Mysore and Coorg from the Inscriptions c14.17

c14.17

Of special religious ceremonies, one of the earliest mentioned is the *aśvamēdha* or horse-sacrifice, which was a royal rite symbolic of supreme power. The Kadamba kings claim to have performed many horse-sacrifices. Accordingly, the Brāhmans of Tānagundūr are said (Sk 178) to be residents of 144 villages acquired as donations for the 18 horse-sacrifices of king Mayūravarmma. The king Krishnavarmma (? fifth century) is expressly stated (Bl 121) to have performed the horse-sacrifice. The Chalukya king Pulikēśi I performed the horse-sacrifice in the sixth century (Kl 63, Gd 48, etc.). A much later instance is that of the Chōla king Rājadhirāja or Jayangonda-Chōla in the eleventh century, who is also said (Dv 75) to have performed the horse-sacrifice. Other sacrifices mentioned are the *vājapēya* (Cn 167), performed in the sixteenth century for the Vijayanagar kings Nṛisimha and Krishna-Rāya; and the *agniṣṭōma* (Mb 62) performed in the seventeenth century for the chief of Sugaṭūr. The Mysore king Kaṇṭhīrava-Narasa-Rāja is said (Ag 64) to have revived the performance of the *ēkādaśi-vrata*, like Ambarīsha and all the other kings. The Brāhmans of Sthānakundūr are described (Sk 176) as drinking *sōma* juice, and those of Kellangere are called (Ak 117) 200 ornaments of *sōma* drinkers.