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PANDYA INSCRIPTIONS
INSCRIPTION
OF THE EARLY PANDYAS
Nos. 1 and
2.
(A. R. Nos.
453 and 454 of 1906)
Anaimalai, Madurai Taluk, Madurai District.
On the walls of the verandah in the rock-cut cave-temple of
Narasimha-Perumal on the hill.
These two
records engraved in early Grantha and Vatteluttu characters belong to Maranjadalyan
who is also called Parantaka. They are
important because the Kali year 3871 is
also quoted for this king, thus furnishing a valuable chronological landmark
for early Pandya history. The rock-cut
temple of Narasimha was begun by Maran-Kari alias Muvendamangalapperaraiyan,
a vaidya of Karavandapura alias Kalakkudi and an Uttaramantrin
(minister) of the Pandya king,
but as he died subsequently, the work was completed by his brother Maran-Eyinan
alias Pandimangala-Visaiyaraiyan who succeeded him in the office of
minister, who added the mukha-mandapa and had the consecration ceremony
performed. As the person first mentioned had also the title
Madurakavi, it has been tentatively assumed that he had some connection with the
Vaishnava Alvar named Kari Maran alias Nammavar, the author of the Tiruvaymoli. Karavandapuram has been identified with
Ukkirankottai in the Tirunelveli taluk of the district of the same name, in the
inscriptions copied from which, the village is called Kalakkudi and Ka andai.
No. 3
(A. R. No. 373 and 454 of 1908)
Tirupparankunram, Madurai Taluk, Madurai District.
On one of the pillars in the rock-cut cave.
This
Vatteuttu inscription dated in the 6th year of Maranjadaiyan
which is engraved in arachaic letters, has been attributed to Jatila Parantaka
of the Anaimalai inscription noted above. It records the construction of the Tirukkoyil (shrine) and of the Sir-tatakam (tank) by Sattan-Ganapati, a resident of Karavandapura,
who is called Pandi-Amritamangalavaraiyan, and is stated to have belonged to
the Vaidya caste and to have been the mahasamanta of the
king. The shrines of Durgadevi and
Jyeshthadevi were constructed by Nakkan-Korri, who is described as the Dharmapatn
probably of this mahasamanta. On
account of the interest of this record, the text is reproduced here.
No. 4
(A. R. No. 480 and 454 of 1917)
Kuttalam, Tenkasi Taluk, Tirunelveli District.
On a pillar in the north-side of the Kurralanatha temple.
This
incomplete record is dated in the 4th year and 360th
day of the Pandya king Maranjadaiyan and mentions the gift of some
donation by Maran-Achchan, probably a petty chieftain of Poliyur, for a lamp in
the temple of Tirukurralattu-Bharata. This person also figures in a record
from Tiruppattur in the Ramanathapuram district, where he is mentioned with the
other title of Tennavan Pallavaraiyan.
No. 5
(A. R. No. 90 and 454 of 1908)
Tiruppattiru, Tiruppattur Taluk, Ramanathapuram District
On the north wall of the Thiruttalisvara temple.
This
bilingual inscription consists of a portion in Sanskrit and a portion in
Tamil. The Sanskrit portion states that Tennavan-Pallavadhipa alias Maran-Aditya born at Polivur in
Poliyur-nadu made a gift of 40 Krishna-kacha for burning a lamp in the
temple of Sulapani at Sristhali. The
Tamil portion, dated the in the 4th + 1st year and 593rd
day of the reign of Maranjadaiyan
states that Maran-Achchan of Poliyur in Poliyur-nadu gave a donation of 40 kalanju
to the Sabha of Manarkudi for a lamp to be burnt in the temple of
Tirukkarrali-Bhatara at Tirupputtur, a brahmadeya in Mikundaru in
Koluvur-kurram and another gift of kalanju to the vannar of the
place. This chieftain Maran-Achchan has
figured in another record from Kuttalam in the Tirunelveli District.
No. 6
(A. R. No. 364 of 1907)
Aduturai, Papanasam Taluk, Tanjore District.
On the north wall of the Apatsahayesvara temple
This
inscription of Maranjadaiyan of the year opposite to the year which was
itself opposite to the fourth year of the king comes from Aduturai. From a record of the Chola king Uttama-Chola
it is learnt that this temple was rebuilt during his reign by his pious mother
Sembiyan-Mahadeviyar, and so the characters in which this record is engraved
are later that the time of Varaguna to whom this and the next record can be attributed. This epigraph registers some provision made
for the supply of one uri of oil daily to the temple of Mahadeva at
Tirukkurangadutura
in Tiraimur-nadu. Kurangaduturai has been curtailed into the modern name of Aduturai.
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No. 7
(A. R. No. 358 of 1907)
Aduturai, Papanasam Taluk, Tanjore District.
On the south wall of the
Apatsahayesvara temple
This
inscription also from Aduturai is peculiarly dated as 4 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1st
year of the Pandya king Maranjadaiyan and relates to some provision for
the supply of oil to the temple of Tirukkurangaduturai-Mahadeva by the sabha
of Maruttuvakkudi in Tiraimur-nadu. The
significance of the regnal year, as cited here, instead of as 4 apposite to the
year, is not clear.
No. 8
(A. R. No. 13 of 1907)
Kumbakonam, Kumbakonam Taluk, Tanjore District.
On the west wall of the shrine of the goddess in the Nagesvara
Temple.
This Tamil
record dated in the 4 + 4th year of Maranjadaiyan registers a
gift of 138 cows and 100 kasu by the king for the supply of milk and
ghee and for maintaining two perpetual lamps in the temple of Bhatara of
Tirukkilkottam in Tirukkudammukkur, i.e., Kumbakonam. The regnal year of this inscription corresponds apparently to the
year 4 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1, quoted in the Aduturai records (No. 7 above)
No. 9
(A. R. No. 136 of 1908)
Tiruppattur, Tiruppattur Taluk, Ramanathapuram District.
On a slab in the first prakara of the
Tiruttalisvara temple.
This
inscription of Maranjadaiyan is
dated in the 4th year opposite to the 6th, which
apparently is a wrong citation for 4 + 6th year. The Sanskrit sloka at the beginning states that Patta, the
daughter of Maran and the wife of Sankara donated 10 dinara for a lamp
to the god Sristhalisa. The Tamil
portion records the same fact in greater detail. The brahmana Mosi Kandan Sankaran is stated to be the son
of the kilar of Arukandur and the amount of gift is specified as 10 kasu. The endowment was left under the protection
of Ayirattelunurruvar. What
exactly is meant by this name is not clear.
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No. 10
(A. R. No. 414 of 1904)
Tiruchichirappalli, Tiruchchirappalli Taluk, Tiruchirappalli
District.
On the wall of the rock-cut cave
This
interesting inscription engraved in the Pallava rock-cut cave-temple on the
hill at Tiruchichirappalli is dated in the 4th year and 2,501st
day of the reign of king Maranjadaiyan, who is also called
Pandyadhiraja Varaguna[varman]. Having
destroyed the fort at Vembil (i.e., Vembarrur near Kumbakonam), the king was
staying at Niyamam at the time of the issue of this record. He is described as an ornament of both the
solar and lunar dynasties, probably because of an earlier marital alliance
between the Chola (solar) and the Pandya (lunar) ruling families. The king is stated to have made a gift of 125 kalanju of gold to the temple of Tirumalai-Bhatara, by which the linga
in the rock-cut cave is evidently meant. From the fact that provision was made for burning five lamps in this temple on the day of Ardra every
month, it is probable that Ardra was the natal star of this king.
No. 11
(A. R. No. 413 of 1904.)
Tiruchichirappalli, Tiruchchirappalli Taluk, Tiruchirappalli
District.
On a pillar in the upper
rock-cut cave on the hill.
This
record engraved in archaic Tamil
characters with pullis marked for basic consonants, is dated in the 9th
year opposite to the 4th year of the reign of Maranjadaiyan,
who is referred to also as Pandyadhipati-Varaguna. The king is stated to have given 537 kalanju
of gold to . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. . . .. . . . . nattu-velan, out of which four gold pattams
and a gold flower were made for decorating the God
Tirumalai-Perumanadigal. The
astronomical details contained in the record are unfortunately mutilated.
No. 12
(A. R. No. 84 of 1910.)
Tiruvellarai, Lalgudi Taluk, Tiruchirappalli District.
On the rock in front of the Jambunathasvami temple
This
record dated in the 9th year opposite to the 4th year of
king Maranjadaiyan is important in that it contains a few astronomical details
of its date, which are capable of verification, namely, Vrischika, Monday,
Asvati. These have been calculated to
yield the English equivalent â A.D. 824, November 7, Monday, thus giving A.D.
811, as the initial date of this Pandya king. This king is referred to as Pandi-Maharaja in line 5 and he has been
identified with varaguna I. This
inscription registers a gift of 120 kalanju of gold by the king left in
the hands of Andanattu-velan, for burning two perpetual lamps in the
temple of Tiruvanaikkar-Perumanadigal.
The
rock-out cave at Tiruvellarai contains a Svia-linga in the main cell,
herein called Tiruvanaikkar-Perumanadigal, and an image of Vishnu in an
adjoining cell. The rock-cut
cave-temple may date from the time of the late Pallavas, as records of
Dantivarman and Nandivarman are found engraved on the rock in front of the cave
and in the village.
No. 12-A
(A. R. No. 120 of 1928-29.)
Lalgudi, Lalgudi Taluk, Tiruchirappalli District.
On the north wall of the Saptarishisvara temple
This
inscription is dated in the year opposite to the fourth of some king
whose name is not given in it. It
registers a gift of money made by the Pallava king Nandippottaraiyar who fought
and won the battle of Tellaru, for burning a perpetual lamp in the
temple of Mahadeva at Tiruttavatturai in Idaiyarru-nadu. The amount was received by the members of
the assembly of Nallimangalam who bound themselves to bring to the temple and
measure out daily (one) nail of ghee.
As the
other record (No. 12-B) engraved to close to this and dated in a similar way
belongs to Maranjadaiyan alias Varaguna-maharaja, this may
be also assigned to the same king.
(Published
in Epigraphia Indica, Indica, Vol. XX, pp. 46 ff.)
No. 12-B
(A. R. No. 121 of 1928-29.)
Lalgudi, Lalgudi Taluk, Tiruchirappalli District.
On the north wall of the Saptarishisvara temple
This record
of Maranjadaiyan, alias Pandyakulapati Varaguna Maharaja
registers the gift of l120 kasu by the king for burning a perpetual lamp
in the temple of Mahadeva at Tiruttavatturai Idaiyarru-nadu. The king is stated to have transmitted the
gift through a certain Andanattu-velan and the money was received by the
assembly of Ilamperunkayirukkai in Idaiyarru-nadu who agreed to supply one nail
of ghee for burning the lamp.
The
inscription is dated in the year 4 + 9 of the kingâs reign and the details of
date, viz., Dhanus, Sadaiyam (Satabhishaj), and Tuesday have been equated with
824 A.D. November 29, and the king is identified with Varaguna I
(Published
in Epigraphia Indica, Vol. XX, pp. 46 ff.)
No. 13
(A.R. No. 105 of 1905.)
Ambasamudram, Ambasamudram Taluk, Tirunelveli District.
On a slab built into the floor of the Erichchavudaiyar Temple. (The slab is now in the Madras Museum.)
This
record dated in the 4 + 12th year of the reign of Varaguna-Maharaja registers the gift of 290 kasu
to the sabhi of Ilangoykkudi in Mulli-nadu for worship and offerings to
the God Bhatara in the Srikoyil of Tiruppottudaiyar. The gift was made when
Varaguna was stationed at Araisur on the bank of the Pennai river in Tondai-nadu.
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No. 14
(A. R. No. 185 of 1926.)
Tiruchchirraambalam, Pattukkottai Taluk, Tanjore District.
On the door-jamb of the Ardhamandapa of the Puratanavanesvara
temple.
This
record is very much damaged and only certain portions containing the name of
the king, Varaguna-Maharaja and the name of the village, Tiruchchirremam
are preserved. The regnal year of the
king namely, the 12th, opposite to the 4th, is
also legible.
No. 15
(A.R. No. 137 of 1908.)
Tiruppattur, Tiruppattur Taluk, Ramanathapuram District.
On a slab in the prakara of the Tiruttalisvara temple.
This
record belongs to the reign of the Pandya king Varaguna-Maharaja and is dated in the 4th year
and 4635th day of his reign. The pulli is marked in many consonants which fact proves its
early date.
The
Sanskrit verse at the beginning states that a certain Kadambavelan donated 15 kasu
and that from its interest a lamp was to be maintained in the temple of Siva of
Nutangrama.
The Tamil
portion records that Maravan Anukkapperaraiyan alias Kadambanvelan of
Perumattur in Mutturru-kurram made a gift of 15 palangasu and a lamp
stand for burning a perpetual lamp in the temple and another similar amount for
the supply of garlands to the deity. Tiruppattur (Nulanagrama) is said to be a brahmadeya in
Koluvur-kurram.
No. 16
(A. R. No. 138 of 1908.)
Tiruppattur, Tiruppattur Taluk, Ramanathapuram District.
On a slab lying in the Angalamman temple.
This
record also comes from Tiruppattur and is dated in some year, which was
probably [4], and 4985th day of king Maranjadaiyanâs
reign. It registers that Manomayan-Maran,
the kavadi of Ilavenbaikkalattirukkai, presented 150 sheep for the maintenance of a perpetual lamp to the god
Jalasayanattu-Bhatarar at Tirupputtur, a brahmadeya in
Koluvur-kurram. This image must have
been one of Vishnu in his recumbent
form, but no traces of it are seen now. The term Kavadi signifies
a ârevenue officerâ and is found applied to even petty officials in the Chola
country at this period. As in No. 9 above, the corporate body called
the âAyirattelunurruvarâ were to be in charge of this charity also.
No. 16-A
(A.R. No. 26 of 1912.)
Tiruchchendur, Tiruchchendur Taluk, Tirunelveli District.
On two slabs setup in the Subrahmanyasvamin temple.
This
inscription of Varaguna-Maharaja registers the gift by the king, of
1,400 kasu for meeting the various annual requirements of the temple of
Subrahmany-bhatarar. The money was
invested by the kingâs three officers Iruppaikkudikilavan, Sattamperuman
and Alarrurnattukkon with the administrative bodies of various villages which
were required to pay annually interest in grain to the temple at two kalam
per kasu per year.
The record
is dated in the year 13 opposite to a certain year (lost), of the kingâs
reign. The amount of 1,400 kasu
is stated to have been made over on the 5001st day (line 7).
Published
in Epigraphia Indica, Vol. XXI, pp. 101 ff.
No. 17
(A. R. No. 10 of 1927.)
Vijayanarayanam, Nanguneri Taluk, Tirunelveli District.
On the south wall of the Manonmanisvara temple.
The
subjoined inscription is dated in the 2nd year of Maranjadaiyan
and registers that Panchavan-Pallavaraiyan alias Vel-Sendil of
Korrampullankudi in Mudukudi-nadu purchased some lands from the sabha of
Vijayanarayna-chaturvedimangalam, a brahmadeya in Nattarruppokku and
gave them to the temples of Raghva-Perumal-nadigal and Manomayanlchchurattur-Perumanadigal.
The names of another god Tantonripperumanadigal and of a channel Paramechchuvara-vaykkal are
mentioned. While describing the
boundaries of the land in question.
No. 18
(A. R. No. 85 of 1927.)
Tirunelveli, Tirunelveli Taluk, Tirunelveli District.
On the north wall of the Narasimha-Perumal temple.
This
Vatteluttu record is dated in the 2nd year of the reign of Maranjadaiyan
and registers a gift of cows made by Sattanammai, for burning a lamp in the
temple of Brahmapurittevar at Tirunelveli, on behalf of Sattan-Deyam, a devaradiya
of Tirunelvel in Kil-Vemba-nadu. Etti-Jatavedan,
a vettikkudi agreed to burn the lamp and Mananadai-Madevan, another vettikkudi
stood security (punai) for the former.
It is
possible that the temple was originally one of Siva called
Brahmapurittevar. A record of rajaraja
I dated in the 12th year of his reign also refers to the god by this
name only (No. 84 of 1927) ; and it is only in a record of Jatavarman
Kulasekhara (No. 83 of 1927) that the Narasimha-Perumal is referred to as
Vikrama-Pandya-vinnagar-Alvar.
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No. 19
(A. R. No. 128 of 1905.)
Tirukkurungudi, Nanguneri Taluk, Tirunelveli District.
On a stone belonging to the Nambi temple (now in the Madras Museum).
This
Vatteluttu inscription of Maranjadaiyan is dated in the 4th
year and registers a sale by the mahasabhaiyar of Vaikuntha-valanadu
in Nattarruppokku to Panchavan Brahmadhirajan alias Sendan-Sattan of Nellittola in Malai-nadu,
who made it over to the temple of god Emberuman, who was pleased to be
stationed at Tirukkurungudi, for providing offerings, etc., therein. This record may, for paleographical
considerations be assigned to Varaguna-Maharaja I.
There is a
shrine of the god Sasta in the Vishnu temple at this place. This is peculiar, and its existence has to
be accounted for by the vicinity of Tirukkurungudi to Travancore, were worship
of Sasta is popular. Sendan-Sattan of
Malai-nadu was evidently a Malayala brahmana and he appears to have been a
person of some note, as indicated by the title Panchavan-Brahmadhiraja born by
him, apparently as a Pandya official.
No. 20
(A. R. No. 21 of 1930-31.)
Trukkodikaval, Kumbakonam Taluk, Tanjore District.
On the west wall of the Tirukkotisvara Temple.
This
record is stated to be a copy of an earlier inscription dated in the 4th
year of the reign of Maranjadaiyan and relates to the gift of 15 kalanju
for burning a lamp in the temple of Tirukkodika-Mahadeva, by Araiyan-Kalvan of
Panaiyur in Peraiyur-nadu. The money
was left in the custody of the sabha of Naranakka-chaturvedimangalam.
The
original stray stones on which the record had been engraved having become
useless, it is said that they were replaced and the old record re-engraved on
the new stones.
No. 21
(A. R. No. 37 of 1930-31.)
Tirukkodikaval, Kumbakonam Taluk, Tanjore District.
On the south wall of the Tirukkotisvara temple.
The record
stated to be a copy of another inscription made during some repairs in the
temple states that Varaguna-Maharajar endowed 180 kalanju of gold
for burning from the interest thereon three perpetual lamps before the images
of Sri Sarasvati and Ganapati in the temple at Tirukkodika alias
Kannamangalam. The existence of an
auxiliary shrine for the goddess Sarasvati at this early period is of interest. The regnal year in this inscription appears
to be some numeral, of which the first digit is 1, but there appears to be some
mistake in the copy.
No. 22
(A. R. No. 705 of 1905.)
Ayyampalaiyam, Palani Taluk, Madurai District.
Above the natural cave on the hill called
Aivarmalai.
This
Vatteluttu record which couples the 8th regnal year of king Varaguna
with Saka 792 and the Anaimalai inscription of Jatila-Parantaka which is
dated in the Kali era form the two important landmarks in early Pandya
chronology. The present epigraph yields
A.D. 862-3 as the date of accession of Varaguna. It registers a gift of 505 kanam of gold by
Santivirakkuravar of Kalam, the disciple lof Gunavirakkuravadigal for offerings
to the images of Parisva-Bhatara, i.e., Parsvanatha and of the attendant yeakshis which he had renovated and for the
feeding of one ascetic.
The images
sculptured on the brow of the cavern on this hill, as well as the references in
this record indicate that a Jaina colony flourished on this hill in the 9th
century A.D. It may be noted that the
hill is called Tiruvayirai, which is the name by which it is referred to in early Tamil literature.
No. 23
(A. R. No. 295 of 1916.)
Singampatti, Ambasamudram Taluk, Tirunelveli District.
On a rock in a field at
Melai-Singampatti.
This
highly damaged Vatteluttu record belongs to the 8th year of
the king Maranjadaiyan, but nothing more than his name can be traced in
this inscription.
No. 24.
(A. R. No. 17 of 1907.)
Tiruvisalur, Kumbakonam Taluk, Tanjore District.
On the south wall of the Sivayoganatha temple.
This
record which is built in at the right end is dated in the year opposite to the
[13]th year of the reign of [Vara]guna-maharaja and appears to
refer to some gift, the details of which are not available, to the god
Tiruvisalur of Avaninarayana-chaturvedimangalam.
No. 25
(A. R. No. 311 of 1904.)
Tirugokarnam, Alangudi Taluk, Pudukkottai State (now
Tiruchchirappalli District).
On the south wall of the Gokaranesvara temple.
This record dated in the 17th year of the
reign of Maranjadaiyan registers a gift of gold by Varagunavadiyaraiyan alias Nakkan-Setti of Kalkurichchi in
Kaviappal, a village in Valla-nadu. The
record may be assigned to Varagunavarman as the name Varaguna-vadiyaraiyan is
borne by the donor in it. The
characters of such this inscription is engraved are some what peculiar as their
top-strokes have curve.
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