The Early History of the Deccan (Parts I–XI) v1.c11.s8.42

v1.c11.s8.42

Bijjaḷa is said in several inscriptions of the time to have ruled from Mangalivedha,⁷ as well as from Kalyāṇi; the former is a place 12 miles from Pandarpur, and not the same as Kalyāṇi as has been sometimes suggested. Mangalivedha is mentioned even more often in the records of Bijjaḷa's successors,⁸ together with other *neliviḍus* such as Modiganur,⁹ Seleyahalli,¹⁰ and so on. It is not easy to decide whether or not this reference to several capitals is an indication of the unsettled state of the country necessitating much movement on the part of its ruler and continual shifting of the centre of administration. In any event the Chāḷukyas were by no means completely extinguished; not only were they able to regain their power some time after the death of Bijjaḷa, when all his sons had in turn proved their incapacity to make use of their opportunities, but even in Bijjaḷa's own time they continued to retain their hold on parts of their former extensive empire. Thus in the decade A.D. 1160-70 Mallideva Chola Mahārāja is seen ruling in the region of the Madaksira *taluk* of the Anantapur District as feudatory to the Chālukya Tailapa III, and when for a time he changes his allegiance it is not to the Kalachuris but to the Chola Kulottunga III that he turns.¹ On the other hand, Vira Pāṇḍya of Uccangi is clearly seen to have definitely transferred his loyalty from the Chālukya to the Kalachuri in the same period.² There is evidence of much fighting and many petty local raids and disturbances; the maintenance of law and order was evidently by no means easy, and there seems to have been a great deal of unauthorized warfare in the outlying districts. Exact details are not forthcoming in most instances, and it is neither possible nor necessary to bring in review all these disorders, though mention may be made of a few outstanding cases. A battle at Kuppatūr,³ battles at Gutti, i.e. Chandragutti, in Banavase, an investment of that place lasting for many years (1158-64),⁴ and a siege of Ginnalagundi in 1166 marking a failure of the Kalachuri forces against a Hoysala *maṇḍalika*,⁵ are the most conspicuous examples of conflict at this time of which we have knowledge.