The Indian Analyst
 

South Indian Inscriptions

 

 

Contents

Preface

Introduction

Table of Contents

Text of the Inscriptions 

Part - I

Part - II

Part - III

Part - IV

Part - V

Other Inscription 

Chola Inscription

Telugu Inscriptions from Andra Pradesh

Pallava Inscriptions

Pandya Inscriptions

Telugu Inscriptions of the Vijayanagara Dynasty

Inscriptions Collected During 1903-1904

Other South-Indian Inscriptions 

Volume 1

Volume 2

Volume 3

Vol. 4 - 8

Volume 9

Volume 10

Volume 11

Volume 12

Volume 13

Volume 14

Volume 15

Volume 16

Volume 17

Volume 18

Volume 19

Volume 20

Volume 22
Part 1

Volume 22
Part 2

Volume 23

Volume 24

Volume 26

Volume 27

Tiruvarur

Darasuram

Konerirajapuram

Tanjavur

Annual Reports 1935-1944

Annual Reports 1945- 1947

Corpus Inscriptionum Indicarum Volume 2, Part 2

Corpus Inscriptionum Indicarum Volume 7, Part 3

Kalachuri-Chedi Era Part 1

Kalachuri-Chedi Era Part 2

Epigraphica Indica

Epigraphia Indica Volume 3

Epigraphia
Indica Volume 4

Epigraphia Indica Volume 6

Epigraphia Indica Volume 7

Epigraphia Indica Volume 8

Epigraphia Indica Volume 27

Epigraphia Indica Volume 29

Epigraphia Indica Volume 30

Epigraphia Indica Volume 31

Epigraphia Indica Volume 32

Paramaras Volume 7, Part 2

Śilāhāras Volume 6, Part 2

Vākāṭakas Volume 5

Early Gupta Inscriptions

Archaeological Links

Archaeological-Survey of India

Pudukkottai

South Indian Inscriptions, Volume 2

Tamil Inscriptions

part - ii

INSCRIPTIONS  OF THE TANJAVUR TEMPLE

INSCRIPTIONS ON THE WALLS OF THE ENCLOSURE, THE CHANDESVARA AND THE BRIHANNAYAKI SHRINES

No. 26 In the inner gopura, on the right of the entrance

The date and the historical introduction of this inscription are identical with those of No.24. It records two deposits of money, which were made by a manager of Rajarajesvara temple and lent out to the inhabitants of a certain village. The interest of the first deposit was to be paid in paddy and to be used for procuring various articles of consumption of thirteen yearly procession days. Paragraph 2 contains a list of these articles, which is as detailed as, and still more extensive than, the one given in the inscription No. 6, paragraphs 14 and 19. The interest of the second deposit was to be paid in money and to be used for purchasing camphor, which had to be burnt before the images of Rajarajesvara and Dakhina-Meru-Vitankar.

Translation

1. Hail! Prosperity! In the twenty-ninth year (of the reign) of Ko-Rajakesarivarman, alias Sri-Rajarajadeva, who, while (his) heart rejoiced, that, like the goddess of fortune, the goddess of the great earth had become his wife, — in his life of growing strength, during which, having been pleased to cut the vessel (in) the hall (at) Kandalur, he conquered by his army, which was victorious in great battles, Vengai-nadu, Gangapadi, Tadiya-padi, Nulamba-padi, Kudamalai-nadu, Kollam, Kalingam, Iramandalam, (the conquest of which) made (him) famous (in) the eight directions, and the seven and a half lakshas of Ratta-padi, — deprived the Seriyas of their splendour, while (he) was resplendent (to such a degree) that (he) was worthy to be worshipped everywhere: — there was engraved on stone (1) the money, which Adittan (i.e., Aditya) Suryan, alias Tennavan Muvenda-Velan, a headman (kiravan) (of) Poygai-nadu, who carried on the management of the temple (Srikarya) of the lord Sri-Rajarajesvara, had deposited until the twenty-ninth year (of the king’s reign), (to be put put) to interest (for purchasing) camphor (karpura), to be burnt instead of the wick (tiri) in the lamp (dipa), which is offered along with the incense (dhupa) to the lord of the Sri-Rajarajesvara (temple) and to (the image of) Dakshina-Meru-Vitankar; (2) the money, which (he) had deposited, to be put out to interest for (providing) the offerings (tiruvamidu) and other requirements of the image (tiru-meni) which is carried in procession (at) the monthly festival, and of (its) consort; and (3) the village, which had received this money on interest.

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2. (One) padakku by the Adavalan[1] (measure) of old rice for boiling (ponaga-para-arisi) (is required) for the offerings to the god who is carried in procession (at) the festival and (one) kuruni of old rice for boiling (is required) by his consort, after (both) images have entered (the sacred hall)[2] at the procession on (each of) thirteen festival days, viz., (at) the twelve festivals of Tiru-Sadaiyam, which are celebrated in the temple of the lord Sri-Rajarajesvara, and (at) the festival, which is celebrated o the single day of (the nakshatra) Karttigai in (the month of) Karttigai;[3] and (one) urakku and (one) arakku of old rice (are required) for appakkay[4] for boiling, or, — as fiva (measures of paddy) yield two (measures of rice), — seven kuruni, four nari, three urakku, (one) arakku, and two sevidu and a half of old paddy for boiling, or, — having added an increment (vasi), — two tuni, four nari (one) uri and (one) arakku[5] of mixed paddy (puri-nellu). Five nari (one) uri and (one) arakku of paddy (are required) for (one) nari, three urakku and (one) arakku of pulse (paruppu), viz., (one) nari and (one) uri of pulse (to be offered) with the boiled rice, and (one) urakku and (one) arakku of pulse for appakkay curry. Five nari and (one) uri of paddy (are required) for (one) arakku, one sevidu, and three quarters of a sevidu of pepper (milagu), viz., one sevidu and a half of pepper for fruit curry (kaykkari), three quarters of a sevidu of pepper for appakkay curry, three quarters of a sevidu of pepper for tamarind curry (pulingari), three quarters of a sevidu of pepper for curry cooked with tamarinds, and three sevidu of pepper for pepper powder (milagu-podi). Two nari, (one) urakku, (one) arakku and one sevidu of paddy (are required) for (one) arakku and one sevidu of mustard (kadugu), viz., three sevidu of mustard for fruit curry, one sevidu and a half of mustard for appakkay curry, and one sevidu and a half of mustard for tamarind curry. (One) nari of paddy (is required) for three quarters, three twentieths and three eightieths of a sevidu of cumin (jraka), viz., three twentieths and three eightieths of a sevidu of cumin for appakkay curry, three twentieths and three eightieths of a sevidu of cumin for curry cooked with tamarinds, seven twentieths and one fortieth of a sevidu of cumin for pepper powder, and three twentieths and three eightieths of a sevidu of cumin for tamarind curry. Two nari, (one) uri, (one) arakku and four sevidu of paddy (are required) for three palam and (one) kasu[6] and a half of sugar (sarkarai), viz., (one) kasu and a half of sugar for appakkay curry, two palam and (one) kasu of sugar for tamarind curry, and three kasu of sugar for the offerings, (One) kuruni and seven nari of paddy (are required) for (one) urakku, (one) arakku, three sevidu, and three quarters of a sevidu of ghee (ney), viz., three quarters of a sevidu of ghee for appakkay curry, three sevidu of ghee for fried curry (porikkari), and (one) urakku and (one) arakku of ghee for the offerings. (One) nari of paddy (is required) for eight palam of tamarinds, viz., one palam and a half of tamarinds for curry cooked with tamarinds, three kasu of tamarinds for tamarind curry, and five palam and three kasu of tamarinds for the sacred bath. (One) kuruni and one nari of paddy (are required) for three nari and (one) uri of curds for the offerings. (One) urakku of paddy (is required) for three sevidu of gram (kollu) for tamarind curry. Five nari of paddy

(are required) for eighteen plantains (varaipparam), viz., three plantains for tamarind curry, and fifteen plantains for the offerings. Six nari of paddy (are required) for curry. (One) urakku and (one) arakku of paddy (are required) for (one) urakku and (one) arakku of salt (uppu) for curry and curds. Two nari of paddy (are required) for twelve young leaves (kuruttu) on which the boiled rice (is offered). Four nari and (one) uri of paddy (are required) for thirty areca-nuts (adaikkay) and sixty betel-leaves (vellilai). (One) nari of paddy (is required) for (one) kasu of bark.[7] (one) kuruni and six nari of paddy (are required) for fire-wood (viragu). Altoglether, (one) kalam, (one) tuni and (one) padakku of mixed paddy (are required) on each sacred day, or nineteen kalam, (one) tuni and (one) padakku by the Adavalan (measure) of mixed paddy for the thirteen monthly festivals, which are celebrated every year. In order to realize (these), seventy-eight kasu were deposited (under the condition) that, as long as the moon and the sun endure, an interest of three kuruni of paddy per year for each kasu should be delivered into the large treasury of the lord (at) Tanjavur.

3. There were (further) deposited sixteen kasu (under the condition) that, as long as the moon and the sun endure, an interest of one eighth kasu per year for each kasu should be paid for (purchasing) five karanju and three quarters, three manjadi and two tenths of camphor,[9] viz., (1) three tenths (of a manjadi) of camphor per day, to be burnt instead of the wick in the lamp, which is offered along with the incense to the lord of the Sri-Rajarajesvara (temple) and to (the image of) Dakshina-Meru-Vitankar, or five karanju and eight manjadi of camphor per year, and (2) three tenths (of a manjadi) of camphor in excess of the daily rate, which is used for burning instead of the wick, on each of thirty-four days, viz., at the twelve festivals of Tiru-Sadaiyam, on the single day of (the nakshatra) Karttigai in (the month of) Karttigai, at the twelve samkrantis, and on the nine days of the great sacred festival (utsava), — altogether, half a karanju and two tenths (of a manjadi) of camphor. Altogether, ninety-four kasu (were deposited).[10]

4. The members of the assembly of [Perunangaiman]galam, a brahmadeya in Venni-kurram, (a subdivision) of Nittavinoda-valanadu, have to measure every year, as long as the moon land the sun endure, nineteen kalam, (one) tuni and (one) padakku of paddy into lthe large treasury of the lord with the marakkal called (after) Adavallan, which is equal to a rajakesari, for the seventy-eight kasu, which they have received (out of) this money after (the harvest of) the pasan in the twenty-eighth year (of the king’s reign), — the rate of interest being three kuruni of paddy per year for each kasu.

5. The same (villagers) have to pay every year, as long as the moon and the sun endure, two kasu into the treasury of the lord for (the remaining) sixteen kasu, which they have received after (the harvest of) the pasan[11] in the twenty-eighth year (of the king’s reign), — the rate of interest being one eighth kasu per year for each kasu.

No. 27 In the inner gopura, on the right of the entrance

This inscription records, that a minister of Rajarajadeva deposited a sum of money, the interest of which was to be spent for purchasing camphor. The deposit was made in the 28th, and the inscription itself engraved in the 29th year of the reign of Rajarajadeva.

Translation

1. There was engraved on stone (1) the money, which had been deposited until the twenty-ninth year (of the reign) of the lord Sri-Rajarajadeva, to be put out to interest for the benefit of the god, by Karayil-edutta-Padam, (who was a native of) Rajakesari-nallur in Inganadu, (a subdivision) of Arumorideva-valanadu, the headman (kiravan) of Rajakesari-nallur, and the royal minister who wrote the orders of the lord Sri-Rajarajadeva, and (2) the village, which had received the deposited money on interest.

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2. Fifty kasu were deposited (under the condition) that, as long as the moon and the sun endure, an interest of one eighth kasu per year should be paid for each kasu, so as to realize six kasu[12] for (purchasing), — at the rate of three karanju of camphor for each kasu, — eighteen karanju of camphor per year, viz., (one) manjadi of camphor per day, to be burnt instead of the wick in one perpetual sacred lamp[13] for the benefit of the god.

3. The members of the assembly of Perunangai[mangalam], a brahmadeya in Venni-kurram, (a subdivision) of Nittavinoda-valanadu, have to pay every year, as long as the moon and the sun endure, six and a quarter kasu into the treasury of the lord for these fifty kasu, which they have received after (the harvest of) the pasan in the twenty-eighth year (of the reign) of the lord Sri-Rajarajadeva, — the rate of interest being one eighth kasu per year for each kasu.

No.28 In the inner gopura, on the right of the entrance

This inscription is engraved underneath the preceding No. 27. It is considerably injured, especially in the first ten lines. The date is only partially preserved, but, to judge from paragraph 6, was the same as that of No. 27. The inscription records a deposit of money, the interest of which was to be used for feeding ten siva-yogins on each of twenty-four festival, days. The name of the donor is lost.

Translation

1. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2. The twenty-four days on which festivals are celebrated, are: — Thirteen monthly festivals, [including the twelve festivals] of Tiru-Sadaiyam, (which have been instituted by) [the lord] Sri-Rajarajadeva; one festival, celebrated on the day . . . . . . . . . . . .; one festival, celebrated on the day on which (the temple) is circumambulated from left to right[14] at the hoisting of the sacred banner [for the annual great festival]; and nine days on which the annual festival is celebrated.[15]

3. On each of these festival days, ten Siva-yogins who worship the lord, have to be fed in the hall (salai) of the temple.

4. Of twenty-five kalam of paddy per year, (one) kuruni and two nari by the Adavallan (measure) of paddy have to be given for one meal to each of the two hundred and forty Siva-yogins, who have to be fed on these twenty-four festival days.

5. For this purpose, one hundred kasu were deposited (under the condition) that, as long as the moon and the sun endure, an interest of three kuruni of paddy per year for each kasu should be delivered into the large treasury of the lord (at) Tanjavur.

6. The members of the assembly of [Peru]nan[gaimangal]am, a brahmadeya in [Venni]-kurram, [(a subdivision) of Nittavinoda-valanadu, have to measure] every year, as long as the moon and the sun endure, [twenty-five kalam of paddy] into the large treasury of the lord (at) Tanjavur with the marakkal called (after) Adavallan, which is equal to a rajakesari, for these one hundred kasu , which they have received after (the harvest of) the pasan in the twenty-eighth year (of the reign) of the lord Sri-Rajarajadeva, — the rate of interest being three kuruni of paddy per year for each kasu.


[1] This word is usually spelled with a double l.

[2] Compare No.6, paragraph 2.

[3] In order to make this sentence intelligible, I have left out some useless repetitions.

[4] According to the Tamil dictionaries, appam is the name of a plant, which is also called Puttuthirupi. The Dictionnaire Tamoul-Francais gives puttupazham as ‘a kind of edible fruit.’ As appam is synonymous with puttuthirupi, appakkai, ‘the appa fruit,’ may be the same as puttupazham ‘the puttu fruit.’

[5] Accodingly, an increment of 7 nari, 1 uri, 1 arakku and 2 ½ sevidu, or about 1/8, as in No. 35, paragraph 2, was added. A similar increment (erram) is referred to in No. 6, paragraphs 14 and 19.

[6] Kasu is another form of kaisu, on which see page 75, note 2.

[7] Sithari is probably the same as sithar ‘the thin bark of certain trees,’ which in the present case may have been used for lighting the kitchen fire.

[9] Accordingly, 2 karanju and 14 1/10 manjadi of camphor could be purchased for 1 kasu. In No. 27, paragraph 2, the rate is 3 karanju, and in No. 9, paragraph 2, 2 ½ karanju per kasu.

[10] Viz., 78 kasu for paddy (paragraphs 2 and 4) and 16 kasu for camphor (paragraphs 3 and 5)

[11] Pisan is another form of pasan, pasanam or pisanam see page 74, note 1.

[12] As stated correctly in paragraph 3, 1/8 of 50 is 6 ¼ . The inscription does not say what became of the additional ¼ kasu.

[13] Nonthavilakku or, as it is frequently spelt in inscriptions, Nanthavilakku is perhaps a corruption of Nonthavilakku ‘a lamp, the wick of which need not be trimmed’ (because oil is continually supplied to it).

[14] Valanjai corresponds to the Sanskrit pradakshinikri.

[15] Compare No. 26, paragraph 3.

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