inscriptions in the hassan district

142 Arsikere Taluq.
When, (with usual titles), Hoysala vira-Ballala-Deva, protecting the Yadava
land by putting down the evil and upholding the good, was in the residence
of Doraeamudra, ruling the kingdom in peace and wisdom: —
Dwellers at his lotus feet, were the royal inspector heggades of Arasiyakere,
Ketamalla and Mahadeva. To describe their greatness, and that of Arasiyakejre—
(praises of the two heggades). Ketayya's mother was Maravve, the
minister Machayya his father, Balleya and Madhava his younger brothers.
And the gavares, masters and settis who were leading men in the eighteen
great cities of the world, in Velapura and in the sixty-four holy places,
conferred on Madhava the rank of chief master of the city of the three worlds
(traildkyctrsat-pattana-pati). His mother Lakkavve, his father Betta, his elder
brothers Harihara, Mahadeva and Davanna, his younger brother Malleya,—
was Kesava, the senabhova in Arasiyakere. Beautiful with parrots, filled with
the hum of bees, the source of all learning, with groups of Braljmans, with
merchants richer than Kubera, with big houses — great was this Arasiyakere,—
who can describe it? As he took the lotus, which was a reflection of her face,
for his seat; besides being a goat (aja, otherwise unborn); maimed (Isvara
having plucked off one of his heads); and many-faced; — therefore thinking
Brahma to be a low person, SarasvatI deserted bim and took up her abode in
the lotus faces of the Brahmans of Arasiyakere, — who can describe it? Filled
with rich merchants and others of the lower orders, was it any wonder that
its wealth surpassed that of Paulastya (Kubera)? With sweet mango trees like
the tree of plenty, with betel vines like the celestial vine, with tanks shining
like the sea on the coast, with fine temples, — Arasiyakere outshone Amarapura
(the city of the gods), — what a marvel was this!
Be it well. Adorned with all good qualities, possessed of liberality, virtue
and kindness, — Arasiyakere, which was an immemorial city, the southern
Ayyavale, the new Dvaravati, the chief place for both sects of the Nana Desi,
being their mother and father, — were the Koyldlgal l) to describe whose
greatness. — Blessed with boons from the lord of Sri, the lord of Bharati, and
the lord of Gauri, — of world-wide renown were the Koyldlgal. (Further Yerses
in their praise)
Seeing that to establish the presence of Hara in the world is most
worthy, when it is said that the Koylalgal set up the god Koylalesvara, — how
can they be further praised? And Barmma, the son of Mali-Setti and Achave,
caused to be erected a sub-temple (upa-bhavana) adorned with the images of
Hari and GaneSa; while the Koylalgal caused to be erected the temple of
') Servants or men who out,—It is not clear who are meant, bat apparently a claw like the
Gonegura, whose employment is to climb the palms and out or gather ococa-nuts and areoa-nuts.
They hare a apooial ingenious apparatus for climbing the trees, (these being very lofty and
without branches), and swing themselves from one to another at the top.