42 



Inscription at the Seven Pagodas 



[No. 31 



a considerable town yet exists under the name of Rallehalli 

 on the Wardah, about 30 or 40 miles south of Lakshmewar. 



In the Gangondaram inscription, the Chalukya prince 

 is designated as Ahawa Media of the Kudal Sangama. This 

 is the name of the junction of the Tunga with the Bhadra 

 river near Hull Honore. where is situated the Matham of a 

 cele'brated Guru of the Smartah sect, usually called the Kw 

 dalgi Sica??ii* 



There is good reason to believe, therefore, that " Irattaip- 

 padi" was the name applied by the Tamuilians to the southern 

 province, at least of the Chalukya empire, and even to sup- 

 pose that it was used to signify the whole kingdom. This opi- 

 nion is strengthened by the use of the expression " the whole 7| 

 lakhs." In the same inscription that gives the history of the 

 union of the eastern Chalukya and Chola families, it is stated 

 that the first founder of the former race, descended from the 

 rulers of Ayodya, " having conquered Kadamba Ganga and 

 other earthly rulers, reigned over the southern country of 7| 

 lakhs from Narmada to Setu" and elsewhere, similar references 

 are made to the 7J lakhs dominion of the Kalyan kingdom. This 

 evidently refers to the'kingdom of Kuntala desa only, of which 

 Kalyan was the capital ; for that of Kalinga or Vegidesa?nf 

 was the subsequent acquisition of a collateral branch. What 

 the number 7| lakhs refers to is not clear. In all the inscrip- 

 tions of that era, territorial divisions are designated by a num- 

 ber unaccompanied by any explanation of the objects to which 

 it refers. Thus the Kadamba family which became t a feudatory 

 to the Kalyan Chalukyas, are always described as lords 

 of the Banawassi 12,000. It may refer to the number of 

 villages or townships, to their revenue, or to the quota of 

 troops the chief was bound to bring into the field. 



The inferences bearing on the local history of the Seven 

 Pagodas to be drawn from the preceding inscription are 



*There are two Mathams of the Shenkar Bharii or Smartah sect in this neighbourhood 

 —Sringeri and Kudalgi, besides another at Sankeswar, near KoTapoof. 



t ror a notice of Ve'gidesam or Fengidetam, see Journal Vol. ]I, J>. 304. 



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