Part 43 - Malta (A.D. 1149-1178) and Gonka I (A.D. 1127-1178)

Though Malla’s records are available from A.D. 1149, his-reign must have begun much earlier—at least from A.D. 1127—the earliest date for his son Gonka I. Malla and Gonka I were the founders of this Chalukya kingdom and ruled together which fact is supported by chronology and location of their inscriptions and contents in them. Ayyapadeva and Mahadeva—sons of Gonka I issued records of their own from A.D. 1141 and 1154 respectively. So from the middle of the reign, these princes were ruling parts of the kingdom with the cepital at Tadikalapudi.

Extent of the Kingdom

Records of the period attest the extension and extent of the kingdom and help us to fix the chronology of the reign. The earliest inscription is that of Gonka from Draksharama, bearing the date A.D. 1127 and the 40th year of Vishnuvardhana. The next record is that of Malla dated A.D. 1149 also from Draksharama. Gonka’s inscriptions from Ganapavaram and Undi are dated A.D. 1174 and his record from Draksharama is dated A.D. 1177 and the 4th year of Sarvalokasraya Vishnuvardhana Maharaja. Malla’s last record is from Draksharama, with date uncertain, as it is partly damaged, but falls prior to A.D. 1178.

The Political Relations of Malla and Gonka

King Malla is mentioned also as Vengi Malla and. Mahamandalesvara Vengi Kallidevaraja in records. He bore a prasasti beginning with Samadhigatapanchamahasabela, some of the epithets being—Bhandanabhima and parabalalasadhaka. Gonka appears as Vengi Gonkaraja, and Gokaraja in his inscriptions. His prasasti is elaborate in which the titles—dalitaripudarpa, vairibhayadayaka, and parabala sadhaka speak for his valour. He was the lord of Vengi 1000. Vengisahasrakshmadhisa and claims lordship over Bhattipura and Shatsahasravani. The capital was Vengi corresponding to Peddavegi, 6 miles to the north of Ellore (Ellore taluq). In extending their kingdom, Malla and Gonka came Into touch with the rules in neighbouring Kingdom.

In this perion of half a century—A.D. 1127 to 1178—the political condition of south India was as follows: Kalinga was ruled over by the Gangas. Anantavarma chodaganga and his successors, the Western Chalukya kingdom by Vikramaditya VI, Somesvara III and his successors and the chola empire by Vikramachola, Kulottunga II, Rajaraja II and Rajadhiraja II. In the Telugu country, the Velanandu kingdom as under Choda I, Gonka II and Choda II, Konamandala under Raja-parendu I, Rajendra Choda I, Bhima II and Satya I, Loka and Bhima III, Vallabha and Mallideva I, Palnad under Beta II, Virakama I, Anuguraja and Nalagama, the Chagi kingdom under Dora I and Pota I, the Kondapadumati kingdom under Manda II and his successors the Kota Kingdom under Beta II, Keta I and Bhima II, the Paricheddi kingdom under Nambiraja II and his successors, the Natavadi kingdom under Durga and Buddha, the Malaya kingdom under Surapa and Benta, the Kona kandnavadi kingdom under Bhima I and his successors, the Kolanu kingdom under Okkettuganda. Katama and Somaya, the Elamanchilli chalukya kingdom under Vijayaditya I and the chalukya kingdom of Srikurmam under Vijayaditya I. The Telugu Pallana rulers were Bhima, Naga, Narayana and Dorapa nayaka at Guntur, Nandivarma and Vijayaditya at Nellore, and Surapa, Bayya and Purushottama at Virakuta. The Matsya kingdom was under Mankaditya I, the Yadava kingdom under Sarngadhara I and the Telugu choda kingdoms under Kannarachoda and his successors at Kongidena, Trailokyamalla, Mallideva I and his successors at Pottapi, Siddhi at Nellore and Udayaditya at Kandur.

Malla and Gonka and the Chalukyas of Pithapur

Vishnuvardhna Mallapadeva II and Vijayaditya III were one, after another rulers of the Chalukya kingdom of Pithapur. The allegiance of Malla and Gonka to the Pithapur chalukyas Is attested by their records dated in the regnal years of there overlords. For one of Gonka’s records is dated AJD. 1127 and ithe 40th year of Vishnuvardhana. Obviously 40th year is a mistake for the 4th year which corresponds to A.D. 1127^ Again Gonka’s last record is dated A.D. 1177 and the 4th year of Vishnuvardhana. Here Vishnnvardhana refers to Vijayaditya III whose 4th year corresponds to A.D. 1162 and the regnal year for A.D. 1177 ought to be the 19th year.

Malla and Gonka and their Achievements

Malla and Gonka, it seems probable came into conflict with the Velanandu chodas and won some victories over them. For Gonka claims lordship over Shatsaharva, the home province of the Velanandus and over Bhattipura, evidently Bhattiproly in Repalle Taluq of Guntur district. Probably Gonka invaded the Velanandu kingdom, some time about A.D. 1174 the date of the record mentioning his titles, during the latter part of the reign of Choda II advanced up to Bhattipura, vanquished the enemy and took it. But evidently the expedition did not result in adding territories to the chalukyas kingdom, for records show that Velanandu kingdom was intact in Choda’s reign.

The title Yuddhamallavamsasamuddharana i.e. rescuer of the lineage of Yuddhamalla—borne by Gonka I, probably suggests the direct connection of these Chalukyas with the earlier Chalukyas of Vengi and that Gonka brought them into prominence. Obviously these Chalukyas claimed descent from Yuddhamalla.