Early History of the Dekkan down to the Mahomedan Conquest c18.141

c18.141

Âhavamalla or Someśvara founded the city of Kalyâṇa and made it his capital. Bilhaṇa mentions the fact,²⁷ and the name of the city does not occur in any inscription of a date earlier than 975 Śaka, when Someśvara was reigning.²⁸ In the course of time three sons were born to Âhavamalla, the eldest of whom was named Someśvara, the second Vikramâditya, and the third Jayasiṁha.²⁹ The ablest of these was Vikramâditya, and Âhavamalla intended to raise him to the dignity of Yuvarâja or prince-regent in supersession of his elder brother, but Bilhaṇa tells us he declined the honour ³⁰ Someśvara therefore was installed as prince-regent, but the real work was done by Vikramâditya, who was invariably employed by his father to fight his battles The first thing he did was to march as usual against the Cholas, whose king was defeated and deprived of his kingdom The king of Mâlvâ, who had been driven from his country by somebody whose name is not given, sought Vikramâditya's assistance That prince put down his enemies and placed him on the throne ³¹ Vikramâditya is said to have invaded the Gauḍa country or Bengal and Kâmarûpa or Assam ³² In the more detailed description of his career of conquest, Bilhaṇa tells us, he first marched against the Keralas, whom he conquered ³³ The king of Siṅhala submitted to him at his approach, ³⁴ then he took the city of Gaṅgakuṇḍa and proceeded to the country of the Cholas, the prince of which fled and took refuge in the caverns of mountains Vikramâditya then entered Kâñchî and plundered it, and thence directed his march to Veṅgî, and to Chakrâkoṭa ³⁵