History of Mediaeval Hindu India (being a History of India from 600 to 1200 A.D.) v3.c34.s2.32

v3.c34.s2.32

This inscription is dated 1155 A. D. and probably Ālhaṇadevī was regent for her son Narasinhavarman. Yaśahkarṇa's rule ended about 1024 A. D. and Gayakarṇa's rule ended about 1054 A. D., his inscription found being dated 1151 (Int. Ant. XVIII p. 210). He was succeeded by his son Narasinhavarman, three inscriptions of whom have been found, dated 1155, 1158 and 1169. He seems to have died young though his reign does not seem to have been without importance. For from the time of his inscriptions, the form of the title of Chedi kings appears to have changed. He and his successors call themselves "lords of three kings Narapati, Aśvapati and Gajapati by the power of their own arm."* They also call themselves Vāmadevapādānudyāta which is wholly inexplicable as their ancestors are mentioned the same Gāṅgeya, Karṇa, Yaśahkarṇa and Gayakarṇa. It seems that the Chedi kings took the first title from Gāhadavāla kings of Kanauj who also use the same title in their inscriptions from about this time onward (See Govindachandra's grant Ind. Ant. XV p.7 dated 1168). Now it will be remembered that the Pratihāra emperors of Kanauj were called Hayapatis, lords of horses and the kings of Bengal Gajapatis, lords of elephants (See Vol. II App. VI p. 349, 350). Probably the kings of Āndhra were called Narapatis or kings of men and whoever conquered these countries may claim the title, conqueror of three kings Aśvapati, Gajapati and Narapati. The Gāhadavālas had conquered Kanauj, Bengal and even Āndhra and so had the Chedis. They, therefore, both appear to have taken