CllAl’TER - II HISTORICAL DACKGROUND ANDHRA DESA, like many uthor parts uf lindia, has been a continuus human inhabitation since prehist(jric limes, as attested by the lithic imple­ ments, artefacts, utensils and the personal belongings of the deceased\ persons found in the explorations and discovered in the later megalithic burials opened at the sites like Kurnool. Yolcswaram, Nagarjunakonda, Dharanikola, Peddabankur a n d Kondapur. Further, Andhras as a race have been found recorded, earliest in AITAREYA URAllMANA (AD-VII-8) datable to C.600 BC, followed in the works like CHANDOGYA UPANISHAD, APASTHAMBHA GRHYASUTItA, MAHABIIARATllA. HARIVAMSA PURANA, SUTTANIPATA. SERIVANIJA JATAKA AND THE LIKE. Megasthanese's INDICA refers to Andhra to be a territory comprising many villages, 30 fortified towns and an army consisting of 1,00,000 elephants. The 13lh Major Rock Edict of Ashoka refers to Andhra as the bordering land of the empire. However, excluding the literary eviden­ ces, in the absence of any historical data, a fair account of Andhras begins / with the emergence of Satavahanas as a distinct political dynasty, having ruled for about two and half centuries. A brief account of the important political dynasties referred to in the inscriptions under study, to the extent needed for the present work, is as follows: Controversies over the chrono- j logy and the genaeology of the dynasties and the rulers have been left undiscussed. SATAVAHANAS: Satavahanas rose as an independent power following the decadence of the Sungas. Thirty rulers of the dynasty have ruled for about 250 years, beginning C.SU HC to C. 225 AD. Simuka, the founder of the dynasty had conquered the present Maharashtra, Nfalwa and parts ' of Madhya Pradesh. His brother Kanha, though ruled for 18 years could 2 1 22 I .. uxlond iho Kingdoiii uplu Nasik. Kcinha was succeeded by Siri Satakarni-Ij a great conquerer. Mis coins were found at Ujjain, Vidisa and all over the Deccan. He was followed by Satakami-II, who ruled for 56 years. Hala, the 17th ruler of the dynasty was the compiler of GATHA SAPTASATI, comprising seven hundred poems hi Maharashtri dialect of Prakrt language, 1 describing the contemporary socio-cultural life of the people. The next important ruler is Gautamiputra Salakami. According to the Nasik Cave inscription (El-VIII-pp.60 ff) of Vasisthi Putra Pulumavi, he was described / as the destroyer of the Sakas, YawaTias, Pahlavas and Kshatrapas, and entitled himself as the restorer of the glory of the Satavahana dynasty, and has been glorified as Lord of several territories in the Deccan, Dakshina- pathapati ^ Ekabrahmana, Apratihatachakra. He, in addition to reconquering the lost territories had extended the Kingdom from Bay of Bengal to Arabian sea and from Mukhalingam to Cuddaore in deep south. He was succeeded by Vasisthiputra Sri F’ulomayi. The Satavahana power seems to have come to an end by the first quarter of the third century AD, after a short rule by some minor ruler like Pulomayi-IV, Chanda Satakarni and Skanda Satakarni. The recent excavations conducted by the Department of Archaeology, Govern- ment of Andhra Pradesh, have discovered the supposed capital of Satavahanas at Rajahmundry in the liast Godavari District. IKSHWAKUS: The Ikshwaku dynasty which ruled over the Krisbna- CJuntur region with Vijayapuri as (;a[)ilal during the 3rd century AD, was founded by Vasisthiputra Sri Cantamula. His son Virapurishadatta, a great ruler of the family had contracted matrimonial alliances with the ChutuSj "the other rulers being Ehuvala Cantamula and his son Vasisthiputra Rudra Purushadatta. Vii'apurusha-II, was the last ruler of the line. The rulers and their queens as well, had contri Ijuted generously for the construction and maintenance of the Buddhist Chaityas and Viharas. (EI-XX-pp.l6). 23 Ikshwakus were succeecibd by minor dynasties like Brhatphalayanas, Ananda Gotrins, Salankayanas. In llu; order of sviccession the next important rlilurs belong to the Vishviukundin and Pallava dynasties. VISMNLfKUNDINS: Vishnukundin dynasty was founded by Govinda Varman in the last quartei'' of the 4th Century AD. Seven rulers of this dynasty have ruletl for about two centuries. Madhava Varma-I, the son and successor of Govinda VarmaTj was married to a Vakataka princess, to whom was born Vlkramcndra Varma-I. Deva Varnia, another son of Midhava Varma succeeded to the throne. Further he was succeded by Indra Bhattaraka Varma and by Vikramendra-II. The last ruler was dethroned by Prthivi Maharaja of the Ranadurjaya family; who, in turn was dethroned by Chalukya Pulakesin the Second by about 616 AD. PAl.I.AVAS: the Pallava rule in Andhra Desa could be divided into two parts - the early Fallavas and the later Pallavas. Of the early Pallavas, / Sivaskanda Varman, Simha Varman, Vishnugopa, Buddhavarman were some of the important rulers. Madhava Varman-I, Narasimha Varman-I, Parameswara Varman-If and Nandi varman-II are soincj of the notable rulers of the later Pallavas. EASTERN CMALUKYAS: Appointed by Pulakesin-II, Vishnuvardhana became an independent ruler for the Eastern Chalukyan Viceroyalty by ’ 624 AD, with Vengi as the Capital. Later, he became the founder of the Eastern Chalukyan dynasty. The later Kings of this family had strengthened their Power through matrimonial alliances with the Cholas and also the Rashtrakutas. The important rulers of this dynasty include Jayasimha-I. The political enemity continued for a long time between the Pallavas S Chblas and the Rashtrakulas Chalukyas of Kalyani. Vijayaditya-II, having driven 24 away the RashtrakDla invadnr liovinda-lll alias Narondra Raja acquired the unique title Narendra Mrgaraja i.e. the Lion to the King Narendra. His grandson Gunaga Vijayaditya-III was the greatest among th^ Kings of the line. Towards the last phase of the Eastern Chalukya rule and also in the subsequent periods rulers Ijolonging to the Konidena branch also known as Telugu Cliolas Viz. Pinamalli Deva, Kannara Deva, Ballaya Choda, Tribhu- vana Malla ranging from 102;i AH to 11()2 AD, have rulctJ the area under study. Following are the details; The earliest inscription found in the temple of Lord Bhavanarayana at Bapatla, datable to 1023 AD belongs to Pinamalli Dova Choda (SIl-VI- 139). He is referred to in the context of donating the Chengalu village of Kammariadu for the conduct of angarangabhogalu and dhupadeepa naivedyamulu to Lord Bhavanarayana in Prempalli of Kanunan5du. Kannara Deva Clioda, anollior rulor of the Konidena branch of Tclugu Cholas is referred to in an inscription dated 1116 AD (SlI-VI-155), in the context of donating the village Madhukamballi of Kammanadu, to Lord Bhava­ narayana of Prempalli in Kanirnanadu, for conducting various services to the Lord. BALLAYA CHODA another I'Glugu Choda ruler is rcierred to in the context of donating Ch"amara Madalu for perpetual ghee lamp to Lord Bhava­ narayana in Prempalli of Kammanadu in an inscription dated 1135 AD (SII- I VI-170) wherein a reference has been made to the 3rd regnal year of his overlord Kulottunga-II; and in aiiothor incomplete and mutilated inscription dated 1162 AD (SII-VI-174) as the ruling King of the period. 25 Tribhuvana Malla Ueva ClinUa is yet another iiiiporlant and powerful ruer of the Konidena Cholas. la inscriptions , dated 1149 AD (SII-VI-128 a 131), 1150 AD ((SII-VI-IG3), and 1151 AD (SII-VI-132) r(3fer him as the ruler in the context of making donations for perpectual ghee lamps to Lord Bhavanarayana in Prempalli of Kammanadu. By the last quarter of the eleventh Century the Eastern Chalukyan Kingdom had been merged with the Chola Kingdom of the south. The fusion took place owing to matrimonial alliances between the Chola princess Kundavai the daughter of the Chola emperor Rajaraja-I and Chalukya Vimaladitya. Thus a new political dynasty by name Ch~alukya-Cholas emerged witli capital at Rajamahendravarani. CHALUKYA-CHOLAS: Following the death of Vijayaditya-VII, the last J(jng of the Eastern Chalukyas of Vengi, Rajendra ascended the throne of the Chola Kingdom at Ganghikonda Cholapuram under the title Kul5ttunga-I. He preferred his maternal throne in Tamil country and appointed his sons Rajaraja ChSda Ganga, Rajaraja Mummadi Choda, Virachoda and Vikram a Choda to be the viceroys to Vengi Nadu. Of them Vira Choda was assisted by Vedura-II, (a Velanati Prince], who is a nephew of Gonka-I, the Velanati Chief. While Vikrama Choda was at the helin of affairs in the south, the Velanati Chiefs ruled the \engi 6000 as his subordinates. However, the northern half of the Vengi Kingdom had passed on into the hands of Vikramaditya-VI of Western Chalukyas. Thus, the eclipse of the ChaJukya- Chola power in Vengi Nadu began since 1118 AD and the Cholas were unable to regain the lost territories till the death of Vikramaditya-VI in 112G AD. Vikramachoda had tried to restore Hie Chalukya-Chola hegemyny over the area under study, supported by tlie Telugu Chieftains. Vikrama Choda's 26 son Kul6ttunga-II succeeded to the llirono and he in turn by his son Rajaraja-II. Rajaraja II who died in 1173 AH was succecdcd by Uajadliiraja-Ii. lie being a weak ruler could not control his vassals and the scuffle for power began soon between the Velanati Ch5das and the Western Chalukyas. The three important Chalukya-Ciiola rulers referred to in the inscriptions under study a r e Kulottunga-I, Kulottunga-II a n d Hajaraja-II. Following are the details; Kulottunga-I (1070 - 1 1 2 2 AD) is referred to in seven inscriptions, five at Bapatla, dated HOB AD (SII-VI-200 Q 201), 1 1 1 2 A D (SlI-Vl-167 8 199) and 1119 AD (SII-VI-173); One at Ponnoor, dated 1119 AD (SlI-V-121) and one at Sarpavaram datable to 1110 AD (SII-V-3).