140 



ON THE GANG A KINGS, 



Soon after this period the Garigas were driven from their 

 kingdom by the conquests of Rajendra Chola ; but the Hoy- 

 sala family of Grangavadi rose to power at the end of the 10th 

 century, and under Vishnu Varddhana of that line became 

 independent possessors of all the late Ganga territories at the 

 beginning of the 12th. Mention occurs during the 11th 

 century of members of the Ganga family in subordinate 

 positions — one as a governor under the Hoysala king, and 

 another as a general under the Western Chalukya king. But 

 by 1132 a representative of the family had established himself 

 on the throne of Orissa and founded the Granga line of kings, 

 also from their crest called Gajapatis or elephant lords, who 

 ruled over that country down to 1534, not long after which 

 it was subdued by the Muhammadans. 



But the Grangas do not yet disappear from history. For a 

 Ganga Raja returned about this time to the scene of their 

 early dominion, and established a principality at Sivasamu- 

 dram, the island at the Falls of the Kaveri, about 12 miles 

 north-east of Talakadu. He was succeeded by Nandi Raja ; 

 and he by Ganga Raja II, with whom the line came to a 

 tragic end early in the 17th century under highly romantic 

 circumstances. The subjects of the old Gangavadi province 

 are represented by the large body of Gangadikara ryots now 

 existing in Mysore. 



As regards the present inscription, the translation will 

 speak for itself ; but one or two points may be briefly noticed. 

 And first, the mahd slid stambha or great pillar of stone 

 which Kongani I, is stated to have divided with a single 

 stroke of his sword. This feat, attributed to him in nearly 

 every inscription of these kings, is difficult to explain. But 

 I have conjectured that Hid stambha is not unlikely a 

 corruption of sila stambha, the name by which the pillars 

 erected by Asoka inscribed with his edicts were called. 

 None has hitherto been found in the south, but possibly one 

 may have existed, which this king overthrew. 



