1838.] 



Hindu Inscriptions. 



215 



OF THE YADAVAS. 



Two dynasties of this race successively obtained supremacy in the 

 Karnataka empire, as stated in the table at p. 5 ; or, rather, this 

 supremacy was contested between them from the fall of the Kalabhu- 

 ryas, and ended in the establishment of that of the Devagiri branch. At 

 first, however, the southern princes had rather the advantage. These 

 were the Bellalas, or Hoisala Bellalas, of Dwara Samudra or Dwara- 

 vati pattana, now Halabidu, in Mysore, who have been made known by 

 Colonel Wilks and the Mackenzie collection. The only individuals 

 of this dynasty whose inscriptions occur in the present collection are 

 Vira Bellala and his son Vira Narasimha Deva, but the genealogy of the 

 family is given in detail in several of these.* Deriving it generally 

 from Brahma through Atri, Som, Buddha, Nahush, Yayati, to Yadu, they 

 continue, that in the race of Yadu was born Sala, lord of Sasakapura, who 

 having delivered a holy man from the attack of a tiger, received the 

 appellation of Poisala or Hoisala, and adopted the tiger, or shar- 

 dula, as the ensign of his family. 



Saia 

 Vinayaditya 

 Yeriyanga Deva 



S. Vishnuverddliana, Visht, 3. Udayaditya, married 

 or Bitti Deva L'akama Devi 



Narasimha, married 

 Achil Devi 



Vir Bellala, married 

 Padmala Deyi 



Karasimha. 



In the sloka, or verse, recording Vishnuverddhana, he is described 

 as ruling from his own limits to Uchchangi Durga, and it is added, that 



* No. 2, at Gadaga, vol. ii., p. Il5 ; No. ll, at Anigiri, vol. ii., p. I30 ; No. 23, at Hari» 

 hara, vol. ii., p. I41. The legend, more in detail, is as follows : — " In the glorious Yadu 

 Kula, as the sun rises from Udayachal, so arose the famed Sala, residing in Sasakapura. 

 In the gardens of that town, a Bratipati, orYati, sitting at tapassya, was attacked by a 

 tiger (Puli), a beast (Shardula) vsath dreadful eyes, fearful teeth, and lashing his sides 

 with his tail. The Muni gave the heroic Sala a weapon, blessed it, and said, ' Saladu 

 Poi,' (' draw and kill') ; on which, unsheathing the sword, he killed the shardula. Hence 

 the name Poisala, or Hoisala, &c." Ins. p. 115. 



The effigy of a man killing a tiger, is carved and placed over many of the temples 

 built by, or in the time of, Bellala. The group is generally placed on the roof, in front 

 of the goparam, or pyramidal tower of the temple, over the entrance, or principal doox'- 

 way. Sometimes the figures are repeated over the side doors, 



1. BeUala 

 I 



0 



