April — sept. 1858.] Numismatic Gleanings. 



95 



Brahmins, as an agrahdram and for the maintenance of certain 

 temples. The prominent figure on the seal is the boar, with 

 chowries before and behind, a lotus and two candelabra beneath. 

 Above the animal are a 'saw&'A-shell with the words Sri-TriVhu- 

 van-anku sa, surmounted by a figure of the ankiis, and the moon. 



Figs 4 to 8 are seals of the Rayar dynasty, as it is commonly 

 called, of Bijanagar. This family rose into power on the decadence 

 of the Cholas in the early part of the 14th century and continued 

 in the exercise of sovereignty over a large portion of the Carnatic, 

 for about 400 years. The first capital was Bijanagar (Vijayanagar 

 also sometimes called Vidyanagar) or Anagundi, from which as 

 they declined in power, they removed to Penugonda in the Bellary 

 province and afterwards to Chandragiri in North Arcot. A soi 

 disant representative of the family still resides at Anagundi, sub- 

 sisting on a pension conferred by the British Government. 



All the 'sasanams of the princes of this family, are inscribed in 

 Nagari characters. 



Fig 4, is the seal on a grant of the village of Puligarti in Vella- 

 Nellur of Jayam-konda-Chola-mandalam, by Bukka Raya the 



first of the dynasty, in S. S. 1216 corresponding with A. D. 1294, 

 recorded on three plates of copper. The use of the territorial de- 

 nominations shows, that the Chola authority had. only just passed 



away, if indeed it was not still in existence. The execution of the 

 deed is probably anterior to the assumption of independance by its 

 author. 



It bears the figure of the boar, evidently derived from the 

 Chaluky a- Cholas, standing on a sort of pedestal with the sun and 

 moon above and a sword in front, the latter now first, apparently 

 added to the normal device, as a distinguishing symbol of the new 

 family. 



Fig 6, is the seal of Sada'siva Raya one of the most destinguish- 

 ed sovereigns of the race. It bears simply the figure of the boar, 

 with the sun and moon, and belongs to a grant on four plates, of 

 the village of Ayyala-nadu in S. S. 1489 or A. D. 1567. 



Figs. 5 and 8 are seals of Venkatapati Deva Raya, the first re- 

 cording a grant of the village of Nelatur in the Varoddagiri sima 



