SRIPARVATA

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SriparvataA reference of Sriparvata comes from the times of the Kadambas of Banavasi, who ruled in the fifth and sixth century. Early scholars, including M.H. Krishna,M.Govinda Pai, K.P. Jaiswal, S.Srikantha Sastry, and P.B.Desai, had suggested different Hills and tried to identify Srishaila with--

i.Srishaila of Andhra Pradesh.

ii.Halebidu in Karnataka

iii.Ucchangi in Chitradurga Dt.( Karnataka)

iv.Muragodu in Belgaum Dt.

v.Shishila in South Kanara

vi. Shringeri in Chikkamagalur Dt.

vii. Nallamalai Hill range.

etc.

The earliest reference of Sriparvata, and not Triparvata which was a misreading, comes from the TAlagunda Inscription of the sixth century CE. But recent research has clearly established that the area in and around the modern Dhavalappana Gudda or the Hill of Dhavalappa, on the outskirts of Chitradurga ( a District Head Quarters in Karnataka) is the ancient Sriparvata. An inscription( popularly referred as the Chandravalli inscription) in Sanskrit, of Mayuravarma ( C. 4th century CE) found at the site states that Mayuravarma of the Kadambas renovated an existing tank here. Astonishingly the age old tank continues to be in tact at the spot !.Added to this , burnt bricks of the Satavahana epoch are extant at the spot.Besides one more inscription of 400CE has come to light at the same place.

Thus the above Sriparvata is of historical importance.

 

Dr. Hampa.Nagarajaiah

Emeritus Professor

--- On Thu, 9/10/08, kishore patnaik <kishorepatnaik09 wrote:

kishore patnaik <kishorepatnaik09Re: Re: Difference between Puloman and Pulomavi , dvnsarmaDate: Thursday, 9 October, 2008, 2:33 PM

 

 

 

I have only one reference to Sriparvata, it is

always given as Srisailam. {Hist. Atlas of South Asia, UChicago Press, 1978}Kathie B.

Parvata means mountain. Usuallly, Malai or Giri or Sailam (crest) are taken its equivalent words. Thus, Sri Sailam is taken as equivalent to Sri parvata. Similarly, Thiru (sacred or Tamil equivalent of Sri) Maai (mount) is also taken equivalent to sri parvata. While Srisaiam is largely accepted as Sriparvata, tirumalai as Sriparvata is not accepted. Literature or inscriptions in and around Tirumalai dating from 8th C. (or probably, even 6th C) do not allow us to equate Sriparvata as one of the names of Tirumalai, though both Sriparvata and Tirumalai mean the same. On the other hand, Srisailam could not be the Sriparvata of Satavahanas since , as I have mentioned elsewhere in the thread, Srisailam is specifically mentioned as Sritana. Now, coming ot Sarma's Potali = Ettipotala and hence, Nagarjuna hill = Sri Parvata.This is largely accepted not because there is any incriptional

evidence but because Nagarjuna is widely associated with Satavahanas and said to be their contemporary, with Dhanyakataka is taken as Amaravati. Yet, I am not really inclined to accept because I think Sriparvata is situated somewhere in Maharashtra and Andhra border. There is one more Sriparvata and Potala mentioned by one chines traveller Hiuen Tsang"

The description of Potalka in Hiuen Tsang's own words, is as follows.:

"To the east of the Malaya mountaains is Mount Po-ta-lo-kia (Potalaka). The passes of this mmountain are very dangerous; its sides are precipitous, and its valleys rugged. On the top of the mountain is a lake; its waters are clear as a mirror. From a hallow proceeds a great river which encircles the mountain as flows down twenty times and then enters the southern sea. By the side of the lake is a rock-palace of the Devas. Here Avalokitesvara in coming and going, takes his abode. Those who strongly desire to see this Bodhisattva do not regard their lives, but, crossing the water (fording the streaams), climb the mountain forgetful of its difficulties and dangers, of those who make the attempt there are very few who reach the summit. But even of those who dwell below the mountain, if they earnestly pray and beg to behold the god, sometimes he appears as Tsz'-tsai-t'-ien (Isvara-deva) , sometimes under the form of

a Yogi (a Pamsupata); he addresses them with benevolent words and then they obtain their wishes according to their desires. Going north-east from this mountain, on the border of the sea, is a town; this is the place from which they start for the Southern sea and the country of Sang-Kia-lo (Ceylon). It is said commonly by the people that embarking from this port and going south-east about 3000 li we come to the country of Simhala." [samuel Beal, Buddhist Records of the Western World, pp. 233 ff.]"

Again, I am not incllined to accept that Potali and Potalokia are same - for a very simple reason that Chinese Annals mentioned earlier mention about Potali to be a capital of king and hence, it certainly could not be a remote place. On the other hand, Potallokia is sought to be connected with Tiruumalai but it is not possible since inscriptions of kings exist atleat around the same time as that of Hiuen Tsang or even little earlier.

In sum, while Sriparvata of Satavhanas is yet to be identified, we can not equate it with either Tirumala or Srisailam though I am still open about Nagarjuna hill.

Kishore patnaik