Page:Ancient History of the Deccan.djvu/93

89 § 3. The Śalaṅkayanas.

This dynasty had Veṅgipura for its capital, and had a special cult for the god Chitrarathaswâmin. The remains of a temple dedicated to this deity are found at Pedda-vègi near Ellore. As copper-plates connected with this dynasty and this country have been found in the environs of this town, I think we may admit the identity of Veṅgipura with Pedda-vègi. The plates of king Vijaya-Dévavarman (Ep. Ind. Vol. IX., No. 7, page 56) are in Prakrit but contain two sanskrit verses. This king is said to be the 'performer of horse sacrifices.'

Another set of plates found near lake Kolleru (Ind. Ant. Vol. v., 1876, No. XVIII, page 175) is in Sanskrit and is proba- bly not so ancient. It mentions Chandavarman and his son Vijaya-Xandivarman. The Sâlankâyanas ruled at this epoch over the same country of Kuduhâra which formerly was the n.itive land of the Brihatphalavanas.

And j. F. Fleet says (Ind. Ant. Vol. V., 1876, page 175): "In Sir V. Elliot's fac-similes I have another copper-plate inscription of Vijaya-Nandivarmà and his Vuvamahârâja whose name seems to be Viiaya-Tungavarma or Vijaya Buddhavarma the language, even, is doubtful but seems to be p'rakrU. " This name is probably lîuddhavarmâ, for, in the margin there is the character "dha" ".

It is probable that these kings : IXvavarman, Chand ivarman. his son Nandivarman and perhaps also the problematical Buddhavarman, have reigned between 350 and 450 A. D. It appears in fact that these kings came after the invasion of Samudra-Gupta ; and it is again probable that their kingdom w;is conquered in the lifth century by the Vishnukundins with the help of the Vàkàtak is. u