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INTRODUCTION
3. SÖMAPPA DANDANAYAKA
The parts played by Mahāpradhāni Sōmappa Dan-
nayaka and his son were as important as those played
by the Brahmin General Gōpanna and literature is silent
on Sōmappa and his son Māraya Nayaka. This silence
is however amply made up by inscriptions which have
recorded the noble services rendered by these generals.
Sōmappa was at first the trusted minister of Kam-
paņa at Mulbagal. He was very popular and loved by
all. The following tribute is paid to his scholarship,
capacity and statesmanship in an inscription at Kolar: 24
"Kampana's minister, magnanimous, endowed with
numerous good qualities, of upright conduct, versed in
all branches of learning, exalted by his perfect pros-
perity, skilled in politics was the illustrious Sōmappa".
He built a grand temple to Sri Sōmanātha and richly
endowed it. After the completion of the shrine he in-
vited his master to it and perhaps requested him to
declare it open on an auspicious day. "Sōmappa in
order to acquire religious merit built the temple of Sri
Sōmanātha. At some time after this, in observance of
the Monday vow (Sōmavāra Vrata) the king paid a
visit to the most blessed God Sōmanātha. Seeing the
god comfortably lodged in the temple built by his minis-
ter, the generous king made a grant of a large village
for the god."
Sōmappa was also a great Sanskrit scholar.25
Sōmappa does not appear to have distinguished
himself as a Dannāyaka. Perhaps he continued to dis-
63
23. E.C., Vol. X, part i, No. 222 of Kolar; No. 58 of Mulbagal,
P. 91.
24.
No. 222 of Kolar, E.C., Vcl. X, p. 64.
25. Cf., 118 of 1913. A record from Kadiri. No. 523 of 1906.
3. SÖMAPPA DANDANAYAKA
The parts played by Mahāpradhāni Sōmappa Dan-
nayaka and his son were as important as those played
by the Brahmin General Gōpanna and literature is silent
on Sōmappa and his son Māraya Nayaka. This silence
is however amply made up by inscriptions which have
recorded the noble services rendered by these generals.
Sōmappa was at first the trusted minister of Kam-
paņa at Mulbagal. He was very popular and loved by
all. The following tribute is paid to his scholarship,
capacity and statesmanship in an inscription at Kolar: 24
"Kampana's minister, magnanimous, endowed with
numerous good qualities, of upright conduct, versed in
all branches of learning, exalted by his perfect pros-
perity, skilled in politics was the illustrious Sōmappa".
He built a grand temple to Sri Sōmanātha and richly
endowed it. After the completion of the shrine he in-
vited his master to it and perhaps requested him to
declare it open on an auspicious day. "Sōmappa in
order to acquire religious merit built the temple of Sri
Sōmanātha. At some time after this, in observance of
the Monday vow (Sōmavāra Vrata) the king paid a
visit to the most blessed God Sōmanātha. Seeing the
god comfortably lodged in the temple built by his minis-
ter, the generous king made a grant of a large village
for the god."
Sōmappa was also a great Sanskrit scholar.25
Sōmappa does not appear to have distinguished
himself as a Dannāyaka. Perhaps he continued to dis-
63
23. E.C., Vol. X, part i, No. 222 of Kolar; No. 58 of Mulbagal,
P. 91.
24.
No. 222 of Kolar, E.C., Vcl. X, p. 64.
25. Cf., 118 of 1913. A record from Kadiri. No. 523 of 1906.