Part 7 - Ganapati and Bhimavallabha (A.D. 1254-1300)

Ganapati and Bhimavallabha were the last set of the joint rulers of the Kona Haihaya kingdom and appear to have been the successors of Mallideva IX and Bhima IV and not Mallideva I and Manmasehya II as has been supposed by the Epighra-phist. Ganapati was the son of Bhimavallabha by Anyamamba Bhimavallabha is stated to have been the son of Rajaparendu and grandson of Gandavendara entitled the lord of Mahishmati. Most probably Ganapati is identical with Ganapati, son of Mahipalarendu and grandson of Vallabha as Rajaparendu and Mahipalarendu are synonymous expressions meaning the lord of kings, and if this is accepted Gandavendara becomes a title of Vallabha. Thus Bhimavallabha and Ganapati were father and son and ruled, for forty-six years, together.

Their inscriptions appear in a continuous series from 1261 A.D. to 1300; and both father and son are mentioned in contemporary inscriptions of other dynasties. One inscription from Palakol dated A.D. 1261 mentions Bhimavallabha and his wife Anyamamba. Another record dated A.D 1262 from Draksharama mentions Ganapatideva maharaja and his mother Anyamadevi. Ganapati is spoken of as a possessor of great valour and promises to whom all other kings bowed and his father is mentioned as Konavanipati in a record dated A.D. 1275 from Palakol. Rajavroli Mallinayaka, a subordinate of Ganapati figures in a Palakol inscription dated A.D. 1176. Ganapati’s queen Pina Odeyamahadevi figures in Three records from Palakol date A.D. 1286, 1290 and 1306—all at Palakal. Bhimavallabha and Ganapati seem to have ruled from Palako. and had a peaceful reign.

Their Political Relations

Bhima and Ganapati did not acknowledge loyalty to the Cholas. Neither there is any reason to suppose their loyalty to the Kakatiyas. But they allied themselves with some local contemporary dynasties and this added to their strength. For instance, Bhima’s wife Anyama, was the daughter of Indusekhara of the Chalukyas; and Ganapati’s wife Odayamahadevi or Pma Odayamahadevi was the daughter of Mahadeva Chakravarti entitled Vishnu-Vardhana of the Chalukyas of Nidudaprolu i.e. Nidadavole.