VIZAGAPATAM.
harbour to do, the movement of the solid matter would be arrested and it would remain as an accumulation possibly extensive enough to neutralize in a couple of days the effects of several years' work.'
PADMANÁBHAM: Village of 711 inhabitants ten miles north-west of Bimlipatam on the bank of the Chittivalasa river. Known in local history as the place where Viziaráma Rázu, Rája of Vizianagram, was slain in 1794 in the fight with the Company's troops referred to on p. 53. The spot where he fell is pointed out in a tope just north-north-east of the village and is marked by a small masonry erection which is cared for by the villagers. On the top of the hill which overlooks the place is a small Vishnu shrine reached by a flight of some 1,300 steps, and at the foot of it is another larger temple to the same deity. Tradition says that both were improved and endowed by Ananda Rázu, the predecessor of Viziaráma Rázu as Rája of Vizianagram, and that a Kápu who was previously in charge of the former was induced to relinquish his claims by the grant of a hamlet (which is still called Archakapálem or. 'the priest's hamlet') and on the condition (still carried out by his descendants) that he should do worship every Saturday to the image on the slab which stands by the dhvaja stamhhaon the top of the hill.
Potnuru : Twelve miles from Bimlipatam, on the bank of the Chittivalasa river; population 2,834. At present insignificant enough, it was formerly of importance. Krishna Déva Ráya, the Vijayanagar king who conquered Orissa about 1515 (see p. 28),chose it as the place in which to plant the pillar of victory recounting his conquests. Allasáni Peddana, the then poet laureate of Vijayanagar, says in his poemManucharitra (stanzas 36 and 38 of canto the first) that the 'fire-like prowess of Krishna Ráya destroyed Jámi, Kottam, Vaddádi and Pottunúru' and that the king planted in this last a pillar 'as high as a palm-tree' on which were inscribed stories of his victories over the Kalinga ruler which filled the eyes of the gods with tears when they read them. Another inscription recounting his successes is in the Simháchalam temple, see p. 29,
The tale is confirmed by a passage in the poem Ámuktha mályada (verse 290, canto the fourth), which is attributed to Krishna Déva himself, and by an inscription1[1] ' of that king's at Séndamangalam in South Arcot. The pillar has now disappeared, but frequent discoveries in Potnúru of fragments of sculptured stones and gold coins bearing a bull upon them strengthen the traditions regarding its departed importance.
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- ↑ 1 No. 74 of 1903 in the Government Epigraphist's lists.
