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Bijayita (Chalukya of Mudigonda)

Bijayita, also read as Bijja or Vijayaditya, was a Mudigonda Chalukya chief, the son of Kusumayudha I. N. Venkataramanayya identified him with the Chalukya prince Bijja whom Arikesari II of Vemulavada sheltered from the Rashtrakuta king Govinda IV about 934. Writers on the Koravi inscription identified him with its Anungu Gonangayya, who ruled beside Chalukya-Bhima I. They disagree about whether he died before 922 or lived on into the 930s.

Bijayita was a chief of the Chalukyas of Mudigonda, the son of Kusumayudha I.12 His name appears only in the family tree of the Mogalcheruvula grant, a record of his descendant Kusumayudha IV.13 Scholars have tried to match him with two princes named in other records: Gonangayya of the Koravi inscription, and Bijja of Vemulavada.45

The name

In C. Bendall’s pedigree, Bijayita came between Kusumayudha I and his own son Kusumayudha II.12 S. Dasarathi explained Bijayita as a Prakrit (spoken) form of Vijayita, short for Vijayaditya.5 N. Mukunda Rao thought that Kusumayudha named his son after his overlord, the Eastern Chalukya king Gunaga Vijayaditya III. Feudatories often named their sons after their overlords in this way.3

Gonangayya of the Koravi inscription

The Koravi inscription says that Kusumayudha’s eldest son ruled after him, but it does not name him.67 A second piece of the same pillar was later found in the village tank.89 It says that a prince who took the name Anungu Gonangayya ruled the earth “like Rama” beside Chalukya-Bhima. He had resolved to protect the band of kingship that his father had tied.79

Dasarathi explained that Gonangayya was a title, not a personal name.105 It is a form of Gunaga, the title of Vijayaditya III.105 Anungu means “follower”, so in his view the prince was called a follower of Chalukya-Bhima I.5 Dasarathi and Mukunda Rao both concluded that Gonangayya was Bijayita.5113 M. V. N. Aditya Sarma also thought that Gonangayya might be Bijayita’s title.7

The inscription tells a story about this prince. One day he called his dear friend Peddana, son of Nalla Meleya of Koravi, and offered him a reward for his help.79 Peddana wanted nothing for himself, but asked a favour for the people of Koravi. The stone breaks off at this point.79 Later Gonangayya died. His younger brother Niravadya, called Sakalalokasraya, fought many battles, took the throne and confirmed his brother’s gifts to Koravi.12913

Bijja at Vemulavada

The Vemulavada inscription says that Arikesari II protected a prince named Bijja, who had angered the Rashtrakuta king Govinda IV.3 Pampa calls this prince Vijayaditya, “the crest-jewel of the Chalukya family”.143

J. F. Fleet thought he was the Eastern Chalukya king Vijayaditya IV.15 N. Venkataramanayya rejected this. Vijayaditya IV died in 922, while Bijja’s revolt came in 934–35, just before Govinda IV fell.14 Instead he identified Bijja with Bijayita, whose lands ran from Kondapalli in the Krishna district to Koravi.4

In Venkataramanayya’s account, Govinda sent an army to Vengi against Chalukya-Bhima II. On its way it overran Bijayita’s lands, and he fled to his neighbour Arikesari.164 Govinda then sent a second army to punish Arikesari for sheltering him, but Arikesari defeated it.4

Mukunda Rao accepted Venkataramanayya’s identification.3 He thought that Gonaga lived on after Chalukya-Bhima I and fled to Vemulavada when Govinda IV invaded.3 While Gonaga was away, his brother Niravadya ruled as regent for Gonaga’s young son, Kusumayudha II.3 Niravadya joined Chalukya-Bhima II against the Rashtrakutas.317 On this view the Koravi inscription dates from about 932–33.17

Where the sources disagree

  • Was he the Bijja of Vemulavada? Venkataramanayya and Mukunda Rao said yes.43 Aditya Sarma and Dasarathi said no. They read the Koravi inscription as saying that Gonangayya died while Chalukya-Bhima I (892–922) was still king, long before Arikesari II.1819 Dasarathi made Bijja a later chief, Vijayaditya II, the son of Kusumayudha II.19
  • Who fled to Vemulavada? P. V. Parabrahma Sastry named the refugee chief Gonaga, citing Venkataramanayya.20 Fleet named him as Vijayaditya IV of Vengi.15
  • His dates. Venkataramanayya placed Bijayita about 915–940.21 Dasarathi placed him about 896–920.22 Mukunda Rao placed him about 915–933.17

Footnotes

  1. C. Bendall, “Grant of Kusumayudha IV”, Indian Antiquary XXXII (1903), p. 281 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  2. Bendall, “Grant of Kusumayudha IV” (1903), p. 284, translation and notes (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2

  3. Epigraphia Telanganica I (2023), p. 67, N. Mukunda Rao in the Koravi symposium (1969). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10

  4. Venkataramanayya, Chalukyas of L(V)emulavada (1953), p. 37 and note 55 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Paraphrased. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5

  5. Epigraphia Telanganica I (2023), p. 61, S. Dasarathi in the Koravi symposium (1969). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6

  6. Gajjala Vasanta Lakshmi (ed.), Epigraphia Telanganica I: Pre-Kakatiya Telangana (2023), p. 52, Koravi inscription. Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

  7. Epigraphia Telanganica I (2023), p. 56, M. V. N. Aditya Sarma in the Koravi symposium (1969). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5

  8. Epigraphia Telanganica I (2023), p. 55, reprinting “The Koravi Epigraphs (A Symposium)”, Epigraphia Andhrica I (1969), pp. 118–145. Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

  9. Epigraphia Telanganica I (2023), p. 65, N. Mukunda Rao in the Koravi symposium (1969). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5

  10. Epigraphia Telanganica I (2023), p. 60, S. Dasarathi in the Koravi symposium (1969). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2

  11. Epigraphia Telanganica I (2023), p. 62, S. Dasarathi in the Koravi symposium (1969). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

  12. Epigraphia Telanganica I (2023), p. 54, summarising Inscriptions of Warangal District (2016), pp. 10–15. Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

  13. Epigraphia Telanganica I (2023), p. 66, N. Mukunda Rao in the Koravi symposium (1969). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

  14. Venkataramanayya, Chalukyas of L(V)emulavada (1953), p. 35, note 55 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Paraphrased. ↩ ↩2

  15. J. F. Fleet, “Dynasties of the Kanarese Districts”, Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency I, pt. II (1896), p. 381 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2

  16. N. Venkataramanayya, The Chalukyas of L(V)emulavada (1953), p. 34 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Paraphrased. ↩

  17. Epigraphia Telanganica I (2023), p. 68, N. Mukunda Rao in the Koravi symposium (1969). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  18. Epigraphia Telanganica I (2023), p. 58, M. V. N. Aditya Sarma in the Koravi symposium (1969). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

  19. Epigraphia Telanganica I (2023), p. 63, S. Dasarathi in the Koravi symposium (1969). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2

  20. P. V. Parabrahma Sastry, The Kakatiyas of Warangal (1978), p. 55. ↩

  21. Venkataramanayya, Chalukyas of L(V)emulavada (1953), p. 36, note 55 continued (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Paraphrased. ↩

  22. Epigraphia Telanganica I (2023), p. 64, S. Dasarathi’s table of the family (1969). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

Dynasties

Chalukyas of Mudigonda

c. 890–1218 CE

These Chalukya chiefs were named after Mudigonda (Mudugondu) near Khammam. They ruled the Manchikonda district and Koravi (Kuravi) region, between Vengi and Vemulavada, from the late 9th century to about 1200. They served the Eastern Chalukyas of Vengi and later the Chalukyas of Kalyani, before losing their lands to the Kakatiyas. Their history comes from two copper-plate grants: the Mogalcheruvula grant of Kusumayudha IV and the Kukkunur plates of Kusumaditya. A stone inscription at Koravi and brief mentions in other dynasties' records also provide evidence.

References

Sources (5)
  1. R. C. Temple (ed.), The Indian Antiquary, Vol. XXXII (1903) (opens in a new tab), Education Society's Press, Bombay, 1903, pp. 281, 284. C. Bendall, Grant of Kusumayudha IV. [Public domain]
  2. N. Venkataramanayya, The Chalukyas of L(V)emulavada (opens in a new tab), The Archaeological Department, Government of Hyderabad (printed at the G. S. Press, Madras), 1953, pp. 34–37. Paraphrased. [Public domain in India]
  3. J. F. Fleet, R. G. Bhandarkar and others (Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency), Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency, Vol. I, Part II: History of the Konkan, Dakhan and Southern Maratha Country (opens in a new tab), Government Central Press, Bombay, 1896, pp. 381. J. F. Fleet, Dynasties of the Kanarese Districts. [Public domain]
  4. Gajjala Vasanta Lakshmi (ed.); Gautam Pingle (gen. ed.), Epigraphia Telanganica, Vol. 1: Pre-Kakatiya Telangana, Dr MCR Human Resource Development Institute, Government of Telangana, 2023, pp. 54–58, 61–64, 67–68. The Koravi inscription and the 1969 symposium on it. Cite-only; paraphrased. [All rights reserved (cited, not reproduced)]
  5. P. V. Parabrahma Sastry, The Kakatiyas of Warangal, Government of Andhra Pradesh, 1978, pp. 55. Cite-only; paraphrased. [All rights reserved (cited, not reproduced)]

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