INSCRIPTIONS
ON THE WALLS OF THE ENCLOSURE, THE CHANDESVARA AND THE
BRIHANNAYAKI SHRINES
No.
41
on
a niche of the west enclosure
The date of this inscription
is the same as that of the preceding No.40. The inscription describes gifts
that were made to four of the images, the setting-up of which is recorded in
the inscription No. 38, by the temple manager who had set them up. The four
recipients of the gifts were the images of Nambi-Aruranar (alias
Sundaramurti), Tirunanasambandadigal, Tirunavukkaraiyadevar and Periya-Perumal.
The gifts consisted of two lamps and one stand for sacred ashes.
Translation
1. Hail! Prosperity! Adittan Suryan, alias
Tennavan Muvenda-velan, a headman (of) Poygai-nadu, who carried on the
management of the temple of the lord Sri-Rajarajesvara, gave until the third
year (of the reign) of the lord Sri Rajendra-Soradeva to (the images
of) Nambi-Aruranar, Tirunanasambandadigal and Tirunavukkaraiyadevar, which
he had set up himself, one fixed lamp (nilai-vilakku) of zinc (tara),
which, together with an iron pin (narasam), weighed forty-one palam
and a half.
2. The same person gave to (the image of)
Periya-Perumal, which he had set up himself, one fixed lamp of zinc, which,
together with an iron pin, weighed one hundred and twenty palam.
3. (He further gave) one stand for sacred ashes
of bell metal (venkala madal), weighing four palam.
No. 42. On a
niche and a pillar of the west enclosure
This inscription is engraved on the same niche as the
preceding No. 41; the last few line are on an adjacent pillar. The inscription
records that, before the 29th year of the reign of Rajarajadeva, his
queen Cholamahadevi set up copper images of Siva, called Adavallar, and of his
consort and presented a few ornaments to these two images.
Translation
1. Hail! Prosperity! The following copper images, —
which had been set up in the temple of the lord Sri-Rajarajesvara until the
twenty-ninth year (of the king’s reign) by Soramahadeviyar, the consort
of our lord Sri-Rajarajadeva, — were engraved on stone, after they had been
measured by the cubit measure (preserved) in the temple of the lord,
after the jewels (given to them) had been weighed without the threads,
the frames and the copper nails by the stone called (after)
Dakshina-Meru-Vitankan, and after the gold had been weighed by the stone called
(after) Adavallan: -
2. One solid image of Adavallar, having four divine
arms, (the goddess) Ganga-bhattaraki on the braided hair, nine braids of
hair (jata) and seven flower-garlands (pumalai), and (measuring),
together with (an image of) Musalagan who was lying on the ground, three
quarters and one eighth of a muram in a height from the feet to the
hair.
3. One lotus on which this (image) stood, set
with jewels and measuring three viral in height.
4. One pedestal, measuring five viral in height, half
a muram in length, and ten viral in breadth.
5. One solid aureola (measuring), three muram
and two viral in circumference.
6. One solid image of his consort Umaparamesvari,
measuring seventeen viral and two torai in height from the feet
to the hair.
7. One lotus on which this (image) stood set
with jewels and measuring two viral and two torai in height.
8. One pedestal on which this (image) stood,
measuring three viral and six torai in height, eight viral
and six torai and length, and seven viral and a half in breadth.
9. One solid aureola, measuring two muram, fourteen
viral and a half in circumference.
10. To (the image of) Adavallur the same (queen)
gave one string of round beads (tiral-mani-vadam), (containing)
six karanju and a half and (one) manjadi of gold.
11. To (the image of) his consort
Umaparamesvari the same (queen) gave: -
12. One spiral (tiru), (consisting) of a
ruby which was strung on a gold string, weighing, with the lac, (one) karanju
and a half, two manjadi and (one) kunri, and worth four
kasu. Into (it) were set three flat and round diamonds; (on it)
were fastened one smooth ruby and one emerald (pachchai); and (on it)
were strung one smooth ruby with [large] cavities, cuts and holes, two talimbam,
one eye and one hook.
13. One ornament of three strings (trisaram),
weighing, with the lac, three karanju and three quarters, four manjadi
and seven tenths, and worth eight kasu. On (it) were strung
eighty-seven pearls, — (viz.) round pearls, roundish pearls, polished
pearls, small pearls, (Pearls) of brilliant water, of red water, and
resembling toddy in colour, — six corals, two gold pins (nembu), two
talimbam (each of) which consisted of three (pieces) soldered
together, and two eyes.
14. One string of beads for the marriage-badge (tali-mani-vadam),
(containing one) karanju and three quarters, two manjadi and
(one) kunri of gold.
No. 43. On the
base of the west enclosure
The date of this inscription and the name of the donor
are only partially preserved, but were doubtlessly the same as in the
inscriptions Nos.40 and 41. It records the setting-up of copper images of two
gods, — Kshetrapaladeva (paragraph 2) and Bhairava (7), — and of three human
beings, who were arranged in a group (24). These were siruttonda-Nambi (12),
(his wife) Tiruvenkattu-Nangai (16) and (their son) Siraladevar (19), who, according
to the Periyapuranam, was killed by his parents and served up as a meal
to Siva in his form of Bhairava. Thus the inscription is an additional proof of
the antiquity of the legends, which are embodied in the Periyapuranam, and
some of which are referred to in other inscriptions of Rajaraja (No. 38)
and Rajendra-Chola (Nos. 40 and 41). Siruttondan is already mentioned in the Devaram
of Tirunanasambandar.
Translation
1. (The following) divine and human images of
copper, — which had been set up until the third year (of the king’s reign)
by . . . . . . . . . . . . Muvenda-Velan, — were engraved on stone, after they
had been measured by the cubit measure (preserved) in the temple of the
lord, after the gold (given to them) had been weighed by the stone called
(after) Adavallan, and after the jewels had been weighed without the
threads by the stone called (after) Dakshina-Meru-Vitankan: -
2. One solid (image of) Kshetrapaladeva, having
eight divine arms (and measuring) three quarters and done eighth of a muram
in height from the feet to the hair.
3. One pedestal on which this (image) stood
joined to a lotus (and measuring) nine viral in height and nine viral
squares.
4. To this (image) he gave: — One string of
round beads (tiral-mani-vadam), (containing) a quarter (of a
karanju) of gold.
5. One front-plate (vira-patta), laid (round
the head of the image and consisting of) seven manjadi of gold.
6. Two plates (tagadu), (used as) sacred
earrings (tirukkudambai), (and consisting of) three manjadi
of gold.
7. One solid (image of Siva in his) form (murti)
of Sri-Bhairava, represented as dancing, having two divine arms (and
measuring) eighteen viral in height from the feet to the hair.
8. One pedestal on which this (image) stood
joined to a lotus (and measuring) nine viral in height and eight viral
in breadth.
9. To this (image) he gave: — One string of
round beads, (containing) four manjadi of gold.
10. One string (vadam), weighing half a karanju,
four manjadi and (one) kunri, and (worth) a quarter
kasu. On (it) were strung thirty-three pearls, viz., crude
pearls, twin pearls and sappatti.
11. One string, weighing eight manjadi, and (worth)
a quarter kasu. On (it) were strung thirty-seven pearls, viz.,
crude pearls, twin pearls and sappatti.
12. One solid (image of) Siruttonda-Nambi,
having two arms (and measuring) seventeen viral in height from
the feet to the hair.
13. To this (image) he has: -
14. One string of rounds beads, (containing)
three manjadi and (one) kunri of gold.
15. A collar (karai) of rudraksha (beads),
(containing), — exclusive of the rudraksha (beads), — half a karanju
and (one) manjadi of gold.
16. One solid (image of) Tiruvenkattu-Nangai, (measuring)
fifteen viral in height from the feet to the hair.
17. To this (image) ha gave: -
18. A neck-ring (pattaikkarani), (consisting
of) nine manjadi and (one) kunri of gold, — including
the marriage-badge (tali), which was strung on (it).
19. One solid (image of) Siraladevar, having
two arms (and measuring) twelve viral in height from the feet to
the hair.
20. To this (image) he gave: -
21. One front-plate, laid (round the head of the
image and consisting of) four manjadi of gold.
22. Two plates, (used as) sacred earrings, (and
consisting of one) manjadi and (one) kunri of gold.
23. A neck-ring and a spear (sula), (consisting
of) half a karanju, four manjadi and (one) kunri
of gold.
24. One pedestal on which the three images stood,
joined to a lotus (and measuring) twenty-three viral in length,
seven viral in breadth, and eight viral in height together with
the lotus.
No.44. On a
pillar of the west enclosure
This inscription records that, before the 29th
year of the reign of Rajarajadeva, his queen Abhimanavalli set up a copper
image, the name of which is only partially preserved. It seems however that it
was a lingu (paragraph 2) and that image of Siva (3), Brahman (4), and
Vishnu in his boar-incarnation (5) attended it.
The whole group probably referred to the following
legend, which is narrated in the Arunachala-Mahatmya, a mythical account of
the Saiva temple at Tiruvannamalai in the South Arcot district: — Siva appeared
as a fiery linga to Brahman and Vishnu, and desired them to seek his base
and summit, which they attempted in vain.” On this occasion, Vishnu is said to
have assumed the shape of a boar, as stated in the subjoined inscription.
Translation
1. Hail! Prosperity! (The following) copper
image, — which had been set up in the temple of the lord Sri-Rajarajesvara
until the twenty-ninth year (of the king’s reign) by Abhimanavalliyar, a
queen (devi) of the lord Sri-Rajarajadeva, — was engraved on stone,
after it had been measured by the cubit measure (preserved) in the
temple of the lord, and after the jewels (given to it) had been weighed
without the threads by the stone called (after) Dakshina-Meru-Vitankan:
-
2. One [image of Lingapura]na[deva], (measuring)
twenty-one viral and six torai in height from the pedestal to the
top, and one muruam, [eleven] viral and [two] torai in
circumference.
3. One solid image (of Siva?), represented as
appearing with this (image), having four divine arms (and measuring)
twelve viral and four torai in height from the shank to the hair.
4. One solid (image of) Brahman, joined to the linga,
having four divine arms (and measuring) seven viral in height.
5. One solid (image of) Vishnu with the head of
a boar (varaha-mukha), joined to the linga, having four divine
arms (and measuring) seven viral in height.
6. One pedestal (surmounted by) a lotus, (measuring)
two muram, fourteen viral and four torai in circumference,
and six viral and four torai in height.
7. One cow’s head[1]
joined to this (pedestaland measuring) three viral and
four torai in length, one viral and four torai in breadth,
and one viral in height.
8. To this (image) were given: -
9. One necklace (tarvadam), weighing (one)
karanju and a half, two manjadi and (one) kunri,
and worth a quarter kasu. On (it) were strung four hundred and
thirty pearls in clusters (punjai-muttu).
10. One necklace, weighing three karanju and a
half, and worth half a kasu. On (it) were strung eight hundred
and eighty-seven pearls in clusters.
No. 45. On a
niche of the west enclosure.
This inscription is another copy of Nos. 31 and 33.
NO. 46. On two
niches and two pillars of the west enclosure
This inscription commences on the same niche as the
preceding No. 45, is continued on the four faces of each of two pillars, and
ends on another niche. It records that, before the 29th year of the
reign of Rajarajadeva, his queen Cholamahadevi set up copper images of
Rishabhavahanadeva, i.e., Siva whose vehicle is the bull, of his consort
Uma-paramesvari, and of their son Ganapati, and that she presented various
ornaments to each of these three images.
Translation
1. Hail! Prosperity! The following copper images, —
which had been set up in the temple of the lord Sri-Rajarajesvara until the
twenty-ninth year (of the king’s reign) by Soramahadeviyar, the consort
of our lord Sri-Rajarajadeva, — were engraved on stone, after they had been
measured by the cubit measure (preserved) in the temple of the lord,
after the jewels (given to them) had been weighed without the threads,
the frames and the copper nails by the stone called (after)
Dakshina-Meru-Vitankan, and after the gold and silver had been weighed by the
stone called (after) Adavallan: -
2. One solid image of Rishabhavahanadeva, having four
divine arms and (measuring) one muram, ten viral and two toraiin height from the feet to the hair.
3. One lotus on which this (image) stood set
with jewels and measuring three viral and a half in height.
4. One solid image of his consort Umaparamesvari,
measuring one muram and five viral in height from the feet to the
hair.
5. One lotus on which this (image) stood set
with jewels and measuring two viral and a half in height.
6. One bull (rishabha), (partially) solid (and
partially) hollow, land measuring one muram, six viral and five torai
in height from the hoofs to the horns.
7. One pedestal on which the god, his consort and the
bull stood, (measuring) two muram, one viral and two torai in
length, one and a quarter muram in breadth, and ten viral and one
torai in height, and having on its two sides, (nerri) two lions
(simha), which jutted out five viral and six torai (and measured)
four viral and a half in breadth, and eight viral and a half in
height.
8. One solid aureola, covering the god, his consort
and the bull, consisting of two pillars and one half-moon,[2]
and measuring six muram, nine viral and a half in circumference.
9. One solid image of Ganapati, measuring half a muram
and five torai in height from the feet to the hair.
10. One lotus on which (this image) stood, set
with jewels and measuring two viral and a half in height.
11. One pedestal, measuring nine viral in
length, eight viral in breadth, and four viral, and two torai
in height.
12. One solid aureola, measuring one (muram)
and three quarters and five viral in circumference.
13. To (the image of) Rishabhavahanadeva were
given: -
14. One small sacred garland (tiru-malai),
weighing, with the lac, six karanju and a half, four manjadi and
(one) kunri, and worth eleven kasu. On (it) were fastened
fifty-six crystals, twenty-four potti and thirty-six pearls, viz.,
polished pearls and small pearls.
15. One tutturu, weighing, with the lac, (one)
karanju and a half, three manjadi and eight tenths, and worth three
kasu. On (it) were fastened one crystal and twenty-two pearls, viz.,
round pearls, roundish pearls, polished pearls and small pearls.
16. One string (vadam), weighing, with the lac,
three karanju and three quarters, three manjadi and three tenths,
and worth sixteen kasu. On (it) were strung thirty-three pearls, — viz.,
round pearls, roundish pearls, polished pearls, small pearls, nimbolam,
(pearls) with rubbed surface, (pearls) resembling toddy in colour,
and ambumudu, — two corals, two lapis lazuli, two talimbam, one
eye and one hook.
17. One string, weighing, with the lac, three karanju
and three quarters, (one) manjadi and eight tenths, and worth fifteen kasu.
On (it) were strung thierty-five pearls, — viz., round pearls, polished
pearls, polished pearls, small pearls, nimbolam, payittam, (pearls)
with rubbed surface, with cracked surface and of red water, — two corals, two
lapis lazuli, two talimbam, one eye and one hook.
18. One string, weighing, with the lac, three karanju
and three quarters, three manjadi and one tenth, and worth fifteen kasu.
On (it) were strung thirty-one pearls, — viz., round pearls,
roundish pearls, polished pearls, small pearls, nimbolam, payittam, (pearls)
with cracked surface and with rubbed surface, — two corals, two lapis lazuli,
two talimbam, one eye and one hook.
19. One girdle,[3]
weighing, with the lac, four karanju and three quarters, three manjadi
and (one) kunri, and worth eleven kasu. On (it) wee
strung ninety-nine pearls, — viz., round pearls, roundish pearls,
polished pearls and small pearls, — six corals, two gold pins, two talimbam
(each of) which consisted of three (pieces) soldered together, and
two eyes.
20. One ornament of five strings (panchasari),
weighing, with the lac, eight karanju and a half, three manjadi and
six tenths, and worth eight kasu. On (it) were strung two hundred
and forty-three pearls, — viz., round pearls, roundish pearls, polished
pearls, small pearls, crude pearls, sakkattu,sappatti, (pearls)
with rubbed surface and with cracked surface, — ten corals, two gold pins, two talimbam
(each of) which consisted of five (pieces) soldered together, and
one eye.
21. One sacred pearl ornament (sri-chhanda),
weighing, — with the lac (which was used) instead of the gold at the
back of the chief jewel (nayaka), — twenty-six karanju and (one)
manjadi, and worth thirty kasu. On (it) were fastened
twenty-one crystals, eight potti and thirteen gold pins; and (on it)
were strung eight hundred and sixty-nine pearls, (viz.,) round pearls,
roundish pearls, polished pearls, small pearls, nimbolam, payittam,
crude pearls sappatti, sakkattu, (pearls) of brilliant water and of red
water, and ambumudu.
22. One bracelet (valaiyil) of ball (gundu)
soldered on a band (pattai) of gold, weighing eleven karanju and
three quarters, (one) mannadi and (one) kunri, and
worth thirteen, one-quarter and one eighth kasu. On (it) were
strung three hundred and seventy-eight pearls, (viz.,) round pearls,
roundish pearls, polished pearls, small pearls, sappatti, sakkattu, (pearls)
of brilliant water and of red water.
23. One bracelet of balls soldered on a band of gold,
weighing ten karanju and a half, three manjadi and (one) kunri,
and worth thirteen kasu. On (it) were strung three hundred and
seventy-six pearls, (viz.,) round pearls, roundish pearls, polished
pearls, small pearls, sappatti, sakkattu, (pearls) of brilliant water
and of red water.
24. One bracelet of balls soldered on a band of gold,
weighing nine karanju, nine manjadi and (one) kunri,
and worth six kasu. On (it) were strung two hundred and
seventy-one pearls, viz., polished pearls, small pearls, crude pearls, sappatti
and sakkattu.
25. One bracelet of balls soldered on a band of gold,
weighing seven karanju and a half and (one) manjadi, and
worth seven kasu. On (it) were strung one hundred and forty-two
pearls, viz., round pearls, roundish pearls, polished pearls, small
pearls, crude pearls, sappatti and sakkattu.
26. One waist-band (udara-bandhana), weighing
eight karanju, seven manjadi and (one) kunri, and
worth eight kasu. On (it) were fastened eight crystals and three potti;
and (on it) were strung three hundred and six pearls, (viz.,)
round pearls, roundish pearls, polished pearls, small pearls, crude pearls, sappatti,
sakkattu, (pearls) of brilliant water and of red water.
27. One sacred girdle (tiruppattigai),
weighing, with the lac, forty karanju, and worth twenty-six kasu.
In (it) were included one kimbirimugam,[4]ten small flowers (mattappu), one bud (mottu) and four
[vi]dangu;[5]
(on it) were fastened twenty crystals and twelve potti; and (on
it) were strung seven hundred and thirty-four pearls, viz., crude pearls sakkattu
and sappatti.
28. One sacred foot-ring (tiruvadikkarai) of
balls soldered on a band of gold, weighing twelve karanju and a half and
(one) kunri, and worth fifteen and a quarter kasu. On (it)
were strung three hundred and seventy-five pearls, (viz.,) round pearls,
roundish pearls, polished pearls, small pearls, sappatti, sakkattu, (pearls)
of brilliant water and of red water.
29. One sacred foot-ring of balls soldered on a band
of gold, weighing twelve karanju and (one) kunri, and
worth sixteen kasu. On (it) were strung three hundred and
seventy-two pearls, (viz.,) round pearls, roundish pearls, polished
pearls, small pearls, sakkattu, sappatti, (pearls) of brilliant
water and of red water.
30. One string of round beads (tiral-mani-vadam),
(containing) seven karanju and a quarter of gold.
31. One string of rounds beads, (containing)
seven karanju, four manjadi and (one) kunri of gold.
32. One sacred arm-ring (tirukkaikkarai), (consisting
of) nine karanju of gold.
33. One sacred arm-ring, (consisting of) eight karanju
and three quarters of gold.
34. One sacred arm-ring, (consisting of) eight karanju
and a half, three manjadi and (one) kunri of gold.
35. One sacred arm-ring, (consisting of) six karanju
and three manjadi of gold.
36. One sacred girdle, (consisting of) thirty kakanju
of gold.
37. One sacred foot-ring, (consisting of) ten karanju
and a quarter of gold.
38. One sacred foot-ring, (consisting of) nine karanju
and three quarters, two manjadi and (one) kunri of gold.
39. One pair of sacred sandals (tiruvadi-nilai),
(consisting of) forty-nine karanju and three quarters of gold.
40. One skull (kapala), (consisting of)
fifty karanju, seven manjadi and (one) kunri of
gold.
41. One handle (kai) for a white chandra
(ven-samarai), (consisting of) twelve karanju of gold.
42. One handle for a white chamara, (consisting of)
nine karanju and three quarters, three manjadi and six tenths of
gold.
43. One small scimitar (kurr-udaival), the hilt
(? Asu) and blade (? Kandam) of which were inlaid with gold.
44. One paradal, (consisting of) one
hundred and five karanju of silver.
45. One bowl (mandai), (consisting of)
one hundred and eighty-five karanju of silver.
46. One girdle (in the shape of) a snake (kachch-olam),
(consisting of) twenty-nine karanju and a quarter of silver.
47. To (the image of) Umaparamesvari, the
consort of Rishabhavahanadeva, the same (queen) gave: -
48. One spiral (tiru), (consisting) of a
ruby, which was strung on a gold string, weighing, with the lac, two karanju,
two manjadi, and (one) kunri, and worth eigh kasu. Into
(it) were set three flat and round diamonds, . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
one ruby . . . . . . . . . . with cavities and holes, lone eye and one hook.
49. One bracelet of halls soldered on a band of gold,
weighing seven karanju and a half and (one) manjadi, and
worth seven kasu. On (it) were strung one hundred and thirty-six
pearls, viz., polished pearls, small pearls, crude pearls, sappatti and sakkattu.
50. One bracelet of balls soldered on a band of gold,
weighing ten karanju and nine manjadi, and worth twelve kasu.
On (it) were strung three hundred and seventy-six pearls, (viz.,)
round pearls, roundish pearls, polished pearls, small pearls, sappatti,
sakkattu, (pearls) of brilliant water and of red water.
51. One sacred girdle, weighing, with the lac,
twenty-[four] karanju and a half, three manjadi and (one) kunri,
and worth fifteen kasu. In (it)were included one kimbirimugam,
ten small flowers and five buds; (on it) were fastened ten crystals and
five potti; and (on it) were strung five hundred and forty-eight
pearls, viz., round pearls, roundish pearls, polished pearls, small
pearls, crude pearls, sappatti and sakkattu.
52. One sacred foot-ring of balls soldered on a band
of gold, weighing ten karanju, two manjadi and (one) kunri,
and worth fifteen and a quarter kasu. On (it) were strung one
hundred and fifty-eight kpearls, viz., crude pearls, sakkattu and
sappatti.
54. One string of beads for the marriage–badge
(tali-mani-vadam), (containing one) karanju and three
quarters, four manjadi and (one) kunri of gold.
55. One string of round beads, (containing)
four karanju and a half and two manjadi of gold.
56. One sacred arm-ring, (consisting of) five karanju
and three quarters, two manjadi and (one) kunri of gold.
57. One sacred arm-ring, (consisting of) six karanju
of gold.
58. One sacred girdle, (consisting of) twenty karanju
and a quarter of gold.
59. One sacred foot-ring, (consisting of) eight
karanju and three quarters of gold.
60. One sacred foot-ring, (consisting of) six karanju
of gold.
61. To (the image of) Ganapti, which the same (queen)
had set up, were given: -
62. One sacred gold flower (tirupporpu), (consisting
of) three karanju of gold.
63. One sacred thread (pun-nul), (consisting
of) six karanju, two manjadi and (one) kunri of
gold.
NO. 47. On a
pillar of the west enclosure
This inscription records that, before the 29th
year of the reign of Rajarajadeva, an officer of the king set up a copper image
of Bhringisa, to which he presented some ornaments.
Regarding Bhringi, I am indebted for the following
information to Mr. P. Sundaram Pillai, M.A., Professor of Philosophy, Trivandrum
College: — “Bhringi is one of the attendants (gana) of Siva. Allusions of his
bigoted worship of Siva, which would not condescend even to acknowledge the
godhead of Parvati, are frequent in Tamil literature. According to the Skandapuranam,
it was to l annoy his exclusive spirit, that Parvati sought union with Siva in
the form of Ardhanarisvara. But Bhringi assumed the shape of a bee[6]
and pierced his way through the united body of the god and the goddess, going
round and worshipping the Siva portion only of the hermaphrodite. The goddess
avenged herself then by with drawing all sakti from the zealot, and he
is now generally represented as a skeleton, supporting himself with a third
leg, which Siva, out of mercy, improvised for him.”In accordance with this myth, three legs and three arms are attributed
to the mage of Bhringisa in paragraph 2 of the subjoined inscription.
Translation
1. Hail! Prosperity! The following copper image, —
which had been set up in the temple of the lord Sri-Rajarajesvara until the
twenty ninth year (of the king’s reign) by Kovan (i.e.,Gopa)
Annamalai,[7]alias Keralantaka-Virupparaiyan, a Perundaram of the minor
treasure (sirudanam) of the lord Sri-Rajarajadeva, — was engraved on
stone, after it had been measured by the cubit measure (preserved) in
the temple of the lord, after the jewels (given to it) had been weighed
without the threads by the stone called (after) Dakshina-Meru-Vitankan,
and after the gold had been weighed by the stone called (after)
Adavallan: -
2.One solid image of Bhringisa (measuring) one muram,
two viral and a half in height from the feet to the hair, and having
a bush (sedi)[8]
of the height of one viral, three divine feet and three divine arms.
3. One pedestal on which this (image) stood set
with jewels (and measuring) twenty viral in length, twelve viral
in breadth, and six viral in height.
4. To this (image) were given: -
5. One ornament of three strings (trisaram),
weighing, with the lac, five karanju and a quarter, and worth three and
a half kasu. On (it) were strung one hundred and fifty pearls, — viz.,
sakkattu and crude pearls, — (one)talimbam and (one) eye.
6. One necklace (kantha-nan), weighing, —
inclusive of one rudraksha (bead), (one) eye and (one) hook, — (one)
karanju, and worth five kasu.
7. One sacred arm-ring (tirukkaikkarai), (consisting
of one) karanju and two manjadi of gold.
8. One sacred arm-ring, (consisting of one) karanju
and four manjadi of gold.
9. One sacred arm-ring,[9]
(consisting of) three quarters (of a karanju), four manjadi
and (one) kunri of gold.
10. One sacred foot-ring (tiruvadikkarai), (consisting
of one) karanju and four manjadi of gold.
11. One sacred foot-ring, (consisting of one) karanju
(one) manjadi and (one) kunri of gold.
12. One sacred foot-ring, (consisting of one) karanju,
three manjadi and (one) kunri of gold.
No.48. On a
niche and a pillar of the west enclosure
This inscription records that, before the 29th
year of the reign of Rajarajadeva, his queen Trailokyamahadevi set up copper
images of Siva called Kalyanasundara, of his wife Umaparamesvari, and of the two
gods Vishnu and Brahman, who were represented as worshipping the first image,
and that she presented a number of ornaments to the first two images. An
inscription of the 10th year of the reign of Rajendra-Choladeva
(No.11) refers to these two images of Kalyanasundara and his wife as having
been set up by Trailokyamahadevi, the consort of Rajarajadeva.
Translation
1. Hail! Prosperity! The following copper images, —
which had been set up in the temple of the lord Sri-Rajaajesvara until the
twenty-ninth year (of the king’s reign) by Trailokyamahadevi, the
consort of our lord Sri-Rajarajadeva, — were engraved on stone, after they had
been measured by the cubit measure (preserved) in the temple of the
lord, after the jewels (given to them) had been weighed by the stone
called (after) Dakshina-Meru-Vitankan, and after the gold had been
weighed by the stone called (after) Adavallan: -
2. One solid image of Kalyanasundara, having four
divine arms (and measuring) one muram and three quarters, two viral
and a half in height from the feet to the hair.
3. One lotus on which this (image) stood set
with jewels (and measuring) four viral and a half in height.
4. One solid image of his consort Umaparamesvari, (measuring)
one muram, eleven viral and a half in height from the feet to the
hair.
5. One lotus on which this (image) stood set
with jewels and measuring four viral and two torai in height.
6. One pedestal on which the god and his consort
stood, (measuring) two muram and fourteen viral in length,
twenty-two viral in breadth, and nine viral in height.
7. One solid aureola, covering the god and his
consort, (consisting of) two pillars and one half-moon, and measuring
seven muram in circumference.
8. One solid (image of) Vishnu, standing,
pouring out water to this (god), having four arms (and measuring)
twenty viral in height from the feet to the hair.
9. One lotus on which this (image) stood set
with jewels (and measuring) two viral and a half in height.
10. One four-legged pedestal, (which measured)
three quarters (of amuram) and three viral in height up
to the lotus, and which consisted of four legs and a bush (sedi), which
was one viral and a half thick.
11. One solid (image of) Brahman, represented
as offering an oblation (huta), having [four] arms and four faces, comfortably
seated (and measuring) half a muram n height from the feet to the
hair.
12. One pedestal, joined to a lotus, set with jewels (and
measuring) eight viral in height, twelve viral and a half in
breadth, and three quarters (of amuram), three viral and
a half in length.
13. To (the image of) Kalyanasundara were
given: -
14. One sacred ear-ring (tirukkambi), (consisting
of one) karanju and a half of gold.
15. One sacred ear-ring, (consisting of one) karanju,
nine manjadi and (one) kunri of gold.
16. One string of round beads (tiral-mani-vadam),
(containing) five karanju and four manjadi of gold.
17. One string of round beads, (containing)
five karanju and (one) manjadi o gold.
18. One string of round beads, (containing)
five karanju, two manjadi and (one) kunri of gold.
19. One sacred arm-ring (tirukkaikkarai), (consisting
of) twenty karanju and a half and (one) manjadi of
gold.
20. One sacred arm-ring, (consisting of) twenty
karanju and a half, two manjadi and (one) kunri of
gold.
21. One sacred arm-ring, (consisting of) twenty
karanju and six manjadi of gold.
22. One sacred arm-ring, (consisting of)
nineteen karanju and three quarters of gold.
23. Two sacred foot-rings (Tiruvadikkarai),
consisting of thirty-five karanju and a quarter of gold, — each (consisting
of) seventeen karanju and a half, two manjadi and (one)
kunri of gold.
24. To (the image of) the consort of this (god)
were given: -
25. A spiral (tiru), strung on a neck-ring (pattaikkarai)
of gold, weighing (one) karanju and a quarter and (one) kunri,
and worth three and a half kasu. Into (it) were set three flat
and round diamonds; and (on it) were fastened one crystal, one potti
and one nail-Ganga-padikal.[10]
26. One sacred ear-ring, (consisting of one) karanju
and a half and (one) kunri of gold.
27. One sacred ear-ring, (consisting of one)
karanju, nine manjadi and (one) kunri of gold.
28. One string of round beads, (containing)
four karanju and six manjadi of gold.
29. One string of round beads, (containing)
four karanju and a half of gold.
30. One string of round beads; (containing)
four karanju and nine manjadi of gold.
31. One sacred arm-ring, (consisting of) eleven
karanju and three quarters and four manjadi of gold.
32. One sacred arm-ring, (consisting of) eleven
karanju and three quarters, two manjadi and (one) kunri
of gold.
33. One sacred foot-ring, (consisting of)
twelve karanju, two manjadi and (one)kunri of gold.
34. One sacred foot-ring, (consisting of)
twelve karanju and a half and (one) manjadi of gold.
[1]
According to the Dictionnaire Tamoul-Francais, komugai is ‘an opening in the
shape of the head of a cow, which serves as an outlet for the water of a sacred
bath,’ in the present instance for the water which is poured over the linga.
[4]
This term may be connected with kimpuri ‘a knob or ring.’
[5]
Compare the Sanskrit vitanka, ‘the
summit, top.’
[6]
The Tamil vandu is synonymous with the Sanskrit bhringa, from which the above legend evidently derives the name
Bhringi or Bhringin.
[7]
Annamalai, after which the donor is surnamed, ‘the mountain which cannot be
approached,’ or Tiruvannamalai is a famous Saiva shrine in the South Arcot
district. Its Sanskrit name Arunachala, ‘the red mountain,’ appears to owe its
origin to the desire for finding an apparent Sanskrit etymology of the original
Tamil name. In inscriptions of the first and second Vijayanagara dynasties, the
temple is called Sonachala or Sonasaila, ‘the red mountain.’
[8]
A reference to paragraph 10 of No. 48 suggests, that the bush did not form part
of the image, as the words of the next seem to imply, but was placed near the
image on the pedestal, which is described in the following paragraph.
[9]
Three arm-rings and three foot-rings are provided viz., one ring for each of the three feet and the three arms, which
the image possessed according to paragraph 2.
[10]I.e., ‘the pearl (-like) stone (from) Gangapadi.’ This expression perhaps refers to the beryl,
which according to Mr. Walhouse (Indian
Antiquary, Vol. V, pp. 237 ff.) is found in no other locality in India
besides Padiyur or Pattiyali in the Dharapuram talluqa of the Coimbatore
district. The country of Gangapadi is one of the items in the list of conquests
of Rajarajadeva.
