Part 4 - Genealogy of the Somakuli kings of Kosala and Utkala

The Brahmesvara and Balijhari inscriptions of Mahabhava-gupta Udyotakesari corroborate each other from which the following genealogical table of the Somakuli kings of Kosala and Utkala is prepared and the name of Karnakesari has been added to the list at the end from Sandhyakaranandin's Ramacharita. Kosala line Sivagupta's son 1. Janamejaya (Mahabhavagupta 11 Utkala line 2. Yayati (Mahasivagupta II) 3. Bhimaratha (Mahabhavagupta II) 4. Dharmaratha (Mabasivagupta III) 2. Vichitravira 3. Name not known | 4. Abhimanyu * Joint rulers of Kosala and Utkala 5, Naghusa (Mahabhavagupta III) 6. Chandibara alias Yayati II (Mabasivagupta IV) brother of 7. Udyotakesari (Mahabhavagupta IV) S. Karnakesari -- This paper was read at the meetings of the Indian History Congress, Madras in 1944.

The above list differs from that given by Dr. D. R. Bhandarkar who accepts Yayati II of the Jatesinga Dungri copper plate as the: founder of the family. While reviewing Mr. R. D. Banerji's History of Orissa Vole. I and II, Dr Bhandarkar wrote the following in this connection:- "But Banerji holds that the first king of this dynasty is Mahabhavagupta - Janamejaya and not his father sivagupta. He,. however, ignores in this connection an attriburive occuring in the Jatesinga-Dungri plate published by Mr. B. C. Mazundar in J.B.O.R.S. Vol. II, page 52 ff which were issued by Mahasivagupta-Yayat deva, successor of Mahabhavagupta deva. The former speaks of himseff here Svabhujo parjjita Trikalin jadhipats: Lord of the Trikalinga (country) acquired through his own arms. Evidently he was the 6 first king of the dynasty of Trikalinga, and must be taken as the father and not the son of Mahabhavagupta wrongly taken as the first king by Banerji. It is true that the Jatesingr-Dungri plates couple the titles of the supreme ruler not only with the son of Mahasivagupta but also with the father, Mahabhavagupta i he first, however, made himself the founder of the Trikalinga family. The father no doubt, was an overlord, but must have ruled elsewhere There is a nominative termination after Srabhujonarijua Trikolin adhipati; which has been ignored, but which shows that it is an epithet of Mahasivagupta. The transcript of Mr Mazumdar is quite clear on the point and is in entire agreement with the facsimile which accompanied his article".2 On the other hand specific mention has been mede in the inscriptions of the years 21 and 25 of Yayati, the year 3 Blima. ratha and year 4 and 18 of Ulyotakesari tha. Janamejaya was the founder of the family and Dr. Bhandarkar has ignored this point. When the contemporary family records gives the name of Janamejaya Mahabhavagupta as the founder of the family I think Mr. R. D. Banerji was right in taking Janamejaya as the founder of the family and Dr. Ehandarkar's argumen, on his own interpretation of the attributive Srabhujoparjjita - Trikalingadhipatz is untenable Ou the ground discussed Lelow. 1. LI N.I P. p 403, ftn. 13, 2. L.A Vol. LXI, 1932 p 241.

( 46 ) There are found altogether 22 inscriptions of the Sormakula Kings up to July 1942 and these are arranged in the appendix chronologically according to Balijhari and Brahmeswar inscriptions Against the name of each ruler are given the year of the inscription, place or the residence and name of the Sandhivigrahi. It is generally found that the post of the Sandhivigraba is hereditary and in this dynasty the names of Sandhivigratis help us to know the chronological position of each ruler. Pandit Binayak Misra discussed this point in his paper on Balijhari copper plate in 1930-31 and in his book entitled The Dynasties of Mediaeval Orissa. I have verified the names of Sandhivigrahis from the facsimile prints, The genealogical table given above is prepared from the inscriptions arranged according to the chronological order. In the inscription of Janamejaya, Malladatta, son of Dharadatta is the Sandhivigrahi. Malladatta is again found to be a Ranaka in the inscriptions dated the 31 st year of the donor. The inscriptions No. 9-12 were issued with the knowledge of Sandhivigrahi Ranaks Dharadatta and the inscription No. 13 of the year 28 of the donor was issued by Sandhivigrahi simhadatta who is also the Sandhivigrabi of Bhimaratha. It seems that Dharadatta survived his son Malladatta and as he was very old, these grants wereissued by Mahaksapatalika with his knowledge. Rudradatta was the son of Devadatta, the brother of Simhadatta and grandson of Harsadatta. It seems that Harsadatta was the son of Malla. datta and so the genealogical table of the family of the Sandhivigrahi is as follows:- Ranaka Dharadatta Ranaka Malladatta Harsadatta Simhadatta Devadatta Ranaka Rudradatta As Rudradatta served three kings named Naghusa Mahabhavagupta III, Yayati II, Mahasivagupta IV and Udyotakesari Mahabhavagupta IV, it seems that he began his service early and lived long just like his great-grand-father Dharadatta, It is interesting to find that the inscription Nos. 1556, 1557, and 1570 of Bhandarkar's list were issued in the 3 rd year of reign of

( 41 Mahabhavagupta I Janamejaya, Mahabhavagupta II Bhimaratha and Mahasivagupta IV Yayati II respectively. When Janamejaya possesses the title of Trikalingadhipati in his earliest record, it seems that he assumed it himself and not inherited it from his father Sivagupta or Mahasivagupta. The inscription of the year 8 of Janamejaya mentions Mahasivagupta and other inscriptions mention Sivagupta who had no title of Trikalingadhipati attached to his name. In the inscriptions Nos 5-14 and 18 the title of Trikalingadhipati occurs twice before the name of the donor-first in the genealogical portion and then in the text showing the Samvat or regnal year of the donor, In the inscriptions Nos, 10-14 the title of Trikaligadhipati is found attached to the name of the predecessors of the donors. In the grant Nos. 16 this title only once ocenrs before the name of the donor and in the grant No. 17 the title has an epithet of vabhujoparajita. The use of the title of Trikalingadhipati without any epithet in all other inscriptions makes it difficult to explain the necessity of the new epithet in a single inscription and we must wait for the further discovery of similar inscriptious when it may be possible to find out any further clue to the significance of its use. an In the Jatesinga dungri copper plate of Yayati II there are many new Virudas which are not found in the copper plates granted by his predecessors, and these Virudas are all recorded in the inscription before 'Svabhujoparjjita Trikalingadhipati If Svabhujoparjjita is separated from Trikalingadhipati, it cannot be connected with the preceding virudas which are really acquired by Yayati II. The Firuda Trikalingadhipati was assumed by all his predecessors and even by his father. The only possible interpretation of Svabhujoparjjita as adjective to frikalingadhipati seems to be this that the re-establishment of former powers of his predecessors along with his own conquest of countries after the attack of Rajendrachola is due to Yayati II, who perhaps was the head of the army during the life time, of his father in hose copper plate the title of Trikalingadhipati was usel according to the family tradition. When Yayati II succeeded him he not only introduced the new Virudas but put an adjective Svabhujoparjjita to the family title Trikalingadhipati by virtue of his actua¹ reconquest of the losi territories. In the Indian Historical Quarterly Vol. XX p. 76-89 Dr. D. C. Sircar has published a paper on the genealogy of the Somakuli Kings, but it has not been possible for me to include his points in my paper.

No ef Inscriptions 1 [ 48 ] Appendix - Chronological table of Inscriptions of Somakuli kings Name & title of the king with that of the predecessor. I P.M.P. Sri Sivaguptadeva padanudhyata P.P M.P, Somakulatilaka Samvat Place of issue or residence 3 Suvarnapura Name of Mabasandhivigrahi Name not given Reference in L.N I.I &E. I. E.I. Vol, XI, P. 94 No. 1557. Trikalingadhipati Sri Mahabhava : guptarajadeva. The protion 2 dealing with the Samvat records the name Eri Janamejayadeva. Seme as No.1 with taronsvara Morasima before Sti Mal ablavagupta deve, Malla (datta) son of Dhara datta 6 do 3 Same as No. 1 do 4 1. M. P. St Mabasivagupta-raja deva pa'anadyata and then follows as No. 1 8 do 5 Same as No. I but the title of Trikalivadhipati is attached to the name Janamejaya in the portion of the text referring to Samvat, 17 Aram Maladatta Ravala Malladatia son of Dl araditta J. & G.A.S B. Vol, I p. 12, No 158, E.1 Vol. III, p. 41 No. 1559, EJ Vol VIII, p. 41 No. 1560, E I. Vol. XNIM, P. 248 G.

[491 No. of Inscriptions Name & title of the king with that of the predecessor Samvat Place of issue or residence Name of Maha sandhivigrahi Reference in LN.I.I. & EI, 5-8 19 Same as No. 1 but the title of Trikalingadhipati is attached to the Fame Janamejaya in the portion of the text referring to Samvat. II P.P.M. Sri Mahabhavagupta rajadeva padanudhyayi P. P. M P. Somakulatilaka Trikalingadhipati Siz Mahasivagupta, rajadeva in the Samvat portion Trikalingadhipati is attached to Srimat Yayati devaraja. 31 Vijaya Kataka 0 Same as No 9 with the exception that Trikalingadhipati is attached to Mahabhavaguptarajadeva. 9 do - Same as No.9 15 do 11 Same as No, 10 24 Yayatinagara - 12 Same as No. 10 13 28 do Simhadatta yyyyn Ranaka Malla datta E.1 Vol. III, p 547 No 1562-64. 10 5 Vinitapura Kataku Panaka Dharadatta J. & P.A S.B Vol.1 P 14 No 1565. E.1. Vol.111, p. 351 No. 1560. EI Vol XI, PAG No. 1567. J. & P.A S.B. Vol. I p. 16, No.1568. J. & P.A.S.B. Vol. 1 p 19, No.1569,

( 50 ) No. of Inscriptions 14 Name & title of the king with that Samvat Place of issue or residence Name of Maha sandhivigrahi Reference in L.N.I.I. & EI. 3 Yayatinagara Simhadatta E I. Vol. III, p.355 No. 1570, - - 15 13 do 16 11 Kesarakella vijaya Kataka 3 Suvarnapura 17 - E.I. Vol.IV, r. 253 No. 1561, No inscription. Rudradatta, son of E.I, Vol.XXII, Devadatta p 135-138 Ranaka Rudradatta J.B & O.R.S. Vol 11 son of Simhadatta's No. 1556. brother & grand son of Harsadatta

No of Inscriptions 18 Name & title of the king with that of the predecessor. VII P. P. M. P. S. T. Trikalingadhipati Sri Mahasivagupta rajadeva padanudhyata P.P.M.P P.S.T. Trikalingadhipati Sri Mahabhavaguptarajadeva Udyotakesari rajadeva. [ 51 ] Samvat Place of issue or residence 4 Yayatinagara Name of Mahasandhivigrahi Rudradatta Reference in L.N.I.I & E. I. J.B. & O.R.S. Vol. XVII, p. 15 No.2076 19 20 P.M S.T. Udyatokesari 21 22 P. M. S. T. Trikalingadhipati Srimad Udyotakesari Deva, 5 19 18 li 1 - --- J.B. & O.R.S. Vol, XV, p,209, No.2077 ▪ I Vol.XIII, No.1571. E.I.Vol XIII, No.1573, J.A.S B. Vol. VII, p. 558, No. 1572.