The Early History of the Deccan (Parts I–XI) v1.c11.s8.91

v1.c11.s8.91

Another inscription of Bijjaḷa’s time, dated 1162, mentions a second great minister, Kasapayya-Nāyaka, by whose counsel Bammarasa was appointed ruler of Banavase-nad. Here we obtain a welcome glimpse into the system of administration and the role of the *maṭhas* in higher education. We learn that Bammarasa was controlled by five *karaṇams*, who were royal censors appointed ‘to see that the Lakshmi of Bammarasa’s government was free from adultery’—that is, to ensure his loyalty—and these acted as the five senses of King Bijjaḷa, ‘unmatched in ministerial skill, bold as fierce lions, able in detecting frauds, superior to all opposition’. Bammarasa and his courtiers together with these *karaṇams* were one day discussing *dharma*, and began to extol the Koḍiya-maṭha, the Dakṣiṇa Kedāra-sthāna. Among other laudatory expressions, it is said to be ‘a place for the recital of the four *Vedas* and their *aṅgas*; a place for glosses on Kaumāra, Pāṇinīya, Śākaṭāyana, Śabdānuśāsana, and other grammars; a place for glosses on the six *darśanas* including Nyāya, Vaiśeṣika, Mīmāṃsā, Sāṅkhya, and Bauddha; a place for glosses on the Lākula-siddhānta, the Pātañjala and other *Yoga-śāstras*; a place for the study of the eighteen *purāṇas*, the *dharma-śāstras*, all poems, dramas, comedies, and every branch of learning; a place where food was freely distributed to the poor, the destitute, the lame, the blind, the deaf, story-tellers, singers, drummers, flute-players, dancers, eulogists, the naked, the wounded, *kṣapaṇakas*, *ekadaṇḍi*, *tridaṇḍi*, *paramahaṃsa* and other mendicants from all countries; a place for the treatment of the diseases of destitute sick persons; a place of security from fear for all living things. Bijjaḷa-Mahārāja having come there at this juncture in the course of his expedition to subdue the south, and being encamped in Balligave, they all repaired to his presence, and by their praises of Dakṣiṇa Kedāra and Vāmaśakti, obtained valuable grants from the king for Dakṣiṇa-Kedāreśvara as well as for temples at Abbalur (Ablur).’