The Dynasties of the Kanarese Districts of the Bombay Presidency from the Earliest Historical Times to the Musalman Conquest c8.s18.157

c8.s18.157

Meṟada is mentioned only as the father of Prithvīrāma. Of the latter, we are told that he was a disciple of Indrakīrtisvāmin, the disciple of Guṇakīrti, the disciple of Mullabhaṭṭaraka, who was a teacher in the Kāreya sect of Mailāpatīrtha.⁵ And the record which furnishes this information, makes it clear, as noted above, that he was patronised and invested with the position and authority of a feudatory chieftain,—the exact title attached to his name being that of *Mahāsāmanta*,—by the Rāshṭrakūṭa king Kṛishṇa III. This event may be placed somewhere about A. D. 940, which is the earliest date that we have for Kṛishṇa III. The record might, indeed, be taken as connecting with Prithvīrāma the date of the Manmatha *saṃvatsara*, *Śaka-Saṃvat* 797 expired (A.D. 875-76); but this date is plainly not authentic, so far, at least, as Prithvīrāma is concerned.⁶