Anegondi Inscriptions

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Inscriptions have been found to be the most reliable source for reconstruction of the otherwise unknown or less known aspects of India's ancient history and culture. In recent times, an intense study of regional as well as state-wise history has taken precedence over general history and with the result a stupendous mass of literature on historical aspects is now available. It is observed that all such works have their primary data mainly from inscriptions. It is gladdening for epigraphists to note that their efforts have thoroughly been utilized by historians in appropriate contexts in order to concatenate a convincing history. Every new inscription that is being brought to light has something to add to or corroborate the already known history. Thus the inscriptions of Anegondi presented in this work are bound to throw further light on the history of medieval Deccan, particularly the Vijayanagara and post-Vijayanagara periods.

The earliest inscription from Anegondi in the present work belongs to the period of the Chalukyas of Kalyana. Even before this period the region was under the Badami Chalukyas. Anegondi was a capital of the local chieftains or provincial headquarters for several centuries before, during and after the Vijayanagara period. Its urban character and antiquity has been attested by the presence of innumerable dilapidated monuments comprising palace complex, military, residential as well as religious architecture, etc. Its long history has left behind, inter alia, a large number of inscriptions. The forty-two inscriptions from this place presented here must be a tip of the iceberg since many inscriptions have unintentionally been destroyed day by day as the local people indiscriminately utilize the inscribed stone slabs and boulders for house construction or other needs. With the result, some of the inscriptions reported earlier cannot be traced now. In the recent past quarrying activities have destroyed some of the inscribed rocks. With further developmental plans on the anvil, the antique look of Anegondi is bound to disappear in the near future. Therefore even these surviving inscriptions might get lost in course of time. The importance of this work is thus apparent.

The Deccan College is pleased to publish Dr. S. J. Mangalam's epigraphical work entitled Anegondi Inscriptions. Anegondi, lying on the left bank of the river Tungabhadra in Raichur district of North Karnataka, faces the better known site of Hampi (Vijayanagara). the seat of Vijayanagara empire of the medieval period. in recent times a spate of archaeological research has been carried out at Hampi by both Indian and foreign workers. It has brought to light many structures and features.

One deeply regrets that Anegondi, the first capital of the Vijayanagara empire, has not yet attracted the attention of archaeologists. As Dr. Mangalam tells us in the present publication, the site is replete with civil, military and religious monuments and structures of Pre-Vijayanagara, Vijayanagara and post-Vijayanagara periods. A proper survey and documentation of these remains will no doubt add immensely to the archaeological record of medieval period in South India. In the meantime Dr. Mangalam's study of 42 inscriptions from Anegondi included in the present report will be widely welcomed by both historians and archaeologists. The importance of this work is further enhanced by the fact that the safety of these inscriptions is threatened by stone quarrying and other activities taking place on a large scale at the site.

Anegondi, Lat. 15°21' N. and Long. 76°33' E., is now an average village situated on the northern bank of the river Tungabhadra in Gangavathi Taluk, Raichur District, Karnataka State, just opposite the world renowned archaeological site at Hampi, the Vijayanagara capital. Presenting a scene of desolation and ruin, one gets the impression that this village was a site of an ancient city and the present inhabitants are just occupants over the remnants of a glorious past. Every piece of stone that is being trampled upon as well as every dilapidated structure here would reveal the masterly handiwork of craftsmen of medieval Deccan. Anegondi was the capital of the first Vijayanagara ruler, Harihara I, and after he shifted to the new capital he built at Hampi, Anegondi continued to function as one of the provincial headquarters of the empire. Centuries before as well as after the Vijayanagara period, Anegondi was the capital of the local rulers on account of its strategic location. It is defended on the north and west by natural fortification of rocky hills and boulders and on the south and east by the river Tungabhadra. Such natural surroundings vouch for its ideal suitability for a well established human settlement, the beginning of which is yet to be ascertained. Its geographical surroundings, suitable for military defence, facilitated its early rulers to fully utilise the natural advantages and erected strong masonry fortifications on and around the rocky hills.

The history of Anegondi may be dated a few centuries prior to the emergence of the Vijayanagara empire. Firishtah, as quoted by Robert Sewell (1970: 5), was informed about the existence of a ruling family at Anegondi for about seven hundred years prior to the year 1350 A.D. The identity of this ruling family is not known. But around 650 A.D. the region was under the domain of the Chalukyas of Badami and the Anegondi ruler had to be a vassal of the Chalukyas. However, for about three centuries prior to the foundation of the Vijayanagara empire, Anegondi was the capital of local rulers whose genealogy has been reconstructed by B. Suryanarain Rao (1993: Appendix Genealogy 1) on the basis of Raya Vamsavali obtained from the descendant Raja of Anegondi. These rulers ought to have been feudatories of the Chalukyas of Kalyana, the Seunas (Yadavas) of Devagiri and the Hoyasalas. The earliest inscription reported in the present work is that of the Kalyana Chalukya king Taila II Ahavamalla dated Saka 910. After the Chalukyas of Kalyana, the region was on and off under the sovereignty of the Seunas and Hoyasalas.

Following the narrative account of Fernao Nuniz and Ibn Batuta, Robert Sewell (1970: 6, 17, 18, 280) throws light on the events of Muhammad Tughlaq's invasion and occupation of some parts of the Deccan, including Kampli and Anegondi in 1334 A.D. Kampli was a fortified place, as a sort of outpost, situated 13 km east of Anegondi. Nuniz further informs us (Filliozat 1977: 72) that Muhammad Tughlaq of Delhi in the year 1230 (Saka year) after defeating the Hoyasala king Ballala III, seized Anegondi, killed its chief along with his family, plundered and destroyed it. He captured six of its leaders and taken to Delhi after appointing Malik Naib as the governor of Anegondi. This provoked the local people and chiefs to rise against the invaders. The protest was continued for some years. Consequently, Tughlaq called back Malik Naib and released all the six captured leaders, making one of them, Devaraya (Le. Harihara Devaraya) to continue on the Anegondi thrones This Devaraya (Harihara 1) was one of the ministers of the slain king of Anegondi and hence he was well acquainted with his new position. He belonged to the Samgama family and, ordained by destiny, became the founder of the Vijayanagara empire. On arrival at Anegondi from Delhi, what he found was a ruined city and a crestfallen people. It is stated that the new king by his diplomacy pacified and encouraged the people and the nobles and it is presumed that he repaired the ruined city to be used as his capital before he thought of constructing his new palace at the opposite side of the river at Hampi. Thus the emergence of a powerful local force headed by the heroic Samgama chief Hariharadeva marked the beginning of a new era Vijayanagara supremacy in South India. Although the capital was soon shifted to the new palace, Anegondi with all the infrastructure for administration and particularly for defence on account of the strategic location, continued to function as a provincial headquarters or as a seat of subordinate power.

After the fall of Vijayanagara in 1565-67 A.D. under the might of the allied Mohammedans, a royal family apparently of the old royal stock, managed to hold control over Anegondi and this line of rulers continued up to the present day. Robert Sewell (1970: 206-208), in the last decades of the 19th century, procured the family tree from the then Anegondi king. Pampapati Raya and reconstructed the genealogy of the rulers of Anegondi from Pampapati Raya back to the first ruler after the fall of the Vijayanagara empire.

The historicity and general condition of Anegondi as a capital city, as a well fortified military and administrative headquarters, as a cultural centre, can be gauged from the innumerable dilapidated remains scattered all over. The debris found here are of military, secular and religious architecture.

Being a capital city it had its fortification by erecting strong fortress of boundary walls over and in between the granite rocks projecting all over the northern and western side of Anegondi. There are debris of two rows of fortification on the sides of the hills to the west and even today these fortifications are called Chinna Magota and Pedda Magota in Telugu meaning small and big fortresses. The small one was built on the hill tops and the big one at the foot of the hills. The area between these two fortresses was spacious enough to accommodate about 50,000 troops (B. Suryanarain Rao, 1993: 5 and footnote). Quite a number of circular watch towers were built over the fortress at vantage points. Some of these towers are still in somewhat good condition. Gateways along the fortress at strategic locations were erected. There were also watch towers along the eastern and southern boundary along the river Tungabhadra. Thus the city was constantly under watch against any intrusion.