The Early History of the Deccan (Parts I–XI) v1.c11.s8.88

v1.c11.s8.88

Administration and social life under the Kalachuris conformed in general to the Chāḷukya pattern except for the social and religious ferment caused by the Liṅgāyat movement. The impact of this movement combined with the fact that a feudatory dynasty usurped supreme power in the state just about this time seems to have rendered the maintenance of law and order more than usually difficult, and the records of the period give an impression of persistent local disturbances and insecurity, sometimes causing trouble even in the king’s own camp during his tours.⁶ But this atmosphere of general insecurity apparently did not prevent the leaders of society from giving expression to their devotion to the arts of peace in a number of striking foundations, religious and secular.⁷ Keśava-Deva, Governor of Banavase under Bijjaḷa in 1159, erected a temple of Keśaveśvara in Baḷipura (Balagamve); the temple itself seems to have disappeared altogether during the intervening centuries, but the inscription records that timber and stone were transformed in its construction ‘as if striving to add to all the variety of manifestations in Brahmā’s creation’. ‘The *pura* in front of the temple, filled with commodious houses, having cots in each chamber, containing the softest beds, and all manner of vessels, was bestowed on Brāhmans. These and some further grants were made in the presence of the representatives of the five *maṭhas* and three *puras*. The priests of the five *maṭhas* are named. Reference is also made to Brahmapuris. The superintendence of these and of the new *pura* was vested by Keśimayya in his *ārādhya*, the *rāja-guru* Vāmaśakti, son of Gautama and an ornament of the Lākulāgama, who was the head of the Dakṣiṇa-Kedāra-sthāna.’ Incidentally it is worth noting that here and in the other instances which follow we have much evidence regarding the flourishing state of Śaivism of the non-Liṅgāyat variety in this period. Keśava (Keśimayya)-daṇḍanāyaka was again Governor of Banavase under Āhavamalla; he ruled his province in great state and magnificence, and on one occasion he summoned his generals, together with the Baṇañju merchants (the Nānādeśis, Manevarata, and Jōrūpa), and ‘in their presence he assigned the property of Baṇañjigas of Balligāve dying without sons to the god Gavareśvara; that of those who die in the *nagara* to the god Nagareśvara; and in all the five *maṭhas*, the three *puras*, and the seven brahmapuris, in whichever of these unclaimed property may occur, to the god of that quarter’. This ‘work of merit’ was put in hand by the advice of Svāmideva, a councillor of the Governor and a disciple of Vāmaśakti.