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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.
96. In
the second gopura of the temple, right of entrance.[1] The subjoined inscription is
dated in the 3rd year of the reign of Tribhuvanachakravartin
Rajarajadeva, i.e., Rajaraja III. It does not record any gift, but
registers a political compact entered into by three chiefs of the Chola
country to be faithful to the king and to sand by each other. The
compact shows that the Chola country was disturbed; perhaps by internal
dissensions and the Chola capital Tanjore was not free from them. As
this is dated in the 3rd year of Rajaraja III., it may be
presumed that the Chola country became disturbed already towards the end
of the reign of Kulottunga III. Two such compacts belonging to about the
same period are registered at Sengama in the South Arcot District.[2] By Ulagudaiya-Nayanar Sripadam
( I â 13 f. and 17 f.) Rajaraja III. Is probably meant. Translation. Hail!
Prosperity! In the 3rd year[3]
(of the reign) of the emperor of the three world, the [glorious
Ra]jarajadeva, we two,â (viz.) Kallikkudaiyan[4]
Va......... Periyan alias Kulottunga-So[ra-Mara]yan of Kallikkudi in
Purakkiliyur-nadu, (a subdivision) of Pan[dyakula[sani-valanadu and [Kiliman]galamudaiyan
Karunakaran................ alias Kulottunga-Sora........ nma-marayan of
Kilimangalam in [Ki]rar-kurram, (a subdivision) of Nittavinoda-valanadu,â
engraved the following (agreement) on stone in the temple of the lord
Rajaraja-I[svaramu]daiyar :â [We] of both parties and
Sirumangala[mandai]yn Vanni-Kolari alias Kulottun[ga-So]ra-Perayan of
Sirumangalam in Ven[ni-ku]rram, (a subdivision) of Suttamali-valanadu
â these three of us will not disobey His Majesty Ulagudaiya-Na[yanar][5].......
................... (LI. 19 â
23)................. our enemies............... one who becomes an enemy
of (any) one of us shall be the enemy of (all) three of us ; and one who
becomes a friend of (any) one (of us) shall be the friend of (all) three
(of us).
[The rest of the inscription is to fragmentary to be
translated.] No.
97. In the second gopura of the
temple, right of entrance.[6] The subjoined inscription
records that the goldsmiths of Tanjore were exempted from taxes by the
Nayaka chief Achyutappa-Nayaka, son of Sevvappa-Nayaka of Tanjore. It is
dated in Saka-Samvat 1499 expired, the cyclic year Bahudhanya,
corresponding apparently to A.D. 1578-79. Achyutappa-Nayaka was a
feudatory of the Vijayanagara king Venkata I. The influence of the
Tanjore Nayakas extended at one time as far as Tiruvannamalai in the
South Arcot district.[7] Translation. Let there be prosperity! Hail!
Prosperity! On the auspicious occasion of the prathamadvadasi[8], a Monday (corresponding to) the 1[8]th solar day of the month of Ani in the year Bahudhanya, which was current after (the expiry of) the Saka year 1499 â (the following is) the charter (conveying) a lawful edict given by Achyutappa-Nayakkar Ayyan, (son of) Sevvappa-Nayakkar Ayyan to the goldsmiths of Tanjavur. At the request of KandanoluNarayaKurunadan (and) SingappalliNagabatta Seshastiri (i.e. perhaps Seshadri), your taxes (irai) have been caused to be remitted, and (this) shall continue as long as the moon and the sun (endure) as a remission of all taxes (sarvamanya). One who obstructs this charity shall incur the sin of having killed tawny cows on the bank of the Ganges. One who obstructs this charity shall incur the sin of having pulled out a thousand lingas. [1] No. 23 of 1897. [2] See the Annual Report on Epigraphy for 1899-00, paragraphs 32 and 33. [3] The syllable ill added after the figure na has probably to be taken as an abbreviation of the word naal which must mean âtimeâ, as the number of the day of the year is not specified. [4]
The term Kallikkudaiyan, Kilimangalamudaiyan and Sirumangalamudaiyan
which occur in this inscription confirm my remarks on p. 459 [5]
The words ulagudaiya nayanar sripadam are repeated unnecessarily in
I. 17 f. What remains o II. 18 and 19 does not furnish any complete [6] No. 22 of 1897. [7] See my Annual Report on Epigraphy for 1904-05, Part II, paragraph 37 and 38. [8]
Prathamadvadasi is perhaps meant to denote the twelfth of the bright
half of the month Ashadha, on which day the Chaturmasyavrata
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