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The Indian Analyst
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South Indian Inscriptions |
INSCRIPTIONS ON THE WALLS OF THE CENTRAL SHRINE No.23. On the south wall, first tier. This inscription contains an order of king Tirumalaideva, by which a number of villages were exempted from taxes. This was probably done, because they had been granted to the Tanjavur temple. The date of the inscription is Saka 1377 (expired), the cyclic year Yuvan, i.e., A.D. 1455. Consequently, the king to whose reign it belongs, must be distinct from the Karnata king Tirumalaideva, whose four inscriptions near Velur are dated in Saka 1488 (expired).[1] It is not impossible that Tirumalaideva is identical with Timma, the founder of the second dynasty of Vijayanagara, for whose grandson Narasa, Nrisimha or Narasimha we have the dates Saka 1404 and 1418.[2] In favour of this identification it can be adduced, that in the subjoined inscription, Tirumalaideva receives the same birudas which were borne by Narasimhadeva according to an inscription at Virinchipuram,[3] and that some of the fiscal terms, which occur in the text of the royal order, are of Kanarese extraction. Both the spelling and the execution of this inscription are not very careful.[4] Lines 2 to 6 are damaged by a crack, which has caused the loss of a few letters. The language is Tamil, with the exception of line 1, which consists of a Sanskrit sloka.
Translation 1. âOf a gift and protection, protection is more meritorious than a gift; by a gift (one) obtains (only) heaven, by protection the eternal abode.â 2. Let there be prosperity! Fortune! [On the 17th day] of the month of Sittirai in the Yuvan year, which was current after the Bhava year (and) after the Saka year one thousand three hundred and seventy-seven, the illustrious Mahamandalesvara Medinisvara Ganda Kattari Saluva-saluva Tirumalaideva-maharaja (addressed the following) order (nirubam) to Variyan, the Karanattan[5] in the village (agaram) of Tanjavur . . . . . . . Ta[n]jamamanigandangurai, Nagalapuram, Paramaraneri, Velangudi, (which was) the chief village (of a division) of fifty (villages),[6] Ammaia[ppapu]ram, Tenalur, Karuppur, Maruvur,[7] Rajendra-Sora-nallur, Sungandavi[r]tta-Sora-nallur,[8] alias Tirumalairajapuram, and Samudra . . . . . . puram : - 3. âHaving remitted to your villages . . . . . . . the prime ministerâs quit-rent (pradhani-jodi),[9] the Karanamâs quit-rent (karanikka-joli), the village-watchmanâs quit-rent,[10] (the dues on) animals, trees and tanks,[11] and all other dues (? Upadhi) of whatever kind, (we order that these villages) to the extent up to which they were granted, shall remain tax-free (sarvamanya) and undisturbed, as long as the moon and the sun endure.â 4. Mantramurti caused (the above) to be engraved, as ordered by the king.
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