New inscription found in Kodad sheds light on Kakatiya dynasty

HYDERABAD

Kakatiya Gundayya, also known as Manma Gunda, son of Erra and grandson of Gunda, was praised as a brave, devout, charitable, and loyal servant of the king. He was a skilled warrior, master of dharma, and well-versed in scriptures and statecraft, described as a protector of people and embodiment of royal service, according to an inscription by Vengi Chalukya king Vikramaditya II, which was found in Kodad recently. Gundayya was one of the predecessors of Kakatiya rulers.

The 5th set of a 9-set inscription found in Kodad in Telangana.

The 5th set of copper plates, out of the nine, was recently found at a graveyard in Kodad village, Suryapet district. The inscription is written in Sanskrit and Telugu, dated Saka 848 (February 24, 927 CE).

According to ASI director (Epigraphy) K. Muniratnam Reddy, the copper plate was issued by Vikramaditya II, son of Chalukya Bhima I and Vijayamahadevi, and provides the genealogy of the dynasty from Kubja Vishnuvardhana to Vikramaditya II.

The inscription records that King Vikramaditya II granted 12 khandukas of land in the village Kadajenu, along with two small hamlets, Ghattikallu and Bojjaprolu, to Gundayya. It also states that residents of 300 villages in Kondapalli-vishaya were required to remit one-sixth of the tax (bali), six cows, one adaka of ghee, and a pair of clothes (vastrayugalam) to Gundayya. The record was engraved by Srikant Ranabharana.

Notably, two copper plate charters of Vikramaditya II were found in this village, both issued in the same year (Saka 848 or 927 CE), one on the occasion of his coronation and the other for securing protection for his kingdom.