The Dynasties of the Kanarese Districts of the Bombay Presidency from the Earliest Historical Times to the Musalman Conquest c8.s3.151

c8.s3.151

From the Greek geographer Ptolemy we learn that in his time the country inland from the western coast was divided into two divisions of which the northern was governed by Siro Polemios whose capital was Paiṭhan, and the southern by Baleocuros who lived in Hippocura. Siro Polemios is evidently the same name as the Siri Puḷumâyi or Puḷumâyi of the inscriptions corresponding to the Pulomat, or Puḷimat of the Purâṇas. But there were two kings who bore that name, one the son of Gotamîputra, mentioned in the inscriptions, and another an earlier prince of the Andhrabhṛitya dynasty. This last does not appear to have been a prince of any note, therefore very likely the former is the one spoken of by Ptolemy. But the question is almost settled by the mention of Baleocuros as the Governor of the southern provinces. We have seen that in the legends on the Kolhâpur coins the name Viḷivâyakura is associated with that of Puḷumâyi and of Gotamîputra. Viḷivâyakura is the same as Baleocura, and I have already stated that the reason why his name, in my opinion, occurs along with those of the two princes of the Śâtavâhana dynasty, and on Kolhâpur coins alone, while it does not occur on those found in the lower Godâvari districts, is that he was the viceroy of those princes ruling over the country about Kolhâpur. This country answers to the southern division mentioned by the Greek geographer as being governed by Baleocuros. The Siro Polemios therefore of Ptolemy is the same as the Puḷumâyi of the inscriptions and coins.