The Dynastic History of Northern India (Early Mediaeval Period) v2.c29.s2.101

v2.c29.s2.101

The only record which can be referred to the time of Yuvarāja II is the *Bilhari stone-inscription of the Śaiva ascetics of the Mattamayūra sect*, who originally emigrated from Kadambaguhā.² The stone which bears it is said to have been found at Bilhari (the Balihrī of the maps, Lat. 23°48′ N., Long. 80°19′E.), described as one of the oldest towns in the Jubbulpore district of the C. P. The record consists of 33 lines, the last 3 lines of which are somewhat damaged. It opens with *Om namaḥ Śivāya* and then invokes Śiva under various names. Next it traces the genealogy of the Haihayas from Atri down to Yuvarāja II. It also contains a list of the various Śaiva ascetics who were honoured by or received gifts from these princes. The proper object of the inscription is to record the various gifts and endowments to the temple of Śiva raised by Nohlā, the queen of Yuvarāja I. Towards the end we are told that the inscription was set up in the monastery of Nohaleśvara by the holy preceptor Aghoraśiva, the disciple of the sage Hṛdayaśiva, who was a contemporary of Lakṣmaṇarāja. Verses 83-84 mention the names of Tripurī (mod. Tewar near Jubbulpore), Saubhāgyapura (mod. Sohagpur in Rewa state), Lavaṇanagara, Durlabhapura and Vimānapura (?), ‘the inhabitants of which would seem to have had to contribute towards the support of the temple.’ V. 85 informs us that this composition ‘would deserve praise (even from the wonder-struck poet (*vismita-kavi*) Rājaśekhara.’ The *praśasti* was partly composed by Śrīnivāsa and partly by Sajjana. It was written by Nāī, the son of *Karaṇika* Dhīra, and engraved by Nanna, son of the *Sūtradhāra* Saṁgama. The inscription is not dated; but Kielhorn ‘felt no hesitation in assigning it to about the end of the 10th or the beginning of the 11th century.’¹