosopher and orientalist, John Gunther, the American author, and British statesman Lord Samuel praised the ruler's efforts. Much of the pioneering work in educational infrastructure that took place during this period would serve Karnataka invaluably in the coming decades. The Maharaja was an accomplished musician, and like his predecessors, avidly patronised the development of the fine arts.He was followed by his nephew Jayachamaraja whose rule came to an end when he signed the instrument of accession and Mysore joined the Indian Union on 9 August 1947.<br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1757303709062492161.post-67136458153375004332009-10-16T12:44:00.001-07:002010-04-06T14:45:19.165-07:00Kakatiya Coins<div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpmiaNwjTOcSBYuJnaf8XZltG2gNBrqNIyckTPFnN9r-DbgA225GIoWs2pc2_eeljdXoBmBhBHk3Sf1ZIdUr5uF3VnMv6kDM0omj0mGbRoS22PPW0fXhKTv82w7uPoLDJsylmZJI4_X3E/s1600/kakatiya_f1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpmiaNwjTOcSBYuJnaf8XZltG2gNBrqNIyckTPFnN9r-DbgA225GIoWs2pc2_eeljdXoBmBhBHk3Sf1ZIdUr5uF3VnMv6kDM0omj0mGbRoS22PPW0fXhKTv82w7uPoLDJsylmZJI4_X3E/s320/kakatiya_f1.jpg" yr="true" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">Controversy persists regarding the copper coins said to have been issued by Pratapa Rudra whether he belonged to the Kakatiya dynasty of Warangal or Gajapathi rulers of Orissa or Kalinga. All these coins were found in Kakatiya territory and none in the Kalinga region. The legends and words found on these coins namely the epithet Sri, Madhukara and Gajapathi, the title Kakati, mint town Vijaya Kataka, anka or saka era have been debatable among scholars. Even the reading of the coins published varied among scholars. There seem to consensus that these copper coins may be issues of Kalinga but one has to consider their provenance and total absence of other copper coins of this dynasty, though in general there were paucity of coins of many dynasties belonging to early medieval period. Gupta concluded that publication of further reports of these coins might clarify in assigning them to kings of one dynasty or other.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">As for the silver and gold coins in Andhra Pradesh Government museum with the titles Rayagajakesari and Dayagajakesari without any name of the king or his dynasty seem to belong to Gajapati Deva and his daughter Rudrama Devi based on epigraphical evidence Terala inscription of Pratapa Rudra These coins were earlier attributed to Western Chalukyan kings and also the kings of other dynasties. Silver and gold coins with the name ‘Rudra’ have been described from 1840’s onwards and they may belong to Kakatiyas.</span></div><br />
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ORIGIN OF THE DYNASTY<br />
The Kakatiyas had their ascendency during the dominion of the Chalukyas of Kalyani. The earlier doubts expressed by certain scholars in tracing the descent of this dynasty from Kakartya Gundyana, a subordinate of the Eastern Chalukyan monarch, Amma II (945 AD.-970 A-D ) were set at rest in view of the recently discovered Bayyaram Tank inscription The names Kakartya, Kakatya and Kakaliya are etymologically<br />
connected. The dynasty derived its name either because of its association with a town known as Kakatipura (since the kings bore the title 'Kakatipuravallabha') or because of their worship of a goddess called Kakati. At Ekasilanagara (Warangal), the capital of the Kakatiyas. a temple was dedcated to Kakitamma. Hence there is reasnon to believe that Kakatipura was another name for Warangal itself. The inscriptional evidence points out that the Kakatiyas were Sudras and that they were members of the Durjaya family whose remote ancestor Karkkalahola founded or first settled in Kakatipura<br />
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1 EARLY FEUDATORY RULERS<br />
Gundaya Rashtrakuta who was referred in the Magallu grant of Danamava (950 A D ) was the first known historical figure among the Kakatiyas He sacrificed his life in the service of the Rashtrakuta ruler Krishna II. white fighting aganist the Eastern Chalukyas The grateful Krishna II placed Gundaya's son Eriya in charge of Kurravadi in Koravisima near Warangal. Koravi, which was part of the Mudigonda Chalukyan kingdom<br />
under the suzerainty of the Eastern Chalukyas, was a bone of contention between the Rashtrakutas and the Eastern Chalukyas. This Kurravadi kingdom was created as a check on the Mudiginda Chalukyas on the eastern borders of the Rashtrakuta empire. Eriya made Orugal (Kakatipura) his capital.<br />
Eriya's grandson Kakartya Gundyana rendered help on behalf of his master Rashtrakuta Krishna III to Danarnava in setting aside his brother Amma II and occupying the throne of Vengi, as a result of which he got Natavadi as a token of gratitude. Later when Tailapa II put an end to the Rashtrakuta rule arid restored the western Chalukyan authority with Kalyani as head-quarters, the Kakatiyas shifted their loyalty to them. Gundyana's son and successor Betaraja I took advantage of the Chalukya Chola conflict and carved out for himself a small principality. He seems to have ruled upto 1052 A.D. His son and successor Prola I (1052 A.D. - 1076 A.D.) acknowledged the supremacy of Chalukya Somesvara I and fought successfully against the Nagas of Chakrakota, the Silaharas of Konkanamandala, Bhadranga (probably Baddega of the family of the Chalukyas of Vemulavada) and killed in battle Gonna, the chief of Purukuta. In recognition of these services, Prola obtained permanently by way of grant, Anmakonda-vishaya from Somesvara I. Beta II, son and successor of Prola, ruled between 1076 A.D. and 1108 A.D. With the encouragement of Vikramaditya<br />
VI, hec onquered Sabbimandala. It was probably during this period, Anmakonda became the capital of the Kakatiyas. Beta It's eldest son Durgaraja (1108 A.D.-1116 A.D.) made an attempt to rebel against his Chalukyan suzerain. However his younger brother Prola II set him aside and occupied the throne of Anmakonda.<br />
Prola II (1116 A.D.-1153 A.D.) was the most famous<br />
among the early Kakatiya rulers. In the early years of his<br />
reign, he owed allegiance to Vikramaditya VI. When, after his<br />
death in 1126 A.D., the Chalukyan power began to decline,<br />
Prola II took advantage of the confused situation He played<br />
an active part in the Kalachuri revolution at Kalyani and after<br />
the overthrow of Tailapa III, proclaimed independence. He made<br />
extensive conquests in Telangana. He defeated Govindaraja<br />
and handed his kingdom Kondapalli (in the Krishna district)<br />
over to Chododaya (whose brother was ruling as his feudatory<br />
near Panugai). He also defeated and killed Gunda, the ruler<br />
of Mantrakuta (Mantena in the Nuzvid taluk of Krishna district)<br />
and annexed it to his kingdom. However he failed in his attempts<br />
to push his arms further into the Veianati kingdom<br />
on the east coast. These attempts cost him his life at the<br />
hands of Rajendra Choda, the prince of the Velanati Telugu<br />
Chodas of Chandolu and their samantas.<br />
2. RUDRADEVA (1158 A.D -1195/6 A.D.)<br />
Rudredeva, who was also known as Prataparudra I. was<br />
the eldest son and successor of Prola II. After his accession<br />
to the throne, he devoted all his energy and resources to safeguarding<br />
his independent status and to extending his dominion<br />
wherever possible To pursue his policy of aggrandizement, he<br />
had to wage wars on many chiefs. A graphic description, of<br />
his achievements is given in his Anmakonds inscription,<br />
a document of great historical importance. It seems by<br />
the year 1162 A.D., the date of the Anmakonda record, Rudradeva<br />
vanquished a number of his enemies and transformed<br />
his petty principality into an extensive kingdom . The inscription<br />
mentions the names of Dommaraja (Nagunur principality<br />
in the Karimnagar district), Medaraja (Pakhal area to<br />
the north-east of Warangal) and Mailagideva (Polavasa territory<br />
in the Jagatyal Taluk of Karimnagar district) as opponents<br />
whom he had overcome in battle These victories, all in the<br />
region to the north of Anmakonda. enabled him to extend his<br />
dominion night upto the banks of the Godavari.i<br />
Then turning his attention to the south, Rudradeva burnt<br />
the city of Chododaya. the ruler of Kondapalli (who died about<br />
this time due to poisoning by his brother Bhima). After this,<br />
he marched on Vardhanapura, the capital of Bhima who had<br />
poisoned his brother Chodadaya to death. Bhima fled to the<br />
forest and the capital was easily captured by the Kakatiyas.<br />
These conquests were also consolidated.<br />
Rudradeva seems to have devoted the later part of his<br />
reign to the conquest of the coastal region. He regarded himself<br />
as the political successor of the Western Chalukyan<br />
emperors and laid claim to the sovereignty over Vengi and<br />
other parts of the coastal Andhra country, earlier conquered<br />
and enjoyed by Vikramaditya VI and his son until 1133 A.D,<br />
He started making his efforts to avenge his father's death in<br />
the hands of the Telugu Chodas of Velanadu and their subordinates.<br />
The latter were ruling over the territory (comprising<br />
of the Kurnool, Guntur, Krishna and the Gddavari districts) to<br />
the south of the Kakatiya kingdom. By the time of Rajendra<br />
Choda lI, the decline had set in for the Velanadu kingdom.<br />
The Chalukyas in the Vengi manetela were continuing their<br />
intrigues as usual. Apart from this, during the years 1176-82<br />
A.D., the battle of Palanadu was fought. Rudradeva rendered<br />
military assistance to Nalagama's faction. In this battle, the<br />
military strength of Velanadu had got weakened. Exploiting<br />
the situation, Rudradeva led his forces into coastal Andhra and<br />
conquered upto Srisailam and Trpurantakam in the south. In<br />
1186 A.D., Gonka III of Velanadu might have lost his life in<br />
battle with Rudradeva and his son Prithvisvara confined his<br />
rule to the north of Godavari (Pithapuram). According to<br />
Anmakonda inscription, his kingdom comprised the whole area<br />
between Srisailam and Tripurantakam in the south, the<br />
Malyavantam in the north, the Bay of Bengal in the east and<br />
Kalyani in the west.<br />
The history of the last decade of Rudradeva is a dark<br />
spectrum. However in the last year of his reign (1195-96 A.D.),<br />
he came into conflict with the Seunas (Yadavas) of Devagiri.<br />
Whether it is a defensive war or offensive war, it is uncertian.<br />
But one certainty is that Rudra suffered defeat and death in<br />
his encounter with the Seuna king Jaitugl or Jaitrapala I.<br />
Being a powerful king, Rudradeva both up an extensive<br />
kingdom. He paved the way for the subjugation of Vengi by<br />
his successors by contracting diplomatic and matrimonial<br />
alliances with the great feudatory families such as the Kolas<br />
and the Natavadis. Sivayogasara refers to his founding near<br />
his capital Anmakonda of a new town called Orugallu, destined<br />
to become the principal city of the entire Andhradesa under<br />
his successors. Rudra was also a patron of art and letters.<br />
Many splendid temples built in the Chalukyan style rose all<br />
over the country. The famous Thousand Pillar Temple (known<br />
as the Rudresvara temple) at Anmakonda was built during this<br />
period. Rudra is described as the resort and refuse of learned<br />
men. The authorship of a work on rajaniti called 'Nitisaranm'<br />
in Sanskrit is attributed to him<br />
After Rudradeva's death and the imprisonment of his<br />
nephew Ganapati in the hands of the Yadavas of Devagiri.<br />
his younger brother Mahadeva ascended the throne and ruled<br />
the kingdom for a short span of about three years (1195/96-<br />
1198/99 A.D.). He led an expedition against the Yadava<br />
kingdom to avenge Rudra's death and also get the release<br />
of his son Ganapati. He lost his life in the battle<br />
3. GANAPATIDEVA (1199-1262 A.D.)<br />
Following the death of Mahadeva and the captivity of<br />
Ganapati. disorders broke out in the kingdom The nobles<br />
rose in revolt. The rulers of the neighbouring states, especially<br />
the Mudigonda Chalukyan king Nagati and the Chalukya-Chola<br />
emperor Kulottunga III. invaded the country. But Recherta<br />
Rudra, the commander-in-chief of the Kakatiya ruler, saved the<br />
kingdom from crumbling. His titles 'Kakatjyarajyabharadhaureya'<br />
and 'Kakatirajyasamartha indicate that the carried on<br />
administration in the name of his lord and sovereign<br />
Ganapatideva's imprisonment did not last very long He<br />
was set free and sent back to rule his kingdom This might<br />
be due to sympathy and generosity of the Yadava king Jaitra138<br />
pala, who had his own political considerations (like his desire<br />
to secure himself against an attack from Warangal side in the<br />
event of a conflict with the aggressive Hoyasalas in the south)<br />
in setting Ganapatideva at liberty.<br />
Ganapatideva's reign, reckoned as beginning in 1199 A.D.<br />
lasted for 62 years. It is one of the most brilliant epochs in<br />
the history of Andhradesa. Being an energetic monarch,<br />
Ganapati during his long reign brought under his sway by war<br />
or diplomacy almost the whole land inhabited by the Teluguspeaking<br />
peoples. He took advantage of the dismemberment<br />
of the Western Chalukyan and Chola empires.<br />
Ganapatideva started his successful career of conquest with<br />
the invasion of the coastal districts with strong contingents<br />
in 1201 A.D. The Velanati chief Prithvisvara, who exercised<br />
some sort of authority over his ancestral kingdom, was not<br />
strong enough to check the unruly nobility or to stem the<br />
forces of disintegration. Ganapatideva seized this opportunity.<br />
Accompanied by all the subordinate chiefs like the Kotas,<br />
Natavadis and Malyalas, first Bezwada was captured. Then<br />
the island fortress of Divi, the headquarters of the Ayya chiefs,<br />
was plundered. For the significant part played by the Malyala<br />
chief Chaunda in this expedition, he was conferred with the<br />
title 'Divichurakara' (the plunderer of the island of Divi) by<br />
Ganapati. Being an astute politician, the latter followed a<br />
policy of conciliation towards the vanquished chiefs. Ganapatideva<br />
restored their possessions, married Narama and Perama,<br />
the two daughters of Ayya Pina Chodi and took their brother<br />
Jayapa into his service. Subsequently he and the Telugu Choda<br />
chiefs, Tikka (of Nellore)' and Ballaya (probably of Kammanadu)<br />
fought against Prithvisvara and killed him. With his death,<br />
the rule of the Velanati chiefs came to an end and their territory<br />
came into the possession of Ganapatideva.<br />
Ganapati appears to have sent between 1212 A.D. and<br />
1230 A.D. two expeditions against the kings of the southern<br />
region. The expansion of the Kakatiya power in the southern<br />
direction was the direct outcome of his alliance with the<br />
Telugu cholas of Nellore. Taking advantage of the dismemberment<br />
of the Chalukya-Cholas, the Nellore Cholas asserted<br />
their independence in the Nellore, Cudapah and Chingteput<br />
districts. During the reign of Manumasiddhi 1 the Chalukya-<br />
Chola ruler Kulottunga III invaded the Telugu Chola kingdom,<br />
dislodged him and placed his younger brother Nallasiddni on<br />
the throne of Nellore. Manumasiddhi I's son Tikka, the rightful<br />
heir to the throne, sought Ganapatideva's help to regain his<br />
patrimony from his uncles, In the war on Prithvisvara, this<br />
Tikka joined forces with the Kakatiya monarch. In return for<br />
this help, Ganapatideva marched against Nellore, drove away<br />
Tikka's uncle and his supporters and installed Tikka on the<br />
throne of Nellore. However during the years 1p15-1228 A.D..<br />
Tikka had again been driven from the throne. It might be<br />
due to the Chalukya-Chola and Yadava menace. These troubles<br />
he could overcome again with the help of his friend Ganapatideva.<br />
The Seuna army was defeated in the Karumulur (Caddap-<br />
ah district) battle. Kanchi was plundered. Tikka was<br />
re-established at Nellore and Kanchi. Then to strengthen his<br />
position in the interior of his kingdom, Tikka appointed the<br />
Kayastha Gangaya Sahini, a relation of one of Ganapatideva's<br />
vassals, as the governor of upper-Pakanadu<br />
Tikka, who kept on friendly relations with the Chalukya-<br />
Chola emperors, aided by Ganapatideva, marched to the south<br />
at the head of a large army and killed Karnata (Hoyasala) Narasimha<br />
II in battle at Jambai in 1239 A.D., defeated in the following<br />
year Narasimha's son Somesvara, who had attacked him<br />
to avenge his father's death, and assumed his (somesvara's)<br />
title 'Chola Sthapanacharya'.<br />
Subsequent to his victory over Prithisvara, Ganapatideva<br />
wanted to bring the latter's possessions in Kalinga under his<br />
rule. In this Kalinga expedition, Bhima. the Telugu Chola chief<br />
of Eruva. and Rajanayaka, the commander of the Recherlas.<br />
also participated and conquered several places in Vengi. Orissa<br />
and Bastar state. Though this expedition of Gaoapatideva was<br />
a brilliant demonstration of his military strength, it did not<br />
produce any tangible results from the view point of territorial<br />
gains. For no trace of the Kakatiya rule has so far been discovered<br />
to the-north of Draksharama in the East Godavari<br />
district (Rajanayaka's Draksharama inscription dated 1212<br />
A.D.), The eastern Ganga king Ananga Bhima IIl and his subordinates<br />
like Godhumarati and Padiyaraya soon asserted<br />
their authority<br />
Ganapatideva reduced the Telugu Cholas of Konidena<br />
(Narasaraopet Taluk, Guntur district) and the Chakranarayana<br />
princes of Addanki to obedience by 1217-18 A,D. When,<br />
espousing the cause of the Velanati chiefs, the Kalinga ruler<br />
Ananga Bhima III led his march against Vengi, Ganapatideva<br />
sent Induluri Soma Pradhani along with Eruva Bhima, Kalapa<br />
Nayaka and Malyala Hemadri Reddi to expel the Kalingas from<br />
Vengi and bring that country under his control. In the course<br />
of this campaign, Kolanu or Sasasipuri was conquered in 1231<br />
A.D. The Velanati descendants of Prithvisvara took to flight.<br />
Subsequent aggressive activities of Kalinga Bhima's son and<br />
successor Narasimha I were also effectively tackled by Ganapatideva's<br />
men and the Kakatiya power in the Godavari vailey<br />
remained undisturbed until the end of Ganapatideva's reign.<br />
When Tikka died in 1248 A.D., the Nellore kingdom was<br />
plunged into lawlessness. One Vijaya-Gandagopala seized<br />
Chingleput and North Arcot districts leaving only Nellore and<br />
Cuddapah districts to Tikka's son and successor Manumasiddhi<br />
II. He allied himself with the Chalukya-Chola heir<br />
apparent Rajendra III and the Karnataka ruler Vira Somesvara.<br />
At the same juncture, the agnates Tikkarra and Bayyana drove<br />
away Manumasiddhi II from his capital Nellore. Rakkasa<br />
Ganga, a scion of the Vaidumba family, ousted Manuma's<br />
general Gangaya Sahini from his governorship and occupied<br />
the Cuddapah region. Under these circumstances, Manuma<br />
sought, through his loyal minister and the famous Telugu poet<br />
Tikkana, the help of Ganapatrdeva. The Nayanipalli record<br />
(Guntur district) refers to the march of a powerful Kakatiya<br />
army under its general Samanta Bhoja to the south. Nellore<br />
was reduced to ashes. Tikkana and Bayyana were killed. The<br />
combined forces of the kings of Dravida and Karnataka and<br />
The Kakatiyas 141<br />
of Vijaya-Gandagopala were defeated at Prayeru (Palaiyaru in<br />
the Tanjore district) and Kanchi was captured in 1250 A.D.<br />
Soon with the support of Ganapatideva, Manuma and Gangaya<br />
reconquered the territory seized by the Vaidumba chief, Rakkasa<br />
Ganga. With the consent of Manumasiddhi II, Ganapatideva<br />
conferred the reconquered territory on Kayastha Gangaya Sahini<br />
es a family estate.<br />
Ganapatideva appears to have maintained on the whole<br />
cordial relations with his western neighbours the Seunas<br />
(Yadavas). Both the powers in fact joined hands and tried<br />
to check the expansion of the Pandyan power in the early<br />
years of the reign of Jatavarma Sundara Pandya I (of Madura)<br />
who aggressively subjugated between 1251 A.D. and 1257 A.D.<br />
the whole of Southern India and established the Pandyan<br />
hegemony over it. As a political successor to the Cholas,<br />
Jatavarma forced Vijaya Gandagopala of Kanch; and his ally<br />
the Kadava chief Kopperunjinga to submit to the authority of<br />
the Pandyas. He next turned his attention to Nellore. Manumasiddhi<br />
II of Nellore appealed to the Kakatiya, the Seuna and<br />
the Bana rulers for help. To divert the attention of the foes,<br />
Jatavarrna divided his army into two sections, despatched one<br />
section under his new vassals Rajendra Chola III, Kupperunjnga<br />
and Vijaya-Gandagopala into the Kakatiya kingdom and himself<br />
leading the main army advanced along the coast towards<br />
Nellore. The advance guard led by Kopperunjinga penetrated<br />
as far as Draksharama in the East Godavari district. The Kadava<br />
chief suffered reverses at the hands of Ganapatideva and was<br />
forced to acknowledge his suzerainty. Rajendra Chola lII and<br />
Vijaya-Gandagopala were forced to retreat by the Kayastha<br />
chiefs. Jatavarma, who marched on Nellore with the mam<br />
army, swept all opposition and reached Muttukur. a village near<br />
Nellore. In the fierce battle here, in 1263 A.D. Manumasiddhi II<br />
was killed and his allies the Kakatiya and Seuna forces suffered<br />
terribly. The Nellore kingdom was annexed to the Pandyan<br />
empire. Jatavarma celebrated Virabhisheka both at Nellore and<br />
Kanchi. This was a terrible blow for the ascendency of<br />
Kakatiyas.<br />
142 HISTORY OF THE ANDHRAS<br />
Ganapatideva was undoubtedly the greatest ruler of his<br />
dynasty. He succeeded to a large extent in restoring the political<br />
unity of the Telugu country. His rule was helpful to the<br />
prosperity of his realm, Warangal was further fortified and<br />
made capital. Ganapatideva provided irrigation tanks to the<br />
peasantry. He pursued an enlightened commercial policy. His<br />
Motupalli pillar inscription dated 1245 A.D. records an assurance<br />
of protection to merchants engaged in foreign trade.<br />
He was staunch saivite He built temples and patronised<br />
teaming. The famous Ramappa temple near Palampeta in the<br />
Warangal district is of his period.<br />
Though Ganapathideva was alive until 1269 A.D., he handed<br />
over the threads of administration to his daughter Rudramadevi<br />
in 1262 A.D. itself and retired from active politics.<br />
4. RUDRAMADEVI (1259-1289 A.D.)<br />
Ganapatideva had no male issue. But he had two daughters.<br />
Rudramadevi and Genapamadevi. Rudramadevi or Rudramba<br />
was given in marriage to a prince of the Eastern Chalukyan<br />
lineage (of Nidadavolu) called Virabhadra. The second daughter<br />
was given in marriage to Beta of the Kota family. Rudramadevi<br />
was nominated as heir apparent and she began to rule the<br />
kingdom conjointly with her father as his co-regent from 1259-60<br />
A.D. onwards, under the name of Rudradeva Maharaja. In<br />
the first two or three years of her conjoint rule with her father,<br />
the kingdom was thrown into confusion and disorder due to<br />
Jatavarma Sundara Pandya I's invasion and the disastrous<br />
defeat of the Kakatiyas along with their allies on the battle<br />
field of Muttukur near Nellore Though Ganapati was ultimately<br />
successful in turning back the tide of invasion, yet he suffered<br />
loss of territory end prestige and his hold over his feudatories<br />
and nobles was shaken. Under these circumstances, he retired<br />
from active politics.<br />
Though Rudramadevi assumed full sovereignty in 1262-63<br />
AD, she was not the crowned queen till the year 1269 A.D..<br />
me date of Kayastha Jannigadeva's Duggi (Palnad Taluk) record<br />
The Kakatiyas 143<br />
which speaks of Rudrama as Pattodhriti (queen-designate) of<br />
Ganapatideva Maharaja. It was only after the death of her<br />
father about the year 1269 A.D., she celebrated her coronation.<br />
Rudramadevi's nomination and succession to the throne<br />
was not generally approved. Some of the nobles, who were<br />
unwilling to submit to a woman's authority took up arms against<br />
her Ekamranatha s 'Pratapachantra' refers to her step-brothers<br />
Hariharadeva and Murarideva ousting Rudrama, and capturing<br />
Warangal, and Rudrama effectively tackling them with the help<br />
of the citizens and some of her powerful supporters. However<br />
no other evidence is available to prove the existence of her<br />
step-brothers. Even if it is believed that some intransigent<br />
nobles and near relations rebelled against Rudrama's authority,<br />
the Kayastha chiefs Jannigedeva and his younger brothers<br />
Tripurari and Ambadeva, Recherla Prasaditya and the Reddi<br />
chiefs like Gona Gannaya and a host of others who remained<br />
firmly loyal to the queen, espoused her cause and helped her<br />
to defeat the rebels.<br />
With regard to the external dangers, the Kalinga King<br />
Narasimha I who suffered a defeat previously at the hands of<br />
Ganapatideva, taking advantage of the distracted condition in<br />
the Kakatiya dominions, marched with his forces into the<br />
Godavari delta to recover his lost possessons. His short and<br />
incomplete inscription at Draksharama dated 1262 A.D. attests<br />
the same. The minor Chalukyen families and the Haihaya chiefs,<br />
who were ruling in the erstwhile Vengi territories during this<br />
period, did not recognise any overlord. Whether they were<br />
actually independent or nominally autonomous princes (because<br />
of Veerabhadra's relationship), it is not certain. But the<br />
position is that no trace of the Kakatiya rule is to be found<br />
either in the Godavari valley or in Vengi until 1278-79 A.D. In<br />
the later part of the reign of Rudramadevi, the above provinces<br />
came back under her sway. Her commanders Poti Nayaka and<br />
Proli Nayaka fought against Kalinga Vira Bhanudeva I. son and<br />
successor of Narasimha I and his accomplices Arjunadeva, the<br />
Matsya chief of Oddadi and others and inflicted a crushing<br />
defeat on them. They even assumed the title 'Gajapatimattama144<br />
HISTORY OF THE ANDHRAS<br />
tangasimha' (lion to the rutting elephant, viz. the Gajapati), and<br />
'Oddiyarayamanamardana' (the destroyer of the pride of Oddiyaraya).<br />
The Kakatiya power was thus re-established in the<br />
coastal Andhra country.<br />
In the south, after the victory of Muttukur, a targe part of<br />
the Kakatiya territory was under the sway of the Pandyas.<br />
As a subordinate of the Pandyan monarch, the last Chalukya-<br />
Chola ruler Rajendra III ruled Nellore and its dependencies.<br />
Even the eastern part of the Cuddapah district and Chittore<br />
district were under the Pandyan sway. The Kalukada chiefs<br />
Kesavadeva and his brother Somideva, encouraged by the<br />
Pandyas. proclaimed their independence and even made, successful<br />
inroads (1267-69 A.D.) into the Kayastha territory<br />
which remained under the formers at least for sometime.<br />
Rudramadevi faced the most serious danger from the<br />
west. It threatened to overthrow the Kakatiya monarch. The<br />
Sauna ruler Mahadeva, who succeeded to the throne of Devagin<br />
in 1260 A.D., invaded the Kakatiya kingdom in the early<br />
years of his rule. The Yadava records credit him with victory<br />
against the Kakatiyas According to Hemadri's 'Vrata-Khanda ,<br />
he left her free 'because of his reluctance to kill a woman'. His<br />
title Telungarayasirahkamalamulotpatana' suggests that he 'uprooted<br />
the stalk of the lotus of the head of Telungaraya'. All<br />
these accounts are one-sided. The fact is that Mahadeva never<br />
killed any ruler of the Telugu country. It was only a heriditary<br />
title. One of the predecessors of Mahadeva, Jaitugi I killed<br />
Kakati Rudra in 1195/96 A.D. However, it may be said that<br />
though his attack was successful initially, it ended in dismal<br />
failure. 'Pratapachantram' mentions that Rudramadevi fought<br />
valiantly, put Mahadeva to flight, pursued the Seuna forces<br />
upto Davagin and forced him to conclude a treaty with her<br />
and pay a crore of gold coins as war indemnity. The epigraphic<br />
evidence from Panugal (Nalgonda district) and Hire-Kogilun<br />
bears testimony to this. A hoard of Seuna coins discovered<br />
at Rachapatnam (Kaikalur Taluk of the Krishna district) probably<br />
'represents a part of the money which Rudramba, according<br />
to Pratapachartram, received from Mahadeva as war indemnity<br />
and distributed among the officers of her army'<br />
The Kakatiyas 145<br />
In the south, the situation became still worse. As already<br />
seen, after the Muttukur conflict, the Nellore kingdom came<br />
under the sway of the Pandyas and was placed under their<br />
vassals. As the Pandyan inscriptions at Nandalur and Tirupati<br />
indicate, even the Vallum Kayasthakingdom came into the<br />
possession of the Pandyas (their subordinates the Kalukada<br />
Vaidumba chiefs were in charge). Though the Kakatiya vassal<br />
Mahamandalesvara Nagadeva Maharaja conquered Nellore and<br />
the surrounding territory, it was a temporary phenomenon<br />
which lasted just for five years (1271-75 A.D.). The area was<br />
reoccupied by the Telugu Cholas who paid allegiance to the<br />
Pandyas.<br />
The Kayastha chief Jannigadeva re-occupied the territories<br />
of the Valluru kingdom and freed thus from the Pandyan sway.<br />
He and his brother Tripurarideva I (1270-72 A.D.) continued<br />
to rule the Valluru kingdom as the vassals of Rudramadevi.<br />
However with the succession of their younger brother AMBADEVA<br />
to the throne in 1272 A.D., the situation underwent a<br />
change. Ambadeva was ambitious and powerful. From the<br />
beginning, he resolved to resuscitate the fortunes of his family<br />
and carve out an independent kingdom for himself. To pursue<br />
these objects, he was in constant wars with his neighbours<br />
during his long reign of thirty-two years.<br />
Ambadeva stopped paying allegiance to the Kakatiya queen<br />
almost from the very beginning of his rule. His Tripurantakam<br />
inscription dated 1290 A.D. records his achievements. It seems<br />
that he befriended himself with the Pandyas and the Saunas<br />
and with their military assistance proclaimed his independence.<br />
He is said to have successfully fought with the seventyfive<br />
kings. These kings might be the Kakatiya Nayankaras. Ambaya<br />
defeated the Gurindala (Gunjala in the Palnad Taluk of the<br />
Guntur district) chief 'Rayasahasramalla Sripati Ganapati. He<br />
also subjugated the Kalukada Vaidumba chiefs Kesavadeva and<br />
Somideva and their ally Allu Gangu of Gutti (Anantapur district).<br />
He killed Eruva Mallideva Choda in battle and occupied<br />
Eruvanadu Pendekallu also came into his possession Kopperunjinga<br />
was put to death and thereby Ambadeva assumed<br />
the title 'Kadavarayi Vidhvamsaka' With these conquests.<br />
Gandtkota, Mulikinadu, Renadu. Sakilinadu, Eruva and Pottapi-<br />
10)<br />
146 HISTORY OF THE ANDHRAS<br />
nadu were added to the Kayastha kingdom. He restored Manumagandagopala<br />
on the throne of Nellore and made him his<br />
vassal. The Pandyas, who attempted to restore their sway<br />
here, were defeated and driven away. As a result of this,<br />
the Pandyan suzerainty in Andhradesa came to an end. But<br />
the establishment of a strong, extensive and independent<br />
Kayastha kingdom in the southern parts, gave a jolt to the<br />
imperial authority of the Kakatiyas.<br />
Rudramadevi could not tolerate the headstrong and disloyal<br />
Ambadeva. She sent an army under her general Mallikarjuna<br />
against the rebel chief. However, as the recently<br />
discovered Chandupatla (Nalgonda district) grant dated 1283<br />
A.D. indicates, Ambadeva seems to have killed Rudrama along<br />
with Mallikarjuna Nayaka in battle in that year. It was<br />
Prataparudra II, successor of Rudrama that succeeded in supressing<br />
the Kayastha revolt later.<br />
Rudramadevi was undoubtedly one of the greatest rulers<br />
of Andhradesa. Her sex did not come on her way in discharging<br />
the duties of her exalted office. She took an active<br />
part in governing the country and strove hard to promote<br />
the best interests of the state. In spite of the wars which<br />
frequently disturbed the country, her people remained contented<br />
and happy under her rule. Rudrama strengthened the<br />
Warangal fort still further. She had also a deep moat dug<br />
around it Marcopolo. the Venetian traveller who paid a visit<br />
to the kingdom probably a little later, speaks highly of her<br />
administrative qualities, benign rule and greatness.<br />
Rudramadevi had no male issue out only two daughters<br />
Mummadamma and Ruyyamma. On the advice of her father,<br />
she adopted Mummadamma's son Prataparudra (II) as her son<br />
and as heir to the throne. On her demise, Prataparudra II<br />
ascended the throne of Warangal<br />
5 PRATAPARUDRA II (1289/90-1323 A.D.)<br />
Dr. P V. Parabhrahma Sastri contended, on the basis of<br />
the Chandupatla (near Nakarikallu. Nalgonda district) inscripron,<br />
that Rudramadevi died in the month of November, 1289<br />
AD. fghting battle against the rebal Kayestha chief Ambadeva.<br />
On the death of Rudrama, her grandson Prataparudra, who<br />
The Kakatiyas 147<br />
was adopted by her as son and as heir apparent on the advice<br />
of her father Ganapatideva, ascended the throne at the beginning<br />
of the year 1280 A.D. At the time of his accession, he<br />
was about thirty five years old. Before his grandmother's<br />
death, he had been associated with her for several years in<br />
the administration of the kingdom with the names Kakati<br />
Rudrakumara and Kumara Rudradeva. If the contention of<br />
Dr. Parabrahma Sastri that Rudrama was killed at the hands<br />
of the rebel Ambadeva in battle, is accepted, then it must be<br />
agreed that even after his accession to the throne of Warangal<br />
in 1289/90 A.D., Prataparudra was referred as Kumara Rudradeva.<br />
In the Nataka Prakarana of 'Prataparudra Yasobhushanam',<br />
the author Vidyanatha refers that when the prince was bom<br />
because it looked as if the Sun-rise took place, so he was<br />
named Prataparudra.<br />
As Dr. M. Ramarao pointed out. his (Prataparudra's) is<br />
'an eventful reign Like the reign of Aurangzeb, it shows high<br />
watermark of the Kakatiya glory and also witnesses inevitable<br />
but pitiable reaction in the opposite direction'. Prataparudra<br />
had to fight battles throughout his reign against either the<br />
internal rebels or the external foes. The caste-ridden factional<br />
rivalries among the Kayastha, the Velama and the Reddi communities<br />
might have incited the internal revolts. As a result<br />
of these constant internal troubles and the external dangers,<br />
especially the invasions of the aliens, the Kakatiya empire<br />
ultimately collapsed.<br />
Eversince Prataparudra assumed the reigns of government.<br />
he made the rehabilitation of the kingdom his sole aim. To<br />
strengthen the defences of the kingdom, he set about reorganizing<br />
the administrative system. Tradition, based on<br />
authentic facts, points out that he recruited exclusively from<br />
the Velama community seventy five or seventy seven nayaks,<br />
assigned them territories and entrusted to each of them the<br />
defence of one of the seventy-seven bastions of the (on of his<br />
capital Warangal. He must have found the Velama (Padma<br />
Nayaka) chieftains eminently fitted to the duty. This wellmeant<br />
reform and the special favour shown to the Velama<br />
148 HISTORY OF THE ANDHRAS<br />
community, of course, excited the jealousy of the Reddi chieftains<br />
who grew sullen and discontented. Prataparudra even<br />
centralised power as far as possible.<br />
'Prataparudra put his new-modelled army to test by pitting<br />
against the rebel Kayastha chief Ambadeva. He proved more<br />
than a match to Ambaya. He knew fully well that an attack<br />
on Ambaya would also involve him in a war with his allies,<br />
the Seunas and the Pandyas. So he wanted to isolate Ambadeva<br />
from those allies and deal with each of them separately,<br />
For this, he launched a three-pronged attack on Ambadeva's<br />
territories and at the same time to dispatch separate expeditions<br />
against his a/lies, who sent fierce elephants and fleetfooted<br />
horses as auxiliary forces to the assistance of the<br />
Kayasthas. In 1291 A.D., a large army under Gannaya, son<br />
of Kolani Sornamantri and his cousin Annayadeva, son of<br />
Induluri Peda Gannayamantri, defeated Ambadeva and forced<br />
him to retreat southwards into Mulikinadu. As a result of<br />
this victory, Tripurantakam and the surrounding territory passed<br />
into the hands or the Kakatiya monarch. In the course of the<br />
same campaign, the Cheraku chief, Rajanarendra who was<br />
probably a vassal and ally of Ambadeva, was put to death.<br />
The inscriptions testify to the fact that subsequently<br />
the Cherakus continued to rule the Nandikotkur Taluk of the<br />
Kurnool district as vassals of the Kakatiya monarch.<br />
While the encounter with Ambadeva and the Cherukus<br />
was in progress in the west, another section of the Kakatiya<br />
army under the command of Adidam Mallu marched along the<br />
coast towards Nellore to prevent its chief Manuma-Gandagopala<br />
from joining forces with his patron Ambadeva or sending him<br />
military assistance. Mallu killed Manuma in the encounter and<br />
placed Raja-Gandagopala on the throne of Nellore in 1290 A.D.<br />
But this Raja-Gandagopala soon turned against his benefactor<br />
and joined hands with the Pandyas. A second expedition was<br />
sent against Nellore by Prataparudra. Raja-Gandagopala and<br />
his Pandyan allies were defeated.<br />
Another expedition, under Gona Vitthala from his headquarters<br />
Vardhamanapura (Vaddamanu in the Mahaboobnagar<br />
The Kakatiyas 149<br />
district), was sent against the Seuna territory on the western<br />
frontier. Vitthala must have wrested the Krishna-Tungabhadra<br />
doab from the Seunas of Devagiri and fortified Raichur so that<br />
the entire region could effectively be controlled from that fort.<br />
Ambadeva, who was compelled to retire by the Kakatiya<br />
army from Tripurantakam and its surrounding territories, continued<br />
to rule over his native Mulikinadu until 1304 A.D. He<br />
and his successors stayed independent. It was in the year<br />
1309 A.D. that Prataparudra sent an army against them under<br />
his general Maharaya-pattasahini Somaya Nayaka, Induluri Annaya<br />
and others. The Kayasthas were everthrown and their territories<br />
were annexed to the Kakatiya kingdom, Somaya Nayaka<br />
was entrusted with the government of these territories.<br />
Meanwhile the Kakatiya kingdom had to face the Turushka<br />
inroads (1303-10 A.D.) as a result of which the country was<br />
thrown into calamity and chaos, The failure of Protaparudra<br />
to ward off the Muslim invasion in 1309 A.D. under the command<br />
of Malik Naib Kafur, let loose the forces of disintegration<br />
in his empire. Taking advantage of this distracted condition,<br />
the Vadumba chief Mallideva of Gandikota and the Telugu Chola<br />
ruler Ranganatha of Nellore rebelled against the central authority.<br />
After the retirement of the Muslim invaders from<br />
Telangana, Prataparudra sent an army under Juttayalenka<br />
Gonkaya Reddi against Mallideva. Mallideva was defeated and<br />
killed. Prataparudra made Gonkaya the governor of Mulikinadu<br />
and the surrounding territories with Gandikota as headquarters.<br />
In the meantime, civil war began in the Pandyan kingdom<br />
between Kulasekhara Pandya's two sons, Vira Pandya and<br />
Sundara Pandya for the throne of Madura. As a mediator,<br />
Malik Kafur entered Madurai kingdom, plundered and desecrated<br />
the temples at Kanchi, Madurai, Chidambaram, Srirangam and<br />
other places and carried away much loot, shattering the<br />
economy of the Tamil country. This Mabar expedition of the<br />
Muslims proved to be a purely military raid. The aftermath<br />
confusion in the Pandyan kingdom provided an opportunity for<br />
the Kerala and the Karnataka rulers to intervene in its affairs.<br />
Ravivarman Kulasekhara of Quilon defied the Pandyan autho150<br />
HISTORY OF THE ANDHRAS<br />
rity. At the same time, the Hoyasala Ballala III invaded and<br />
occupied a large part of Tondaimandalam, including perhaps<br />
Kanchi, and forced some of the local chieftains, such as the<br />
Sambuvaraya of Padaividu and the Yadavaraya of Chandragiri<br />
to pay their allegiance. According to N.V. Ramanayya, at the<br />
instance of Ala-ud-Din Khilji, Prataparudra along with the<br />
generals, the Padma Nayak chief Erra Dacha Nayaka along with<br />
Induluri Rudra, Muppidi Nayaka and Devari Nayaka, marched<br />
on the Pandyan territory. Ranganatha was driven away and<br />
Nellore became part and parcel of the Kakatiya empire. Devari<br />
Nayaka occupied Kanchi from the Hoyasala forces, defeated<br />
both Ravivarma and Vira Pandya and anointed Sundara Pandya<br />
at Viradhavaia. The Kakatiya authority was thus established<br />
in the south upto Trichinopoly in the south.<br />
On the banks of the river Tungabhadra one Singaya Nayaka,<br />
a vassal of the Yadavas, established an independent Kampili<br />
kingdom, at Anegondi. His son Kampilideva, who was ambitious<br />
and aggressive, desirous of extending his kingdom, came<br />
into conflict with the Hoyasala ruler Ballala IIl. In this endeavour,<br />
he even sought the help of Prataparudra. When he failed to<br />
secure the assistance of the Kakatiya monarch, he got angry<br />
with him and in order to humiliate him assumed his titles<br />
'Mururayaraganda' and 'Virarudrnaganda'. Prataparudra became<br />
furious at this and sent Bendapudi Annayamatya and<br />
Recherla Singama Nayaka against Kampili. The Kakatiya<br />
generals humbled the pride of Kampilideva.<br />
To augment the financial resources and replenish the treasury,<br />
which became empty due to many a war waged against<br />
the internal rebels and the external foes and the frequent inroads<br />
of the Muslims and also due to the continual payment<br />
of tribute to Delhi, Prataparudra tried his best. In the Cuddapah,<br />
Kurnool and Palnad areas, trees were cut down, forests<br />
were cleared and new lands were brought under cultivation.<br />
Tanks and wells were dug to provide irrigational facilities. New<br />
settlements came into existence.<br />
Prataparudra was a man of cultural tastes and pursuits.<br />
He patronised men of letters both in Sanskrit and Telugu. His<br />
The Kakatiyas 151<br />
court poet Vidyanatha wrote 'Prataparudra Yasobhushanam'<br />
on poetics in Sanskrit. Agastya and Viswanatha had also their<br />
contribution in Sanskrt. Prataparudra's ministers and generals<br />
also patronised poets and scholars.<br />
6. PRATAPARUDRA AND THE MUSLIM INVASIONS<br />
(The Muslim Invasions on Andhra)<br />
The glory of the Kakatiya realm which was at its zenith<br />
during the reign of Prataparudra, exited the jealousy of his<br />
neighbours, especially the Yadavas of Devagiri and tire Oriya<br />
rulers of Cuttack and led them even to make common cause<br />
with any power that sought to humble the pride of the Kakatiyas.<br />
'Unfortunately for the Andhras such a mighty power<br />
came forth in the dynasty of the Imperial rulers (The Khaljis<br />
and then the Tughlaks) of Delhi.' Ala-ud-din Khalji was the<br />
first Sultan of Delhi to undertake expedition against Andhra.<br />
It is to be viewed as part of his grand scheme of invasions of<br />
the Deccan and South India. S.K. Aiyangar rightly observes<br />
in his work 'South India and Her Muhammadan Invaders' about<br />
the motives of Ala-ud-din in undertaking these expeditions<br />
thus: 'Al-ud-din's object in these various invasions of the<br />
Deccan and the farther south appears to have gone on farther<br />
than making them the mileh-co for the gold that he was often<br />
much in need for the efficient maintenance of his army to keep<br />
Hindustan free from internal disturbances and invasion by the<br />
Mughals (Mongols) from outside'.<br />
Ala-ud-din was by all counts, the first Muslim general who<br />
crossed the Vindhyas and invaded the Hindu States of South<br />
India. Being the nephew of Jalal-ud-din Khalji, the founder<br />
of the Khalji rule in Delhi, he (Ali Gurshasp Malik was his real<br />
name) rendered his services to his uncle and father-in-law<br />
in crushing the revolt (Aug-Sept. 1290 A.D.) of the disaffected<br />
Turkish amirs led by Malik Chhajju-Kishlu Khan, governor of<br />
Kara. This young man, calculating, unscrupulous and aggressive',<br />
was eventually appointed governor of Kara. His domestic<br />
misery (due to haughty and arrogant wife) increased his thirst<br />
152 HISTORY OF THE ANDHRAS<br />
for avenging himself on the family and his unsympathetic<br />
critics by deeds that would free him from the bitter family<br />
tutelage and ensure him an independent and glorious existence.<br />
He realized that money was the first requisite and raid<br />
on the neighbouring Hindu states and beyond the Vindhyas<br />
appeared to assue a working capital for the furtherance of<br />
his ultimate objective of capturing the throne of Delhi. In this<br />
process, he first captured Bhilsa (Vidisha) near Bhopal, plundered<br />
and destroyed the richly endowed temples and collected<br />
enoromous booty. Here he 'assiduously gathered knowledge<br />
of the fabled wealth of southern Hindu kingdoms'. On the<br />
pretext of invading Chanderi, Ala-ud-din, as a fugitive prince,<br />
marched in the winter of 1295 A.D. to Ellichpur and then passed<br />
through Lasaura with his eight thousand picked cavalry. He<br />
had his assault on the capital Devagiri of the Yadava kingdom,<br />
when its main army had gone southwards under heir apparent<br />
Singhana Deva. The ruler Ramachandra sued for peace. Even<br />
Singhana who arrived from the south was also defeated.<br />
Enormous booty and huge war indemnity were extracted.<br />
Devagiri was reduced to a vassal state. This invasion 'not<br />
only provided Ala-ud-din with the money, he needed so badly<br />
to further his ambitious plans to succeed to throne of Delhi<br />
but also opened the way to South India to the Mahammadans,<br />
none of whom had dared to cross the Vindhyas so far'.<br />
Ala-ud-din then hatched a plot, assassinated Jalal-ud-din,<br />
won the nobles over to his side with the Deccan money and<br />
usurped the Delhi throne in 1296 A.D. He was obliged to<br />
keep a large and effective army in order to keep the nobles<br />
under check, maintain law and order, subjugate and conquer<br />
the independent and semi-independent states, and to check<br />
the Mongol menace. His revenue reforms were due to his<br />
desire to increase state resources. The execution of his policy<br />
of conquest of north India drained mostly these resources. He<br />
soon felt the need to look for money outside his territory.<br />
His assiduously gathered earlier knowledge of the fabled<br />
wealth of southern Hindu kingdoms beyond Devagiri came to<br />
his help. Instead of conquering and annexing these kingdoms.<br />
The Kakatiyas 153<br />
he shrewdly opted for squeezing them of their immense<br />
treasures and making them pay tributes regularly to augment<br />
the imperial treasury. The political situation in the south at<br />
that time was also encouraging to him. The rulers of the<br />
Hoyasala, Pandya, Yadava and Kakatiya kingdoms, which rose<br />
on the ruins of the Chalukyu and Chola empires, were engaged<br />
in war with each other. So Ala-ud-din turned his attention<br />
beyond Devagiri on the Telugu country first.<br />
According to contemporary Hindu sources like 'Pratapacharitra',<br />
Vilasa and Kaluvacheru copper plate grants, there<br />
were no less than eight Muslim expeditions against the Andhra<br />
country alone during the reign of Prataparudra, The Muslim<br />
accounts, however, refer to only five expeditions, of which<br />
three were victorious and two disastrous.<br />
The earliest expedition of Ala-ud-din against the Kakatiya<br />
kingdom took place in 1303 A.D. While he himself was engaged<br />
in sieging the fort of Chitor in Rajasthan, he sent Malik<br />
Fakhr-ud-din Juna and Jhaju of Kara with troops by way of<br />
Bengal to Telangana. The army, which already suffered disaster<br />
in the course of the march owing to floods, was worsted<br />
at Upparapalli (Karimnagar district) by Recherfa Venna and<br />
Potuganti Maili and was compelled to retreat in confusion.<br />
After settling satisfactorily the affairs of Hindustan and<br />
Western India and having brought effectively Maharashtra<br />
(Devagiri kingdom) under control, Ala-ud-din devoted his attention<br />
to the conquest of the Southern Hindu States. Amir<br />
Khusrau and Barani gave a graphic account of these expeditions<br />
commencing from 1309 A.D. The Sultan dispatched a<br />
large army under Malik Naib Kafur and Khwaja Haji to conquer<br />
Telangana to wipe off his earlier disgrace and also to chastise<br />
Prataparudra for giving asylum to the Hindu ruler of Gujarat.<br />
In tune with his policy towards the Southern rulers, he ordered<br />
Malik Naib to leave Prataparudra in possession of his dominions,<br />
if he should submit to him and agree to pay tribute. The<br />
Delhi army passed through Devagiri and seized the hill of<br />
Anmakonda on 20 January, 1310 A.D. After twenty-five days<br />
154 HISTORY OF THE ANDHRAS<br />
fighting, the outer mud fort of Warangal was taken by storm.<br />
While laying sieze of the inner stone fort, the Muslim army<br />
devastated the country side, terrifying the inhabitants. Thus<br />
Prataparudra was forced to submit. Peace was restored.<br />
'War and peace with Sultan Ala-ud-din made little difference,<br />
the former involved death and the latter the loss of everything<br />
that one possessed'. Malik Naib left Warangal with a high<br />
booty 'a thousand camels groaned, under the weight of the<br />
treasure'. Prataparudra remained a vassal of Delhi, paying<br />
the stipulated amount of tribute every year thereafter.<br />
Following Ala-ud-din's death in 1316 A.D., the revolution<br />
broke out in Delhi, which finally led to the accession of Qutbud-<br />
din Mubarak to the throne. Taking advantage of this situation,<br />
Prataparudra stopped paying tribute to Delhi. The new<br />
Sultan sent his favourite slave Khusrau Khan to Warangal at<br />
the head of a powerful army to collect the arrears of tribute<br />
due to Delhi. With regard to this Khusrau Khan's expedition<br />
to Warangal, Amir Khusrau and Isami gave conflicting accounts,<br />
While an overdrawn picture of the achievements of the Muslim<br />
general in Telangana was given by the former, the latter simply<br />
states that 'Khusrau collected all the tribute due to his master<br />
without having recourse to force'. However both the accounts<br />
clearly point out that Prataparudra paid the arrears of tribute<br />
and the Delhi authority was restored in Telangana<br />
Again when a series of events shook the Delhi empire<br />
to its foundations in 1320 A.D., Prataparudra, according to<br />
Firishta, did not pay tribute. After Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlak<br />
established the rule of his family in Delhi, reversing the policy<br />
of his predecessors towards the southern kingdoms (squeezing<br />
as much money as possible), the Sultan wanted to bring<br />
the whole of Deccan peninsula under his direct control. In<br />
pursuit of this policy, he sent his son prince Juna Khan, who<br />
bore the title 'Ulugh Khan' (later Muhammad bin Tughlak),<br />
to the south. Ulugh Khan marched to Warangal in 1321-22<br />
A.D. This was the fourth expedition against Warangal. Ulugh<br />
Khan marched to Warangal by way of Devagiri. Barani gives<br />
us details of this expedition. Warangal was invested. A proThe<br />
Kakatiyas 155<br />
tracted and fierce struggle followed. Kotagiri and other places<br />
were also besiezed. When the Muslim armis were about to<br />
capture Warangal, rumours spread, might be at trie instance of<br />
the astrologer Ubaid, to the effect that Ghiyas-ud-din died and<br />
the Delhi throne was captured by a usurper. Consternation and<br />
confusion followed in the Muslim camp. Some of the generals<br />
fled along with their armies. Uplugh had no alternative except<br />
to raise the siege and retreat towards Devagiri. Subsequently<br />
deterrent punishments were meted out to the detractors.<br />
156 HISTORY OF THE ANDHRAS<br />
Ghiyas-ud-din did not get discouraged. He sent reinforcements<br />
to Devagiri with clear instructions to his son to proceed<br />
against Telangarva and subjugate the country. Ulugh Khan,<br />
now with the fully equipped reinforcements, marched towards<br />
Telangana, captured on the way several forts, siezed the strategic<br />
Bodhan and finally attacked the citadel of Warangal in<br />
1323 A.D. The reappearance of Ulugh at Warangal within<br />
four months of the retreat caught the Kakatiya army unawares.<br />
The stock of provisions was meagre. The jealousy and rivalry<br />
of the Reddi chiefs with the Velamas played havoc. Still the<br />
sieze lasted for five months. The hardy and well-built Turkish<br />
soldiers with its swift moving cavalry caused havoc among<br />
the enemy ranks and ultimately Prataparudra had to yield. He<br />
was taken to Delhi along with all the members of his family.<br />
The Vilasa grant of Musunuri Prolaya states that Prataparudra.<br />
while being carried away as a captive to Delhi, died on the<br />
banks of the river Narmada. He might have either committed<br />
suicide or was slain by one of his followers at his own instance.<br />
With the defeat and death of Prataparudra ended the rule of<br />
Kakatiya line of kings; and the country passed into the hands<br />
of rulers belonging to an alien race and religion.<br />
7. GENERAL CONDITIONS OF THE KAKATIYA PERIOD<br />
The Kakatiyas with their conquering zeal and spirit of<br />
nationalism and patriotism united the while of Andhradesa—<br />
coastal Andhra, Telangana and Rayalaseema—all the Teluguspeaking<br />
parts of the Deccan under their paramount power.<br />
It was for the first and the last time also (before the formation<br />
of Andhra Pradesh State) that the Telugu-speaking people were<br />
united under one government. Their spirit of nationalism and<br />
patriotism stood them in good stead in their offering gallant<br />
resistance to the Islamic invaders. This radition and legacy<br />
of the Warangal kingdom was however continued by the<br />
Vijayanagara rulers.<br />
ADMINISTRATION AND THE TERRITORIAL ORGANISATION<br />
The Kakatiyas followed the traditional hereditory monarchical<br />
system. The practice of the ruling monarch taking heir<br />
into partnership in the administration of the kingdom was visible<br />
The Kakatiyas 157<br />
at least from the time of Ganapatideva. A female succession<br />
to the throne, eventhough it was prejudiced by some, was the<br />
unique feature of the Kakatiya dynasty in the history of<br />
Andhradesa. Though the monarch was all powerful, his authority<br />
was subjected to the limitations imposed by vama-dharma<br />
and the customs of the land. The works on rajaniti prescribed<br />
high qualifications of head and heart for the king. The king's<br />
frequent audiences to his subjects at fixed times was made<br />
essential for fostering harmony between the ruler and the ruled.<br />
A large number of ministers used to assist the monarch in the<br />
administration of the kingdom. Merit was probably the criterion<br />
to make appointments to public service. The contemporary<br />
literary work 'Sakalanitisammatamu' lists 18 Thirthas (ministers).<br />
Officials of all classes in the court were divided into<br />
'niyogas' (categories). They were seventy two in number and<br />
collectively referred as 'bahattara', placed under the supervision<br />
of the 'bahattara-niyogadhipati'.<br />
With regard to the territorial organization of the Kakatiya<br />
kingdom, the primary basis was the village. Besides the<br />
village, the bigger administrative divisions like 'sthalas' and<br />
'nadus' were known from inscriptions. The villages were under<br />
the rule of a body of village officials called collectively the<br />
'ayagars' (generally 12 in number and include karanam, pedakapu,<br />
talari etc.). Little is known about the local organization<br />
of the stalas and nadus.<br />
MILITARY ORGANIZATION AND THE ARMY<br />
In the military organization of the Kakatiya kingdom, fores<br />
played a dominant role in the defence of the realm. It is the<br />
network of forts which enables a kingdom to last long. The<br />
'Nitisara' of Prataparudra refers to four kinds of forts-sthala.<br />
Jala, vana and giri durgas. The inscriptions of the period refer<br />
to the giri-durgas like Anumakonda, Rachur and Gandikota, the<br />
vana-durgas like Kandur and Narayanavanam, the jala-durgas<br />
like Divi and Kolanu and the sthala-durgas like Warangal and<br />
Dharnikota, These forts were the most famous strong-holds<br />
in the Kakatiya period.<br />
158 HISTORY OF THE ANDHRAS<br />
The administration of the kingdom was done on military<br />
basis. The kings shared their territories out among a number<br />
of military chiefs called 'Nayakas'. This was the 'nayakara'<br />
system which became popular as a prominent feature of administration<br />
later under the Vijayanagara emperors. The 'Nitisara'<br />
states that the king should assign only small villages to the<br />
samantas, reserving the big ones for maintaining the four-fold<br />
army and for the replenishment of the treasury. The 'Pratapacharitra'<br />
informs us about Prataparudra II entrusting the defence<br />
of the 77 bastions of Warangal to 77 Nayakas of the Velama<br />
community, allotting to them a fourth of his kingdom as estates<br />
to enable them to discharge efficiently their duties (to maintain<br />
a prescribed body of troops for the service of the king and to<br />
pay annual tribute).<br />
The elephants, cavalry and infantry constituted the Kakatiya<br />
army. The contemporary accounts refer to the strength<br />
of the army under Prataparudra II which consisted of 100 elephants,<br />
20.000 horses and 9,00,000 archers. The military service<br />
was not restricted to any particular community. The Gajasahini<br />
and Asva-sahini used to train the elephants and horses<br />
for the purposes of war. Maharaya-pattasahini was an officer<br />
attached to the royal establishment.<br />
The army was divided into two sections, the royal forces<br />
and the nayaka levies. Being the commander-in-chief of the<br />
army, the king used to take the field in person very often.<br />
The 'angarakshas' used to guard the kings' person and palace.<br />
The 'lenkas' (companions-at-arms) with an ideal conduct used<br />
to serve and if required they were even ready to sacrifice<br />
their lives for the sake of the king. No correct information<br />
is available regarding the organization of military heirarchy.<br />
'Distinguished service in the army was frequently rewarded<br />
by the grant of landed estates and the conferment of titles<br />
and badges of honour by the king The Gandapendera or<br />
anklet of the heroes was a common decoration bestowed on<br />
distinguished men for meritorious service'.<br />
ECONOMIC CONDITIONS<br />
Agriculture was the main source of the prosperity of the<br />
Kakatiya period. No reference is given to any public works<br />
The Kakatiyas 159<br />
department or the state undertaking either direct or indirect<br />
responsibility for the construction and maintenance of irrigation<br />
works. However the kings and their nobles, merchants<br />
and wealthy men and even the religious leaders took active<br />
interest in the construction and maintenance of irrigation works,<br />
especially tanks or reservoirs in which rain water was stored.<br />
It was because of their sentimental belief, that the construction<br />
of a tank was an act of charity which would acquire great<br />
religious merit, starting from Beta II, the rulers and their chieftains<br />
(especially the Malyala and Recheria chieftains) encouraged<br />
raising wet crops on a large scale in Telangana by providing<br />
large tanks or dams.<br />
Besides provision of irrigation facilities to improve<br />
agriculture, attempts were made to increase the extent of<br />
cultivable land by cutting down forests particularly in the<br />
Rayalasima area during the reign of Prataparudra II. New<br />
settlements were encouraged in the forest clearings. The<br />
tax on agriculture and the charges levied on industry and trade<br />
were collected by regular officials. The land was, for purposes<br />
of assessment, divided into dry, wet and garden varieties.<br />
Tax was payable either in kind or in cash. Little is known<br />
about the incidence of taxation. Salt was a monopoly of the<br />
state. Apart from agriculture, industry and commerce were<br />
also promoted. Marco Polo, Amir Khusrau and Wassaf paid<br />
glowing tributes to the prosperous condition of Andhradesa<br />
during this period.<br />
RELIGIOUS CONDITIONS<br />
The Kakatiya monarchs were well known for their policy<br />
of religious toleration. Among the reformist faiths. Buddhism<br />
was a thoroughly spent-up force by the eleventh century A.D.<br />
Due to the patronage of the early Kakatiya rulers, Jainism<br />
lingered on here and there, maintaining its individual character,<br />
in 'Panditaradhyacharitra' and 'Basava Purana', references were<br />
made to the persecution of Jains.<br />
Among the Bhakti cults which replaced Buddhism and<br />
Jainism, though Vaishnavism also flourished, it was the hey<br />
160 HISTORYOFTHEANDHRAS<br />
day for Saivism. The Kahamukha doctrine was predominant<br />
at the beginning, the Pasupata sect gained upper hand later.<br />
The first independent monarchs of the Kakatiya dynasty,<br />
Rudradeva and his brother Mahadeva were 'Parama-mahesvaras'.<br />
The reign of Ganapatideva was remarkable in the history of<br />
the Saiva religion during the Kakatiya period. The Pasupata<br />
Saivas belonging to the Golaki-Matha gained popularity among<br />
the people as well as with the royal house. The teachers of<br />
this Matha, like Visvesvara Siva (the royal preceptor of Ganapatideva)<br />
exerted greater influence on the Chedi Katechuris,<br />
Kakatiyas and on the Kings of Malwa and Chola countries.<br />
In Andhradesa, many branches of this Golaki-Matha were set<br />
up at Bhattiprolu, Tripurantakam, Sriparvata and Pushpagiri.<br />
This Pasupata sect of Saivism of Golaki-Matha continued to<br />
flourish almost upto the end of the reign of Prataparudra II.<br />
It is strange to find that after the fall of Warangal in 1323 A.D.,<br />
no Saivacharya of Golaki-Matha was heard of.<br />
The famous Pandita-traya, Mallikarjuna Pandita, Sripati<br />
Pandita and Manchana Pandita, belonging to Aradhya Saivism<br />
had also some following in the southern parts of the Telugu<br />
country during the Kakatiya period. The Vira-Saiva school of<br />
Basava. which was at its zenith in the Kanarase country during<br />
this period, did not attract many people in the Andhra country.<br />
The Saiva-Mathas, which were supported by liberal grants<br />
from the kings and nobles, imparted religious teaching to their<br />
disciples. Satras (free feeding houses) were attached to the<br />
Saiv monasteries. 'Village and family deities, such as Ekavira,<br />
Mahuramma, Kakatamma and Kameswari, were very popular<br />
and their worship was general throughout this period'. Performance<br />
of vratas and often undertaking pilgrimages also attained<br />
much importance during these times.<br />
DEVELOPMENT OF ART AND ARCHITECTURE<br />
The Kakatiyas were men of cultural tastes. They patronised<br />
men of arts and letters. They were fond of architecture. As<br />
they had sprung from the Chalukyas and were also allied by<br />
The Kakatiyas 161<br />
marriage with the Cholas of South India, it is natural that their<br />
temples should show a happy blending of these two styles<br />
of temple architecture. With regard to secular architecture,<br />
since the forts began to play a dominant part in the defence<br />
of the realm, they were built at Warangal, Raichur, Golkonda,<br />
Rachakonda, Devarakonda and other places revealing the architectural<br />
skills of the times. The entrances of the mud-wall<br />
and the stone citadel at Warangal are magnificent examples<br />
of mediaeval defence arrangements.<br />
Since the early Kakatiya monarchs were Jains by faith,<br />
some temples of Jain variety must have been erected at places<br />
like Kolanupaka (Warangal district) and Jogipeta (Medak)<br />
district) but later they vanished possibly due to Saiva malice<br />
and fury. However the Padmakshi temple near Anmakonda<br />
on a hill top, built during the reign of Prola II, still stands as a<br />
solitary example of the Jain architecture of the Kakatiya period.<br />
With modest size and simple design, it does not exhibit any<br />
architectural excellence.<br />
The excellence of the Kakatiya architecture and sculpture<br />
is revealed in the constructions of a later age. They include<br />
the famous temples at Anmakonda, Warangal, Pillalamarri and<br />
Palampeta. The thousandpillar temple known as the Rudresvara<br />
temple at Hanumakonda constructed by Rudradeva in 1162 A.D.<br />
stands as a testimony for the great architectural triumph of<br />
the age of the Kakatiyas. The ceilings, the portals, the inner<br />
walls and pillars of this temple and the collossal image of<br />
Nandi-all built of granite and black stone were finely chistelled,<br />
elaborately decorated with intricate designs and perfectly proportioned<br />
with amazing skill and mastery, depicting the figures<br />
of animals, deities and scences from the epics.<br />
The great Ramappa temple at Palampeta is said to have<br />
been built in 1213 A.D. by Recherla Rudra, one the generals<br />
of Ganapatideva. At the eastern entrance of this temple raised<br />
on a high platform stands the beautifully symmetrical and lifelike<br />
image of the monolithic Nandi with marvellous smoothness<br />
and polish, displaying extraordinary skill in carving the nume-<br />
11)<br />
162 HISTORY OF THE ANDHRAS<br />
rous details of its ornamental hangings. The outside of the<br />
temple is decorated by a variety of figures including deities,<br />
warriors, musicians and dancers. The twelve figure brackets,<br />
springing from the shoulders of the outer pillars and nominally<br />
supporting the protruding caves of the roof of the temple,<br />
represent the dancing artists in different postures. The other<br />
temples at Katakshpur, Nagnur, Nagulapadu, Panagal, Attirala,<br />
Manthani, and Bejjanki and the Toranas (gateways) at Warangal<br />
and Veerakals (hero-stones) at different pieces also exhibit the<br />
same artistic merit of the Kakatiya times. The fine arts of<br />
music and dance also received patronage at the Warangal court.<br />
DEVELOPMENT OF LITERATURE<br />
The Kakatiyas paid much attention on the spread of education<br />
and bestowed bounteous patronage on men of letters.<br />
Sanskrit continued to occupy the first place in the educational<br />
system of this period. The contemporary inscriptions bear<br />
sufficient evidence to this. This study of the Vedas, the other<br />
Vedic literary works and the various branches of classical<br />
Sanskrit literature was encouraged- The liberal patronage<br />
rendered by the rulers and their dependents gave an impetus<br />
to literary activity on large scale.<br />
Among the epigraphical poets who composed prasastis<br />
(their inscriptions are regarded as kavyas in miniature), the<br />
names of Achintendra, Nandi, Anantasuri and Isvarasuri figure.<br />
Besides, important works in different branches of learning were<br />
produced. Among the Kavya writers, Agastya (Balabharatam<br />
and Nalakirtikaumudi), Sakalya Mallu-bhatta (Niroshthya<br />
Ramayana etc.) and Appayarya (Jinendrakalyanabhyudaya)<br />
deserve special mention. The dramatists in Sanskrit include<br />
Gangadhara, Visvanatha, Narasimha and Ravipati Tripurantaka.<br />
The poet laureate of Prataparudra II, Vidyanatha produced his<br />
famous treatise on poetics, 'Prataparudra-Yasobhushanam'. The<br />
authorship of the famous treatise on rajaniti, 'Nitisara' was<br />
ascribed to Prataparudra. On music and dance, Jayapa, the<br />
Gaja-sahini of Ganapatideva, wrote Gitaratnavali and Nrittaratnavati.<br />
Apart from these various poetical compositions.<br />
The Kakatiyas 163<br />
some Kavyas in Sanskrit prose and commentaries on philosophical<br />
and theological works were also produced during this<br />
period.<br />
The Kakatiya period constitutes an important chapter in;<br />
the history of Telugu literature. It was under the patronage<br />
of the Kakatiya generals and feudatories, much religious and<br />
secular literature was produced in Telugu. The Bhakti cults<br />
largely contributed to the Telugu literature. In fact, after<br />
Nannayabhatta, the Telugu literature suffered an eclipse for<br />
nearly a century. But from the later half of the 13th century<br />
A.D., a continuous stream of literary output can be seen.<br />
Undoubtedly the period is described as the age of Tikkana,<br />
Tikkana Somayaji, who was in the service of the Telugu Choda<br />
princes of Nellore, visited the court of the Kakatiyas, sought<br />
and got the help of Ganapatideva for his master who was in<br />
distress. This great poet had for his credit two important<br />
works in Telugu. The first one is 'Nirvachanottara Ramayanamu'.<br />
Though a highly Sanskritised style was employed, it is characterised<br />
by excellent literary qualities and abounding elements<br />
of pathos and heroism. However it is the 'Andhra Mahabharata'<br />
which brought for Tikkana undying fame and made him one<br />
of the immortals. Though it is a translation of the last fifteen<br />
parvas of the Mahabharata, left out by his predecessor Nannaya,<br />
yet Tikkana put life and blood into it with an avowed objective<br />
of making ft a kavya. His delineation of character, dramatic<br />
dialogue and lucid and at the same time suggestive exposition<br />
of facts are masterly in nature. His broad spiritual outlook,<br />
lofty idealism, high imagination and splendid diction made him<br />
'Kavi Brahma' (The Supreme Creator among poets). Ketana<br />
who translated Dandin's 'Dasakumara Charitra' into Telugu, and<br />
Marana who wrote 'Markandeya Puranamu' were his contemporaries<br />
and admirers.<br />
Palkuriki Somanatha, who was an inhabitant of the<br />
Telangana region in the time of Prataparudra, was an erudite<br />
scholar and a linguist. In his later life, he espoused Vira-<br />
Saivism. His greatest Telugu poetical works include 'Basava<br />
Purana'. 'Panditaradhya Charitra' and 'Vrishadhipa Satakamu'.<br />
Somanatha was the first poet who attempted to write in 'Desi'<br />
(Janu Tenugu). His 'Basava Purana' is in popular Dwipada<br />
metre. Gona Buddharaja's 'Ranganatha Ramayanamu' in the<br />
same two-footed verse, 'Bhaskara Ramayanamu' ascribed to<br />
Bhaskara, Mallikarjunabhatta and others and the works of<br />
Nanne Choda, Manchana, Malliya Rechana, Baddena, Sivadevayya,<br />
Madiki Singana and Yathavakkula Annamayya enriched<br />
the Telugu literature during the age of the Kakatiyas New<br />
styles of Telugu poetry, like Prabhandha and Staka, made their<br />
appearance.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1757303709062492161.post-78307299575964276782009-10-16T12:43:00.004-07:002010-03-30T21:06:37.375-07:00Hoysala Coins<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidC2-XS83r4V-zzanhdwUphz347aiNzbV4sUav5WpnxUb8iSvKok8WKMdtBDbfChoA6V3ijAm8t2ICAuDtDbR5DK3txbo1wJJ6VLhSWa-JpnwwOf-HDWYQ7WRDU4hM3DPErWfFoyMqzWs/s1600/hoysala.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidC2-XS83r4V-zzanhdwUphz347aiNzbV4sUav5WpnxUb8iSvKok8WKMdtBDbfChoA6V3ijAm8t2ICAuDtDbR5DK3txbo1wJJ6VLhSWa-JpnwwOf-HDWYQ7WRDU4hM3DPErWfFoyMqzWs/s320/hoysala.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Narasimha I: Gold pagoda </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggr0JUXfB-b685J2Gx57VEX3aPCuW0nSyz3gCZzVkn7pcRn5ll2uOcSHXM3FOABbUgtRVnEHACiV3t9HPuZYh1HeRUiAjabZuLbpsYeQqMQmDU2C-bq0zodTCwfX5HE3SR_f26Eu4lETU/s1600/hoyasala2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggr0JUXfB-b685J2Gx57VEX3aPCuW0nSyz3gCZzVkn7pcRn5ll2uOcSHXM3FOABbUgtRVnEHACiV3t9HPuZYh1HeRUiAjabZuLbpsYeQqMQmDU2C-bq0zodTCwfX5HE3SR_f26Eu4lETU/s320/hoyasala2.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Anonymous Gold fanam or hana, Vira Raya type</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>The Hoysala Empire was a notable South Indian empire that ruled most of the modern day state of Karnataka between the 10th to the 14th centuries. The capital of the empire was initially based at Belur, and later transferred to Halebidu. Hoysala administration was influenced by the Western Ganga Dynasty whom the Hoysalas replaced in present day South Karnataka and their early overlords, the Western Chalukyas.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1757303709062492161.post-74353851391450080822009-10-16T12:43:00.003-07:002010-04-01T13:15:04.183-07:00French India coins1720-1835 FRENCH INDIA HAMMERED DOUDOU &CACHE <br />
<br />
<br />
FLEUR-DE-LIS PONDICHERRY MINT<br />
<br />
The French settled in India after the creation in 1666 by Jean-Baptiste Colbert of the "Compagnie des Indes Orientales". Their first settlement was established in Surat in 1668, followed by Chandernagore in Bengal in 1673. The most important was Pondichery, on the eastern coast (Coromandel coast), which became wide known on the arrival of the French on the February 4th, 1673. Twenty years after in 1693, the town became the property of the Dutch before belonging to France in 1699 with the" traité de Ryswick". Others included Mahe, located on the Malabar coast, which was founded in 1725, Yanam and Karaikal, both on the Coromandel coast, respectively in 1731 and 1739. All the French enclaves were handed over to India in 1954 and constitute since the "Union Territory of Pondicherry".<br />
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Coins are generally 15 - 17mm across (irregular), 3mm thick, & undated.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1757303709062492161.post-4598098128253643672009-10-16T12:43:00.001-07:002010-03-30T20:59:45.508-07:00Badami Chalukya coinsThe Badami Chalukyas imprinted coins of an unusual standard in contrast to the northern kingdoms. The coins comprised of Nagari and Kannada legends. They minted coins with cryptograms of temples, lion or boar facing right and the lotus. The coins weighed 4 grams and were called honnu in old class and had fractions such as fana and the quarter fana, whose contemporary equivalent being hana . A gold coin called Gadyana is mentioned in some record in Pattadakal that later came to be known a varaha which was also witnessed on their emblem.<br />
<br />
The Chalukya Empire was an Indian royal dynasty that ruled large parts of southern and central India between the 6th and the 12th centuries. During this period, they ruled as three related, but individual dynasties. The earliest dynasty, known as the "Badami Chalukyas", ruled from their capital Vatapi (modern Badami) from the middle of the 6th century. The Badami Chalukyas began to assert their independence at the decline of the Kadamba kingdom of Banavasi and rapidly rose to prominence during the reign of Pulakesi II. After the death of Pulakesi II, the Eastern Chalukyas became an independent kingdom in the eastern Deccan. They ruled from their capital Vengi until about the 11th century. In the western Deccan, the rise of the Rashtrakutas in the middle of 8th century eclipsed the Chalukyas of Badami before being revived by their descendants, the Western Chalukyas, in late 10th century. These Western Chalukyas ruled from Kalyani (modern Basavakalyan) till the end of the 12th century.<br />
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<br />
The rule of the Chalukyas marks an important milestone in the history of South India and a golden age in the history of Karnataka. The political atmosphere in South India shifted from smaller kingdoms to large empires with the ascendancy of Badami Chalukyas. For the first time, a South Indian kingdom took control and consolidated the entire region between the Kaveri and the Narmada rivers. The rise of this empire saw the birth of efficient administration, overseas trade and commerce and the development of new style of architecture called "Chalukyan architecture". Kannada literature, which had enjoyed royal support in the 9th century Rashtrakuta court found eager patronage from the Western Chalukyas in the Jain and Veerashaiva traditions. The 11th century saw the birth of Telugu literature under the patronage of the Eastern Chalukyas.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1757303709062492161.post-35825338617642682982009-10-16T12:42:00.002-07:002010-03-30T22:00:55.659-07:00Ganga Dynasty of Talkad coins<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAN98cSG_00G-o2YB5WSoeN8qi_Iq0opZPozO6KH-tf78rcjmARMp98vEH0OG3riys6a4NV0Nj7ewCalLyntE5L83HGRZhISQ8YX7WwME6PvFuwN8FFwrOxQGgkdrNqOUmygOGCGwKV0k/s1600/ganga1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAN98cSG_00G-o2YB5WSoeN8qi_Iq0opZPozO6KH-tf78rcjmARMp98vEH0OG3riys6a4NV0Nj7ewCalLyntE5L83HGRZhISQ8YX7WwME6PvFuwN8FFwrOxQGgkdrNqOUmygOGCGwKV0k/s320/ganga1.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>The Western Ganga Dynasty (350–1000 CE)was an important ruling dynasty of ancient Karnataka in India. They are known as Western Gangas to distinguish them from the Eastern Gangas who in later centuries ruled over modern Orissa.The Western Ganga sovereignty lasted from about 350 to 550 CE,initially ruling from Kolar and later moving their capital to Talakad on the banks of the Kaveri River in modern Mysore district.<br />
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<br />
After the rise of the imperial Chalukyas of Badami, the Gangas accepted Chalukya overlordship and fought for the cause of their overlords against the Pallavas of Kanchi. The Chalukyas were replaced by the Rashtrakutas of Manyakheta in 753 CE as the dominant power in the Deccan. After a century of struggle for autonomy, the Western Gangas finally accepted Rashtrakuta overlordship and successfully fought alongside them against their foes, the Chola Dynasty of Tanjavur. In the late 10th century, north of Tungabhadra river, the Rashtrakutas were replaced by the emerging Western Chalukya Empire and the Chola Dynasty saw renewed power south of the Kaveri river. The defeat of the Western Gangas by Cholas around 1000 resulted in the end of the Ganga influence over the region.<br />
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Though territorially a small kingdom, the Western Ganga contribution to polity, culture and literature of the modern south Karnataka region is considered important. The Western Ganga kings showed benevolent tolerance to all faiths but are most famous for their patronage towards Jainism resulting in the construction of monuments in places such as Shravanabelagola and Kambadahalli. The kings of this dynasty encouraged the fine arts due to which literature in Kannada and Sanskrit flourished. Chavundaraya's writing, Chavundaraya Purana of 978 CE, is an important work in Kannada prose. Many classics were written on various subjects ranging from religion to elephant management.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1757303709062492161.post-42009279991616818562009-10-16T12:42:00.001-07:002009-11-25T18:05:17.125-08:00Kadambas of Banavasi coins<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuHGDoSxnNBfm5ZLg2J0yLuc4sjNJ-3phGnGdhvm6V7K2mZfiJAfqz-JbwqSqAuJZzRWv59qBpAerQGBcO_N5KpIRRdbR0oxi6_g93C3Q4FUEeRkHJBETweUzNT1-06rpmO-arDTYHLdU/s1600/kadamba1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuHGDoSxnNBfm5ZLg2J0yLuc4sjNJ-3phGnGdhvm6V7K2mZfiJAfqz-JbwqSqAuJZzRWv59qBpAerQGBcO_N5KpIRRdbR0oxi6_g93C3Q4FUEeRkHJBETweUzNT1-06rpmO-arDTYHLdU/s640/kadamba1.JPG" yr="true" /></a><br />
</div>The Kadamba Dynasty (345 - 525 CE) was an ancient royal family of Karnataka that ruled from Banavasi in present day Uttara Kannada district. The dynasty later continued to rule as a feudatory of larger Kannada empires, the Chalukya and the Rashtrakuta empires for over five hundred years during which time they branched into Goa and Hanagal. At the peak of their power under King Kakushtavarma, they ruled large parts of Karnataka. During the pre-Kadamba era the ruling families that controlled Karnataka, the Mauryas, Satavahanas and Chutus were not natives of the region and the nucleus of power resided outside present day Karnataka. The Kadambas were the first indigenous dynasty to use Kannada, the language of the soil at an administrative level. In the history of Karnataka, this era serves as a broad based historical starting point in the study of the development of region as an enduring geo-political entity and Kannada as an important regional language.<br />
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The dynasty was founded by Mayurasharma in 345 which at times showed the potential of developing into imperial proportions, an indication to which is provided by the titles and epithets assumed by its rulers. One of his successors, Kakusthavarma was a powerful ruler and even the kings of imperial Gupta Dynasty of northern India cultivated marital relationships with his family, giving a fair indication of the sovereign nature of their kingdom. Tiring of the endless battles and bloodshed, one of the later descendants, King Shivakoti adopted Jainism. The Kadambas were contemporaries of the Western Ganga Dynasty of Talakad and together they formed the earliest native kingdoms to rule the land with absolute autonomy.<br />
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There is no shortage of myths about the origin of the Kadambas. According to one account the dynasty was founded by one Trilochana Kadamba also known from the Halsi and Degamve records as Jayanta who had three eyes and four arms.He was born out of the sweat of Shiva, which had fallen under a Kadamba tree and hence his name Kadamba. According to another myth, Mayurasharma himself was born to Lord Shiva and mother earth and had three eyes.According to Grama Paddhati, a Kannada work dealing with the history of the Tulu Brahmanas, Mayurasharma was born to Lord Shiva and goddess Parvathi under a Kadamba tree in the Sahyadri mountains and hence the name Kadamba. An inscription of the Nagarakhanda Kadambas, a later descendent dynasty, gives a legendary account and traces their lineage back to the Nandas. According to the inscription, King Nanda who had no heir prayed to Lord Shiva in the Kailash mountains when a heavenly voice advised him that two sons would be born to him, would bear the name of Kadamba Kula and they should be instructed in the use of weapons.<br />
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There are two theories to the origin of the Kadamba dynasty, a native Kannadiga origin and the other a north Indian origin. Mention of the north Indian origin of the Kadambas are only found in their later records of their offshoot descendent dynasty and is considered legendary. The earliest record making this claim is the 1053 and 1055 inscriptions of Harikesari Deva which are copied in inscriptions thereafter, describing Mayurasharma as the progenitor of the kingdom who established his might on the summit of Mount Himavat. But this theory has not found popularity as there is no indication of this account in any of their early records. On the contrary, the family derives its name from the Kadamba tree that is common only to the South India region.<br />
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Historians are divided on the issue of the caste of the Kadamba family, whether the founders of the kingdom belonged to the Brahmin caste as claimed by the Talagunda inscription, or were of tribal origin. A claim has been made that the Kadambas were none other than a tribe called the Kadambu, who were in conflict with the Chera kingdom (of modern Tamil Nadu - Kerala region). The 'Kadambus' find mention in the Tamil Sangam literature as totemic worshippers of the Kadambu tree and the Hindu god Subramanya, a popular deity in South India.While some historians have argued that they being of Brahmin descent made Mayurasharma's ancestors natives of northern India, the counter argument is that it was common for Dravidian peoples to be received into the Brahmanic caste during early and later medieval times. Being native Kannadigas, the Kadambas promptly gave administrative and political importance to their language, Kannada, after coming to power.Its is thus claimed that the family of the Kadambas were undoubtedly of Kanarese descent and may have been admitted into the Brahminical caste.The Naga descent of the Kadambas has been stated in early inscriptions of King Krishna Varma I too, which confirms the family was from present day Karnataka..Bunts a community with naga origin concentrated in coastal karnataka have one of their surnames as Kadamba.<br />
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The Halmidi inscription at Halmidi village dated 450 CE. (Kadamba Dynasty)Inscriptions in Sanskrit and Kannada are the main sources of the Kadamba history. The Talagunda, Gundanur, Chandravalli, Halasi and Halmidi inscription are some of the important inscriptions that throw light on this ancient ruling family of Karnataka.They belonged to the Manavya Gotra and were Haritiputras (lineage), which connects them to the native Chutus of Banavasi, a feudatory of the Satavahana empire.Inscriptions of the Kadambas in Kannada and Sanskrit ascribed to the main dynasty and branch kingdoms have been published by historians.The Kadambas minted coins with Nagari, Kannada and Grantha legends which provide additional numismatic evidence of their history.<br />
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Kadambas were the first rulers to use Kannada as an additional official administrative language, as evidenced by the Halmidi inscription of 450.Three Kannada inscriptions from their early rule from Banavasi have been discovered.Several early Kadamba dynasty coins bearing the Kannada inscription Vira and Skandha was found in Satara collectorate.A gold coin of King Bhagiratha (390-415 CE) bearing the old Kannada legend Sri and Bhagi also exists.Recent discovery of 5th century Kadamba copper coin in Banavasi with Kannada script inscription Srimanaragi on it proves the usage of Kannada at the administrative level further.<br />
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One of their earliest inscriptions, the Talagunda inscription of Santivarma (450) gives what may be the most possible cause for the emergence of the Kadamba kingdom. It states that Mayura sharma was a native of Talagunda, (in present day Shimoga district) and his family got its name from the Kadamba tree that grew near his home The inscription narrates how Mayurasharma proceeded to Kanchi in 345 along with his guru and grandfather Veerasarma to pursue his Vedic studies at a Ghatika (school). There, owing to some misunderstanding between him and a Pallava guard or at an Ashvasanstha (a place of horse sacrifice), a quarrel arose in which Mayurasharma was humiliated. In high rage, the Brahmana discontinued his studies, left Kanchi, swearing vengeance on the impudent Pallavas, and took to arms. He collected a faithful group of followers and routed the Pallava armies near Srisilam region. After a prolonged period of low intensity warfare against the Pallavas and other smaller kings such as the Brihad-Banas of Kolar region, he proclaimed independence. Unable to contain him, the Pallavas had to accept his sovereignty.Thus in an act of righteous indignation was born the first native kingdom of Karnataka, the Pallava King Skandavarman condescending to recognise the growing might of the Kadambas south of the Malaprabha river as a sovereign power.The fact that Mayurasharma had to travel to distant Kanchi for Vedic studies gives an indication that Vedic lore was quite rudimentary in the region at that time. The recently discovered Gudnapur inscription states that Mauryasharma's grandfather and preceptor was Virasarma and his father Bandhushena developed the character of a Kshatriya.<br />
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Mayurasharma's successor was his son Kangavarma in 365 who had to fight the Vakataka might to protect Kuntala. He was defeated by Vakataka Prithvisena but managed to maintain his freedom.His son Bhagiratha is said to have retrieved his fathers losses but Vakataka inscriptions do not attest to this.His son Raghu died fighting the Pallavas. He was succeeded by his brother Kakusthavarma who was the most ferocious and powerful ruler of the kingdom.He maintained marital relations with even the imperial Guptas of the north, according to the Talagunda inscription. One of his daughters was married to Kumara Gupta's son Skanda Gupta. His other daughter was married to a Vakataka king Narendrasena.He maintained similar relations with the Bhatari, the Alupas of South Canara and the Western Ganga Dynasty of Gangavadi according to the Talagunda inscription. The great poet Kalidasa had visited his court.<br />
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After Kakusthavarma only Ravivarma who came to the throne in 485 was able to build upon the kingdom. His rule was marked by a series of clashes within the family, and also against the Pallavas and the Gangas. He is also credited with a victory against the Vakatakas, which extended his Kingdom as far north as the river Narmada. The crux of their kingdom essentially consisted of most of Karnataka, Goa and southern areas of present day Maharashtra. After his death, the kingdom went into decline due to family feuds. The Birur plates of Kadamba Vishnuvarman call Shantivarman "The master of the entire Karnataka region". The Triparvatha branch that broke away in 455 ruled from Murod in Belgaum for some time and merged with the main Banavasi kingdom during rule of Harivarma. Finally the kingdom fell to the prowess of the Badami Chalukyas. The Kadambas thereafter became feudatories of the Badami Chalukyas and later the Rashtrakutas and Kalyani Chalukyas. The successors of Mayurasharma took to the name "varma" to indicate their Kshatriya status.<br />
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<strong>Kadamba Kings (345-525)</strong> <br />
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Mayurasharma (345 - 365) <br />
Kangavarma (365 - 390) <br />
Bagitarha (390 - 415) <br />
Raghu (415 - 435) <br />
Kakusthavarma (435 - 455) <br />
Santivarma (455 -460) <br />
Mrigeshavarma (460 - 480) <br />
Shivamandhativarma (480 – 485) <br />
Ravivarma (485 – 519) <br />
Harivarma (519 – 525) <br />
(Triparvatha Branch) <br />
Krishna Varma I (455) <br />
Vishnuvarma <br />
Simhavarma <br />
Krishna Varma II <br />
Pulakesi I (Chalukya) (543-566)Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1757303709062492161.post-62341143895187735812009-10-16T12:41:00.002-07:002009-11-16T11:11:45.851-08:00Satavahana CoinsThe Satavahanas are the first native Indian rulers to issue their own coins with portraits of their rulers, starting with king Gautamiputra Satakarni, a practice derived from that of the Western Satraps he defeated, itself originating with the Indo-Greek kings to the northwest.<br />
Satavahana coins give unique indications as to their chronology, language, and even facial features (curly hair, long ears and strong lips). They issued mainly lead and copper coins; their portrait-style silver coins were usually struck over coins of the Western Kshatrapa kings.<br />
The coin legends of the Satavahanas, in all areas and all periods, used a Prakrit dialect without exception. Some reverse coin legends are in a Dravidian language in Telugu or Tamil , which seems to have been in use in their heartland abutting the Godavari, probably Kotilingala, Karimnagar district and Krishna, probably Amaravati, Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh.<br />
Their coins also display various traditional symbols, such as elephants, lions, horses and chaityas (stupas), as well as the "Ujjain symbol", a cross with four circles at the end. The legendary Ujjayini emperor Vikramditiya on whose name the Vikram Samvat is initiated might be Satakarni II a Satavahana emperor as the Ujjayini symbol also appeared on the Satavahana coins.<br />
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The Sātavāhana Empire also known as Andhras were a dynasty which ruled from Junnar (Pune), Prathisthan (Paithan) in Maharashtra and Kotilingala (Karimnagar) in Andhra Pradesh over Southern and Central India from around 230 BCE onward. Although there is some controversy about when the dynasty came to an end, the most liberal estimates suggest that it lasted about 450 years, until around 220 CE. The Satavahanas are credited for establishing peace in the country, resisting the onslaught of foreigners after the decline of Mauryan empire.<br />
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Pre- and early Satavahanas/Andhras came from Kotilingala, Andhra Pradesh.The Satavahana was a Brahmin dynasty first mentioned in the Aitareya Brahmana, dating back to the 8th century BCE mentioning them to be of Vishwamitra's lineage. In the Pūrānas and on their coins the dynasty is variously referred to as the Sātavāhanas, Sātakarnīs, Andhras and Andhrabhrityas.A reference to the Sātavāhanas by the Greek traveller Megasthenes indicates that they possessed 100,000 infantry, 1,000 elephants, and had more than 30 well built fortified towns:<br />
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Next come the Andarae, a still more powerful race, which possesses numerous villages, and thirty towns defended by walls and towers, and which supplies its king with an army of 100,000 infantry, 2,000 cavalry, and 1,000 elephants.<br />
—Plin. Hist. Nat. VI. 21. 8-23. 11., quoting Megasthenes<br />
The Sātavāhanas ruled a large and powerful empire that withstood the onslaughts from Central Asia. Aside from their military power, their commercialism and naval activity is evidenced by establishment of Indian colonies in southeast Asia.<br />
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The Edicts of Ashoka mention the Sātavāhanas as feudatories of Emperor Ashoka. Fragment of the 6th Pillar Edicts of Ashoka (238 BCE), in Brahmi, sandstone. British Museum.The Sātavāhanas began as feudatories to the Mauryan Empire. They seem to have been under the control of Emperor Ashoka, who claims they were in his domain, and that he introduced Buddhism among them:<br />
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Here in the king's domain among the Yavanas (Greeks), the Kambojas, the Nabhakas, the Nabhapamkits, the Bhojas, the Pitinikas, the Andhras and the Palidas, everywhere people are following Beloved-of-the-Gods' instructions in Dhamma.<br />
—Rock Edict Nb13 (S. Dhammika)<br />
The Satavahanas declared independence sometime after the death of Ashoka (232 BCE), as the Maurya Empire began to weaken.<br />
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It is believed that they were originally Brahmins, practicing Hindu religion (as per Sthala Purana of Amaravathi. Some rulers like Maharaja Satakarni are believed to have performed Vedic sacrifices as well.<br />
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They were not only worshipers of Vishnu and Shiva but also respected Buddha, but also other incarnations of, Gauri, Indra, the sun and moon.They were mostly Buddhistic Vaishnavites. Under their reign, Buddha had been worshiped as a form of Vishnu in Amaravati.<br />
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Early rulers<br />
The Satavahanas/ Andhras initially ruled in the area of Andhradesa, the Telugu name for the people country between the rivers Krishna and Godavari, which was always their heartland. The Pūrānas list 30 Andhra rulers. Many are known from their coins and inscriptions as well.<br />
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Simuka (c.230-207 BCE)<br />
After becoming independent around 230 BCE, Simuka, the founder of the dynasty, conquered Maharashtra, Malwa and part of Madhya Pradesh. He was succeeded by his brother Kanha (or Krishna) (r. 207-189 BCE), who further extended his kingdom to the west and the south.<br />
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Satakarni (c.180-124 BCE)<br />
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Early Satakarni issue, Maharashtra - Vidarbha type.<br />
Satavahana 1st century BCE coin inscribed in Brahmi: "(Sataka)Nisa". British Museum.His successor Sātakarnī I was the sixth ruler of the Satavahana. He is said in the Puranas to have ruled for 56 years.<br />
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Satakarni defeated the Sunga dynasty of North India by wrestling Western Malwa from them, and performed several Vedic sacrifices at huge cost, including the Horse Sacrifice - Ashwamedha yajna. He also was in conflict with the Kalinga ruler Kharavela, who mentions him in the Hathigumpha inscription. According to the Yuga Purana he conquered Kalinga following the death of Kharavela. He extended Satavahana rule over Madhya Pradesh and pushed back the Sakas from Pataliputra (he is thought to be the Yuga Purana's "Shata", an abbreviation of the full name “Shri Sata” that occurs on coins from Ujjain), where he subsequently ruled for 10 years.<br />
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By this time the dynasty was well established, with its capital at Pratishthānapura (Paithan) in Maharashtra, and its power spreading into all of South India.<br />
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Kanva suzerainty (75-35 BCE)<br />
Many small rulers succeeded Satakarni, such as Lambodara, Apilaka, Meghasvati and Kuntala Satakarni, who are thought to have been under the suzerainty of the Kanva dynasty. The Puranas (the Matsya Purana, the Vayu Purana, the Brahmanda Purana, the Vishnu Purana) all state that the first of the Andhra kings rose to power in the 1st century BCE, by slaying Susarman, the last ruler of the Kanvas.This feat is usually thought to have been accomplished by Pulomavi (c. 30-6 BCE), who then ruled over Pataliputra.<br />
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Victory over the Shakas, Yavanas and Pahlavas<br />
The first century CE saw another incursion of the Sakas of Central Asia into India, where they formed the dynasty of the Western Kshatrapas. The four immediate successors of Hāla (r. 20-24 CE) had short reigns totalling about a dozen years. During the reign of the Western Satrap Nahapana, the Satavahanas lost a considerable territory to the satraps, including eastern Malwa, Southern Gujarat, and Northern Konkan, from Broach to Sopara and the Nasik and Poona districts.<br />
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Gautamiputra Satakarni (78-106 CE)<br />
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Coin of Gautamiputra Satakarni.<br />
Obv: King in profile. Prakrit legend "Rano Gotamiputasa Siri Yana Satakarnisa": "In the reign of Gautamiputra Sri Yana Satakarni"<br />
Rev: Hill with Satavahana symbol, sun and moon. Dravidian legend "Arahanaku gotami putaku Hiru Yana Hatakanaku".Eventually Gautamiputra (Sri Yagna) Sātakarni (also known as Shalivahan) (r. 78-106 CE) defeated the Western Satrap ruler Nahapana, restoring the prestige of his dynasty by reconquering a large part of the former dominions of the Sātavāhanas. He was an ardent supporter of Hinduism.<br />
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According to the Nasik inscription made by his mother Gautami Balasri, he is the one...<br />
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...who crushed down the pride and conceit of the Kshatriyas (the native Indian princes, the Rajputs of Rajputana, Gujarat and Central India); who destroyed the Shakas (Western Kshatrapas), Yavanas (Indo-Greeks) and Pahlavas (Indo-Parthians),... who rooted the Khakharata family (The Kshaharata family of Nahapana); who restored the glory of the Satavahana race<br />
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Gautamiputra Satakarni may also have defeated Shaka king Vikramaditya in 78 AD and started the calendar known as Shalivahana era or Shaka era, which is followed by the Marathi and Telugu people and is the Indian National Calendar.<br />
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Gautamiputra Sātakarni's son, Vashishtiputra Pulumāyi (r. 106-130 CE), succeeded him. Gautamiputra was the first Sātavāhana king to issue the portrait-type coinage, in a style derived from the Western Satraps.<br />
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Successors<br />
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Silver coin of king Vashishtiputra Sātakarni (c. 160 CE).<br />
Obv: Bust of king. Prakrit legend in the Brahmi script: "Siri Satakanisa Rano ... Vasithiputasa": "King Vasishtiputra Sri Satakarni"<br />
Rev: Ujjain/Sātavāhana symbol left. Crescented six-arch chaitya hill right. River below. Dravidian legend in the Brahmi script: "Arahanaku Vahitti makanaku Tiru Hatakaniko" - rendered as classical Tamil to "The ruler, Vasitti's son, Highness Satakani" - -ko being the royal name suffixGautamiputra's brother, Vashishtiputra Sātakarni, married the daughter of Rudradaman I of the Western Satraps dynasty. Around 150 CE, Rudradaman I, now his father-in-law, waged war against the Satavahanas, who were defeated twice in these conflicts. Vashishtiputra Satakarni was only spared his life because of his family links with Rudradaman<br />
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"Rudradaman (...) who obtained good report because he, in spite of having twice in fair fight completely defeated Satakarni, the lord of Dakshinapatha, on account of the nearness of their connection did not destroy him."<br />
—Junagadh rock inscription<br />
As a result of his victories, Rudradaman regained all the former territories previously held by Nahapana, except for the extreme south territories of Poona and Nasik.Satavahana dominions were limited to their original base in the Deccan and eastern central India around Amaravati.<br />
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However, the last great king of this dynasty, Yajna Satakarni, defeated the Western Satraps and reconquered their southern regions in western and central India.During the reign of Sri Yajna Sātakarni (170-199 CE) the Sātavāhanas regained some prosperity, and some of his coins have been found in Saurashtra but around the middle of the third century, the dynasty came to an end.<br />
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Decline of the Satavahanas<br />
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Coin of Gautamiputra Yajna Satakarni (r. 167-196 CE).Four or five kings of Yajna Satakarni's line succeeded him, and continued to rule till about the mid 200s CE. However, the dynasty was soon extinguished following the rise of its feudatories, perhaps on account of a decline in central power.<br />
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Several dynasties divided the lands of the kingdom among themselves. Among them were:<br />
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Western Satraps in the northwestern part of the kingdom.<br />
Andhra Ikshvakus (or Srīparvatiyas) in the Krishna-Guntur region. (r. 220-320 CE).<br />
Abhiras in the western part of the kingdom. They were ultimately to succeed the Sātavāhanas in their capital Pratishthānapura.<br />
Chutus of Banavasi in North Karnataka.<br />
Kadambas of Banavasi in North Karnataka.<br />
Pallavas of Kanchipuram, of whom the first ruler was Simhavarman I (r. 275-300 CE).Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1757303709062492161.post-4143256078127010692009-10-16T12:41:00.001-07:002010-03-26T15:30:15.108-07:00Thondaiman dynasty of Pudukkottai Coins<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2-N4P36vX-XeKmg1XB6Idg2AnZD1FbHUhJZNUDwiJeXQKS3TqbOV0WFqi5TX3idmvaejzV6x7Sv0QUnUUN_vZ4THVqnBNVqsftvHVeL0QrJXi0jvjfmNO1KmNxz1NXeWeeq_WTQv-JfA/s1600-h/pudukottai2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2-N4P36vX-XeKmg1XB6Idg2AnZD1FbHUhJZNUDwiJeXQKS3TqbOV0WFqi5TX3idmvaejzV6x7Sv0QUnUUN_vZ4THVqnBNVqsftvHVeL0QrJXi0jvjfmNO1KmNxz1NXeWeeq_WTQv-JfA/s320/pudukottai2.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzULOCcLv773NhYN2fKostME8h3VzGaBaCsNWLlfvGyMlhqc_lKuhexuq5d3osUVZj_0pKZsmhPUHxsiM6PY8Vlo1ee0pHjLSgOS5-JkTyjdRKECINX5Al_6GjSRuN_quZ2nvIf7rX_rU/s1600-h/pudukottai1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzULOCcLv773NhYN2fKostME8h3VzGaBaCsNWLlfvGyMlhqc_lKuhexuq5d3osUVZj_0pKZsmhPUHxsiM6PY8Vlo1ee0pHjLSgOS5-JkTyjdRKECINX5Al_6GjSRuN_quZ2nvIf7rX_rU/s320/pudukottai1.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="text-align: center;">Issuer : Martanda Bhairava</div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="text-align: center;">Coin Type : Milled Coin</div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="text-align: center;">Obverse : Goddess Brihadamba Seated</div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="text-align: center;">Reverse : Telugu Legend " Vijaya"</div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="text-align: center;">Mint : Birmingham, London</div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="text-align: center;">Date : Non Dated(ND) (1889-1906 AD)</div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="text-align: center;">Dia : 13mm</div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="text-align: center;">Weight of a coin : 1.30grams</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB_JWY55flNM0fgmBhg9yKhoX6EPAWKshwiVpUgzxHfdzq61YUG3QBeG0cWr4JAe7cutgjM73fBAAAUWSgIEBO3krezquTpPCd9JlxxXZCBv6Sl-tY1GWqGIrvEXCIIg3qCDEuqKyUjkU/s1600/pudukottai1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB_JWY55flNM0fgmBhg9yKhoX6EPAWKshwiVpUgzxHfdzq61YUG3QBeG0cWr4JAe7cutgjM73fBAAAUWSgIEBO3krezquTpPCd9JlxxXZCBv6Sl-tY1GWqGIrvEXCIIg3qCDEuqKyUjkU/s640/pudukottai1.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Marthanda Bhairava Tondaiman (April 15,1886 –May 28, 1928)</div>Tondaiman rulers of Pudukkottai who are famous for a unique circular copper coin they minted called Amman Kasu. The obverse of this coin portrays Goddess Parvati or Brihadamba, seated wearing a short skirt. The reverse of the Amman Kasu bears the legend Sri Vijuya (victory) in Telugu. Goddess Brihadamba is the presiding Goddess in the historic Siva temple at Tirugokarnam in Pudukkottai. The royal family worshipped in this temple which was also the venue of the coronation of many of the Tondaiman rulers. The first Amman kasu was minted in the year 1738. During the Navaratri festival, the Tondaiman king gave the Amman kasu along with a bag of rice and other gifts to all those who visited his palace.; Of all the coins issued by the various native states, the Amman kasu is well-known and is even worshipped in many Hindu households.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAjW2rUZB4v0tldmhOfgvir1j5EXthym1RrYNW_2V3ZxBS25H_DhRZD7TsyArfpGJ_-mrj2qGp_4QrIfh6lATedTRM3ROIx4ALaZAQTersHDbNWXsr_6yGxxS_hvsTAJYrAbin5ixil08/s1600/Pudukkotai.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAjW2rUZB4v0tldmhOfgvir1j5EXthym1RrYNW_2V3ZxBS25H_DhRZD7TsyArfpGJ_-mrj2qGp_4QrIfh6lATedTRM3ROIx4ALaZAQTersHDbNWXsr_6yGxxS_hvsTAJYrAbin5ixil08/s400/Pudukkotai.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Thondaiman King in his Durbar, Pudukkottai, 1858.</div><br />
The princely state of Pudkottai was created by Raghunatha Thondaiman. Raghunatha Kilavan Setupati of Ramnad(1673-1708 A.D.)married Kathali Nachiar the sister of Thondaiman, he appointed his brother in law Raghunatha Thondaiman as a chief of the district of Pudukottai. Raghunatha Thondaiman was earlier ruling Thirumayam. In appreciation of Raghunatha Tondaman's services, Raghunatha Kilavan Setupati has given Pudukkottai as a honour for his services.. In later centuries, the Thondaiman rulers, while nominally feudatories of the Ramnad state, often pursued an independent foreign policy, a trend common in all parts of India at that time.After the death of Raghunatha Kilavan Setupati he become ruler of Pudukottai.. After becoming the ruler of Pudukottai, Raghunatha Thondaiman fought against the Nayaks of Tanjore in support of the Nayaks of Madurai and conquered Thirukkattupalli a very important place. Then there was a direct clash between Thondaimans of Pudukottai and the Nayaks rulers of Tanjore. Thondaiman conquered the west of Thirukkattupalli..The next ruler Raja Vijaya Reghunatha Raya Thondaiman he helped Arcot Nawab against Hyder Ali the ruler of Mysore. He was also loyal towards the British Government. After some time, when Hyder Ali’s army tried to enter into Pudukkottai, the Thondaiman’s army successfully defeated them and drove Hyder’s army away. Thondaiman captured Kilanilai and Aranthangi. He helped the British Government against Tipu Sultan..Pudukkotai finally came under formal British protection. This was arguably unavoidable, since the Thondaimans were much menaced in that period by a resurgent Mysore ruled by Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan. Tipu Sultan had sought to leverage the power of the French against his British adversaries, and Pudukkotai, in common with its neighbours such as Thanjavur and Travancore, found it expedient to ally with the British. .Raja Rajagopala Thondaiman (1928 -1948) the last and ninth in the line of Thondaiman rulers, was selected by the British Government and was crowned when he was six years old. After Indian independence in 1947, the Pudukkottai Princely State was amalgamated with Indian Union on 04/03/1948 and became a division in Tiruchirappalli district. The long history of the Thondaimans rule came to an end.<br />
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<div align="center"><strong><span style="color: #3333ff;">The Thondaiman dynasty</span></strong><br />
Raghunatha Raya Tondaiman (1686 - 1730)<br />
Vijaya Raghunatha Raya Tondaiman (1730 - 1769)<br />
Raya Raghunatha Tondaiman (1769 - Dec 1789)<br />
Vijaya Raghunatha Tondaiman (Dec 1789 - Feb 1, 1807)<br />
Vijaya Raghunatha Raya Tondaiman (Feb 1,1807 - June 1825)<br />
Raghunatha Tondaiman (June 1825 - July 13, 1839)<br />
Ramachandra Tondaiman (July 13, 1839 - April 15, 1886)<br />
Marthanda Bhairava Tondaiman (April 15,1886 –May 28, 1928)<br />
Rajagopala Tondaiman (October 28, 1928 - March 04, 1948)</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><br />
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Origin of Pudukkottai</div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">Once, when the King of Vijayanagar was on his way to Rameswaram, one of his elephants went berserk and that elephant was brought under control by Avadai Tondaiman of Karambakkudi (near Pudukkottai), a stronghold of the Kallar community. So, the King honoured him with a long title in telugu "Raya Rahutta Raya Vajridu Raya Mannidu Raya", and extended favours. Avadai Tondaiman's sons Ragunatha Raya Tondaiman and Namana helped Rajah Sethupathi of Ramnad in defeating his enemies. As a result, a few territories, one of them being Pudukkottai, under the domain of the Rajah of Ramnad were gifted to the brothers. Raghunatha Raya became the first Tondaiman ruler of Pudukkottai in 1686. Thus, the kingdom of Pudukkottai came into existence.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Princely State:</div><div style="text-align: left;">In addition to Presidencies, a very large number of kingdoms existed when the British ruled India. They were known as Princely States or Native States and very few native states had the privilege of issue of stamps and coins. Pdukkottai is the one amongst the few. As the area under Kingdom is around 2000 square miles and land locked in the larger Madras Presidency, the Tondaimans issued only one denomination coin, the famouns Amman Kaasu.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Why it is called Amman Kassu:</div><div style="text-align: left;">The Amman Kaasu is so-named after the presiding Goddess Brihadh Ambal or Periya Naachiyaar in the historic Shiva temple at Tirugokarnam in Pudukkottai. The obverse of the coin figures Brihathambal and the other side has telugu letters which spell " Sri Vijaya". From this, it is understood that the Pudukottai was under the dominions of the Nayak Kingdom of Madurai which in turn was under the mighty Vijayanagar Empire. The first Amman Kasu was minted in the year 1738. In the initial years, the dump Amman Kassu was handcrafted at the Pudukottai mint. Later, the coin was machine made at London and shipped to Pudukottai.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">The Amman Kaasu, though small in denomination was able to buy small items of food, snacks, and fruits. Twelve Amman Kaasu were equal to then one British quarter anna at one time. It was made of highly pure copper. At the time of the Indian Independence, there was an abundance of these coins. But they were collected by the coppersmiths and goldsmiths, who melted them down into metallic copper.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Why Brihadambal as Amman on Coin?</div><div style="text-align: left;">Brihadh Ambal or Periya Naachiyaar is the tutelary deity of the dynasty of the Thondaimaans. The royal family worshipped in the temple and was also the venue of the coronation of the many of the rulers. It is said that there was a rebellion in Pudukkottai at one time. The ruling Thondaimaan's own kinsmen and relatives were contesting for the throne of Pudukkottai. So, in order to sort out the problem a scheme was proposed by the able Divan of the Samasthaan, called Sesha Saasthrigal.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Accordingly, the Thondaimaan decreed that, henceforth the Sovereign State of Pudukkottai would be the property of the Goddess Brihadh Ambal. The Thondaimaan will hereafter administer the state as Her Viceroy. Anybody rebelling against the State also commits sin and thereby against the Supreme Goddess, who is the true ruler of the state. Thereafter, Thondaimaan kings added a prefix to their string of titles -</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Sri La Sri Brihadh Ambal Daasa, Jamshad JamBahadhur, etc., etc., So-and-So Thondaimaan Maharaja of Pudukkottai. During the Navaratri festival, the Tondaimaan (King) used to offer the Amman Kassu along with a bag of rice and other gifts to all those who visited his palace Thus the Pudukkottai rulers ruled happily for ever till 1948.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Note: 1. Pudukkottai town proper is located about 50 kms southeast of Tiruchy and about 60 kms south of Thanjavur. It lies on the Tiruchy-Rameswaram Railway line and is connected by bus with Tiruchy, Thanjavur, Karaikkudi, Madurai, Ramesvaram and Aranthangi.</div><div style="text-align: left;">2. In this article we have seen how the Tondaiman kings called themselves `Brhadambadas' (servant of Goddess Brhadamba) and issued coin portraying their tutelary Deity.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com