Anantasaktivarman of the Mathara dynasty was a devotee of Lord Narayana and a Vaishnavite, like most others in the family.
The Mathara king Anantasaktivarman had expressed his devotion towards his father in eloquent language. He paid a tribute to his father in this Inscription. The inscription also refers that the king inherited body, kingdom, prosperity and prowess through the favour of the feet of his revered father who was a great devotee of gods. Vasistiha king Anantavarman, also speaks of Saiva affiliation by holding epithet Parama-Mahesvara. The prasastis found in Visakhavarman, the Pitrbhaktas, Matharas and Vasisthas inscription were all significantly eulogised the king and his predecessors as most of them are described as great donors of land gold and thousands of cows. ‘
The king had issued a large number of land grants to Brahmanas.
Inscription number -14.
Andhavaram Plates of Anantasaktivarman
Provenance: Andhavaram village, on the Vamsadhara river,
Narasannapeta taluk, Srikakulam district, Andhra Pradesh.
Script: Brahmi of the southern type, of the 5th-6th centuries A.D.
Language: Sanskrit.
Reference: R. Subrahmanyam, Ep.Ind,. XXVIII, pp175-79.
Footnote 1.
1. From the facsimile in Ep.Ind.. XVIII, Plate between pp-178 and pp-179.
2. Two closely engraved dots after ta may not be intended as visarga sign. If they do Parama-daivatah will become
an adjective of Anantasaktivarman, and will mean “a great devotee of gods. “
3. Sandhi seems to have been deliberately ignored here to avoid confusion regarding the initial a of Andoreppa.
4. Subramanyam reads अस्त्यवनिप – यथोक्त
Footnote 2.
1. See M.Venkataramayya, Ep.Ind.. XXVIII, pp.231, for accepting the term aryaka in these inscriptions in
the sense of respected grand father.
English Translation of the inscription.
Peace from Vijayapura the great cantonment of cavalry and elephant force, the illustrious Maharaja
Anantasaktivaman the Lord of Kalinga, the devotee of the feet of lord Narayana whose heart was invaded (i.e. captured) or whose chest is embraced) by Lakshmi, the one who had
obtained (i.e inherited) his body kingdom, wealth and prowess through the favour of the supreme divinity, that is his royal father and who desires to bring honour to the Mathara family, orders all the householders assembled in the Village of Andoreppa:
There is a land- gift previously given to the Brahmanas of Various gotras and charanas by (my grand father)
There is dim floral design between the two triple dandas.
(aryaka), his Majesty sakti, who has won heaven by religious
establishments, according to the injunctions (of the sacred
texts). Therefore, we have also for the increase of religious merit, longevity and fame for ourselves, granted
to these Brahmana families, (the same) making it an agrahara, for as long as the sun, the moon and the stars endure.
Therefore, knowing thus you (continue to) make due presentations.
And he enjoins the future kings also
You should also seeing the merit of this initiated gift, protect this
agrahara. Also in this context are two verses sung by Manu and vyasas
(Here two of the traditlonal verses are quoted)
The executor is the honorable Dandanayaka. The year fourteen, 14, on fifth, 5th of the bright half of sravana.
written by the Keeper of the Area Records (Desakshapataladhikrita)
General Matrivara.
Footnote.
This sakti appears to be the Mathara king Sakti-varman of Ragolu charter (Supra, IV, 12) The honorific aryaka, though applicable to any person commanding respect, is sometimes
used specifically, for father as in the chivaravastu, pp.136 (Gilgit Manuscripts, Vol.III, pt. 2), and for
grand father in south Indian inscriptions, as is clear
from a Nagarjunikonda Prakrit inscription (Ep.Ind, XX pp. 22
Ins. F.1-2 (Supra, I, 179) In this inscription, the words ayaka and
ayika are obviously used for grandfather and grandmother,
of the donatrix who lists. besides, her pitu (father) matu (nother) matula (mother’s brother) and other relatives.