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Inscriptions
definitely state that the statue of Gommata was caused to be erected
by Chamundaraya, the minister of the Ganga king Rajamalla Satyavakya
or Rachamalla, whose reign began in 974 A.D. and ended about 984
A.D. since according to tradition the consecration took place during
the reign of Rajamalla, the statue must have been erected between
these two dates. But a Kannada work popularly known as 'Chamundaraya
Purana' composed in 978 A.D. by Chamundaraya does not mention the
erection of the statue in the long account it gives of the author'
achievements. It is therefore reasonable to conclude that the image
was setup after 978 A.D. In the absence of more precise information
the date of completion of the colossus may be taken as 983 A.D. The
traditional date of the consecration of Gommata by Chamundaraya,
given in several literary works however is Sunday, the fifth lunar
day of the bright fortnight of Chaitra of the cyclic year Vibhava,
corresponding to the year 600 of the Kali or Kalki era, which might
correspond to 1028 A.D.
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