History of Mediaeval Hindu India (being a History of India from 600 to 1200 A.D.) v2.c29.s1.13

v2.c29.s1.13

The name Bappā as the founder’s name given in the Naravāhana inscription is, therefore, as old as A.D.971, it is in fact the oldest inscription we have and we may be tolerably certain that he was not then looked upon as a Brahmin. But this word Mahīdeva appears to have been misinterpreted into meaning a Brahmin in later times and later inscriptions such as those of Chitoregad and Achaleśvara of A.D. 1274 carried on the misconception later still. How did this misconception based upon a misinterpretation of the word Mahīdeva arise we may try to surmise from the contemporary records of other kingly families.