The Early History of the Deccan (Parts I–XI) v2.c13.s2.t2.3

v2.c13.s2.t2.3

At the close of the reign of Vimalāditya in A.D. 1018, the succession to the throne was in dispute. Vijayāditya, his son by Melama, seized power with the help of Jayasiṃha II Jagadekamalla, king of Kalyāṇi, and kept his brother Rājarāja out of the kingdom.² Rājarāja appealed to his maternal uncle and overlord the Choḷa emperor, Rājendra Choḷa, for help, and the latter promptly dispatched forces to his aid. To divert the attention of Jayasiṃha II, and prevent him from sending effective help to Vijayāditya, he sent against Raṭṭapāḍi a powerful army which devastated the country and compelled him to take steps for the defence of his kingdom. At the same time Rājendra ordered his general Śōliyavaraśan to march at the head of another army into Vengi and restore to his nephew his ancestral kingdom. Śōliyavaraśan advanced, accordingly, with his forces into Vengi, defeated Vijayāditya and his allies in several battles, took possession of the country on behalf of Rājarāja, and proceeded afterwards at the command of his master on a grand military expedition to the Gangetic valley. On the departure of the Choḷa army from their country, the Utkalas whom Śōliyavaraśan had subdued rose again, probably incited by Jayasiṃha II, and threatened the line of communications. To put down the Utkalas and protect the rear of his army campaigning in the Gangetic valley, Rājendra Choḷa I marched with his troops towards the north and arrived on the banks of the Godavarī where he established himself in a fortified camp. He sent troops to chastise the Utkalas and meanwhile awaited the arrival of his general from the Gangetic valley. During his sojourn on the banks of the Godavarī he enthroned his nephew Rājarāja as the ruler of Vengi, celebrated the latter's coronation on 16 August A.D. 1022, and returned home with the victorious army from the north which had joined him soon afterwards.³