Vijayanagara Empire

Vijayanagara Empire (1336 - 1646)
Founders : Harihara I and Bukka Raya I of the Sangama dynasty
Capital : Vijayanagar

Languages : Sanskrit, Kannada and Telugu

Religion : Hinduism

The kingdom of Vijayanagar was founded by Harihara and Bukka, two of five brothers (surnamed Sangama) who had served in the administrations of both Kakatiya and Kampili before those kingdoms were conquered by the armies of the Delhi sultanate in the 1320s. When Kampili fell in 1327, the two brothers are believed to have been captured and taken to Delhi, where they converted to Islam. They were returned to the Deccan as governors of Kampili for the sultanate with the hope that they would be able to deal with the many local revolts and invasions by neighbouring Hindu kings. They followed a conciliatory policy toward the landholders of the area, many of whom had not accepted Muslim rule, and began a process of consolidation and expansion. Their first campaign was against the neighbouring Hoysala king, Ballala III of Dorasamudra, but it stagnated; after the brothers reconverted to Hinduism under the influence of the sage Madhavacarya(Vidyaranya) and proclaimed their independence from the Delhi sultanate, however, they were able to defeat Ballala and thereby secure their home base. Harihara I (reigned 1336–56) then established his new capital, Vijayanagar, in an easily defensible position south of the Tungabhadra River.

In 1336 Harihara, with the help of his brothers, held uneasy suzerainty over lands extending from Nellore, on the southeast coast, to Badami, south of Bijapur on the western side of the Deccan. All around him new Hindu kingdoms were rising, the most important of which were the Hoysala kingdom of Ballala and the confederacy, led by Kapaya Nayaka in Telangana.

The Vijayanagara Empire saw the rise and fall of 4 dynasties.

1. Sangama Dynasty
2. Saluva Dynasty
3. Tuluva Dynasty
4. Aravidu Dynasty

Sangama Dynasty

21 June 1377 AD – 1404 AD : Harihara Raya II
1386 AD : This copper plate is dated S. 1308, belonging to Vijayanagara king Harikara in Nagari script and Sanskrit and Kannada languages, records the gift of some vrittis of land to Brahmanas of the Pampakshetra. The king Harihara is praised for his proficiency in the Shastras taught by his Vidyaranya Swami.

28th February 1397 A.D : Kaleshwaram
This inscription is on one pillar of 16-Pillared mandapa of Muktesvara temple from Kaleshwaram, dated Saka 1319, Isvara, 1st day of the year, Wednesday, corresponding to the 28th February 1397 A.D., states in a verse in Sardulavikridita that Devaraya, the son of Harihara, performed the tulapurusha on the occasion of his digvijaya. It was obviously under orders of his father Harihara that Prince Devaraya undertook this campaign of Conquest. The Velugoyivarivamsavali alludes to a number of clashes of the Velamas, who sided with the Bahmani Sultans, with the Vijayanagara kings (Further Sources of Vijayanagara History, Vol. I, pp. 82-83). The Panugallu inscription (cf. op.cit., Vol. II, pp. 38-39), dated 6 months later than this record, refers to the capture of the fort of Panungal by Immadi Bukka, assisted by his son Ananta.

30th December, A.D. 1397 : Pangal, Kollapur, Nagarkurnool District
The record refers to the reign of Harihara II, son of Bukka of the Sangama dynasty of Vijayanagara. The object of the inscription is to record the conquest of Panugallu by the Dviguna-Bukka. The details of the date of the conquest are given as Saka 1319 (expressed by chronogram), Isvara, Pausha (Sahasya), su. 11(Sambhor=dina), Sunday, corresponding to the 30th December 1397 A.D.

1406 AD - 1422 AD : Deva Raya I

1424AD - 1446 AD : Deva Raya II

1424 AD: Pangal - Dated in Saka 1346 during the rule of Devaraya, another epigraph records the construction of the temple of Mukti-Ramesvara by Devanarayana, belonging to a Brahmana family from Kasmira, who was the governor of the fort and who claims to have destroyed the army of Firuz Shah.

Two of Deva Raya's sons, named Mallikarjuna and Virupaksha I, are mentioned in various inscriptions.

1446 AD - 1468 AD : Mallikarjuna Raya 

Mallikarjuna was the son of Deva Raya II by the Queen Ponnala Devi.

The Bahmani Sultanate took over much of the Vijayanagara Empire by 1450 and grew closer to the capital of Vijayanagara. 

Alampur, Jogulamba Gadwal District.
1464 AD : Language : Telugu and Sanskrit
This inscription is dated S. 1386 (9), Sarvajit, Magha, ba. 14, Monday, Sivaratri.Records the gift of the village Sarangapura to the head of the religious establishment ofSarangesvara Matha viz, Peddakuppasakanthadeva by Pedakachappodaya at the command ofthe king. The gift estate was approved by Kadali Bhikshavrtti Ayyangaru, the pontiff of Srisaila throne, by crediting 500 varahas into the treasury of Mallikarjuna.

27th February A.D. 1468 AD : Alampur, Jogulamba Gadwal District.
Language : Sanskrit and Telugu. Script : Telugu.
On the command of Mallikarjuna Raya and with the permission of Kadali biksha vritti lyyengar seated on Srisaila simhasana Peda Kachappodayalu garu, constructed a village called Sarangapura in the fields of Naramarilla and made it over to Kemidevuni veerayya, the Saranga matadhipati for the merit of his guru and parents.

1468 AD - 1485 AD : Virupaksha Raya II lost the Konkan coast (including Goa, Chaul, and Dabul) by 1470 to Prime Minister Mahamud Gawan of Turko-Persian Bahmani Sultanate, who was sent to conquer the area by the Sultan Muhammad Shah III. The Bahmani Sultan would also invade the Doab of Krishna and Tungabhadra, and the Raja Purushottama Gajapati of Odisha invaded Tiruvannamalai. Because of these losses, Virupaksha became increasingly unpopular and ignited many of the empire's provinces to rebel, eventually leading up to Virupaksha's death at the hands of his own son, Praudha Raya in 1485. Praudha Raya himself was not able to salvage the empire but an able general Saluva Narasimha I took control of the empire in 1485 and helped prevent its demise, though this change of power marked the end of the Sangama Dynasty and the beginning of the Saluva Dynasty.

The End of the Sangama Dynasty
Saluva Narasimha was single-handedly holding the great empire together without formally taking over the throne. In the meantime, after the debacle of the attempt to recover Goa on his own, Virupaksha II’s behaviour became even more erratic than before. He ordered random killings of his commanders for trivial charges and started to unleash a reign of terror amongst the nobles. Sick of this behaviour of his father, Virupaksha’s eldest son murdered him. However, he refused to assume the throne since he had committed patricide, a heinous crime according to Hindu scriptures. Therefore, he considered himself ‘unfit’ to be king.

1485 AD - 1486 AD : Praudha Raya
This prince therefore raised his brother, Praudha Deva Raya, to the throne. However, this Deva Raya turned out to be even more wicked and debauched than his father. Very soon after coming to the throne, he became suspicious of his elder brother who had gifted him the throne and personally killed him. It was obvious to all that Sangama power had run its course and that the Sangama scion had lost the moral authority to rule. The time was ripe to supplant this dynasty, whose fundamental roots itself had become rotten to the core.

Saluva Dynasty

1486 AD - 1491 AD : Saluva Narasimha Deva Raya

Saluva Narasimha realised that the time had come to assume the mantle of king. He wrote to all the chiefs, commanders and important nobles and secured their goodwill and then send his trusted general Narasa Nayaka to march on Vijayanagara, the capital. The dates of this take over vary in different accounts, but it can be placed as being within the span of 1486-90. Deva Raya, who had reinstated himself in Vijayanagara fled at the approach of the Saluva army—the Sangamas disappeared from the firmament of Vijayanagara, without even an audible whimper or creating any ripples.

1491 AD : Thimma Bhupala (died 1491 CE)

Elder son and heir-apparent of Saluva Narasimha Deva Raya, the Sovereign of the Vijayanagara Empire. During the reign of his father, he held the office of the Yuvaraja.Prince Thimma succeeded his father in 1491 but was soon assassinated by an army commander loyal to the Sangamas during a period of political unrest in Vijayanagara. He was succeeded by his younger brother Narasimha Raya II.
 

1491 AD - 1505 AD : Narasimha Raya II / Immadi Narasimha
29th February A.D. 1504 : Wanaparthy, Wanaparthy District.
The eldest son of his Saluva Narasimha Deva Raya's prime minister, Narasa Nayaka, had Narasimha Raya II assassinated and ascended to the throne himself in 1505, beginning the Tuluva dynasty, the third dynasty of the Vijayanagara empire.

Tuluva Dynasty

1505 AD - 1509 AD : Tuluva Narasa Nayaka  / Vira Narasimha Raya

1509 AD -1529 AD : Krishna Deva Raya Krishnadevaraya (17 January 1471 - 17 October 1529) was an emperor of the Vijayanagara Empire reigning from 1509 to 1529. He was the third monarch of the Tuluva dynasty, and is considered to be one of the greatest rulers in Indian history.

Krishnadevaraya's rule was characterised by expansion and consolidation. This was the time when the land between the Tungabhadra and Krishna river (the Raichur doab) was acquired (1512), ruler of Odisha were subdued (1514) and severe defeats were inflicted on the Sultan of Bijapur (1520).

4th May, A.D. 1516  : Nelakondapalli, Khammamet, Khammam District.
Language : Telugu.
The following inscription is on three sides of a pillar now planted in the compound of the local library at Nelakondapalli. It is in Telugu prose and records the grant of land to some shrines in Kondapalli, on the orders of Kondamarusayya, who ruled in this region as governor in the reign of Krsna-deva-raya of Vijayanagara.

The inscription is dated in Saka 1438, Dhatr, Jyeṣṭha, suddha, tritiya, Sunday. The date is a sound one and corresponds to Sunday the 4th of May A.D. 1516. The tithi on the previous day (that is, Saturday) was dvitiya, and trtiya did not commence till 98 of that day. The same tithi continued the whole of Sunday and lasted for I ghatika for 30 minutes after sunrise on Monday. The inscription is important as evidence of Krsna-deva-raya's conquest of this region.The Pillar containing this inscription was actually set up by Parvat-ayyamgaru.

1516 AD : Nalagonda (modern Nalgonda),Khammamet and Khandikonda (an Mabbababad taluk of the Warangal district), are referred to among others, important places in the Gajapati kingdom which Krsna-deva-raya captured.

Krishnadevaraya was preparing for an attack on Belgaum, which was in the Adil Shah's possession. Around this time, Krishnadevaraya fell ill and eventually died in 1529, succeeded by his brother, Achyuta Deva Raya.

16th January, A.D. 1521 : Alampur, Jogulamba Gadwall District
Language : Kannada.
This inscription is dated S. 1443, Vrsha, Asadha Su. 12, (A.D. 1521, Jan 16 Sunday). Records the grant of two villages Chennunipadu and Velambodu by Gauradanayankara Basavapayya who was Amara dandanayaka over Alampurusima. He was so appointed by Krishnaraya after his subjugation of Rachuru.

3rd March A.D. 1527. : Alampur, Jogulamba Gadwall District 
Language : Telugu. Script : Telugu.
It is a copper plate at Brahmesvara temple. Registers the gift of a village Chennupalli of Alampura sima, for anga ranga vaibhava of Navabrahmesvara by Chinnapeddinayudu, son of Bhudaram Peddinayudu,. Śrī krishnadevaraya Chinnapeddinayudu a palegar of Alampur sima.

23rd April A.D. 1529. : Chennipadu, Alampur, Jogulamba Gadwall District
Language : Kannada. Script : Telugu.
This inscription is on the slab in the compound of Chennakesava temple. Records thegift of village Pusalapadu also known as Krishnapuram in Alampuri sima, for the Amurutapadi of Chennakesavadeva of Chennipadu on lunar eclipse by Chandrasekharayya son ofAnnaji Ayya, for the merit of his over lord Krishnadevaraya of Vijayanagara and his minister Timmarasayya. The record ends with lengthy imprecatory verses.

1529 AD - 1542 AD : Achuyta Deva Raya
2nd November A.D. 1538  : Kosangi.
Language : Kannada.  Script : Telugu.
This inscription states that while Achyutaraya was ruling his amara nayaka (name lost) Immadi Medi Naraya made a gift of a well and garden to the God Somesvara of Kosagi.

1542 AD  - 1570 AD : Sadasiva Raya

1552 AD - 1554 AD : This is a copper plate with two charters, dated Saka 1474 and 1476, registered grant of villages Jaduvalli and Rellundi respectively to Somanatha Bhatta and Venkatadri by king Sadasiva Raya.

1586 AD -1614 AD : Venkatapati Raya   

Polepally, Jadcherla, Mahbubnagar district.
This inscription is on a pedestal in the Chennakesava Temple. This inscription mentions that a pillar which was broken for a long time was replaced in the temple of Ahobala Narasimhasvami of Polepalli by Mudugallu Nurussa Chintamani.

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Alampur

Alampuram (Hemalapuram) is a town situated in Jogulamba Gadwal district in the Indian state of Telangana.

Alampura or Hatampura in Kanne (300) is situated very near modern Kurnool Town, within its easy reach, on the opposite bank of the river Tungabhadra which runs between the places separating them as it were, the place noted for its many peculiar architectural gopuras, is a famous Saiva centre the presiding deity being Balabrahmivara with the goddess, Jogulamba, or Yogeswari.

The Tungabhadra region is the strategic place, situated on the Vengi Karnataka border and on the route between South India and the north. The Krishna-Tungabhadra doab was the meeting place and battlefield between many empires that flourished in the Deccan. The Chalukyas of Badami and Rashtrakutas of Malkhed met the Pallava of Kanchi in this region and fought a number of times, devastating the territory. Similarly, the Chalukya of Kalyani and the Cholas of the south constantly came into conflict and their forces met in this region for over a century.

Chalukya Vikramaditya had a brilliant career as a prince and the Alampur region was the central place of his activity. Even his brother, Somesvara II assigned him the governorship over Gangapadi and the territory beginning from Alampura. 

859 AD : Pragatore, Alampur
Records the grant of land as vritti (tenures) by ratti bhataralu towards the bhoga (service) of the god Lakulisvara. The grant comprises 10 martars of land to Devala Gundaya and 10 martars under krotha cheruvu. The record also mentions for the first time the term komati meaning merchant.

1028 AD : Bikkenna

1028 AD : Alampur Museum : It is a hero stone kept in the Museum. States that in S. 950, Vibhava (A. D. 1028-9) Jasinga Vallabha came with his army to conquer Kanna-nadu, and in a battle fought at Pebberi, Bikkena pierced an elephant and died. Someone erected a memorial pillar.

1051 AD - 1056 AD : Gamgayya
21st October, 1051 AD : Alampur Museum
The inscription is in another slab fixed in the Museum and it begins with a reference to the pontifical reign of Panchadasi Hataraka, the maha sthanadhipati (the chief priest) of the temple of Brahmesvaradeva, the lord of all the worlds, who manifested himself at Hatampuram (Alampur). Then it proceeds to state that while Trailokyamalladeva (Somesvara I) was ruling the kingdom of the earth, the Pandita Bhatara together with his son Pancharasi gifted, in the presence of the servants of Pancharasi-bhatara, to the Chaturjataka ascetic, some land and his house as a vritti on S. 973, Khara, Karttika Punpamu (su. 15) Somavara (Monday, 21st October, A.D. 1051; su. 14. expired at 46 and su. 15 commenced). The inscription is written by Gamgayya.

1054 AD : Somesvarasi-bhattaraka
This inscription is at the left side of the entrance into the Mahadvara. Records a gift of land to copper-smith (kamsiga) Nachoja by Somesvarasi-bhattaraka, the Maha-stanadhipati of Brahmeswara temple.

4th February, 1055 AD : Somesvarasi-bhattaraka
This inscription is dated S. 976, Jaya, Phalguna su. 5, Saturday, (A.D. 1055, Feb.4). Records a gift of land made by Somesvararasi Bhattaraka mahasthanapati of the god Brahmesvara and other temple servants.

Telugu Cholas of the Pedakallu branch

1056 AD - 1060 AD : Irugana Choda Maharaja

1056 AD : After this, Chidda-Chola appears as a feudatory of Somesvara II in a record of 1073-74 A.D. representing him as governing the four divisions called Kanne-300, Pedekal-300, Naruvadi-500 and Ayaje-300. It has been already observed that our inscription refers to him as governing the four divisions of which only Kanne-nadu is mentioned. The remaining three divisions were, therefore, Pedekal 800, Naruvadi-500 and Ayaje-300. It may be pointed out in this connection, that one Irugan chola of the same family appears as a feudatory of Somesvara I in the records of 1056-57 A.D. probably as governing the same four divisions while a certain Bijna-chola maharaja figures as governing the said divisions as a feudatory of Vikramaditya VI in 1078 A.D. 

1060 - 1078 AD : Chidda Cholamaharaja

Alampur  Inscription : The earliest mention of the chief which I have been able to trace occurs in a record of Somesvara I dated in 1059-60 A.D. when he was governing the Sindavadi-1000 division. Next he refers to it in a record of the same king dated in 1067-68 A.D. as governing the division of Ayaje-300.

Of the inscriptions of the Later Chalukyas, one, dated Saka 989 (A.D. 1067) and belonging to the reign of king Trailokyamalladeva (Somesvara I) refers to his feudatory Maha- mandalesvara Chiddanachola-maharaja as governing Ayaje-300 and records a gift of three hundred gadyanas of gold at the rate of one gadyana fan each village in the said division to the temple of Brahmesvara at Alampura. Two other inscriptions, both belonging to the reign of Bhuvanaikamalla (Somesvara II), are dated Saka 997 (A.D. 1075) and 998 (A.D. 1076) respectively. 

The former mentions Mahamandalesvara Chiddanachola-maharaja as the feudatory governing Kanne-300, while the latter refers to Dandanayaka Naranamayya of Vatsa-kula. 

28th December 1074 A.D. : Bichapalli, Alampur Taluk, Mahabubnagar district. : Western Chalukya.
Sanskrit and Kannada.

The date of the inscription occurs in lines 25-33 as Saka 996, Ananda, Pushya su. 8, Sunday. The date corresponds to the 28th December 1074 A.D. king's feudatory Mahamandalesvara Chidda-cholamabaraja as governing the four divisions, of which only the Kanne-nadu is mentioned, after obtaining them, evidently from the king, as a fief called vila-vritti, the exact significance of which is not known. The chief is stated to have undertaken an expedition (dig- vijaga) against a certain Seguna probably Seunachandra II (1050 AD - 1074 AD) and to have defeated and captured him.

A fourth epigraph belonging to king Tribhuvanamalla (Vikramaditya VI) is dated in the Chalukya-Vikrama year 2 (A.D. 1077-78) and mentions the king's feuda-tory Mallamaharaja of the Vaidumba family, who was governing Ayaje-300. These subordinates of the king figure in the epigraphs as donors to the temple of Brahmesvara at Alampura.

1078 AD - 1081 AD : Mallamaharaja 

24th December 1078 AD : Alampur
This inscription is on a slab placed in the local museum, dated Chalukya-Vikrama 2, Kalayukta, Pushya ba. 3, Monday, Uttarayana-samkranti=1078 A.D. December 24. Records a gift of the village Langanavavi as paramesvaradatti to god Brahmesvara at Alampura by Mahamandalesvara Mallamaharaja of the Vaidumba family, while he was administering the gift. Published in Telangana Sasanamulu, pp. 126-27, No. 26.

The Vaidumba chief of Kalukadapura Mahamahdalehara Malla Maharaja is mentioned in two inscriptions at Alampur dated in A.D. 1079 and 1081 as the ruler of Aize 300 under the suzerainty of Vikramaditya VI. This chief is also said to be ‘the Lord of Kalukada.

This inscription is dated C.V.E......Rudri, Jayestha Amavasya, Solar eclipse. The inscription introduces the king's feudatory Mahamandalesvara Mallamanaraja of the Vaidumba family with titles. He is said to be the lord of Kalukadapura governing the district of Ayaje three hundred. It seems to register the gift of a village to mahasthanadhipati, Brahmarasi Bhattara for the worship etc. in the temple of Brahmesvara.

This inscription is dated C.V.E.2, Kalayukta, Pushya ba. 3, Monday, Uttarayana Samkranti. Registers an endowment of Langanavavi to Somesvararasi Bhattaraka mahasthanapati for the benefit of Brahmesvara by mahamandalesvara Malla Maharaja of the vaidumba family who was administering Ayaja-300.

14th November, 1080 AD : Alampur
This inscription is on a slab placed in the local museum, dated Chalukya-Vikrama 4, Rudra, Pushya amavasye, solar eclipse=1080 A.D. November 14. Records a gift of two villages Moneyuru and Nadumivade to god Brahmesvara at Alampura by Mahamandalesvara Mallamaharaja of the Vaidumba family, while he was administering the gift.

1079 AD : Bijjana Chola Maharaja
Bijjana Chola Maharaja was ruling over Kanne-300 Pedakallu-800 Naravádi-500 from Etagiri in 1079 A.D. (SIL. IX-1.147). As the record mentions Pedakallu as the place wherein the land donated lay, it is likely that this Chola prince has some relationship with this Ghatiyankakara.

1079 AD : Chola Mangarasa

1079 AD : Chola Mangarasa was ruling over Rodda-300 and Kaniyakallu 300-in A.D. 1079

1082 AD : This inscription is on a stone near the Museum. States that while Vikramaditya was ruling preggada Mallapayya made a gift to the God Brahmesvara deva after offering oblations to Vyomasiva pandita, along with the entire pancha rasi Pedmura parivaram.

This inscription is on a slab in the local museum. Records a gift of Undaveli, Baruveli, Gudiyuru and Kadamburu in Ajaye-300 and another village in Kanne-300 to god Brahmesvara by the chief queen. The gift was made over to Dharanindrarasi-pandita.

1088 AD : Ballaya Chola Maharaja

Another Telugu Chola ‘Kumarankusam’, Ballaya Chola Maharaja was ruling over Sindavādi-1000 in A.D. 1088 and his subordinate Mahamandalesvara Chikkarasa of Nambulige of the Mahavali Bána family made some grant of land (SII IX-1.157).

1088 AD : Abharana Chola Maharaja 

of the Karikála family was ruling over the Narmadacha-200,000 in A.D.1088

1089 AD : Vallabarasa

Pundur : (C.V. Prabhava, Telangana Ins. No. cha.28) we find a record of Chalukya Vikramaditya VI, mentioning a subordinate called Mahamandalesvara Vallabarasa, granting lands. 

24th March 1103 AD : Alampur
Damaged. Records a gift of the village Chillars on the back of the Tungabhadra situated in Kanne-300 as a sarvvanamasya to god Brahmesvara by the queen Maleyamatidevi. The recipient of the temples.

1103 AD : Alampur.
This inscription is on a slab in the Museum. Records the donation of Ballera village in the Kannesima on the banks of the Tungabhadra river to Devaracharya muni pandita of Brahmesvara temple for the renovation of temple and for anga bhogas by chief queen Abhinava Sarasvati, wife of Vikramaditya VI as sarvanamasya.

1107 AD - 1109 AD : Ghatiyankakara Choda

"Ghatiyankakara'' which is a title and not a name. Probably he was more popular by his title than by his name but what is curious is, for the Telugu Chola it appears to be now and was originally borne by the Nolamba Pallavas.

The frequent presence of Telugu Chola records from A.D. 1107 onwards suggests that there was some necessity for renewed activity in this region. This is followed up by another in A.D.1109, as we have already seen, with the slight change in name Ghatiyankarája instead of Ghatiyankakára.

1107 AD - 1116 AD : Mallarasa

1107 AD : Alampur

This is a Telugu Chola inscription of the time of Tribhuvanamalla Vikramaditya VI of the Western Chilukyas of Kalyani dated in the Chilukya Vikrama year, 31 Vyaya, Uttarayana Sankranti from a stone slab unearthed recently near the Balabrahmesvara temple in the village of Alampur

Registers a grant of land, a village whose name is lost (la..madu) in Pedakallu-500 for the worship of the god and for the maintenance of the temple Brahmēsvara at Alampur, entrusted to the care of the priest of the place (? stanadhipati) Dharanindrarási Pandita, after washing his feet.

1109 AD, as we have already seen, with the slight change in name Ghatiyankarája instead of Ghatiyankakára.

The mention of the name of Chalukya Vikramaditya VI, Tribhuvanamalla ruling from the nelevidu of Kalyána and a Telugu Chola of the status of a Mahamandalesvara as his subordinate with Pedakallu as the place where the land was granted clearly show the influence of the Kalyani rulers over the Telugu Cholas of the Pedakallu branch in particular and the latter's importance in helping the imperial family in maintaining the empire against enemies.

11th June, 1108 AD : Alampur Museum
This inscription is on a slab lying down in the Museum. Damaged. Seems to begin with the invocation of Brahmesvaradeva of Hatampura and Tribhuvanamalladeva and Kalyana. It is stated that in C.V. 33 Sarvadhari.... Amavasya and Brihaspativara; Surya grahana (Thursday, 11th June A.D. 1108), Tribhuvanamalladeva's chief Queen (name lost) surnamed Abhinava Sarasvati made a gift of Damagattale in Kanne (300) to the god Brahmesvaradeva, established at Hatampura (Alampur) the western gateway Srisailam for the anga-bhoga of the god, and white washing and repairs etc., of the temple. The gift appears to have been made after washing the feet of Dharanindrarasi pandita.

1109 AD : Alampur
This inscription is dated C.V.E. 32, Sarvajit-Uttarayana Samkranti. Records the grant of Villages in Aije-300 to the god Brahmesvara of Alampura by Abhinava Sarasvati, probably Chanda Devi the chief queen of Tribhuvanamalladeva.

1109 AD : Alampur
This inscription is dated C.V.E. 32, Sarvajit, Uttarayana Samkranti (A.D. 1107, Dec. 25, Wed ?). Records the gift of income from certain taxes and fines collected in the village Kandanavola on the Tungabhadra to the god Brahmesvara by Mahamandalesvara Mallarasa lord of Koduru, after loving the feet of mahasthsanapati Dharanindrarasi Pandita.

1114 AD : Alampur
This inscription is on a stone by the side of Brahmesvara temple. Registers a gift to perform bhogas of Brahmesvara deva and for renovation of the temple and white washing by the chief queen Mahadevi of Tribhuvanamalla Vikramaditya. She was praised as Dvitiya Lakshmi, Abhinava Sarasvati, Visalavakshasthala nivasi, Madhura vachana rachana nari, and a gem in Kas'yapa gotra.

1115 AD : Alampur
This inscription is at the main entrance of Brahmesvaralaya. It records a gift for the renovation, white washing, anga - bhogas and five rituals of the God Brahmesvara deva, to Sthanadhipati Vitaranendra rasi pandita by mahamandalesvara Sri Mallarasa.

1150 AD - 1154 AD : Hallavarasa

25th June, 1151 AD : Alampur,
This inscription is from the two sides of a pillar from Yoga-Narasimha temple. Records a gift of land to god Madhavadeva by Chakama, wife of Nagadeva-nayaka who was the padihara (pratihara) of Mahamandalesvara Hallavarasa.

1153 AD : Alampur
This inscription is dated S. 1075 (mistake for 1073), Prajapati. Registers a gift of land to god Madhava by Chakama, wife of Nagadeva Nayaka holding the office of door keeper of Mahamandalesvara Hallavarasa.

Kalachuris of Kalyani

1178 AD - 1183 AD : Ahavamalla

11th January, 1182 AD : Alampur, Jogulamba Gadwal District

This inscription is of the time of the Kalachuri king Ahavamalla, son of Bijjala. It cites the date, his 4th regnal year, Magha s.u. 5, Monday. This date regularly corresponds to A.D. 1182, January 11.

This inscription is on two sides of a pillar in the Suryanarayana temple. Records a gift of income from several taxes, for offerings and maintenance of a perpetual lamp in the temple of Gavaresa by the Ayyavole-500 svamis, nanadesis, mummuri-dandas, Kannada-4000 and the Stalas of several places who had assembled as mahanadu at Dakshina-Varanasi, i.e. Alampura. Sthanapati Kesavarasi was the recipient of the gift.

1262 AD : Alampur.
The inscription dated in Saka 1184 (A.D. 1262) , records the renovation of a pillar (kambam) of the temple of Brahmesvaradeva by Bammisetti for the merit of Cheraku-Murari Ketaya, Danay-Murari Immadi-Devaya, Dushtarankusa Annaya and Jagadala Marayya.

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Jogulamba Gadwal District History

Jogulamba Gadwal district is a district in the Indian state of Telangana. The administrative headquarters of the district is located at Gadwal. The district shares boundaries with Narayanpet, Wanaparthy districts and with the state boundary of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.

The district was carved out from Mahabubnagar district in 2016.

Part of Ayije-300 or Aize-300 or Ayaje-300 or Ayaja-300 in olden times.

c.550 AD - 753 AD : Badami Chalukyas (543 AD - 753 AD) 

Pulakeshin I defeated Vakataka Dynasty in c.550 AD. Pulakeshin II defeated Durjaya Dynasty in 611 AD and defeated Vishnukundins in 611 / 624 AD.

655 AD - 680 AD : Vikramaditya I 

Baladitya Maharaja
Vikramaditya I was the third son and followed his father, Pulakesi II on to the Chalukya throne. He restored order in the fractured kingdom and made the Pallavas retreat from the capital Vatapi.

30th April, 660 AD : Amidelpadu near Alampur.
Telugu-Kannada, (Script) and Sanskrit (Language).
Amudalapadu plates of Vikramaditya I, year 5

The object of the inscription is to restored the grant of the village of Iparumka, situated in Vamguravadi-vishaya, by Maharajadhiraja Paramesvara Vikramaditya Satyasraya Sri Prithivi Vallabha (i.e. Vikramaditya I), when he was stationed at the village of Marruva in favour of Sudarshanacharya in payment of guru-dakshina on the occasion of the king`s Siva-mandala-diksha on the full-moon day of Vaisakha in the fifth year of his reign.

The characters belong to the old Telugu-Kannada alphabet and closely resemble those of the published records of the issuer of the charter, viz. Chalukya Vikramaditya I (655-81 A.D.) of Badami. 

King Vikramaditya I, the issuer of the charter is stated to have overthrown, with the help of his charger Chitrakantha and his sharp sword, the three kings who were responsible for the disappearance of his father`s royal fortune and to have restored the properties belonging to gods and Brahmans in the kingdoms of the said three kings who had confiscated them. The above introductory part of the record is concluded with a stanza saying that king Anivarita- Vikaramaditya (i.e. Vikramaditya I) recovered the prosperity of his family as a result of his conquests over many adversaries in different directions. This verse is found in the earlier characters of the king, while the later Gadwal (674 A.D.) plates add to it four more stanzas referring to his success against his three adversaries belonging to the Pallava royal family of Kanchi.

It is clear that the Chalukya king underwent Saiva-diksha, i.e. initiation into the Saiva faith, at the hands of his guru or preceptor Sudrsanacharya who received the village as his dakshina or perquisite for the performance of the initiation ceremony. It is further stated that the Acharya distributed plots of land in the gift village among the following twentyseven Brahmanas: (1)Rudra Sivacharya of the Kasyapa gotra: (2)Gayatrisiva of the Kaundinya gotra; (3) Sivasvamin of the Harita gotra; (4) Gollabhatti of the Bharadvaja gotra; (5)Paramasiva of the same Bharadvaja gotra; (6) Vananasvamin of the Kaushika gotra; (7) Kesavasvamin of the same Kaushika gotra; (8) Kokilasvamin of the Maitreya gotra ; (9-10) Narayana and Vamana of the Kasyapa gotra; (11) Revasarman of the Samkrityyana gotra; (12-15) Rudrasarman, Revasarman, Adityasarman and Ttasarman of the Kasyapa gotra; (16-19) Bhimasarman, Durgasarman, Bhoyisarman and Badisarman of the Bharadvaja gotra; (20) Nagasarman of the Kaundinya gotra; (21) Brahmasarman of the Bharadvaja gotra; (22) Adityasarman of the Sandilya gotra; (23) Ravisvamin of the Kasyapa gotra; (24) Sravanasimhasarman of the Kaushika gotra: (25) Damasvamin of the Bhalandana gotra; (26) Damodarasvamin of the Kasyapa gotra; and (27) Mandusarman of the Bharadvaja gotra.

Of these Brahmanas, Sravanasimhasarman is stated to have received two shades or plots of land, probably implying thereby that the others received only one share each. It seems that one share of land was also allowed to Sudarshanacharya`s wife. There is little doubt that the said Saivite Brahmmanas assisted Sudarshanacharya in the celebration of the diksha ceremony of Vikramaditya I. it may me noted that the king’s guru Sudarshanacharya has been mentioned without the name of his gotra. This was possibly due either to an oversight of the scribe or of the enlarger, or because he was an assertive who had renounced the world. The first alternativeis more probable since Sudarshana`s wife seems to be mentioned in the record.

The Nausari plates of the feudatory prince Satyasraya Siladitya. Dated 671 A.D., mentions Vikramaditya I as a Paramamahesvara and meditates on the feet of Sri-Nagavardhana who is believed to have been a god or a religious teacher. It is not impossible that the king`s guru Sudarsana was the head of a Saiva religious order and that Nagavardhana was one of his successors in that position. But the Talamanchi plates of Vikramaditya I speak of one, Sri Meghacharya of the Vasistha gotra, as his svaikya- guru, This issue of the charter is under study. This may suggest that Sudarsanacharya was suggested as head of the order or organisation in question, soon after king’s initiation, by Meghacharya who was probably himself succeeded by Nagavardhan. It is interesting to note that Meghacharya and Nagavardhan are not mentioned in the list of Brahmins who were benefited by the grant under discussion and do not therefore appear to have taken part in the initiation ceremony of the Chalukya king. Alternatively, it may be suggested that Meghacharya was the king’s shiksha-guru just as Sudarsana was his diksha-guru, though in such a case his relationship with Nagavarsdhana cannot be determined.

Of the geographical names mentioned in the inscription, Vanavasi and Uttarapatha are well-known. As suggested by Sarma, the village of Maura where the king was staying at the time of making the grant, may be one of the two localities called Chinna Marruru and Pedda Marruru on the bank of the Krishna in the present Kollapuram Taluk of the Jogulamba Gadwal District. There is a ruined temple at Chinna Marruru. It seems that the king visited the village for his initiation ceremony and that Sudarsanacharya was a resident of the said locality. The name of the Vamguravadi vishya seems to be preserved in that of the modern village called Vamguru in the Kalvaparti Taluk of the same District, about 40 miles from the village called Marruru. Pandit Sarma who published the inscription in the Bharati is inclined to identify Iparumkal with the present village of Vipanagamdala about 10 miles from the localities named Marruru.

15th April, 675 AD : Velnalli (Gadwal Plates), Alampur Taluk
This inscription is on a pillar in the Arkabrahma temple. Registers the gift of land at the instance of Gangamahadevi, probably a queen of Vikramaditya I to Kunda Sarma son of Svami Vanda Sarma, and grandson of Isvara Shadangavitha of Kasyapa gotra. The grant comprises land measuring an extent of 25 nivartanas according to rajamana (royal measure). Alongside, 25 nivartanas of land were given to Batamma Swami son of Talamma Swami, and grandson of Mahesvara Svami belonging to Srivatsa gotra. The grant was executed by maha sandhi vigrahi Sri Jayasena.

Ramapuram, Waddepalle Mandal, Jogulamba Gadwal district.
Engraved inscription in telugu, belonging to the reign of Vikramaditya (I), records gifts of land to Sankarasvamin, Ayicha-sarman, Reva-sarman and others belonging to the various gotras by Baladitya-maharaja who was apparently a feudatory of the king.

680 AD - 696 AD : Vinayaditya
27th April, 682 A.D : This inscription describing as usual the genealogy of the Chalukya family of Badami, belongs to the reign of Vinayaditya. It is dated Saka 604 equated to 27th April, 682 A.D, the king’s second regnal year, Vaisakha purnima, when the king was in his military camp at Banumgal.

27th April, 682 A.D: Paniyal (Pallipadu), Alampur Taluk
Registers the grant of the village Paniyal (Pallipadu), to a certain Madhava swami, well versed in Vedas, who was the son of Godarisvami and grandson of Priyankarasvami of Bharadvaja gotra, while the king was camping in the city of Banamkallu, identified with modern Panagallu in Nalgonda District.

682 AD : Pallepadu, Jogulamba Gadwal District
This inscription1 describing as usual the genealogy of the Chalukya family of Badami, belongs to the reign of Vinayaditya. It is dated Saka 604, the king’s second regnal year, Vaisakha purnima, when the king was in his military camp at Banumgal. This date may be approximately equated to A.D. 682.

It records the endowment of the village Paneyal on the southern bank of the river Krishna benna to Madhava swami of Bharadvaja gotra, who was well versed in the study of the vedas. The gift was made at the request of Swami Sivaraja.

713 AD : Alampur Inscription
Telugu-Kannada and Siddhamatrika.
This inscription was dated in Saka 635 (A.D. 713) in the reign of the Western Chalukya king Vijayaditya Satyasraya, one of the epigraphs is biscriptal, one version written in the Siddhamatrika script and the other in the Telugu-Kannada alphabet (pl. LVI A). It records the construction of an enclosure by a certain Isanacharva.

Another epigraph belonging to the first regnal year of king Dharavarsha (Dhruva) records a gift of three hundred and sixty mattar of land to the goddess Durga-bhattaraki of Alampura and the construction of the main gateway (sri-vagilu), etc. and mentions Bala- varmarasa as administering Alampura and Somadi-bhatta as holding the matha-patya of the place.

733 AD 746 AD : Vikramaditya II
Son of King Vijayaditya and ascended the Badami Chalukya throne following the death of his father. This information comes from the Lakshmeshwar inscriptions in Kannada dated 13 January 735 A.D.

746 AD - 753 A.D : Kirtivarman II
Kirtivarman II also known as Rahappa succeeded his father Vikramaditya II. His reign was continuously troubled by the growing power of the Rashtrakutas and finally succumbed to them.

753 AD - 973 AD : Rashtrakuta defeated Badami Chalukyas in 753 AD.
Founder : Dantidurga
Capitals : Manyakheta
Languages : Kannada, Sanskrit
Religion : Jainism, Hinduism

753 AD - 756 AD : Dantidurga (735 AD - 756 AD) occupied all territories between the Godavari and Vima. Dantidurga is said to have conquered Kalinga, Kosala, Kanchi, Srisril, Malava, Lata etc.

756 AD - 774 AD : Krishna I
Dantidurga was succeeded by his uncle Krishna I. He conquered the territories that were still under the Chalukyas and thereby competed conquest of the Chalukya territories.

774 AD - 780 AD : Govinda II
Krishnaraja’s eventful career came to an end within a very short time and he was succeeded by his son Govindaraj who ruled for some time as Govinda II.

Alampur : This inscription is on a stone slab fixed in the Museum. The record relates to the period of Prabhuta Varsha Govinda II and states that a certain Srimara son of Botiya Begala caused the construction of a temple to the Sun god in Uttaresvara temple, for the prosperity of the emperor. The presence of this record in Alampur shows the advent of Rashtrakuta authority in this region.

780 AD - 793 AD : Dhruva brother of Govinda II

780 AD : Alampur, Jogulamba Gadwal District
Telugu-Kannada and Siddhamatrika.
Epigraph belonging to the first regnal year of king Dharavarsha (Dhruva) records a gift of three hundred and sixty mattar of land to the goddess Durga-bhattaraki of Alampura and the construction of the main gateway (sri-vagilu), etc. and mentions Bala- varmarasa as administering Alampura and Somadi-bhatta as holding the matha-patya of the place.

793 AD - 814 AD : Govinda III
Dhruva was succeeded by Govinda III his son and with almost equal vigor as of his father.
Alampur, Jogulamba Gadwal District : This damaged inscription seems to refer to the construction of the shrine of the sun-god in the temple of Uttaresvara for the prosperity of the king Prabhutavarsha by Srimara son of Botiya Begala. Prabhutavarsha was the title assumed by three Rashtrakuta rulers of Malkhed, bearing the name Govinda. This was probably Govinda III (A.D. 792-814).

Alampur : This inscription is on a slab placed in the local museum. Damaged. Seems to record the construction of the shrine of the god Aditya in the Uttar vara temple by Srimara, son of Sabetiyabe. In characters of about the 9th Century.

926-27 AD : Kannada.
This Kannada inscription, engraved on the upper and lower frames of the Gaja-Lakshmi panel fixed into the wall of the mandapa near the Siva temple outside the village, is dated Saka 848. Sarvajit (A.D. 926-27) states that it was caused by Poravana-gavunda.

1051 AD : Gamgayya

21st October, A.D. 1051 : Alampur Museum
Telugu : The inscription is in another slab fixed in the Museum and it begins with a reference to the pontifical reign of Panchadasi Hataraka, the maha sthanadhipati (the chief priest) of the temple of Brahmesvaradeva, the lord of all the worlds, who manifested himself at Hatampuram (Alampur). Then it proceeds to state that while Trailokyamalladeva (Somesvara I) was ruling the kingdom of the earth, the Pandita Bhatara together with his son Pancharasi gifted, in the presence of the servants of Pancharasi-bhatara, to the Chaturjataka ascetic, some land and his house as a vritti on S. 973, Khara, Karttika Punpamu (su. 15) Somavara (Monday, 21st October, A.D. 1051; su. 14. expired at 46 and su. 15 commenced). The inscription is written by Gamgayya.

22th October A.D. 1051 : Alampur, Jogulamba Gadwal District
The epigraph commences with an allusion to the sway of Pancharasi Bhattaraka, Mahasthanadhipati of the god Brahmesvara, the sole lord of the universe, renowned through his manifestation in the excellent Hatampura.

The inscription next mentions the reign of the western Chalukya king Trailokyamalla Somesvara I. It cites the date Saka (973); Khara, Karttika Purnima, Monday, which may be equated to A.D. 1051, October 22, the weekday being Tuesday. It seems to register a gift by the attendants of pancharasi.

4th February, A.D. 1055. : Telugu and Sanskrit.
This inscription is dated S. 976, Jaya, Phalguna su. 5 Saturday, A.D. 1055, Feb. 4. Registers a gift of land Kasi (ganna ?) Bhoja by Somesvara rasi Bhattaraka, mahasthanapati of the god Brahmesvara.

Telugu Cholas of the Pedakallu branch

1056 AD - 1060 AD : Irugana Choda Maharaja

1056 AD : After this, Chidda-Chola appears as a feudatory of Somesvara II in a record of 1073-74 A.D. representing him as governing the four divisions called Kanne-300, Pedekal-300, Naruvadi-500 and Ayaje-300. It has been already observed that our inscription refers to him as governing the four divisions of which only Kanne-nadu is mentioned. The remaining three divisions were, therefore, Pedekal 800, Naruvadi-500 and Ayaje-300. It may be pointed out in this connection, that one Irugan chola of the same family appears as a feudatory of Somesvara I in the records of 1056-57 A.D. probably as governing the same four divisions while a certain Bijna-chola maharaja figures as governing the said divisions as a feudatory of Vikramaditya VI in 1078 A.D. 

19th January A.D. 1057 : Alampur, Jogulamba Gadwal District : Western Chalukya
This inscription refers to the reign of the Western Chalukya king Trailokyamalla Somesvara I. It is dated Saka 971, which is a mistake for 978, Durmukhi, Magha s`u. 11, Sunday. This corresponds to A.D. 1057, January 19.

The epigraph introduces the king’s feudatory Mahamandalesvara Irugana Chola- maharaja, of Karikala’s lineage. At the instance of this chief, his tolls officer, Sunka-vergade. Lokamanikasetti made a gift of income from specified tolls to the god Brahmesvara when Mahasthanadhipati Brahmarasi Bhattaraka was holding charge of the religious foundation.

1060 - 1078 AD : Chidda Cholamaharaja

Alampur  Inscription : The earliest mention of the chief which I have been able to trace occurs in a record of Somesvara I dated in 1059-60 A.D. when he was governing the Sindavadi-1000 division. Next he refers to it in a record of the same king dated in 1067-68 A.D. as governing the division of Ayaje-300.

2nd June A.D. 1060 : Alampur, Jogulamba Gadwal District
This inscription refers to the reign of the Western Chalukya king Trailokyamalla Somesvara I from Kalyana. It is dated Saka 98[2], Sarvari, Ashadha s`u. 1, Thursday. This date corresponds to A.D. 1060, June 2, the week-day being Friday.

It registers the endowment of land to Tribhuvanasakti Pandita of Papavinas’s for the education of ascetics, made by Pergada Davapayya on the occasion of the Pavitrarohana ceremony.

1067 AD : Of the inscriptions of the Later Chalukyas, one, dated Saka 989 (A.D. 1067) and belonging to the reign of king Trailokyamalladeva (Somesvara I) refers to his feudatory Maha- mandalesvara Chiddanachola-maharaja as governing Ayaje-300 and records a gift of three hundred gadyanas of gold at the rate of one gadyana fan each village in the said division to the temple of Brahmesvara at Alampura.

25th December A.D. 1067 : Alampur, Jogulamba Gadwal District 
This inscription commences with a description of the god Brahmesvara the sole lord of the universe, renowned through in the excellent Hantampura.

Next refers itself to the reign of the Western Chalukya king Trailokyamalla Somesvara I. It is dated Saka 989, Plavanga, Uttarayana-sankranti. In the said year Sankranti occurred on Pausha ba. 2 Tuesday, corresponding to A.D. 1067, December 25.

It introduced the king's feudatory Mahamandalesvara Chiddana Chola-Maharaja who was governing that tract of Ayaje-Three-Hundred. The epigraph records a gift of gold income to the god Brahmesvara of Alampur, adorning the western entrance of Sri Parvata, by Kosanaya, the Saudhore of the tract and other officials. The gift was received by Mahasthanadhipati Brahmarshi Bhattaraka of the religious establishment.

24th April A.D. 1073 : Alampur, Jogulamba Gadwal District 
After the usual invocation to the god Brahmesvara of Hatampura, this inscription refers to the reign of the Western-Chalukya king Bhuvanaikamalla Somesvara II from Bankapura. It is dated Saka 995, Pramadi, Vaisakha purnima, Monday lunar eclipse. This date corresponds to A.D. 1073, April 24, the week-day being Wednesday.

It introduces the king`s feudatory, Mahamandalesvara Chiddana Chola maharaja of Karikala`s lineage, who was governing the four tracts, comprising Kanne-Three-Hundred, Pedakal-Eignt-Hundred, Naravadi-Five-Hundred, and Ayaje-Three-Hundred.

The epigraph registers an endowment of land made by this chief to the god Brahmesvara of Alampur after leaving the feet of Mahasthanadhipati Brahmarasi Bhattaraka of the religious foundation.

28th December 1074 A.D. : Bichapalli, Alampur Taluk, Mahabubnagar district. : Western Chalukya.
Sanskrit and Kannada.

The date of the inscription occurs in lines 25-33 as Saka 996, Ananda, Pushya su. 8, Sunday. The date corresponds to the 28th December 1074 A.D. king's feudatory Mahamandalesvara Chidda-cholamabaraja as governing the four divisions, of which only the Kanne-nadu is mentioned, after obtaining them, evidently from the king, as a fief called vila-vritti, the exact significance of which is not known. The chief is stated to have undertaken an expedition (dig- vijaga) against a certain Seguna probably Seunachandra II (1050 AD - 1074 AD) and to have defeated and captured him.

1075 AD - 1076 AD Two other inscriptions, both belonging to the reign of Bhuvanaikamalla (Somesvara II), are dated Saka 997 (A.D. 1075) and 998 (A.D. 1076) respectively. 

The former mentions Mahamandalesvara Chiddanachola-maharaja as the feudatory governing Kanne-300, while the latter refers to Dandanayaka Naranamayya of Vatsa-kula. 

9th April A.D. 1076 : Alampur, Jogulamba Gadwal District 
This inscription commences with a description of the god Brahmesvara, the sole lord of the universe, renowned through his manifestation in the excellent Hatampura.

Next it refers to the reign of the Western Chalukya king Bhuvanaikamalla Somesvara II. It is dated Saka 998, Nala, Vaisakha s`u. 3, Sunday. This date corresponds to A.D. 1076, April 9, the week-day being Saturday.

It registers gift of income from Vaddaravula tax in the four regions to the god Brahmesvara of Alampur, adorning the western entrance of Sri Parvata by Dandanayaka Naranamayya, officer in charge of Vaddaravula. The gift was received by Mahasthanadhipati (superintendent of the great religious establishment) Brahmarasi Bhattaraka.

1078 AD : A fourth epigraph belonging to king Tribhuvanamalla (Vikramaditya VI) is dated in the Chalukya-Vikrama year 2 (A.D. 1077-78) and mentions the king's feuda-tory Malla- maharaja of the Vaidumba family, who was governing Ayaje-300. These subordinates of the king figure in the epigraphs as donors to the temple of Brahmesvara at Alampura.

1078 AD - 1081 AD: Malla Maharaja of Vaidumba Family

He is said to be the lord of Kalukadapura governing the district of Ayaje three hundred. 

25th December, A.D. 1078 : Alampur, Jogulamba Gadwal District 
After extolling the god Brahmesvara as usual, the inscription refers to the reign of the Western Chalukya king Tribhuvanamalla Vikramaditya VI. It is dated the Chalukya-Vikrama year 2, Kalayukta, Pushya ba. 3, Monday, Uttarayana-Sankranti. The said Sankranti in the specified year occurred on A.D. 1078, December 25, one day later than the details cited.

The epigraph introduces the king's feudatory Mahamandalesvara Mall Maharaja of the Vaidumba family, lord of the foremost town of Kalkade, who was governing the tract of Ayaje- Three-Hundred. It registers an endowment to Somesvara-rasi Bhattaraka, Mahasthanadhipati of the religious foundation, for the benefit of the god Brahmesvara of Alampur.

20th June A.D. 1080 : Alampur, Jogulamba Gadwal District : Western Chalukya
After praising the god Brahmesvara as usual, the inscription refers to the reign of the Western Chalukya king Tribhuvanamalla Vikramaditya VI from Kalyana. It cites the Chalukya-Vikrama year (lost), Raudri, Jyeshtha amavasya, solar eclipse. In the said cyclic year during the king's reign, the solar eclipse, as specified, occurred on A.D. 1080, June 20.

It introduces with a string of epithets the king`s feudatory, Mahamandalesvara Malla- maharaja of the vaidumba family, lord of the foremost town of Kalukade who was administering the district of Ayaje-Three-Hundred. The charter seems to register the gift of a village to Mahasthanadhipati Brahmarasi Bhattaraka for the benefit of the god Brahmesvara of Alampur. The epigraph being damaged, some details are lost.

1081 AD  - 1089 AD : Hallavarasa

27th December A.D. 1087 : Puduru, Gadwal 
This inscription is on a slab in the outskirts of the village. States that while Tribhuvanamalla Vikramaditya VI was ruling in happiness the kingdom of the earth from his Nelevidu at Kalyana, his subordinate mahamandalesvara Hallavarasar installed an image of Parsvanatha and granted the land which was kept in the hands of Jain preceptor Padmanandi Muladhara.

25th, December A.D. 1087 : Pudur, Jogulamba Gadwal District.
This inscription refers to the reign of the Western Chalukya king Tribhuvanamallla Vikramaditya VI from Kalyanapura. It is dated the Chalukya Vikrama year [11] Prabhava, Pushya amavasya, Sunday, Uttarayana Sankranti. This year's date is irregular. In the said cyclic year the Sankranti occurred on Pausha ba. 13, Saturday, corresponding to A.D. 1087, December 25.

It introduces the King's feudatory Mahamandalesvara Hallavarasa of Pundur, who was Jaina by persuasion and assumed the characteristic titles, Master of the throne of Ayodhya and Lord of Kembukundurpura. This chief made gifts of land, graden’s, house-sites, etc. to the Pallava Jinalaya of Dravila Sangha by laying the feet of his preceptor Kanakasena Bhattaraka.

1089AD : Vallabarasa

A.D. 1089 (C.V. Prabhava, Telangana Ins. No. cha.28) we find a record of Chalukya Vikramaditya VI, mentioning a subordinate called Mahamandalesvara Vallabarasa, granting lands.

1097 AD - 1110 AD : Mallarasa or Mallikarjunachoda brother of Tonda II

Lord of Kodurapura

16th January A.D. 1097 : Alampur, Jogulamba Gadwal District
After the usual invocation to the god Brahmesvara of Hatampura, this damaged inscription refers itself to the reign of the Western Chalukya king Tribhuvanamalla Vikramaditya VI. It is dated the Chalukya-Vikrama year 21, Dhatu, Magha s`u (1), Friday, solar eclipse. In the specified year, a solar eclipse occurred on Pushya Amavasya, Friday. This would be equivalent to A.D. 1097, January 16.

It introduces the king's feudatory Mahamandalesvara (Malla ?)ya Cholamaharaja, of Karikala`s lineage. The epigraph records an endowment made by this chief to the god Brahmesvara of Alampur by laving the feet of Mahasthanadhipati Brahmarasi Bhattaraka of the religious foundation.

27th December A.D. 1106 : Alampur.
This inscription is on a slab set up in front of Bala Brahma temple. Records the gift of Pedakallu-800 by mahamandalesvara Ghaṭiyanka Kara Cholamaharaja, for anga and ranga bhoga, repairs, renovation and white washing, the daily rituals of God Brahmesvaradeva as sarvanamasya after washing the feet of mahasthanadhipati Dharanindra rasi pandita.

25th December A.D. 1107 : Alampur, Jogulamba Gadwal District : Western Chalukya
This inscription refers to the reign of the Western Chalukya king Tribhuvanamalla Vikramaditya VI. It is dated the Chalukya-Vikrama year 32, Sarvajit, Uttarayana-Sankranti. In the specified year the said Sankranti occurred on A.D. 1107, December 25, Wednesday. It introduces the king's feudatory Mahamandalesvara Mallarasa, lord of the foremost town of Kodur, this chief made a gift of the income accruing from certain taxes and fines collected in the village Kandanavolal on the Tungabhadra to the god Brashmesvara of Alampur after leaving the feet of Mahasthanadhipati Dharanindrarasi Pandita of the religious foundation. Kandanavolal is apparently modern Kurnool.

1107 AD : Alampur

This is a Telugu Chola inscription of the time of Tribhuvanamalla Vikramaditya VI of the Western Chilukyas of Kalyani dated in the Chilukya Vikrama year, 31 Vyaya, Uttarayana Sankranti from a stone slab unearthed recently near the Balabrahmesvara temple in the village of Alampur

Registers a grant of land, a village whose name is lost (la..madu) in Pedakallu-500 for the worship of the god and for the maintenance of the temple Brahmēsvara at Alampur, entrusted to the care of the priest of the place (? stanadhipati) Dharanindrarási Pandita, after washing his feet.

1110 AD : Chikkarasa of Jimutavahana family - Silahara chiefs
25th December A.D. 1110 : Alampur.

This inscription is on a slab in the local museum, dated Chalukya. Vikrama 35, Vikriti, Pushya, su. 13, Monday, Uttarayana. Sankranti=1110 A.D., December 25. The weekday, however, was Sunday. Damaged. Records some gift to the same god by Mahamandalesvara Chikkarasa of the Jimutavahana family at the instance of the chief queen. Dharanindrarasi- bhattaraka was the recipient of the gift.

1110 AD - 1112 AD : Mahamandalesvara Bikkarasa of Jimutavahana-kula, the lord of Tagarapura - Silahara chiefs

22th December A.D. 1110 : Alampur.
This inscription is on a slab lying in the Museum. Damaged. This inscription states that by an order of the latter, mahamandalesvara Bikkarasa of Jimutavahana-kula, the lord of Tagarapura, having washed the feet of Dharan indra rasi pandita, the mahasthanadhipati of Brahmesvaradeva temple made some gift for the anga-bhoga to the god. The record was engraved by Sarvasi Bhatta.

1112 AD : Alampur Museum,
This inscription is on a slab fixed in the Museum. Damaged. The inscription opens with an invocation of Brahmesvaradeva; then, it mentions Western Chalukya king Tribhuvanamalladeva and his chief queen; next, it proceeds to state that by an order of the latter, Mahamandalesvara Bikkarasa of Jimutavahana-kula, the lord of Tagarapura, having washed the feet of Dharanindrarasi Pandita, the mahasthanadhipati of Brahmesvaradeva's temple made some gift in C.V. 35 Vikriti, Pushya su. 10. So..........Uttarayana sankranti (A.D.1112) for the anga-bhoga of the god

1112 AD - 1116 AD : Mallarasa lord of Kodurapura

1114-1115 AD : Alampur
This inscription is at the main entrance of Brahmesvaralaya. It records a gift for the renovation, white washing, anga - bhogas and five rituals of the God Brahmesvara deva, to Sthanadhipati Vitaranendra rasi pandita by mahamandalesvara Sri Mallarasa.

1136 AD - 1154 AD: Pallava III or Hallavarasa of Pundur

Pallava II or Dekabbarasi

Govindara or Ketalambarasi 

1136 AD : Two of them from Maddurum in Kannada, refer to maha-pradhana danda-navaka Rudrabhattopadhyaya as the aradhya of the king, i.e. Vikramaditya VI of the Chalukya family, and governor of Ayije-300 division. Maha-samanta Hallavarasa of Pundur and maha- mandalesvara Kavana-chola-maharaja of the Telugu-Choda family figure in two other records as the feudatories of the same king. The former of these two made a gift of land in Madduru and Rekaluru for worship of the god Chintaka-Rechesvara and also for the maintenance of musicians and artists.

25th June A.D. 1151 : Alampur, Jogulamba Gadwal District
This inscription is from the two sides of a pillar from Yoga-Narasimha temple. Records a gift of land to god Madhavadeva by Chakama, wife of Nagadeva-nayaka who was the padihara (pratihara) of Mahamandalesvara Hallavarasa.

26th June A.D. 1151 : Alampur, Jogulamba Gadwal District

Trihuvanamalla, Tailapa III
This inscription refers to the reign of Western Chalukya king Tribhuvanamalla. It is dated Saka 1075, Prajapati, Ashadha s.u. 11, Monday. The Saka year cited must be a mistake for 1073. In the cyclic year rajapati, the said tithi occurred on A.D. 1151, June 26, the week- day being Tuesday. Tribhuvanamalla was the familiar title of Vikramaditya VI; but he does not seem to have been ment here. Unless it is a clerical error, the other possibilities would be to treat this title as referring to either Jagadekamalla II (A.D. 1138-51) or his son Taila III (A.D. 1151-62).

The epigraph registers a gift of land to the god Madhava, made Chakama, wife of Nagadeva-nayaka holding the office of door-keeper of Mahamandalesvara Hallavarasa.

1153 AD : Alampur,
This inscription is dated S. 1075 (mistake for 1073), Prajapati. Registers a gift of land to god Madhava by Chakama, wife of Nagadeva Nayaka holding the office of door keeper of Mahamandalesvara Hallavarasa.

1164 AD - 1181 AD : Kalachuri dynasty of Kalyani
1180 AD - 1183 AD : Ahavamalla
11th January, A.D. 1182 : Alampur, Jogulamba Gadwal District :
This inscription is of the time of the Kalachuri king Ahavamalla, son of Bijjala. It cites the date, his 4th regnal year, Magha s.u. 5, Monday. This date regularly corresponds to A.D. 1182, January 11.

It states that the representatives of the trading corporation of Ayyavale-Five-Hundred, Ubhaya-Nanadesis, Mummuridandas of Thirty-six Bidus, Kannada-Four-Thousand and the chief men of the business centres like Trumbula, Gobbur, Maddur and Alampur, assembled in a conference and made the gift of income derived from tools on various transactions to the Gavaresvara Kesava-rasi, Sthanapati of the temple received the gift.

1199 AD - 1253 AD : Cheraku Bolla II or Cheraku Bollayya Reddy

1262 AD : Alampur inscription records the renovation of a pillar (kambam) of the temple of Brahmesvaradeva by Bammisetti for the merit of Cheraku-Murari Ketaya, Danay-Murari Immadi-Devaya, Dushtarankusa Annaya and Jagadala Marayya.

1253 AD - 1265 AD : Immadi Visvanatha son of Cheraku Bollayya or Bolla II

1265 AD - 1270 AD : Immadi Devaya II son of Immadi Visvanatha

1271 AD - 1305 AD : Immadi Bolla IV

1336 AD - 1485 AD : Sangama Dynasty of Vijayanagara

Founded of Harihara and Bukka

1422 AD - 1424 AD : Vira Vijaya Bukka Raya 
1424 AD - 1446 AD : Deva Raya II 

1446 AD - 1468 AD : Mallikarjuna Raya
1464 AD : Alampur 

This inscription is dated S. 1386 (9), Sarvajit, Magha, ba. 14, Monday, Sivaratri. Records the gift of the village Sarangapura to the head of the religious establishment of Sarangesvara Matha viz, Peddakuppasakanthadeva by Pedakachappodaya at the command of the king. The gift estate was approved by Kadali Bhikshavrtti Ayyangaru, the pontiff of Srisaila throne, by crediting 500 varahas into the treasury of Mallikarjuna.

1467 A.D : Alampur
This inscription is of the time of the Vijayanagara king Mallikarjuna. It is dated Saka 138[9], Sarvajit, Magha ba. 14, Mondy, Sivaratri. This date regularly corresponds to February 22. The epigraph records the endowment of the village Sarangapura to the head of the religious establishment of Sarangesvara-matha, Viz. Peddakuppa-sakanthadeva by Peda Kachapppodeya at the command of the king. The gift estate was purchased earlier with the approval of Kadali-Bhikshavritti-Ayyangaru, the pontiff of the Srisaila throne, by creaditing 500 varahas into the treasury of the god Mallikarjuna

27th February A.D. 1468 : Alampur
On the command of Mallikarjuna Raya and with the permission of Kadali biksha vritti lyyengar seated on Srisaila simhasana Peda Kachappodayalu garu, constructed a village called Sarangapura in the fields of Naramarilla and made it over to Kemidevuni veerayya, the Saranga matadhipati for the merit of his guru and parents.

1465 AD - 1485 AD : Virupaksha Raya II 

Vijayanagara Empire (Saluva dynasty) 

1485 - 1491 : Saluva Narasimha Deva Raya 
1491 AD - 1505 AD : Narasimha Raya II or Immadi Narasimha
29th February A.D. 1504.  : Wanaparthy

Vijayanagara Empire (Tuluva dynasty) 

1505 AD - 1509 AD : Viranarasimha Raya

1509 AD - 1529 AD : Sri Krishna Deva Raya 

Gaura Danayanka Basavapayya

4th May, A.D. 1516  : Nelakondapalli, Khammamet taluk
The following inscription is on three sides of a pillar now planted in the compound of the local library at Nelakondapalli. It is in Telugu prose and records the grant of land to some shrines in Kondapalli, on the orders of Kondamarusayya, who ruled in this region as governor in the reign of Krsna-deva-raya of Vijayanagara.

The actual reconquest by the Gajapati king is proved by the fact that this region was in his Kingdom at the time of Krsna-deva-raya's invasion. Nalagonda (modern Nalgonda), Khammamet. and Khandikonda (Mabbababad  district), are referred to among others, important places in the Gajapati kingdom which Krsna-deva-raya captured.

16th January, 1521 A.D.  : Alampur, Jogulamba Gadwal District
This inscription refers to the Vijayanagara king Vira-Krishnaraya and cites the date Saka 1443, Vrisha, Ashadha s`u. 12. This corresponds to A.D. 1521, January 16, the week-day being Sunday, not mentioned in the record. The epigraph records the endowment of two villages, Chennunipadi and Velampadu, to the god Brahmesvara of Alampur by Gauradanayamkara Narayana of Harita gotra for the religious merit of the king. The gift was made at the instance of Gauradanayamkara Basavapayya who was invested with the authority of Ambaradananayaka over Alampuru-sime by Vira-Krishnaraya after the letter`s subjugation of Rachuru as a result of his successful military campaign in the north.

The god Brahmesvara also called Bala-Brahmesvara, is described in this record as having manifested himself in the excellent Alampur. This statement establishes the identity of Hatampura in other records with Alampur. This place is mentioned as Dakshina Varanasi and Kasi-kshetra on the bank of the Tungabhadra. 

3rd March A.D. 1527 : Alampur
It is a copper plate at Brahmesvara temple. Registers the gift of a village Chennupalli of Alampura sima, for anga ranga vaibhava of Navabrahmesvara by Chinnapeddinayudu, son of Bhudaram Peddinayudu,. Śrī krishnadevaraya Chinnapeddinayudu a palegar of Alampur sima.

23rd April A.D. 1529. : Alampur
This inscription is on the slab in the compound of Chennakesava temple. Records the gift of village Pusalapadu also known as Krishnapuram in Alampuri sima, for the Amuruta padi of Chennakesavadeva of Chennipadu on lunar eclipse by Chandrasekharayya son of Annaji Ayya, for the merit of his over lord Krishnadevaraya of Vijayanagara and his minister Timmarasayya. The record ends with lengthy imprecatory verses.

Bukka Polavi Reddy

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Pudur

The village Pudur is located in Gadwal Mandal of Jogulamba Gadwal District in the State of Telangana in India.

Pudur was part of Kandurnadu and later Gadwal Samsthan and now part of Jogulamba Gadwal district, Telangana State and called Pundur or Punduru in olden times.

1048 AD : Telugu Cholas played a significant part in the Chola-Chalukya wars during the reign of Somesvara I and it was their territory that formed the battlefield. Sometime before A.D. 1048 the 30th year of Rajadhiraja, there was a battle between the Cholas and the Chalukyas on the Vengi-Karnataka border. The record mentions that Chakravarti Vikramanaranan took an active part in the battle at Pundur, called the 'Katakama-nagar (the great capital city) on the banks of the Perar (big river) by persuading his huge army to attack Ahavamalla. In the battle that ensued, it is stated, the two younger brothers of Niduvadi Telunga Vichhayyan, Silai Kaivattarajan, Akkappayyan, Pidaikal Cholan, Kondaiya-rajan, Kunisil Munjan, Dandanayakan Dananjayan, Vira Martandran, Vagai Vichchayyan, and his mother and son were all made captives (6 of 1890, SII. IV-329).

1089 AD : Mahamandalesvara Vallabarasa
1089 AD : This Pūndur is situated in the Jogulamba Gadwal district and in A.D. 1089 (C.V. Prabhava, Telangana Ins. No. cha.28) we find a record of Chalukya Vikramaditya VI, mentioning a subordinate called Mahamandalesvara Vallabarasa, granting lands. The Perar is identified with the river Krishna by Sri C.R.K. Charlu (Dept. of Epigraphy, Madras), (the Kannada Inscriptions of Kopbal p.5 Hyderabad Archaeological series).

The records of the 33rd year (A.D. 1050-51) of Rajadhiraja (E.C. IX Dv. 76, S.I.I. VII 1046-1048) mentions his victory, again at Pundur, over "Niduval Vichchayyan'. No doubt this Niduvadi and Niduval Telunga Vichchayyan are identical (probably the Niḍugal Chōlas are meant). Pidaikai Chōla is suggestive of the Cholas of Pedakallu.

There are three localities of interest in this place the Kesavaswami temple, the shrine known as the Mallikarjuna gudi and most important of all, the temple of Virabhadra. 

The Kesava temple is situated in a small compound towards the North-Eastern end of the village and looks comparitvely recent. It consists of a rectangular pillared and the main shrine behind it. One notable feature is that this temple has no Sikhara at the top but has instead a low parapet wall around. The deity in this temple is mentioned frequently in the Telugu literature of the 15th and 16th centuries produced under the patronage of the rulers of Gadwal.

About two furlongs to the North of this temple is a low mud-wall about 8 feet thick, encircling the village

the railway station. A little farther is a small shrine known as Mallikarjuna gudi. The most important of the antiquities of this shrine are a number of broken sculptures laid against a wall to the right side of the gudi. Among them are to be found the idols of a female and a male deity, a Jina sitting in the dhydna posture with a seven-hooded cobra above his head, a broken Jina figure exquisitely carved and a third Jina image without the cobra-hood above the head. There are besides, the images of dwarapdlakas and Ndgis in plenty. 

About two are three fur- longs away from this place is the Virabhadra temple which is the centre of our interest at Pudur. The temple consists of an entrance porch, a small pillared hall and the main shrine behind it. Above this structure is a stepped conical sikharci with an inverted kalasa at the top. The main shrine contains a Sivalinga while to the Southern wall of the hall is set up an image of Virabhadra. 

To the North of this temple is a small shrine containing a slab on which is carved in relief a figure with folded hands and the tail curving above the head, resembling the figure of Hanuman. 

Parallel to these structures and to the further North is a choultry of recent construction, with a Northern wing. A mud-wall recently built starts before the entrance to the Virabhadra temple and joins the Eastern wall of the choultry. This wall and the exterior of the Western wdll of the choultry are important from the sculptural point of view. Being recent erections they contain a number of beautifully sculptured slabs and beams. Below is a list of some of the important slabs built into the former.

1. Four figures of Nagis each with a sword and a shield in the hand. 
2. A man and a woman on horseback below a seated Jina figure with a woman holding chamara on either side.
3. Two men on horseback one piercing the other.
4. A seated Jina with two warriors fighting with swords below
5. Many slabs with single and many-hooded cobras.

On the exterior of the Western wall of the choultry are found the following sculptures

1. The cross-beam of a doorway with Qajalakshmi in the centre,
2. Another beam containing Siva in the dancing posture,
3. A pillar on which are carved in relief the scenes of Rama and Sita going to the forest and Rama cutting the nose of Surpariakha
4. A peculiar slab containing a Jina with chamara-bearers on either side and a Linga on a pedastal in the first row; a horseman below the Jina fighting with a sword and an infantry man piercing the former's horse with a spear, in the second row; a man in the falling posture and below him a dead body, both in the centre of the slab below the second row

Besides the temples and sculptures described above, Pudur contains no less than six inscriptions which belong to three successive centuries, and throw much light on the religious history of this part of the country during early medieval times.

1088 AD : Hallakarasa

On a slab by the road side near the Mallikarjuna gudi, a canarese inscription dated 12th year of the Chalukyavikrama era, recordsthat in the time of Tribhuvanamalla his subordinate Pundura Hallakarasa made several gifts of land in and round Pudur to his guru Kanakasena- bhattaraka of the Pallavajinalaya, which belonged to the Dravila samgha. 

Mahamandalesvara Rajasekhara
A canarese fragment on a broken slab in the road very near the above which chief with the usual dynastic titles. This vikrama era though the actual figure is mentions Mahamandalesvara Rajasekhara a telugu choda chief 

In the Kesavasvami temple a workout record of chieftain who calls himself Kandura-pura-vara-dhisvara

On the cross-beam bearing Gajalakhmi, carved in the upper and lower margins are “Sri Poravana gavunda madisida” and Svasti Saka-varisa Sarvajit Samvatsara

On a pillar in the interior of the Northern wing of the choultry and 'half built into the wall is a Telugu record on which the words and are prominent Prajapathi Samvatsara Jagadala

Towards the Southern end of the village on a slab near the Hanuman shrine, is a long canarese inscription dated Chalukya Vikrama Era 13 which registers a gift of Pundura Hallakarasa.

These inscriptions reveals many interesting facts. The Sanskrit verse tells us that the ancient name of Pudur was Pundurapura and that it had a fortress. Evidently the low mud wall to the North of the Kesava temple to which we have already referred formed part of the ancient fortress of Pudur. At the beginning of inscription No. i there is a figure of a Jina sitting in dhyana posture. The inscription records a gift to the Pallavajinalaya whose prosperity is hailed in the first two lines thereof. The second and third sides of the record are descriptions of the temple which the Sanskrit verse tells us, was situated in a beautiful mango grove. 

Pudur seems to have been ruled over by Hallakarasa in the last quarter of the 12th century. Later on probably the Telugu cholas held this place as inscription no. 2 above indicates. The letters in inscription No, are distinctly Telugu characters of the early 13th century and resemble those of the Kakatiya inscriptions. The occurence of the word "Jagadala’" and the mention of the erection of a Siva temple in the visible part of this record afford the clue for determining the date of this inscription. JagadaJa a subordinate of Kakatiya Ganapatideva appears in the Pakhal inscription. Further the reign of that monarch also witnessed a strong Saivite reaction against the Jainas. Hence I would ascribe this inscription to Jagadala a general of Ganapatideva and assign it to the cyclic year Prajapati ’corresponding to 1211A. D. This fragment indicates how Pudur became a part of the Kakatiya empire and a Saivite centre. 

In the Kesavasvami temple a worn out record of a chieftain Rajasekhara a Telugu Chola gives us the political history of Pudur in subsequent times. The “Yatha- sldk-tatparya-Raraayapamu’ dedicated to Raja China Somabhupal of Gadwal mentions that about the middle of the 17th century a certain Virareddi was the ruler of Pudur and that his only daughter Bakkamma was married to Raja Peda Somabhupal the Nadagaud of leeza. Later this chieftain founded the fortress of Gadwal and transferred his head quarters to it. Since then Pudur formed part of the Gadwal sainasthan. Continued neglect reduced the fort and other fortifications into ruins. Only the mud-wall remains today as the pitiable survivor of the past glory of Pudur.

In Telangana both Jainism and Brahminism flourished without any hitch till the close of the nth century. With the advent of Virasaiva in the middle of the next century the situation changed. A strong movement of merciless persecution was started by the Vira Saivas against the Jainas. Telugu and Kanarese literatures of this period contain harrowing tales of the wholesale destruction of the Jainas, their books and temples. This wave of destruction swept the nooks and corners of the Western Chalukyan empire. The Jaina settlement at Pudur also seems to have suffered in this connection. But for the images of Virabhadra and the linga in the main shrine, the Virabhadra temple is a compact little Jaina shrine.

 Of the broken sculptures in the Mallikarjuna gudi the male and the female deity and the Jina figure with the cobra-hood above its head may be taken to constitute a triad representing ParSvanatha and his attendant Yaksha and Yakshipi. I believe that the Virabhadra temple of today enshrined this triad besides a number of allied deities and went by the name of “Sri Pallava Jinalaya’’ in the 12th century as inscription No. i mentioned in this paper would indicate. It is likely that in the middle of the 13th century, when Pudur was conquered by the Kakatiyas, the champions of Saivism, set in the reaction against the local Jainas. Sculpture on the exterior of the Western wall of the choultry is symbolic of this reaction. The representation of a Jina over one and of a Lingaover another of the two fighters on this slab indicates that of these two warriors each championed one of the two rival faiths and fought out the issue. The result, as the presence of the Saivite idols in what was origi" nally a Jaina temple would indicate, was victory to the 6aivas* As a further consequence of the victory, the Saivas must have set up many temples here of their own type. Probably the cross-beam contain- ing the image of ^iva in the dancing posture adorned one of the main temples of the Saivas. On questioning the old men of the place, I came to know that all the sculptured pieces in the Virabhadra temple were recovered from the ground while ploughing or sinking wells. It is likely therefore that the neighbourhood of the temple contains many temples and inscriptions in its bosom.

Thus Pudur and its antiquities are of very great interest to the archaeologist and the student of history. In the broken sculptures andthe half-buried inscriptions of this place we find the echos of the general progress of the political and religious history of the Deccan.

THE ANTIQUITIES OF PUDUR* M. RAMA RAO, M. A., B, Kd.

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Kalachuris of Kalyani

1156 - 1183 : Kalachuris of Kalyani 

Founder : 

Kalachuris of Kalyani  also known as Kalachuris of Mahishmati, were an Indian dynasty rose to power in the Deccan region between 1156 and 1182 CE . They are also known as the Early Kalachuris to distinguish them from their later namesakes, especially the Kalachuris of Tripuri.

Soma

Krishna

c. 925 AD : Uchita
c. 950 AD : Asaga
c.975 AD : Kannama
c. 1000 AD : Kirivasaga or Asana II
c. 1057 AD : Bijjala I

Bijjala I was a feudatory of Chalukya Somesvara I in 1057 A.D. 

c.1067 Kannama II

Bijjala’s son Kannama II was also a Chalukya feudatory in 1067 A.D. 

c.1069 AD - c. 1080 AD Ammarasa

The inscription found at Mandrup in south Solapur taluka relates to the period 1069 A.D. The rule of the Kalachuri chief Ammarasa, who is stated to have ruled from Mangaliveda. It mentions the administrative division Anandura-300 and another smaller division of 30.

c. 1080 AD : Jogama

It was suggested by Dr. Desai that Kannama’s son Jogama came to power in about 1080 A.D. though the earliest known date for him so far is 1087-88 A.D. the date of an inscription from Kolagiri in Jath taluka of Sangli district

c.1118 AD - c. 1130 AD : Permadi

1130 - 1167 AD : Bijjala II proclaimed independence in 1156.
Established the authority over Karnataka after wresting power from the Chalukya king Taila III.

He was the most famous of the southern Kalachuri kings who ruled initially as a vassal of Chalukya Vikramaditya VI. He ruled as the Mahamandalesvara (chief or governor) over Karhada-4000 and Tardavadi-1000 provinces, designations given to territories within the larger Western Chalukya kingdom.

Mahamandaiesvara Bijjala is mentioned with his brother Mailugi in inscription dated 1147 A.D. as a subordinate to Jagaddekamalla II. 

He revolted against the Western Chalukya Empire, assumed imperial titles in 1157, and ruled along with his successors, the Deccan Plateau for a quarter of a century

1168–1176 : Sovideva

This inscription was found in the Hanuman temple at Sivani in north Solapur relates to 1171 A.D. It refers itself to the reign of the Kalachuri king Sovideva.

Mallugi --> overthrown by brother Sankama

1176 - 1178 AD : Sankama

1178 AD - 1183 AD : Ahavamalla

18th July, 1181 AD : Appanapalli , Mahabubnagar
This inscription is on the northern wall of Siva temple. Records that the elders of Aiyyavolu 500, 36 Beedu of Mummari and the Ubhaya nananadesis of Kannada Navaka 1000 assembled and built the gateway (torana) at Kadamburu.
Note: This Ahuvamalla was the fifth son of Bijjela. His earliest record is dated A.D. 1181. If this was his third year, he must have proclaimed himself as king in A.D. 1178-79.

11th January, 1182 AD : Alampur, Jogulamba Gadwal District
This inscription is of the time of the Kalachuri king Ahavamalla, son of Bijjala. It cites the date, his 4th regnal year, Magha s.u. 5, Monday. This date regularly corresponds to A.D. 1182, January 11.

It states that the representatives of the trading corporation of Ayyavale-Five-Hundred, Ubhaya-Nanadesis, Mummuridandas of Thirty-six Bidus, Kannada-Four-Thousand and the chief men of the business centres like Trumbula, Gobbur, Maddur and Alampur, assembled in a conference and made the gift of income derived from tools on various transactions to the Gavaresvara Kesava-rasi, Sthanapati of the temple received the gift.

Alampur, Mahaboobnagar District.
11th January, A.D. 1182. :This inscription is dated Regnal year 4, Magha su. 5, Monday, (A.D. 1182, Jan. 11). It records that the representatives of the trading corporation of Ayyavale-500, Ubhaya-nanadesis, Mummuri Dandas of 36 Bidus, Kannada four thousand and the chief men of business centres like Tumbula, Gobburu, Madduru, and Alampur assembled in a conference and made the gift of income from tools on various transactions to the god Gavaresvara. Kesavarasi Sthanapati received the gift.

Singhana

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Gadwal Saree

Gadwal Saree is a handcrafted woven sari style in Gadwal of Jogulamba Gadwal district in the Telangana State, India. 

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Gadwal sarees are made from cotton and silk which is usually tussar or mulberry. “The dyeing is usually done at Chirala where the yarn is dipped in boiled coloured water at an extremely high temperature. Higher temperature means the colour will last a long time.

It was registered as one of the geographical indication from Telangana by Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999.

Though Gadwal is the most famous of all, there is an entire of cluster of smaller villages also engaged in weaving these sarees. Over 800 looms are used every day at Rajoli village to create these seven yard beauties. All sarees produced here are sold to the master weavers of Gadwal, which is probably why Rajoli is overshadowed. Other notable villages where they are made are Gattu, Yemmiganur, Aiza and Nagaladinne.

It takes painstaking effort over five days to make one beautiful Gadwal saree on the loom using the interlocking weft technique. Even then, the weavers’ job is not complete; he has to meticulously attach the silk border using ash to finish the saree. They are most notable for the Zari on the saris. The sari consists of cotton body with silk palluwhich is also given a new name as Sico saris. The weave is so light that the saree can be packed in a matchbox

The sarees made on machines using low-quality silk take less time and are sold in the market as original Gadwal sarees. The true hallmark of a Gadwal saree is the merging of cotton and silk threads in the border, which differentiates it from the sarees made on powerlooms.

With any handloom fabric, making it relevant to the increasingly fashion conscious crowd is a challenge. Of late, Gadwal sarees, have received a huge impulse thanks to the efforts of fashion designers like Sanjay Garg and Vinay Narkar who have contemporised it with their labels Raw Mango and Reshamwala. A quick browse through their websites reveals curated Gadwal sarees unlike the generic stacks one has to sort through to find a standout piece.

Though Gadwal sarees got a boost under the patronage of the Nizams and got accentuated with a geographical indication (GI) certificate in 2010, the plight of these weavers is similar to those in other parts of the country as they struggle to make a better life for themselves and their children with the paltry sum they make a month.

http://www.thehindu.com/features/magazine/the-last-drape/article4817410.ece

https://telanganatoday.com/understated-elegance-gadwal-sarees

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Suravaram Pratapa Reddy

Name         : Suravaram Pratapa Reddy

Born        : May 28, 1896 in Boravelli, Gadwal 
Died        : Aug 25, 1953 
Parents    : Rangamma and Narayanareddy
Education   : Graduated from Nizam College, BA and BL degrees from Presidency College, Madras.
Profession : Poet, Scholar, Freedom Fighter, Social historian and reformer, Lawyer, Journalist, Founder and Editor of Golconda Patrika a Telugu-language journal.

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