The Dynasties of the Kanarese Districts of the Bombay Presidency from the Earliest Historical Times to the Musalman Conquest c8.s16.2

c8.s16.2

The Hoysalas, whose family name appears in the various forms of Poysala, Poysana, Hoysala, and Hoysana, claimed, like the Râshtrakûṭas and various other great families, to belong to the lineage of Yadu, in the Sômavamśa or Lunar Race. On the basis of this claim, they usually styled themselves Yâdava-kul-âmbara-dyumaṇi, "suns in the sky which is the family of the Yâdavas." And, in connection with Dvâravatî, Dvârâvatî, or Dvârakâ,—the modern Dvârkâ, at the western extremity of Kâṭhiâwâḍ,—which was the legendary capital of Kṛishṇa, who was an incarnation of the god Vishṇu, born in the same lineage, they assumed the hereditary title of Dvârâvatî-puravar-âdhîśvara, "supreme lord of Dvârâvatî, the best of towns." Their Purâṇic genealogy, which is presented first in a record of A. D. 1117,¹ was probably devised in the time of Vishṇuvardhana, who brought the family prominently to the front. And, in connection with it, the origin of the family name is explained as follows:² In the lineage of Yadu, there was born a certain Sala. In company with a Jain ascetic, who was versed in all the science of incantation, he was worshipping the goddess Padmâvatî of Śaśakapura, with a view to bringing her into their power, and so acquiring sovereignty for Sala.³ A tiger sprang out, threatening to interrupt and spoil the efficacy of their rites. On the appeal of the ascetic, who cried out "poy, Sala,—slay, O Sala!," Sala slew the tiger. And, from this exclamation and the slaughter of the tiger, he and his descendants acquired the name of Poysala, and the crest or banner, or both, bearing the representation of a tiger.⁴ Also,⁵ because, when the goddess conferred her boon, the season of spring was at the height of its beauty, Sala gave her the name of Vâsantikâdêvî, and continued to worship her under that appellation, by which she is mentioned in various other records as the family-goddess.¹