History of Orissa from the Earliest Times to the British Period v1.c24.31

v1.c24.31

The names of many queens of Anantavarman Choḍagaṅga have been found in the inscriptions ; Kasturikāmodinī, Indirā and Chandralekhā are mentioned in the copper plate grants of his descendants. Somalā-Mahādevī, Lakshmīdevī and Pṛithvī-Mahādevī are mentioned in the votive inscriptions. The names of two other queens have become illegible in the Mukhaliṅgam inscriptions. Four of his sons reigned after him. Their names are Kāmārṇava, Rāghava, Rājarāja II and Aniyaṅkabhīma or Anaṅgabhīma. Another son, named Umāvallabha, is also mentioned in a votive inscription. Anantavarman Choḍagaṅga had a younger brother whose name is not known to us, but his wife made some gifts at Mukhaliṅgam. Anantavarman Choḍagaṅga was succeeded by his son Kāmārṇava from the queen Kasturikāmodinī. There is some differences of opinion amongst scholars regarding the date of the accession of Kāmārṇava. The late Dr. F. Kielhorn² was of the opinion that the accession of Kāmārṇava took place in 1142 A.D. He places the accession of Anantavarman Choḍagaṅga in 1078 and regards 70 years as the total period of his reign. This would place the death of Anantavarman Choḍagaṅga in 1148 A.D. Kāmārṇava was anointed in the Śaka year 1064=1142 A. D., but Anantavarman Choḍagaṅga was alive and ruling in Śaka 1069 according to a votive record from Mukhaliṅgam. Therefore, the coronation or anointment of Kāmārṇava does not mean his actual accession to the throne.¹ Our difficulties with regard to Gaṅga chronology begins from this date. The next four kings are known from the inscriptions of their distant successors and these inscriptions mention that such and such ruled for 10 years or 15 years as the case may be. Kāmārṇava is said to have ruled for 10 years. We do not know from what date these 10 years are to be counted. Anantavarman Choḍagaṅga was alive in Śaka 1069=1148 A. D. This would mean that Kāmārṇava ruled till 1158. His latest known date is Śaka 1077, which corresponded to the 10th year of the reign of the king. This brings us to 1155 A. D. We do not know whether the dates given in the votive inscription are regnal years or Aṅka years. If they are Aṅka years, then the 10th Aṅka is the 8th year as the first and sixth Aṅkas are not counted, and the 12th Aṅka would fall in 1157-58 A. D. The coronation of Kāmārṇava took place when his father was very old and unable to govern the kingdom. This was actually suggested by the late Mr. Chakravartī. The sons of Anantavarman Choḍagaṅga were very probably old men when they succeeded to the throne. Kāmārṇava died very probably in the Śaka year 1078=1156 A. D., and was succeeded by his step-brother Rāghava. Kāmārṇava is also called Anantavarman in the votive inscriptions. In one or two cases only he is called Anantavarman Madhu-Kāmārṇava to distinguish him from his father. In one inscription at Mukhaliṅgam he is called Jaṭeśvaradeva. Like those of his father his inscriptions have been found at Śrī Kurmam and Mukhaliṅgam only.