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, Andhra Pradesh 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 Yadu 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 Krishna 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 Kshatriya 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 Dwarka on the sea. After the death of Krishna some of the Yadavas families migrated to the Yadavas association with Mathura 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.