Part 37 - Visvanatha (A.D. 1307-1309)

Visvanatha had a short reign of three years. His earliest inscription is from Simhachalam dated A.D. 1307 and the third regnal year of Anantavarma Pratapavirabbanudeva, mentioning him as Sarvalokaaraya Srivishnuvardhanamaharaja Visvanatha. Another record of Visvanatha is also from Simhachalam dated A.D. 1307 and the third year of Pratapavirabhanudeva and records gifts by several chiefs among whom figures Sarvalokasraya Vishnuvardhana maharaja Visvanatha.” His last record is from Srikurmam dated A.D. 1309 and the 3rd regnal year of Jagannamadeva, mentioning, him as Visvanathadeva, the son of Purushottamadeva.

His Political Relations

Bhanudeva II, the som and successor of Narasimha II was the Ganga emperor in this period. He was the opponent of Ghiyasuddin Tughlak. Two of his titles were Jagannatha and Purushottama and this precludes the possibility of the existence of two kings Purushottama and Jagannatha who Dr. Banerji, thinks usurped the Ganga throne soon after the accession of Bhanudeva II and kept him a prisoner till A.D. 1312.

The loyalty of Visvanatha to Bhanudeva II is attested by his records dated in the emperor’s regaal years. In the first two records, the suzerain is mentioned as Anantavarma Pratapavirabhaauieva and Simply as Pratapav irabhanudeva.and in the latest record as Jagannatha deva.