SOMPETA TAHSIL
75
of the history of Somnāth. In the eighth century this part of Kāthi-
āwār is said to have been in the hands of a line of Rājput princes
bearing the surname of Chāvada. These chiefs probably owned
allegiance to powerful Chālukyas or Solankis, who reigned at Kalyān
in the Deccan. Mahmūd of Ghazni, after his invasion, left behind him
a Muhammadan governor at Somnāth. Subsequently the Vajās (a sub-
branch of the Rāthor tribe) acquired Somnāth and revived the glories
of the ancient fane. But it was again overthrown by Ulugh in rzy8.
Ii rom this date Muhammadan sūpremacy prevailed. Afterwards, on
the downfall of the Muhammadan power, Somnāth was ruled at
different times by the Shaikh of 1VIāngrol and the Rā,nā of Porbandar,
but was finally conquered by the Nawāb of Junāgarh, in whose hands
it remains.
Somnāthpur.-Village in the 1'irumakddal-Narsipur tļzluk of
Mysore District, Mysore, situated in Iz° z6' N. and q6° 53' E., on the
east bank of the Cauvery, r z miles from Seringapatam. Population
(iyor), :r,468. , It is noted for the Chenna-Kesava temple, the most
complete existing example of the ornate Chālukyan style, erected in
r z6y by Soma, an officer under the Hoysala king Nārasimha III. He
also founded the agrahąra that formerly surrounded it. Though not
on the scale of the Halebid and Be1Gr temples, it rivals them in the
perfection of its sculpture, and is one of the chief architectural monu-
ments of the Mysore country.
Sompalle.-Village in the Madanapalle tąluk of Cuddapah Distriēt,
Madras, situated in i3° Sr' N, and q8° z6' E. Population (r9oi),
3,656. It is known locally for its manufacture of glass bangles, which
are made from alkaline earth found in the neighbourhood and are in
considerable demand all over the District. It contains an old Vaish-
nava temple dedicated to Chennakeswaraswāmi, in which are some
exquisite stone carvings. In front of this stands a monolithic lamp-
post of very graceful proportions, upwards of So feet in height. The
temple is included in the list of ancient monuments selected for con-
servation by Government, some portions of it being unique:
Sompalle was formerly the seat of a local chief. During the days
of the Vijayanagar kings his family obtained five villages as an estate,
and the grant was continued by the Sultāns of Golconda on condition
that he did military service, when called upon, with 40o foot-soldiers.
The villages were resumed by the Marāthās in ig56,,but given back
the next year. The chief was ,expelled in Haidar Alļ's timé by Mir
Sāhib, but again possessed himself of his estate during Lord Corn-
wallis's campaign against Tipū. The last survivor of the family was
a pensioner of the British for many yearsļ
Sompeta, Tahsil.-Zaruindąri tak.sil in Ganjām District, Madras,
lying between z8° 45' and I9° 4' N. and 84° zz' and 84° 4ō E., south
VOL. XXIII. F
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