1883.] 
47 
G. Bidie —The Pagoda or Yardha coins, 
and was in circulation in the Ceded Districts in 1839. # Gandikota is a hill 
fortress in the Cuddapah District, and stands on a scarped rock some 300 
feet above the bed of the Pennar river. It is said to have been built before 
Vijayanagar, and it had a famous temple endowed by one of the Vijaya- 
nagar kings.f In the old days the fort was considered impregnable, and 
was held by a line of Palegars, who were vassals of Vijayanagar. This 
explains the adoption of the obverse which is identical with that of fig. 15, 
and is a further illustration of the retention of a familiar device in deference 
to popular prejudice. A formidable place like Gandikota was not likely to 
remain unnoticed by the various chiefs who sought in succession to acquire 
the territory that formerly belonged to Vijayanagar. Accordingly we find 
that it was first captured by Mahommed Ivuli of Golkonda, early in the 17th 
century. Subsequently it passed into the possession of various other 
powers, and was finally captured by Capt. Little in 179 L. The inscription 
on the reverse is said to be in debased Nagari which probablj r implies, that 
the coins are copies of still older ones, struck probably late in the 16th 
century before the capture of the fortress by Mahommed Kuli.J 
Ob, Figure of Vishnu under a canopy ; four-armed and holding the 
usual symbols. 
Rev. 
Sri Pam. 
Raja Pam. 
Ram Raja. 
Weight. —26T5 gr. (a half pagoda). 
The Rama of the inscription is probably the usurper Rama Rajah, 
who occupied the throne of Vijayanagar about the middle of the 16th 
century. It was he who led the Hindu forces against the Mahommedans 
at the battle of Talikota, which ended in his death and the ruin of the 
empire. Specimens of this pagoda are by no means rare, and forged 
modern ones are quite common. 
CniTALDBOOG PAGODA. 
PI. II, Fig. 17. This is no doubt one form of the real Durgi pagoda, 
struck by the Nayaks of Chitaldroog after the fall of Vijayanagar. Chital- 
droog was long held by a warlike family of the Bedar, or hunter caste, 
founded by Timmana Nayak about A. D. 1508. Although nominally 
vassals of Vijayanagar they maintained a semi-independence, and being bold 
and ambitious gradually acquired a large extent of territory. During the 
* Gribble’s “ Cuddapah Manual,” p. 301. 
f “Madras Journal of Literature and Science,” Vol. X, p. 131. 
X The legend on this coin was deciphered by Pandit Bhaja Vandul Indraji for 
whose kind aid 1 am indebted to Dr, Codrington, Secretary B. B. Royal Asiatic Society. 
