Part 5 - Mahadeva (A.D. 1205-1240)

His Predecessor

A new branch of the Malayas comes to night from a c.p. grant of A.D. 1205 of Eastern Chalukya Mallapa Vishnuvardhana The earliest member so far known, is Bhima who is said to have acquired the hereditary sovereignty of his grandfather and other ancestors through the favour of the glorious Chalukya Choda. This definitely shows that the Malayas lost their kingdom for some time and Bhima regained it with the help of Chalukya Choda i.e. probably emperor Vikramachola. The son and successor of Bhima was Vishnuvardhana whose son was Mahadeva. The restoration of Bhima may be placed about A.D. 1130 and his rule and that of Vishnuvar-dhana probably filled the gap till A.D. 1205.

Mahadeva’s Inscriptions

Mahadeva’s inscription of A.D. 1205 mentions Chengaruna-ntivishaya. His next inscription is from Kumaradevam dated A.D. 1235. Two of his records dated A.D. 1237 are at Pattisam (Near Polavaram) in one of which figures Adapa Mavena preggada, the minister of Mahadeva. In the record at Kumaradevam dated A.D. 1240. this Mavena is mentioned as Adapa Mahadevana pergada and his father was Manchiraju. King Mahadeva ruled for thirty-five years and was succeeded by his son and successor, Ganapati.

His Political Relations

Mahadeva bore the titles-mahamandalesvara, Samadhigata-panchamahasabda and the supporter of Chalukya sovereignty. His contemporaries on the Chalukyan throne at Pithapur were Mallapa III alias Vishnuvardhana, (A.D 1203-1223) the son of Vijayaditya III and his sons Udayachandra (A.D. 1223-1226) and Chandrasekhara (A.D. 1226). None of Mahadeva’s records mention the Chalukyas of Pithapur. Nevertheless the Malaya allegiance to the Chalukyas may have continued in this period.