The Early History of the Deccan (Parts I–XI) v2.c15.s2.t3.55

v2.c15.s2.t3.55

Gaṇapati, who had been preoccupied with the affairs of the western Āndhra country at the time of Narasimha’s invasion, having settled these to his satisfaction, sent his army across the Gōdāvarī, and attacked the Eastern Gaṅga territories on the northern side of that river. Not much is known about this invasion, since the information available on the subject is extremely scanty. The Nandalūr inscription of Manuma Siddhi II dated A.D. 1257-8 merely alludes to it. It is stated therein that Manuma Siddhi II, desirous of acquiring the friendship of Gaṇapati, joined him with his forces on the banks of the Gōdāvarī where he fought a great battle with the Kaliṅgas and forced them to retreat into their own country.¹ It must have been on this occasion that Paḍikamu Boppadēva of the Chāḷukyan family, who was at that time paṭṭa-sāhiṇi and sakalasēnādhipati in the service of Gaṇapatidēva, slew in battle on the Gōdāvarī Goṇṭūri Nāgadēva,² a prince whose estate lay on the banks of the Kṛṣṇā. Inscriptions show that the Goṇṭūri chiefs Nāgadēva and Nārāyaṇadēva were ruling somewhere in the neighbourhood of Bezwada at the time of Narasimha’s invasion.³ They probably joined him and made common cause with him against Gaṇapati; but they must have shared his defeat and probably lost their possessions in consequence. As a result of this victory the Kākatīya power remained undisturbed in the Gōdāvarī valley until the end of Gaṇapati’s reign.