South Indian Inscriptions, Volume 2

Tamil Inscriptions

part - ii

INSCRIPTIONS  OF THE TANJAVUR TEMPLE

INSCRIPTIONS ON THE WALLS OF THE ENCLOSURE, THE CHANDESVARA AND THE BRIHANNAYAKI SHRINES

No.24 In the inner gopura, on the left of the entrance

This inscription is dated in the 29^th year of the reign of Ko-Rajakesarivarman, alias Rajarajadeva, and opens with the same historical passage as Nos. 1 to 3.[1] It records two deposits of money, which were made by an officer of king Rajarajadeva in favour of the chief idol of the Rajarajesvara temple, and of the image of Dakshina-Meru-Vitankar. The first deposit was lent to the inhabitants of a bazaar at Tanjavur, who had in exchange to supply cardamom seeds and champaka buds, and the second deposit to certain villagers, who had to supply khaskhas roots. These three kinds of drugs were used for scenting the bathing-water of the two gods.

Translation

1. Hail! Prosperity! In the twenty-ninth year (of the reign) of Sri-Ko-Rajakesarivarman, alias Sri-Rajarajadeva, who, — while (his) heart rejoiced, that, like the goddess of fortune, the goddess of the great earth had become his wife, — in his life of growing strength, during which, having been pleased to cut the vessel (in) the hall (at) Kandalur, he conquered by his army, which was victorious in great battles, Vengai-nadu, Ganga-padi, Tadiya-padi, Nulamba-pa;di, Kudamalai-nadu, Kollam, Kalingam, Ira-mandalam, (the conquest of which) made (him) famous (in) the eight directions, and the seven and a half lakshas of Ratta-padi, — deprived the Seriyas of their splendour, while (he) was resplendent (to such a degree) that (he) was worthy to be worshipped everywhere; — there was engraved on stone (1) the money, which [Ka]dan Kanavadi (i.e., Ganapati), a native of Muruganallur in Puliyur-nadu, (a subdivision) of Arumorideva-valanadu, (and) a servant (panmagan) of the minor treasure (sirudanam) of the lord Sir-Rajarajadeva, had deposited until the twenty-ninth year (of the king’s reign), to be put out to interest for (defraying) the expense required for big champaka buds (perun-senpaga-mottu), cardamom seeds (elavarisi) and khaskhas (roots),[2] to be thrown into the bathing-water and on the surface of the fresh water of the lord of the Sri-Rajarajesvara (temple), and for khaskhas (roots), to be thrown into the bathing-water and on the surface of the fresh water (of the image) of Dakshina-Meru-Vitankar, and (2) the village and the market, which had received this money from Chandesvaradeva, — who is the fist servant of the supreme lord, who has been pleased to take up gladly his abode in (the temple of) the lord Sri-Rajarajesvara, — in order to defray the expense, for which he had made the deposits, by using[3] the interest.

2. Five kuruni and five nari of cardamom seeds (are required) per year, viz., (one) arakku of cardamom seeds per day, to be thrown into the bathing-water and on the surface of the fresh water of the lord of the Sri-Rajarajesvara (temple) at the three times (of the day); (one) nari and (one) uri of cardamom seeds at the twelve samkramas,[4] viz., (one) arakku of cardamom seeds, to be thrown into the bathing-water and on the surface of the fresh water at each samkrama; and (one) nari and (one) uri of cardamom seeds on the twelve sacred days of Tiru-Sadaiyam,[5] viz., (one) arakku of cardamom seeds, to be thrown into the bathing-water and on the surface of the fresh water on each of the sacred days of Tiru-Sadaiyam, — altogether, (one) tuni and (one) padakku of cardamom seeds per year, (measured) by the marakkal called (after) Adavallan, which is equal to a rajakesari. At the rate of (one) kuruni and four nari for each kasu, this comes to four kasu. Five kuruni and five nari of big champaka buds (are required) per year, viz., (one) arakku of big champaka buds per day, to be thrown into the bathing-water and on the surface of the fresh water of the lord of the Sri-Rajarajesvara (temple) at the three times (of the day); (one) nari and (one) uri of big champaka buds at the twelve samkrams, viz., (one) arakku of big champaka buds, to be thrown into the bathing-water and on the surface of the fresh water at each samkrama; and (one) nari and (one) uri of big champaka buds on the twelve sacred days of Tiru-Sadaiyam, viz., (one) arakku of big champaka buds, to be thrown into the bathing-water and on the surface of the fresh water of each of the sacred days of Tiru-Sadaiyam, — altogether, (one) tuni and (one) padakku of big champaka buds, (measured) by the marakkal called (after) Adavallan, which is equal to a rajakesari. At the rate of (one) padakku) for each kasu, this comes to three kasu.  Altogether, an interest of seven kasu (is required) per year.[6] In order to realize (these), fifty-six kasu, wee deposited (under the condition) that, from the interest (which amounts to) one eighth kasu per year for each kasu, cardamom seeds and big champaka buds should be supplied every year, as long as the moon and the sun endure. The great citizens of the great market (perangadi) (called after) Tribhuvanamahadevi within the limits[7] of Tanjavur, (a city) in Tanjavur-kurram, have received these fifty-six kasu, in order to defray every year from the twenty-ninth year (of the reign) of the lord Sri-Rajarajadeva, as long as the moon and the sun endure, the expense (for) cardamom seeds and big champaka buds, for which he had made the deposit, from the interest (which maounts to) seven kasu.

3. Two thousand one hundred and sixty palam of khaskhas (roots) are required per year, viz., six palam of khaskhas (roots) per day, to be thrown into the bathing-water and on the surface of the fresh water of the lord of the Sri-Rajarajesvara (temple) at the three times (of the day). Ninety palam of khaskhas (roots) are required per year, viz., (one) kasu of khaskhas (roots) per day, to be thrown into lthe bathing-water and on the surface of the fresh water (of the image) of Dakshina-Meru-Vitankar. Eighteen palam of khaskhas (roots are required) at the twelve samkramas, viz., one palam of khaskhas (roots are required) at the twelve samkramas, viz., one palam and a half of khaskhas (roots) at each samkrama, to be thrown into the bathing-water and on the surface of the fresh water of the lord of the Sri-Rajarajesvara (temple) and (of the image) of Dakshina-Meru-Vitankar. Eighteen palam of khaskhas (roots are required) at the twelve samkramas, viz., one palam and a half of khaskhas (roots) at each samkrama, to be thrown into the bathing-water and on the surface of the fresh water of the lord of the Sri-Rajarajesvara (temple) and (of the image) of Dakshina-Meru-Vitankar on the day of the samkranti. Altogether, two thousand two hundred and sixty-eight palam of khaskhas roots for each kasu, three and three quarters of a kasu will pay for two thousand two hundred and sixty-eight palam and three kasu of khaskhas (roots). At an interest of one eighth akkam per month for each kasu, thirty kasu yield forty-five akkam per year. As twelve akkam are equal to one kasu, this comes to an interest of three and three quarters of a kasu. In order to realize (these), thirty kasu were deposited. The members of the assembly of [Ira]ma[nur], a brahmadeya in Mi[r]ai-kurram, (a subdivision) of Vadakarai-Rajaendrasimha-valanadu, have received these thirty kasu, in order to defray every year from the twenty-ninth year (of the reign) of the lord Sri-Rajarajadeva, as long as the moon and the sun endure, the expense (for) khaskhas (roots), for which he had made the deposit, from the interest (which amounts to) three and three quarters of a kasu.

No.25 In the inner gopura, on the left of the entrance

This inscription is engraved underneath No.24 and is dated in the same year. It records that a musician of the Rajarajaesvara temple deposited a capital, the interest of which was to be paid to the musicians who beat the drum at the festivals of the two gods Rajarajesvara and Adavallar.

Translation

1. Hail! There was engraved on stone (1) the money, which had been deposited until the twenty-ninth year (of the reign) of the lord Sri-Rajarajadeva, to be put out to interest for the benefit of the god, by Rajakesa[ri-Ko]dandarama, alias Jayankonda-S[ora-kadi]gai-marayan, a musician[8] from Nattarmangalam in Manni-nadu, (a subdivision) of Rajaendrasimha-valanadu, who proclaimed the sacred commands of the lord of the Sri-Rajarajesvara (temple), and (2) the village, which had received this money on interest.

2. Forty kasu were deposited (under the condition) that, as long as the moon and the sun endure, an interest of one eighth kasu per year should be paid for each kasu, so as to realize five kasu. Of these, two and a half kasu, — at the rate of half a kasu each, — shall be paid to the five musicians, who lbeat the sacred drum (tirupparai) on the day, on which the sacred banner (tirukkodi) is hoisted for the annual great festival (tiruvira) of the lord of the Sri-Rajarajaesvara (temple); and two and a half kasu, — at the rate of half a kasu each, — to the five musicians, who beat the sacred drum on the day, on which it has to be beaten (in order to announce): — “(The image of) Adavallar will be carried in procession o three days including to-day.” If persons, who have not previously performed this beating of the sacred drum, cannot be obtained, and one and the same person performs the beating twice, one kasu shall be paid to each.

3. The members of the assembly of Sri-Viranar [ayana-cha]turvedimangalam, a free village in Rajendrasimha-valanadu, have to deposit every year, as long as the moon and the sun endure, five kasu into the treasury of the lord for the above-mentioned forty kasu, which they have received in the twenty-ninth year (of the reign) of Sri-Rajarajadeva, — the rate of interest being one eighth kasu per year for each kasu.

Volume 8

Chola Inscription

Volume 10

Telugu Inscriptions from Andra Pradesh

Volume 12

Pallava Inscriptions

Volume 14

Pandya Inscriptions

Volume 16

Telugu Inscriptions
of the Vijayanagara Dynasty

Volume 17

Inscriptions Collected During 1903-1904