My first post on this blog, let me start by lauding a monarch whom I most admire, Vira Ballala Deva III (reign 1292-1342) of Hoysala vamsha. His biruda (title) is the most laudatory I have ever seen, but one knowing about him will accept that he fully deserves it. Typically in those times, the inscriptions were drafted to award land or other holdings to temples (as devadana), Brahmins, private individuals. In all such inscriptions the reigning monarch's titles and name, his residence is stated. So an inscription after invoking the name of diety would invariably be followed by full styled regalia of the king followed by the rest of the matter. Some inscriptions were just to let us know where the reigning monarch was residing, his nelevidu. Not all of Ballala III's inscriptions have all the following titles, however some do have all his biruda. Here goes one of them
Svastim
Prosperity to All
Samasta Bhuvanashrayam
Refuge to Entire World
Sri Prithvi Vallabham
Favorite of the Earth
Maharajadhiraja Paramesvaram
Great King of Kings, Greatest Lord
Parama Bhattarakam
Supreme Ruler
Dvaravatipura varadhisvara
Lord of Dvaravatipura (Dwarasamudra)
Yadava kulambara dyumani
Crown Jewel of the Yadava clan
Sarvajn Chudamani
Pearl in the Necklace of the Omniscient
Maleraja raja, Maleparolaganda
King of Hill-kings, Champion over Hill-Chiefs
Ganda Bherunda, Kadana Prachanda
Two headed Eagle (Hoysala emblem), Terrible Slaughterer (of enemies)
Asahaya Shura Ekanga Vira
Protector of the Helpless, Unparalleled Brave,
Sanivara Siddhi, Giridurga malla Chhalad-anka Rama
One who is successful (even on) Saturdays, Conqueror of Hill Chiefs
Vairibhi Kanthiriva
Lions Roar to (his) enemies
Chola Rajya Pratishtacharya, Pandya Rajya Samudharana
One who Steadied the Chola Kingdom, One whose Declarations are carried out in Pandya kingdom
Magara Rajya Nirmulana
Uprooter of Magara Rajya (Tondaimandalam)
Nissanka Pratapa Chakravarti Hoysala Bhujabala
Valorous Emperor, The Hoysala Strong armed
Vira Ballala Devarasu ........
