Part 11 - Samrnapanideva or Sarngapani (A.D. 1267)

Samrnapani’s only record is from his capital dated A.D. 1265 or 1267 according to the latest edition of the record.It traces the Kakatiya genealogy upto Rudradeva Maharaja, son of Ganapati bearing a prasasti. Next it gives the Yadava lineage upto the donor i e. Sarngapani through Singhana and records his grant of land to Chayasomanatha. There follows the Telugu portion of the inscription saying that while Kakatiya Manumarudradeva Maharajulu bearing a prasasti was ruling the earth. King Samrnapanideva, the lord of Panugal in that kingdom and the bearer of an elaborate prasasti in s 1189 Brabhava granted land to Cheya Samanatha. Sarngapani’s rule lasted during the latter part of the 13th century A.D. and was confined to the neighbourhood of Panugal.

His Political Relations

Sarngapani was a great warrior. His prasasti enumerates his several victories over his enemies. He must have led expeditions of conquest with the strength of the Kakatiya armies behind and defeated many a king. The titles—Samastabhuvanasrayaprithivallabha Maharajadhiraja paramesvara paramabhattaraka speak of the imperialstic nature of Sarangapani’s prasasti. These titles are same as those of the Chalukyas of Kalyani. The epithets—Vishnuvamsodhbhava and Dvarapati puravaradhisvara of Sarngapani attest his Yadava descent, where as apratimalla, and ahitarya urahsala i.e, a spear in the heart of the enemy kings, testify of his valour.

Sarngapani and the Kakatiyas

Sarngapani’s Kakatiya contemporaries were Rudrama and probably also Prataparudra, His loyalty to the former is attested by his Panugal inscription. He ruled the kingdom of Panugal as the viceroy of Rudrama, so much to say that some of the Yadava princes of Devagiri were in the service of Rudrama in this period. It has been said that “It is not clear why a Yadava prince took service under the Kakatiyas especially when his titles show that he must have been a worthy for of Kokalladeva, king of Virata, Jajalladeva, ruler of Kinidi, Bhoja, King of Gurjara country, king of Malava and Pandara Lakshmideva”. This and similar statement that “These Yadavas of Sevunavamsa and relative of Yadava of Devagiri before they came to Andhra had fights with the kings in the north” seem to suggest that Sarangapani acquired these military victories before he took service under the Kakatiyas. But Sarngapani may have won some of these victories with help of Kakatiyas after he become the ruler of Panugal.

Sarngapani and the Yadavas

The rulers of the Yadava Kingdom of Devagiri in this period were Krishna Kandhara, Mahadeva and Ramadeva or Ramachandra (1271-1309), To identify Sarngadhara with Krishnakandhara is wrong for the father of the former and grandfather of the latter was Singhamadeva. Krishna was a nephew of Sarngapani. We may note that Singhana, father, of Sarngapan, is identical with Singhana, father of Jaitugi; and Addanki Singaladeva is different from this Singhana.

Sarngapani’s other Victories

A title of Sarngapani is Udbhattovaritabhupati kokalladeva girindra vittalanoddandadipti mandala i.e. an Indra to the mountains i.e, king of Varata and Kokalledeva is Varata is Virata—modern Berar and Kokalla of the Kalachuris of Tripuri ruled from A.D. 875 to 925. Sarngapani claims a victory over Jajalladeva and claims to have taken his kingdom as the title—Karighatasamghattanaprarajyarajya indicates. But Jajalladeva II of the Kalachuris of Tumndana (?) ruled from A.D. 1120 to 1168. Sarngapani claims a victory over the ruler of Kimidi, He is described as Adeagu in driving away the serpentise king Bhoja inhabiting the lofty abode of the inaccessible mountain forts. This Bhoja is probably Bhoja of Panhala. Sarngapani claims a victory over the king of Gurjara as his title—gurjararayavarananka i.e. a hook to restrain elephants i.e king of gurjara country shows. Ghurjara corresponds to modern Gujarat. His title—Malaviyamanamardana i.e. one (who is) fierce with the great practice of crushing the pride of the king of Malava. His title gambhirachiraprachandapandara lakshmi deva vamsavali vanadahanadavanala i.e. a bonfire in burning the forest of the family of Pandaralakshmideva shows that he ended the race of that chief and his descendants. The epithet turushko-paplavamadinisamudharana i.e. one who is the boar incarnation in lifting the earth out of the Muhammadan deluge, borne by Sarngapani, shows that he had some victory over the Muslims.

Almost all these victories were claimed by Yadava Singhana, the father of Sarngapani. Besides, none of the persons whom Sarngapani claims to have defeated were contemporary with him. So either Sarngapani claimed the victories of his father as his own and as prince perhaps participated in the campaigns of Singhana or achieved some successes over some rulers mentioned above whose identity is yet to be established, with the help of the Kakatiya armies.