The Early History of the Deccan (Parts I–XI) v2.c15.s2.t3.29

v2.c15.s2.t3.29

The statement of Tikkana Sōmayāji in the introduction to his *Nirvachan-Ōttara Rāmāyaṇam* that Tikka by inflicting a defeat on Karṇāṭa Sōmēśvara established his own power, and having without difficulty restored the Chōḷa to his throne, assumed his (Sōmēśvara’s) title of *Chōḷa-sthāpan-āchārya* or ‘the establisher of Chōḷa’, shows clearly that he had embarked on the war on behalf of the Chōḷa emperor Rājarāja III. The details of this war are not known, but it is clear that Tikka marched to the south at the head of his army and killed Narasimha II in battle at Jambai in A.D. 1239, defeated in the next year Narasimha’s son Sōmēśvara who had attacked him to avenge the death of his father, and assumed the title of *Chōḷa-sthāpan-āchārya*, which he bore thereafter.² We have at present no information to show whether Tikka received any help from Gaṇapati in his war on the Hoysalas. It is not, however, unlikely that Gaṇapati took part in this conflict also; for the Hoysalas, who were then in the heyday of their power, could hardly have been defeated by the unaided efforts of a minor chief like Tikka. Of this, however, there is as yet no evidence and in default of further intelligence the entire credit for the victory must be ascribed to the prowess of Tikka himself.