CHAPTER V Solapur Under The Yadavas of Devagiri CHAPTER V

SOLAPUR UNDER THE YADAVA OF DEVAGIRl

After the fell of Chalukyas of Kalyani, the Yadavas of Devagiri rose to power. The

Yadavas ruled over Maharashtra, and Northern Karnataka. Solapur and

adjoining area were under the control of Yadavas of Devagiri. Some inscriptions of

Yadavas of Devagiri are found in Solapur area as well as in Pandharpur. Siddeswar temple

and Kudal Sangam achieved importance since 12th century A.D. The early history of the

Yadavas is shrouded in some obscurity It seems that the Yadavas were first known as

Seunas and their dominion was called Seunadesa. The Sangamner copper plate of Yadava

Billama II and Hemadri also testifies that the Seunadesa was known after the name of

Seunachandra,1 who was the son of Dridhapatara.

Seunadesa was the name given to the region extending from Nasik to Devagiri. In

the introduction to Hemadri’s Vratakhanda Devagiri was situated in Seunadesa and that

the latter was located on the border of Dandakaranya.

The Kalegaon inscription of Yadava Mahadeva shows that the country founded by

Driklaputra was extended by Seunachandra of both the banks of Godavari so as to include

the modem districts of Aurangabad and east and west Khandesh together with portions of

Ahmednagar and Nasik.

As the record of dynasty traced its descent from the puranic hero its rulers

were better known as Yadavas although the work Seuna was not totally forgotten. The

1 Epigraphies Indies II. p.218.

-88- Muslim Historians knew them as Yadavas and Prataprudriya of Vidyanatha refers to them as Yadava king of Seuna country.2

ORIGIN OF THE YADAVA FAMILY:

The early history of the Yadava dynasty is found in the epigrsphic records of its rulers as well as in the introduction to the Hemadri Vratakhanda, Most of the inscriptions of the Yadavas originated from the holy Vishnu’s lineage.

The Paithan grant of Ramchandra tracing the descent of the family states the following: From the lotus that grew from the navel of Vishnu, there was produced

Viruchi. From his was bom Atri, and from him Chandra or moon. In the lineage of the moon, there was pururava, who married Uravasi. From him was bom Yayati and from him

Yadu though whom the race attained prominence in the world.3

In the introduction to Hemadris Vratakhanda many predecessors of Dridhaprahara have been introduced most of whom are undoubtedly mythical. However despite such an overcrowding legendary ancestors of Sabahu, it is not difficult to determine, as R.G.

Bhandarkar has remarked, where the legend ends and where history begins.

Dnyaneshwara at the end of his Marathi commentary on the Bhagavatigita also describes Yadava Ramchandra as king of the lunar race.4 In order to justify their descent from Vishnu the Yadavas carved Garuda image in gold on their imperial banner Garuda also appears on the seals of their land grants sometimes alone and sometimes in

2 Indian Antiquary, XXI, p. 199. 3 Jadhav S.R.: Administrative system of the Deccan under the Yadavas (Dissertation submitted to the Shivaji University Kolhapur, Unpublished dissertation, 1986. 4 Dandekar S.V., Jnaneshwari, p.826.

-89 association with figure of Hanuman. Another Biruda which the Yadavas took with pride was Dvaravati Pttravar Adhitvara,5 Since Davarati was the legendary capital of who was an introduction of God Vishnu bom in the same lineage. The Yadava rulers might have prided themselves upon such hereditary titles.

V.K. Rajavade in his preface to the RadhaMadhava Vischampu has remarked that the Yadava rulers like other rulers came from the north and subjugated the

Marathas of the Deccan. But this view was controverted by C.V. Vaidya and suggested that Yadavas were not northern Kshatrtyas but one of the oldest Maratha Kshatriya families of Maharashtra and the modem representatives of these Maratha families such as

Jadhav, Chalkes, Solankis, Kadam and Bhaleraos still maintain the tradition of their lunar or solar origin.

According to ancient traditional account the Yadavas during the ancient times were a powerful dynasty of the north. Later they migrated to south-western region as far as on the sea. After the death of Krishna some of the Yadavas families migrated to the Yadavas association with and Dwaraka before their immigration to the

Deccan. It is stated therein that Subahu who belonged to the Yadava race was universal sovereign. He had four sons among whom he divided the whole kingdom. The second son

Dridhaprahara became king in the south.6

The Seunas or the Yadavas of Devagiri came to power as early as the beginning of the 9th century itself. Obviously they were the subordinates of the then ruling kings, the

5 Epigraphia Indica, Vol. XV, p.36. 6 Gazetteer of India: Maharashtra state. History part I, Ancient period. (Bombay, 1967), p.356.

-90- Rashtrakutas. They held their sway over the area around Sinnarah Srinagana in Nasik district. In course of time, with change of the ruling dynasty when the Chalukyas of

Kalyana came to power, the Seunas had to submit to the latter though they tried to rise against them in the beginning. Later on, continuing in their subordinate position and helping their over-lords in their wars the Seunas became an important power in the northern part of the Chalukya territory covering Solapur, Bijapur, Gulbarga and Raichur districts. The southern region was occupied by the rival claimants the Hoysalas.7 The coming back of the Chalukyas did not much alter the situation. Both the Seunas and the

Hoysalas had already grown too strong to be subdued. They were already encroaching upon the Chalukya territory on either side. The pressure on both the sides was too much to bear for the Chalukya king. Seuna Bhillama advanced very much towards Kalyana and many battles were fought between him and Somesvara. Though the Chalukya inscriptions claim victory for their master, events show that Somesvara IV had at last to vacate

Kalyana finally and retire to Banavasi, the capital of the trusted feudatories, the

Kadambas. Bhillama soon occupied Kalyana and became an independent ruler. He started

advancing further south in a bid to occupy the whole of the Chalukya territory. As for the

Hoysalas Ballala II of that family he was also advancing northwards with the same intention. Inevitably therefore, the two ambitious rulers came face to face with each other.

A battle was fought near Soratur in Gadag taluka of Dharwad district which temporarily

checked the progress of Bhillama.8

7 Ritti Shrinivas: The Seunas (The Yadavas o fDevagiri) (Dharwad, 1973.) pp.83FF. * Ritti and Kumbhar: Inscriptions from Solapur District Dharwad, 1988, Introduction, p.XXII.

-91 - Singhana II the grandson of Bhillama succeeded in pushing Ballala II beyond the

Tungabhadra. Thus finally the erstwhile Chalukya kingdom extending from Narmada to

Kaveri became divided between the two warring dynasties, the Seunas and the Hoysalas, with Tungabhadra as the dividing line.

There are about twelve, inscriptions belonging to the Seunas dynasty in this region.

The Solapur region was swiftly occupied by Bhillama and it became the base from where it was easy to proceed towards Kalyana. Thus a number of Seuna inscriptions are found in the Solapur district.

BHILLAMA V (1173 TO 1192 A.D.):

Bhillama was the first king to raise the status of the Yadava family and made a bid for paramount power in the Deccan. He led victorious expeditions against the Hoysalas, the Paramaras and the Chalukyas and made himself master of the whole country north of the Krishna. He then founded the city of Devagiri and made it his capital.9 This inscription was found in front of the Maruti temple of Mandrup in South Solapur taluka.

It refers itself to the reign of Seuna Bhillma V who is stated to have been ruling from Hemsoladevi. Then follows a description of the kings subordinate Khyideva and his wife Memasaladevi and their four heroic sons: Launideva, Vijjana, Sangama and probably

Kheyidcva. The last one is credited with the victory over the Hoysalas and the subduing of

the chief. The other sons Lakhmideva and Vijjana are also praised for their valour and

generosity.

9 Gazetteer of India, Maharashtra State,: Solapur district, p.45.

-92- The inscription records the gift of the village Ankulage on the bank of the river

Sinne for the temple of Siddhesvara of Mandubbe, the headquarters of Mandubbe 30. The donor was Uijjana. Kheyideva made permanent arrangement for offering regular services of music and dance in the temple by appointing musicians, drummers, dancers etc. and giving them grant for their maintenance.

The inscription is dated in the 2nd regional year of Bhilima, Plavanga Bhadrapada

Amavasya Sunday, Solar eclipse, corresponding to 1187 A.D. September 4, which was

Friday. The eclipse occurred on that day.10

The inscription introduces an officer of the king, Kheyideva, his wife Hamsaladevi and his four sons Lakhmideva Bijjana, Sangama and Kheyideva. All these sons are highly praised and are credited with numerous victories. Among them Lakshideva is credited with the achievements worthy of note. One is his confrontation with the Hoysala king as indicated by his title Hoysala Benetekara i.e., the hunter of Hoysala Bhillama had series of encounters with the Hoysalas is known from many records. It is thus not unlikely that

Lakshmideva fought in one such battle on behalf of his master. Another title of this chief

Chavunda Sirapraghaitahdisa makes a pointed reference to his putting down Chavunda,

Thus Chavunda appears to be the Sindu chief of Yalaburgi who was a trusted feudatory of the Chalukvas. It is quite likely that he did not easily submit to the new ruler, Bhillama.*11

An inscription from Anadur in the Tuljapur taluka of Osmanabad district written indifferently on the lower portion of a slab containing two Chalukya inscription, refers to

!0 Ritti and Kumbhar: Inscription from Solapur District (Dharwad, 1988), p.159. 11 Gopal B.R.: Minor Dynasties of South India, p. 114.

-93- Bbillama and gives the date as year 26 Krodhi Ashodha, Thursday, Visu-Sankranmian.

The date roughly corresponds to 1199 A.D. through the details do not correspond regularly. It is known from other sources12 that Bhiiama ruled for about six years as an independent ruler. But the year 26 mentioned in the record presents chronological difficulties. Obviously the date recorded is inaccurate.

Another stone inscription found at Mardi in the Solapur district mentions several grants made to the god Yogeshvara during the reigns of the Yadavas kings Bhillama V,

Jaitugi and Singhana.13 From the particulars of the regional fourth year of Bhillama mentioned therein it seems that he had come to the throne in 1184 A.D. He conquered the

Solapur territory from the Kallachuris sometime after 1180 A.D. in which some grants had been made to the same temple during the reign of the Kalachuri king Sankamadeva. The inscription mentions Manudhi as the ancient name of modem Mardi.

Jaitugi I (1192-1200 A.D.) Bhillama was succeeded by his son Jaitugi I14 His rule was a very short period (1192-1200 A.D.) It was comparatively less eventful also. One inscription was found on the Nandistambha of the Maruti temple at Hanamgaon’5 in the

Solapur taluka. But this inscription was a damaged one.

The inscription seems to refer to the Yadavas king Jaitugi I. Only the letter ‘gi ’ is visible on the record. It seems to register a gift of land situated in different villages like

Sonnalige, Kumbarigave and Mandalagave. For the maintenance of a Basadi.

12 Shrinivas Ritti: The Scunas (The Yadavas of Dcvagiri) pp.69-70. 13 Kharc G.H.: Sources of the Mediaeval History of the Deccan (Marathi), 1930, Vol.I, p.43. H Phalaksha: Political and cultural history of Karnatak (Tiptur 1995) p.102. 15 Shrinivas Ritti and Kumbhar - Inscription from Solapur disctrict, Dharwad, 1988. p. 159.

-94- As for the date, only Monday, Uttarayana Scmkranti are preserved in the record.

They are too insufficient to find out the modem equivalent.

Another inscription found on the Kisegaon16 in Tuljapur taluka of Osmanabad district contains the famous Vachana of Siddharamesvara known from other sources also

and records a grant of land to God Kapilasiddhmallikarjuna of Sonalige i.e., Solapur by

Mahamandaksvara Chamarasa Kapparma who held many offices under Jaitugi.

SINGHANA II (1210-1247 A.D.):

Singhana II succeeded his father Jaitugi in 1210 A.D. He was the most prominent

member of the family17 who expanded and stabilized his kingdom upto Tungabhadra and thus check the movement of Ballala II to the north of that river. Singhana has a large

number of inscription and they give a fairly detailed account of his activities. He fought

with almost all his contemporary rulers and brought stability' to his kingdom.

The inscription from Hotgi18 in the south Solapur taluka.( 1027 A.D.)

The earlier portion of the inscription is badly damaged. It seems to mention the

Yadava king Singhana II and his subordinate Sangamadeva. It records a grant of a flower

garden a house site and some agricultural lands for arranging the worship and offerings to

the god Bhogilmgadeva at Hotgi by an officer called Keyisahcmi. The last few verses

contain an eulogy of this officer.

16 Shaikh G.C.: A history of Marathawade region (Unpublished doctoral thesis submitted to the Karnataka university, Dhanvad, 1979), p. 134. 17 Gazadani G.: The Early history of the Deccan part V1I-X1 (Oxford. 1960), p.531, 18 Ritti and Kumbhar: Inscription from Solapur district, p.160.

-95- The record is dated in the 8th year of the king Singhana II Pmhhuta Jyeshtha ba,

Amavasya, Monday corresponding to 1207 AT) May 28, Monday.

Another inscription was found at Darphal,1218 A.D. in north S'oiopur taluka. It

is stated that Paitalladevi of the Chalukya family who was the wife of an ollicer called

Gopanadeva under Singhana II and who was governing Marudigc, constructed a temple at

Darphala and installed three Hngas under the names of Gopannesvara, Vijapalesvaiu and

Kanchapalesvara. To this temple and officer Vikkamapalahula and some other office! s whose names are ^numerated, made a grant of several lands, a mango grove, a flower garden etc. An oil mill situated at Marudige was also granted for the maintenance of a

perpetual lamp and for the maintenance of the temple further grants of several commodities like betel leaves, betel nuts, paddy, oil, etc. were made for the ('hhatru of

(iollanesvara by the merchants in the presence of Uhiiaymiuilesis. Giant of laud situated

at Karangige in Marudigc 50 was also made for the temple of Gollattesvara.

The date of the inscription is given as year 20 of Sinughana thi/wiiiian)a Ashnti/i

Sit. Pitnnami (Monday) A lunar eclipse occurred on that day. It is likely that this eclipse

was mentioned in the record, but it must have been lost due to damaged condition of the

record. Another inscription found at Fuluni'’> about 12 miles east of Pandharpur in

Solapur district. One of them mentioned the Siihlharalha cyclic year coiresponding to

Shaka 1121 (1199 A.D.) records Singana’s grants of the village to Ammugidevaia, a

devotee of the god Siddha Somanatha at the town of J'urnajapunt (modem Puluuj). The

inscription mentions several other places in the neighbourhood of Pulunj as Soijana

19 Ibid. p. 161. 211 Ga/.cttccr of India: Maliarasthra state stale : Solapur district, p.45.

-96- (Sowdane) Kuruvalage (Kural) Degave (Degaon), Lalige (Nulee) Pattharrige (Pathari),

Koravalli (Kuroli) Chimhavalli (Khincholi) Asuthige (Ashti), Devalapala (Ropale) and

(Pohargaon). Many of these are Kanarese and the inscription also is written in the

Kanarese language. This inscription shows that Singhana had began to look after the administration of the state in Shaka 1121 though usually his accession is placed in Shaka

1122.

The second inscription at Pulunj is much abraded. It mentions the cyclic years

Vyayu (Shaka 1148) 1226 A.D. as the twenty seventh regional year of Singhana.

SONS OF SINGHANA Hr

This inscription was found at Gunjegaon in south Solapur taluka21 (13th century

A.D.) is one of the rare inscriptions of Singhana to be dated in the Saka year, whereas most of these inscriptions are dated in his regional years. This inscription is dated in saka

1157. Nandana, Margasira ba, Amavasya, Monday corresponding to 1232 A.D.

December 13 Monday. It contains the well known Vachana of Sidharma of Sonnalige which frequently occurs in the inscriptions of the Seunas. It refers to the king as camping at the place (name lost) with all the Kumaras i.e., the princes indicating that the king had more sons than one, whereas the son of his known so far is Jaitugi II. An inscription from

Itkal in Tuljapur taluka of Osmanabad district Maharashtra state also refers to sons of

Singhana as Lingadeva, Ganesvaradeva. Parigideva and Sambhudeva. On the basis of this it was surmised that Singhana had many sons.

21 Ritti and Kumbhar: Inscription from Solapur district, pp. 162-63.

-97- Another inscription found at Madre (1240 A.D.) in south Solapur taluka is a very

badly damaged inscription. It refers itself to the reign of Singhana and it is dated in the

cyclic year Sarvari, Purnima, Monday other details are lost. The cyclic year coincided

with 1240 A.D. Most of the stone is effaced and almost all the information contained in

the inscription is lost. 22 This inscription mentions a Mahapradham and Sarvadhikari

Mavideva. This Mayideva is known from other inscriptions also. He began his career

under Bhillama V and arose to higher position during the days of Singhana II.23

Another inscription found at Gunjegaon in south Solapur taluka. From Gunjegaon

is the last of the inscriptions of Singhana. It is fragmentary. The extant portion contains

only a part of the Prasusti and the name of the king.

Singhana was succeeded by his grand son Krishna (1244-1261 A.D.) who obtained

victories over the kings of Gurjara, Malava Chola and Kerala.24

Krishna was succeeded by his brother Mahadeva from the recently (discovered)

found at Kalegaon plates. We know the exact date of his coronation as the 29th August

A.D. 1261.25 These plates were issued on the occasion of Mahadeva’s coronation and

record the gift o the village Kalugamvea name and also as Pattavardhanapura evidently

after the coronation. This is evidently the modem Kalegaon26 where the plates were

found. Most of the boundary village can still be traced in the vicinity of Kalegaon. The

most notable event of Mahadeva’s reign was the annexation of north Konkan after

22 Ibid, p.163. 23 Shrinivas Ritti: The Scunas (The Yadavas of Devgiri, 1973, Dharwad) p. 138. 24 Pansc M.G. : Yadava Kalin Maharashtra Bombay, 1963, (Marathi), pp.31-32, 25 Gazetteer of India, Maharashtra state, Solapur district, p.46. 26.Kharc G.H.: Sources of the Mediaeval History of the Deccan (Vol. XXXII) p.31F.

-98- defeating Someshvara of the Shilahara dynasty. 27 The premier of Madhadeva was

Maharaja Tipparasu one of his ministers was Hemadri, the famous author of the

Vratakhanda who was also a successful general Kolhapur was being governed by

Mayideva and Nolambavadi by two Brahman brothers, Chattaruja and Kucharaja.

Mahapradhana Devaraa was in charge of Southern districts. Several other officers are mentioned in his records.28

Mahadeva died by the middle of 1270 and was succeeded by his son Ammana in the latter part of 1270 A.D.29 A recently discovered inscription from Lakshmesvar in

Dharwad district belonging to Ramchandra gives the name of this king as Ammanda.30

There is only one inscription found at Kamati (Khurd) in Mohol taluka, (1316

A.D.) It is damaged and worn out. Ramachandra succeeded to the throne in 1271 A.D. He

was practically the last of the Seuna king. As is well known, he succumbed to the onslaughts of Malik Kaffir. His son Singhana’s attempts to oppose the enemy were of no avail. Early writers like Fleet and Bhandarkar gave the name of this prince as Sankara

while Nilakantha Sastri called him Singamma.31 But it has been shown that his correct

name is Singamma.32 This was confirmed for the first time by an epigraph discovered by

Dr. Shrinivas Ritti at a locality known as Dhababavadi in Dhule district, Maharashtra state.

This inscription belongs to Mohammed-bin Tughluk and it can ascribed to 1333-34 A.D.

It is shown elsewhere that this Singhana could be none else than the son of Ramchandra.

21 MurthyA.V, Narsimha: The Seunas of Devagiri (Mysore March, 1 197i.)p.ll. 2g Gazetteer of India, Maharashtra state, History Part I, Ancient period, p.370. 29 Murthy A.V. Narashimha : The Seunas of Dev agiri Mysore March, 1971, p. 121. 30 Ritti and Kutnbhar: Inscription from Solapur District (Dharwad, 1988),Introduction, p.XXXII. 31 Ibid. Introduction p.XXXII. 32 Muiumdar R.C. (Ed.) The Delhi Sultanate Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, (Bombay) pp.48-49.

-99- Some inscriptions of the reign of Ramachandra have been found at Veiapur in

Malshiras taluka of Solapur district. The earliest of them is dated in 1222 (A.D. 1300.)33

It records that one Baidev Rana the representative of the Sarvadhikari Jaideva appointed by Ramachandra, constructed a temple of Vateshvarar exempted it from the payment of all taxes. He made some additions to it some months thereafter in the same year, which are recorded in the second inscription. The third inscription dated in Shaka 1227 (A.D. 1305)

34 records that Brahmadeva Rana, who was then the Sarvadhikari of the Manadesha, constructed a high temple on the same site and erected a flagstaff on it. The inscription records several donations of godyanas made on the occasion. The Pandharpur is well known place of pilgrimage in Solapur district. There is a long inscription recording donations made by devotees for the renovation of the temple from time to time. It contains dates ranging from Shaka 1195 to Shaka 1199 and mentions inter alia the name of

Hemadri Pandita, the well known minister of Ramchandra, as one of the contributors.35

Another inscription was found at Kamati (Khurd in Mohol taluka.)(1316 A.D.) It is damaged and worn out. The inscription begins with the Sanskrit version of the Vachana of Siddherama. The latter half of the record introduces the Seunas king Singhana III, the son of Ramchandra. It seems to record some grant in the presence of Kapilasiddha

Mallikaijuna of Sonalipura. Mention is made of an officer Raghavadeva. The name of the place :s given as Dharkurt Kammati.

33 Kharc G.H.: Source of the Medieval History of the Deccan, Vol. I,(Poona, 1930.) p.78. 34 Tulpulc S.G: Ancient Marathi Inscription (Marathi) p.229. 35 Gazetteer of India Maharashtra state: Solapur district, p.46.

- 100- The details of the date given are 123(8) Nala Ashadha ba. Amavasya. The weekday is not given. The details correspond to 1316 A.D. July 20, Tuesday.36

The latest known date for Singhana’s father Ramachandra is 1310 A.D. 37 and other consideration of this last date is supposed to be 1312 A.D. and other details with

May 31 .38 On the basis of this it is presumed that Singhana III succeeded his father in about 1312 A.D. It is learnt from Muslim Chronicles that soon after his assuming charge of the kingdom there was another invasion of Malik Kafur. Not being able to withstand it,

Singhana fled to the forest. In a later military encounter in the same year he was killed.

Another inscription is the mention of an officer called Raghavadeva Amir Khusru speaks of a Raghava as an officer under Ramchandra’s son-in-law Haripaladeva who tried to revolt against the Muslim occupation of Devagiri. The Ramtek inscription of

Ramchandra also speaks of a Raghava as an officer of Ramchandra.39

The latter half of the record introduces the Seunas king Singhana III the son of

Ramchandra. It seems to record some grant in the presence of Kapilasiddha Mallikaijuna of Sonalipura. Mention is made of an officer Raghavadeva. The name of the place is given as Dharknrt Kammati. Till at least as late as 1316 A.D. The Seuna history goes upto 1333

- 34 A.D. which is the latest known date for the last Seuna king namely Mailugi the son of

Singhana III figuring in the Dhubabavdi inscription referred. Mailugi had obviously accepted a subordinate position under Muhamman bin Tughluk. 40

36 Ritti and Kumbhar: Inscription from Solapur District (Dharwad, 1988) p.I64. 37 Ibid, introduction p. XXXII. 38 Ritti Srinivas: The Seunas (The Yadava fo Devagiri), Dharwad, 1973. p.195. 39 Epigraphia Indica Vol XXV pp. 13FF. 40 Ritti and Kumbhar: Inscription from Solapur district, Introduction, p.XXXIII.

- 101 - The famous Devagiri, the hill of Gods came to be renamed as Daulatabad and

Muhmmad Tughluk made a vain attempt of making it the capital of the vast empire. The subsequent story is beyond the purview of this work.

Thus the inscriptions left behind in Solapur district by Yadava ruler Bhillam V,

Jaitagi I, Shingana II and Shingana III, Mahadev Ramachandra as well as Minister

Hemadri prove that Solapur was under their rule.

IMPORTANT TEMPLES IN THE DISTRICT:

While going through the map of the district we can find that there were some important temples on the bank of rivers like Bhima, Sina, Nira and Mana, in the talukas of

Akkalkot, south Solapur, north Solapur, Mohol, Malshiras and Mangalwedha. The

Kapilshiddha Mallikatjun temple fo Solapur, Hameswara Mahadeo temple of Velapur

Kadhi. Vishvesvar temple fo Jeoor, Somesvara temple of Malshiras, Mahadeo temple of

Natepute, Shri Vitthal mandir of Pandharpur, Sangameshwar temple and Siddheshwar temple at Solapur are some of the important temples found in this district.

SIDDHESHWARA TEMPLE:

During the 12th century, there was Shivayogi Sharanam. His name was

Siddaram41 Another historical temple is the temple Siddheswar. A famous Kannada poet

Raghavankacharya who has written Shidhapuratia in which he has expanded idea about

the Siddheswara. There is no unanimity among the historians, regarding the birth of

Siddheswara. Some historians would write that Siddheswara. Some historians would write

41 Kurnbhar A.N.: Samshodhana Taranga, Bombay, 1988. p. 146.

- 102- that Siddheswara was bom in 1127 and some would explain 1137. But the poet

Raghawank wrote that Siddheswara bom in 1121. Mudagouda and Suggaldevi were living in the village of Sonalage42 There is an inscription dating back to 1264 A.D. in

Haven taluka of Mysore state indicating that a king named Deoraj visited Sonnalagi (A hamlet of Solapur) and gifted village named Sangur to the devasthan Another inscription is found at Shimoga dating 1265 A.D. Wherein the importance of the place Sonnalagi is mentioned. It is stated that the wife of the chief of Solapur Chamaladevi also gave land to the saint Siddheswara to build a lake and install sixty eitht lingas*3

Siddheswar had built 17 temples. Out of these temples Mallikarjuna temple is one.

He had also dug out a tank which is now known as Siddheswar tank. It occupies a area about 5 acres and is about 20 feet deep.

The temple which is surrounded by the lake waters. The courtyard contains garden shrines of devotees and the Samadhi of the saint Shri Siddheswar at the east comprises the shrine of the saint, an ante chamber a Sabhatnandap etc.44 The courtyard which has a cloister is encircled by a road about 18 feet broad The road is however cut off for a short

distance at the north. The inner side of he road touches the backwall while the outer side of the road has a continuous flight of steps leading down to the water of the lake. There

are gates provided for the well reaching the inner side of the courtyard from the road. It

contains two square stone altars each one having two lingas without a shrine and another

containing four lings without a shrine and at the centre, there is the shrine of Amrillinga.

'n Kulkarni G.P.: Solapur Nagarpalika Shalsanlasarik granlh. p.3. Solapur district Gazetteer p.3. 44 Kilkami G.P.: Solapur Nagarpalika Shatsantasarik granth. p.4.

- 103 - The other gate is called dakshin darwaji. To the south of this gate there is an island. The third gate of the cloister called uttardarwaja opens into a wall.

Annual fair is celebrated from 12th to 16th January. The principal day of the fair is

14th January on which day the saint had allowed one of his female devotees to marry his male Yogdand.45

SANGMESHWAR & MURALIDHAR TEMPLE: (KUDAL SANGAM)

Kudal is situated on the confluence of rivers Sina and Bhima, in the south Solapur district. On the sangam of rivers there are two temples: one of Sangmeswar and other is

Murlidhar. There are two inscriptions found in the temple of Sangmeswara. One is in

Marathi and another is in Kannada. The inscriptions show that the temple constructed during the period of Chalukyas in 11th century A.D. This temple has four divisions like

Sabhamanlap, Rangamantap, Antral, and garbhagraha etc. To the east of Sangamesvara temple there is a Murlidhar temple. Near to this Murlidhar temple there is another temple.46

All these temples are having excellent sculptures of Sursundhari Gandharas,

Laxmi, Bahirav, Shrikrishna and Radha Saptamatrukas etc. The temple of Murlidhar having two garbhagrakas, which is very near in Mokarashtra. Moreover an excellent sculpture of Sohastrashivashirich is found here, which is exceptional one. The temples are having Mukhamandap, Nandimandap, Sabhamandap, Antaral and Grabhagraha. The

45 Solapur district Gazetteer , p.988. 46 Kumbhar A.N.: Samshodhana Taranga, Bombay, 1988. p.37.

- 104- Shikhar of the temples may be flat and we decorated. Due to lack of maintenance and flood of rivers, parts of the temple have collapsed.47

These two temples of Siddheshwar and Sangamaswar have historical importance.

We find some Chalukyan inscriptions on the walls of temple. Siddheswara was a great

Lingayat saint. Many followers of Lord Basaweswar used to pay visit to these places.

These temples have some architectural characteristics.

G L Bhide: Solapur Zillvalil Sarvat Prachin Mandir Kudal Etil Murlidhar Mandir. Feb. 1995. Miraj. p.8.

- 105 -