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The Indian Analyst
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South Indian Inscriptions |
TANJAVUR Brihadhiswara TEMPLE Inscriptions INSCRIPTIONS ON THE WALLS OF THE CENTRAL SHRINE No.8 On the walls of the portico, second tier This inscription engraved on the southeast and north walls of a portico, which forms the main entrance on the east of the central shrine. The published text, which consists of three sections of nine lines each, ends in the middle of paragraph 26 with the statement, that the inscription is continued at the bottom of the south wall of the portico. Of this portion no copy could be taken, as the present pavement of the temple court rises to its level. Like the preceding inscription, this one describes a number of ornaments of gold and jewels, which were presented by Arvar Parantakan Kundavaiyar until the 3rd year of the reign of Ko-Parakesarivarman, alias Rajendra-Choladeva. The donees were the images which she had set up herself. Among these, the published part of the inscription mentions the consort of Dakshina-Meru-Vitankar (paragraph 2) and the consort of Tanjai-Vitankar (paragraphs 8 and 24). Translation 1. Hail ! Prosperity! Until the third year (of the reign) of Ko-Parakesarivarman, alias the lord Sri-Rajendra-Soradeva, â Arvar Parantakan Kundavaiyar, (who was) the venerable elder sister of the lord Sri-Rajarajadeva (and) the great queen of Vallavaraiyar Vandyadevar, gave to the images which she had set up herself, â gold which was weighed by the stone (used in) the city and called (after) Adavallan, and jewels which were weighed by the jewel weight called (after) Dakshina-Meru-Vitankan. Those (jewels), which could be weighed (separately), were weighed without the threads, of the frames, the copper nails, the lac and the pinju. Those jewels, the net weight of which could not be ascertained, as they were united with the lac and the pinju (were weighed) together with the lac and the pinju. (The amount of this gold and these jewels) was engraved on stone (as follows) : - 2. To (the goddess) Umaparamesvari, who is the consort of our lord Dakshina-Meru-Vitankar, (she) gave : - 3. One sacred girdle (tiruppattigai), (containing) ninety-seven karanju and a half, four manjadi and nine tenths of gold. Six hundred and sixty-seven large and small diamonds with smooth edges, set (into it), â including such as had spots, cracks, red dots, black dots, and marks as of burning, â weighed two karanju and a quarter and six tenths (of a manjadi). Eighty-three large and small rubies, viz., twenty-two halahalam of superior quality, twenty halahalam, twenty smooth rubies, nine bluish rubies, two sattam and ten unpolished rubies, â including such as had cavities, cuts, holes, white specks, flaws, and such as still adhered to the ore, â weighed ten karanju and three quarters, three manjadi and two tenths. Two hundred and twelve pearls, strung or sewn on, â including round pearls, roundish pearls, polished pearls, small pearls, nimbolam, ambumudu, (pearls) of brilliant water and of red water, such as had been polished while still adhering to the shall, (and pearls with) lines, stains, red dots, white specks and wrinkles, â weighed eighteen karanju and two manjadi. Altogether, (the girdle) weighed one hundred and twenty-nine karanju and seven tenths (of a manadi), corresponding to a value of four thousand and five hundred kasu.
4.
One ring for the foot of the goddess (tiruvadikkarai),
(containing) seventy-three karanju and three manjadi, six
tenths and one twentieth of gold. Four hundred and fifty-five diamonds,
set (into it), viz., four hundred and forty-nine diamonds with
smooth edges, and six flat diamonds with smooth edges, â including
such as had spots, cracks, red dots, black dots, and marks as of
burning, â weighed (one) karanju and a half, two manjadi,
five tenths and one twentieth. Thirty-nine large and small rubies, viz.,
ten halahalam of superior quality, ten halahalam, eight smooth
rubies, three bluish rubies and eight unpolished rubies, â including such
as had cavities, cuts, holes, white specks, flaws, and such as still
adhered to the ore, â weighed four karanju and six tenths (of
a manjadi). Altogether, (the ring) weighed seventy-eight karanju
and three quarters, (one) manjadi and eight tenths,
corresponding to a value of five hundred kasu. 5. One ring for the foot of the goddess, (containing) seventy-one karanju and a half and two manjadi of gold. Four hundred and fifty-nine diamonds, set (into it), viz., four hundred and fifty diamonds with smooth edges, and nine small square diamonds with smooth edges, including such as had spots, cracks, red dots, black dots, and marks as of burning, â weighed (one) karanju and a half, three manjadi and nine tenths. Thirty-nine large and small rubies, viz., ten halahalam of superior quality, eight halahalam, nine smooth rubies, three bluish rubies and nine unpolished rubies, â including such as had cavities, cuts, holes, white speeks, flaws, and such as still adhered to the ore, â weighed three karanju and three quarters, three manjadi and six tenths. Altogether, (the ring) weighed seventy-seventy-seven karanju, four manjadi and (one) kunri, corresponding to a value of a five hundred kasu. 6. One sayalam for the foot of the goddess (sri-pada-sayalam), (containing) thirty-seven karanju and three quarters, three manjadi and four tenths of gold. Three hundred and sixty diamonds, set (into it), â including such as had spots, cracks, red dots, black dots, and marks as of
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