This
inscription (No. 165 of 1902) is engraved on the right of the
entrance into the east wall of the prakara of the
Vamanapurisvara temple at Tirumanikuli in the Cuddalore taluka[1]
of the South Arcot district.This
village is called Udavi-Manikuli by Tirunanasambandar, and
Udavi-Tirumanikuli in some of its inscriptions.According to the subjoined record (1. 3 f.) it belonged to
the district of Rajaraja-valanadu, and according to other
inscriptions to Melkkal-nadu, Merkanadu or Merka-nadu, a subdivision
of Vadakarai-Rajendra-Chola-valanadu, Virudarajabhayamkara-valanadu,[2]
or Rajaraja-valanadu.
The
inscription is dated in the 3rd year of Kulottunga-Chola
III. on a day which corresponds to the 12th August A.D.
1180.[3]It records the gift of 32 cows for a lamp.The donor was a native of Kudal, which was situated in the
same district as Tirumanikuli and seems to be identical with the
modern Kudalur (Cuddalore).[4]
(Line
1.) Hail ! Prosperity ! (The king) put on the beautiful crown
in order to protect the earth to the end of the world, while clouds
were abundant (and) increased the fertility (of his
country) ; while the conduct (prescribed) in the four
true Vedas prospered ; while the goddess of the Fortune and the
goddess of Victory were greatly delighted (to be his wives) ;
while (his) parasol shone like the white moon ; while
victorious kings bowed at (his) feet; while the goddess of
the Earth rejoiced ; while the rules of Manu flourished and spread ;
(and) while (the king’s) discus and sceptre went (and)
ruled every region.
(L.
2.) In the third year of (this) king Parakesarivarman alias
the emperor of the three worlds, Sri-Kulottunga-Soladeva, who was
pleased to be seated together with (his queen)
Bhuvanamulududaiyal on the throne of heores (which consisted of)
pure gold, - on the day of Asvini, which corresponded to a Monday
and to the fifth tithi ofthe second fortnight of the month Simha, - one perpetual lamp
was given to Aludaiyanayanar of Tirumanikuli, the god of
Rajaraja-valanadu, by Arasanarayanan Elisaimogan, alias
Jananatha-Kachchiyarayan, of Kudal in the same nadu.For (this lamp he) granted 32 undying and unaging
cows.[5]
(L.
4.) Having received these thirty-two cows, we, the members of the
assembly (in charge) of the store-room[6]
of this temple, shall have to maintain this perpetual lamp as long
as the moon and the sun shall last.
(L.
5.) Having agreed thus, we took charge of this gift.This (gift is placed under) the protection of all Mahesvaras.
No.
86.- Inscription at Chidambaram
This
inscription (No. 457 of 1902) is engraved on the west wall of the
second prakara of the great Saiva temple of Nataraja at
Chidambaram[7] in the South Arcot
district.It is dated
on the 88th day of the 9th year of
Kulottunga-Chola III. and records that the king sanctioned a grant
of land to the temple by a certain Keralarajan (II. 6 and 10).The land granted was situated in two hamlets of Chidambaram,
the first of which bore the name Kadavaychcheri alias
Tillainayaganallur (1. 6).Kadavachcheri
is found on the map about 2 miles south of Chidambaram,[8]
and Tillainayaganallur survives as the name of a neighbouring
village which has now been joined to Usuppur.[9]
The second hamlet, Sattangudi alias Mahipalakulakalanallur[10](1. 7), I am unable to identify.
(Line
1.) Hail ! Prospertiy ! (The king) put on the beautiful crown
in order to protect the earth to the end of the world, while clourds
were abundant and (hence) the fertility (of his country)
increased ; while the conduct (prescribed) in the four true
Vedas prospered ; while the goddess of Fortune and the goddess of
Victory were greatly delighted (to be his wives) ; while (his)
parasol shone like the white moon ; while victorious king bowed at (his)
feet ; while the goddess of the Earth rejoiced ; while the rules of
Manu flourished and spread ; (and) while (the king’s)
discus and sceptre went (and) ruled every region.
(L.
2.) While, by an army dispatched at the request of Vikrama-Pandya,
the son of Vira-Pandya was subdued ; while Elagam[11]
was subdued ; while the Mara army[12]
was subdued ; while the Singala soldiers had (their) noses
cut off and rushed into the rolling sea, (he) attacked
Vira-Pandya, (forcing him) to turn (his) back, took
Madurai and the throne, set up a pillar of victory, was pleased to
bestow that (city of) Madurai, the throne and the country on
the Pandya who had taken refuge (with him), and raised the
banner of liberality, together with the banner of heroism which
displayed the body (of the tiger ?).
(L.
3.) On the eighty-eighth day of the ninth year of (this) king
Parakesarivarman, who was pleased to be seated together with (his
queen) Bhuvanamulududaiyal on the throne of heroes (which
consisted of) pure gold, alias the emperor of the three
worlds, Sri-Kulottunga-Soladeva, who was pleased to take Madurai,
-the following order was issued (by the king) and received.
(L.
4.) In order to lay out a flower-garden (which shall furnish)
the garlands to be placed on (theimage of) Aludaiyar,
and in order to (provide) tax-free (land) for the
maintenance[13] of the flower-garden, (viz.,)
for (supplying) clothing[14]
and food[15] to the two attendants who
work in this flower-garden, - Tiru Vegambam-udaiyan[16]
Tiruvanantisvaram-udaiyan alias Keralarajan, a native of
Perunallur in Kil-Vengai-nadu, (a subdivision) of
Rajaraja-valanadu,[17]
purchased (the following) land from several persons in the
name of another, (viz.,) in the name of Ulaichcharanan
Vadugan Tirunattamudi[18]
of Perumbarrappuliyur.[19]
(L.
6.) In Kadavaychcheri alias Tillainayaganallur, a hamlet of
this village, one twentieth (veli) of dry land in the second
square of the first kannaru to the west of the road of
Sundara-Sola (and) to the south of the channel of Uttama-Sola ; and
in Sattangudi alias Mahipalakulakalanallur (near) that
seri (i.e., Kadavaychcheri), a hamlet(of this village), one half (veli), three
twentieths, three eightieths, one hundred and sixtieth and one
three-hundred-and-twentieth ; and 1/220 of[20]
three quarters, four twentieths, one hundred-and- sixtieth and one
three-hundred-and-twentieth – more or less – of classified land[21]
in the first square of the fourth kannaru to the west of the
road ofKundavai (and)
to the south of the channel of Uttama-Sola, - altogether, including
the dry land, according to the village (accounts), one half (veli),
four twentieth ; and 1/320 of three quarters, four twentieths, one
hundred and sixtieth and one three-hundred-and-twentieth of land.
(L.
8.) Of (this), one hundred-and-sixtieth (veli) and one
three-hundred-and-twentieth ; 1/320 of nine twentieths and three
eightieths ; and (1/320)2 of three quarters and three eithtieths
(is) second-crop land.
(L.
9.) (This land) has to be added to the various plots in this
village (which are) the temple property of (the god)
Aludaiyar, as a flower-garden, and as tax-free (land) for the
maintenance of the flower-garden.Out of the money which this village has decided to levy from
this land, the money which accrues, from the second-crop assessment
(?) has to be deducted from (the amount due by) the village.This has to be engraved (on) stone on the wall near
the Tiruppumandapam[22]in the temple.The
services & c. which have to be rendered by the attendants of
(other) flower-gardens shall note be demanded from the two
attendants of (this) flower-garden.
(L.
10.)[23]
“Keralarajan having submitted to us that (the above request) might
be sanctioned, we ordered that it should be done thus, and directed
the revenue officers[24] to enter (that land)
as such in the account (book).”
(L.
11.)[25]
From the ninth (year of the king’s reign) forward, this
land has to be added to the various (other) plots (of this
village) and has to be considered as a flower-garden and as
tax-free (land) for the maintenance of the flower-garden, (viz.,)
for (supplying) clothing and food to the two attendants of
the flower-garden.This
has to be engraved (on) stone in the temple.The garlands to be supplied by the attendants of this
flower-garden, (and) amounting to one kuruni and four nali
(of flowers) per day for each person, have to be supplied in
advance to the Tiruppumandapam.The services & c. which have to be rendered by the
attendants of (other) flower-gardens shall not be demanded
from these (attendants).”Written by the royal secretary, Rajanarayana-Muvendavelan.
(L.
13.) (The above) was copied from the order received, which
was written (by the royal secretary) and signed by
Viluppadhirajar, Nulambadhirajar, Pandiyarajar, Kalappalarajar,
Nandiyarajar, Rajavallabha-Pallavarayar and Vayiradhirajar.
[1]No. 154 on the Madras Survey Map of this taluka,
where the name is spelt ‘Tirumankuli.’
[4]Compare Koval for Kovalur in Ep. Ind. Vol.
VII. P. 146.In
Tamil literature Kudal is used as a synonym of Madurai (Madhura).In an inscription of Virarajendra I. Kudal occurs as a
shorter form of Kudalsangamam ; see page 64 above.
[10]This surname seems to be derived from one of the titles
of Rajendra-Chola I., who is stated to have defeated a certain
Mahipala ; see above, Vol. 11, p. 109.
[11]This place is probably identical with Tiruvedagam near
Kodimangalam in the Madura taluka, which is referred to as
‘Edagam’ by Tirunanasambandar.
[14]With ilakkai compare ilakkar in the Tamil
dictionaries, and its synonym pudavaiin No. 68 above, text line 4.
[15]On p. 141 above, note 13, korru was unnecessarily
corrected into kottu.According to Dr. Gundert’s Malayalam Dictionary
it means ‘food, victuals, rice’
[16]This name is derived from the Tamil designation of the
Ekamranatha temple at Conjeeveram.
[18]This is a Tamil synonym of Nataraja, the name of the god
of the Chidambaram temple.
[19]This is one of the Tamil names of Chidambaram ; see page
214 below.
[20]Here and in the next paragraph 1/220 is substituted for
the arithmetical term kil, and (1/220)2 for
the second kil. Compare above, Vol. II. p. 48, note 2 and
3.
[21]I.e. land assessed according to the quality of the
soil.
[22]I.e., the building in which the flowers for the
use of the temple were kept.
[23]The following passage contains the order of the king on
Keralarajan’s request.
[25]The following passage is an endorsement of the royal
secretary.I have
omitted the two words panni, ‘having caused’ (1. 12),
and pannuvadu, ‘it shall be caused’ (1. 13), which
would make the translation unintelligible.
