The Dynasties of the Kanarese Districts of the Bombay Presidency from the Earliest Historical Times to the Musalman Conquest c8.s12.3

c8.s12.3

¹ I have hitherto written of the earlier members of this family, from Jayasiṁha I. to Maṅgalêśa, as the "Early Chalukyas;" applying the term "Western Chalukyas" to Pulikêśin II. and his descendants, in connection with the distinct separation that took place in his time between the Chalukyas of Bádámi and their relatives who became kings of the Veṅgi country on the east coast. There was, however, no break in the hereditary succession. And it will henceforth be more convenient to abolish an unnecessary term, and to speak of all the kings of Bádámi as the "Western Chalukyas." We have only to bear in mind that the eastern branch of the family did not come into existence till soon after A. D. 616 or 617, in the time of Pulikêśin II.—It is not an uncommon thing to find the Western Chalukyas of Bádámi called "the Chalukyas of Kalyâṇa." But this is a pure mistake. Kalyâṇa or Kalyâṇapura, which is the modern Kalyâṇi in the Nizâm's Dominions (the 'Kullianee' of the Indian Atlas, sheet No. 57; lat. 17° 51', long. 77°), is nowhere mentioned in the records of the earlier Chalukya period, nor even in those of the Râshṭrakûṭa period. The earliest mention of it that I have been able to trace, is in an inscription of A. D. 1053, which speaks of it as the neleviḍu,—= 'fixed place of abode,' or 'capital,'—of the Western Châlukya king Sômêśvara I. (A. D. 1044 and 1068). And the Vikramâṅkadêvacharita, ii. 1, distinctly says that that king made the place. Dr. Bühler, indeed (Vikramâṅkadêvacharita, Introd. p. 28; and Ind. Ant. Vol. V. p. 318) rendered the verse otherwise; and added the note—"The word "chakâra, 'he made,' might be also taken to indicate that he founded Kalyâṇa. But "this is not the case, as the town existed long before his time." This remark, however, is simply based on what is, as I say, a pure mistake.—See also a note near the beginning of chapter IV. below.