The State in Ancient India: A Study in the Structure and Practical Working of Political Institutions in North India in Ancient Times c20.135

c20.135

The titles of suzerainty and vassalage are generally applied in the Deccan and south exactly as in the north. The few peculiarities may be noticed. In an inscription of 1072 A.D, for instance, Jayasiṁha III is called Mahârâjâdhirâja, Parameśvara and Śrîprithvivallabha.³ In the Pithampur Plates of Vira Coḷâ, Râjaparameśvara is substituted for Parameśvara and the fact of suzerainty over Râjas is brought out more prominently.⁴ In another inscription one of the three grand titles is omitted.⁵ In the Soraikkavur Plates of Virûpâkṣa of the 13th century A.D., a Mahâmaṇḍaleśvara styles himself Râjâdhirâja Râjaparameśvara.⁶ This is one of the rare instances of big feudatories assuming partly the titles of suzerainty. Perhaps the ruler had many big sub-feudatories under him and was developing into a suzerain. For great suzerains some new grandiloquent titles like Sakalabhuvanacakravartin and Tribhuvanacakravartin had emerged.¹ The Chebrolu Inscription of Vikrama Cola (c. 1126 A.D.) calls the king Mahārājādhirāja, Rājaparameśvara, Paramabhaṭṭāraka, Rājarājendra, Viramahendra.²