Minaldevinu Asli Abhidhan

Here is a comprehensive summary in English of the provided Jain text, "Minaldevinu Asli Abhidhan" by M.A. Dhaky:

The article, "Minaldevinu Asli Abhidhan" (The Original Name of Minaldevi), by M.A. Dhaky, discusses the actual original name of the mother of the Solanki king Jayasinghdev Siddharaj.

The author begins by stating that in contemporary novels and popular folklore of the Solanki period, Jayasinghdev Siddharaj's mother is widely known as "Minaldevi" or "Minaldevi." However, historical sources present a different picture.

Early Mentions and the Name "Mayanalladevi":

• Merutunga Acharya's Prabandhachintamani (c. 1305 CE): In his "Siddharajaprabandh," which details the marriage of Siddharaj's father, Karnadev (I) (1026-1095 CE), and also in the "Mantri Santoo-Daddasamataprabandh" and "Devsuriprabandh," the name mentioned is "Mayanalldevi."
• Abhayatilak Gani's Yas'acharitra-vritti (c. 1256 CE): Prior to Merutunga, Abhayatilak Gani, in his commentary on Hemachandra's Yas'acharitra, also noted the name "Mayanalladevi."
• Hemachandra Acharya's Yas'acharitra (c. 1140 CE): Crucially, Hemachandra himself, the original author, used the same name, "Mayanalldevi," to refer to Siddharaj's mother. Furthermore, Hemachandra's original text (and its commentary) states that she was the daughter of King Jayakeshi (I) (1050-1080 CE) of the Kadamba dynasty of Chandrapur (modern Chandor in Goa).

The article then quotes the relevant verses and their explanations from Hemachandra's work, describing Chandrapur and Jayakeshi, and specifically mentioning his daughter "Mayanalldevi," whose beauty surpassed all others.

Debunking "Minaldevi":

Dhaky asserts that no contemporary historians discussing the Solanki period have raised doubts about the name "Mayanalldevi" being the original name. Considering the testimonies of Hemachandra (a contemporary), Abhayatilak Gani (a successor commentator), and Merutunga (a later chronicler), it is clear that the name "Minaldevi" as commonly known today was not the original name.

The author proposes that the current name "Minaldevi" likely derived from "Mayanalldevi." He also observes that the sound of the name suggests a Kannada origin. However, he notes that historians of Gujarat have not paid sufficient attention to exploring this connection, particularly by examining historical sources from the Karnataka region.

The True Original Name: "Ailaladevi":

Having stated his lack of expertise in medieval Kannada literature, Dhaky turns his attention to published inscriptions from the Karnataka region of the relevant period. These inscriptions provide more definitive evidence. Based on this evidence, the author concludes that:

1. The original name was not "Minaldevi."
2. The name "Mayanalldevi" is also not definitively proven to be the original.
3. Instead, the name "Ailaladevi" appears repeatedly in these inscriptions.
4. Considering the chronology and the royal families involved, it is highly probable that "Ailaladevi" is indeed the original name associated with Siddharaj's mother.

Evidence from Inscriptions:

The article then meticulously lists several inscriptions that support the prevalence of the name "Ailaladevi":

• Queen of Chalukya Emperor Ahavamalla Someshvara (I) (1044-1069 CE): One of his queens was named "Mailaladevi." This is attested in inscriptions from 1053 CE and 1057 CE, as well as an inscription from 1064 CE.
• Queen of Kadamba King Tailapa (I) (1045-1075 CE): The queen of Tailapa (I) of the Kadamba dynasty was also named "Ailaladevi," as mentioned in a copper grant dedicated to a temple.
• Queen of Chalukya Emperor Someshvara (II) (1068-1076 CE): One of his three queens was named "Ailaladevi," according to an inscription from Shivpuram.
• Queen of Kakkaraja of the Ratta dynasty (c. 1096 CE): In a grant related to a Jain temple built by Kalasena, his queen is mentioned as "Ailaladevi."
• Daughter of Chalukya Emperor Tribhuvanamalla Vikramaditya VI (1068-1127 CE): One of his daughters was named "Ailaladevi," and she was married to the Kadamba King Jayakeshi (II) (1104-1135 CE) of Goa. Her name is mentioned as "Ailaladevi" in a grant by her sons, Vir-Pammadi and Vijayaditya.
• Sister of Bijjala (son of Pittanripatta of the Ganga dynasty): An inscription from the first quarter of the 12th century CE mentions the donor's sister as "Ailaladevi."

Analysis of the Name "Ailaladevi":

Dhaky explains that the variations like "Mailaladevi" and "Maanaladevi" found in the inscriptions likely stem from the same root. He suggests that the dental consonant 'l' in "Ailaladevi" might have been pronounced with a slight nasalization and a softer 'l' sound, leading to variations. Hemachandra might have heard the nasalized Dravidian sound of "Ailala" as "Mayanalla" and rendered it that way, perhaps also to fit the meter in his poetry.

Conclusion and Recommendation:

The author concludes that while the common people will continue to call Siddharaj's mother "Minaldevi," as this name has become ingrained, historians have a responsibility to present the original Kannada form, "Ailaladevi," in authoritative historical texts about the Solanki period. At the very least, a reference to the original name should be made.

The article includes a genealogical chart connecting Kadamba King Jayakeshi (I) to Siddharaj's mother "Ailaladevi" and her subsequent marriage to Chalukya Karnadev. It also notes that while "Ailaladevi" is mentioned in relation to Jayakeshi (II), the specific mention of Siddharaj's mother in Goan Kadamba inscriptions is absent. The author attributes this to her marriage occurring outside Karnataka and a subsequent lack of local references.