South
Indian Inscriptions, Volume 2
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Tamil
Inscriptions
part
- ii
INSCRIPTIONS
OF THE TANJAVUR TEMPLE
INSCRIPTIONS
ON THE WALLS OF THE ENCLOSURE, THE CHANDESVARA AND THE
BRIHANNAYAKI SHRINES
No.57
on
the outside of the east enclosure
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This
inscription is engraved on the left of the entrance to
the second gopura,[1] the inside of which bears the inscriptions Nos. 24 to 28. Paragraph 1
states, that it is the continuation of another inscription, now much
obliterated, to the north of âthe gate of Rajaraja,â i.e., to the right
of the second gopura. As the
preserved portion of the inscription is not dated, it remains doubtful if it
has to be assigned to the reign of Rajarajadeva or to that of Rajendra-Choladeva.
It consists of a list of villages, which had to supply watchmen for the temple.
Translation
1. As, â after the stone had been inscribed on the north of
the sacred gate (tiru-vasal) of [Sri]-Rajaraja . . . . . . . . up to the
shrine (alaya) of Isanamurti, â the space at that spot was not
sufficient, the portion, which was missing there, was engraved on stone at this
spot, (as follows): -
2. The members of the assembly of
Rajasraya-chaturvedimangalam in Uraiyur-kurram, (a subdivision) of
Keralantaka-valanadu, have to supply two temple watchmen.[2]
3. The members of the assembly of
Arinjigai-chaturvedimangalam[3]
in the same nadu have to supply one temple watchman.
4. The villagers of Va[ya]lur in the same nadu have
to supply one temple watchman.
5. The villagers of Karuppur in the same nadu have to supply
[one] temple watchman.
6. [The members of the assembly] of . . . . . . . . .
tandalai in Mi[ko]t[ta-nadu],[4]
(a subdivision) of [Keralantaka-va]landau, have to supply one temple
watchman.
7. The [members of the assembly of]
Utta[masili]-chaturvedimangalam in Vila-nadu, (a subdivision) of
Pandyakulasani-valanadu, have to supply one temple watchman.
8. The members of the assembly of
Soramahadevi-chaturvedimangalam in the same nadu have to supply one
temple watchman.
9. The members of the assembly of Idaiyarru-mangalam in
Idaiyarru-nadu, (a subdivision) of Pandyakulasani-valanadu, have to
supply one temple watchman.
10. The members of the assembly of Nallur, alias
Panchavamahadevi-chaturvedimangalam, in Nallur-nadu, (a subdivision) of
Nittavinoda-valanadu, have to supply one temple watchman.
11. The villagers of Kundavai-nallur in Ka[rambai-nadu], (a
subdivision) of Nittavinoda-valanadu, have to supply one temple watchman.
12. The villagers of Kundavai-nallur in [Kir]ar-kurram, (a
subdivision) of Nitta-vinoda-vala[nadu], have to supply one temple
watchman.
13. The members of the assembly of Irumbudal, alias
Manukulasulamani-chaturvedimangalam, in A[vur-ku]rram, (a subdivision)
of Nittavinoda-valanadu, have to supply one temple watchman.
14. The villagers of [V]ilattur in Avur-kurram, (a
subdivision) of the same nadu, have to supply [one] temple watchman.
15. The members of the assembly of
Ja[nan]atha-chturvedimanagalam in Mudichchonadu,[5]
(a subdivision) of [Nitta]vi[noda-va]landau, have to supply one temple
watchman.
16. The members of the assembly of Sirrina[var], alias
Paramesvara-chaturvedimangalam, in the same nadu have to supply one
temple watchman.
17. The members of the assembly of [Ki] . . . . . . . . [p]undi,
alias Olokamahade[I]chat]rvedimangalam, in Venni-kurram, (a subdivision)
of Nittavinoda-va[landau], have to supply one temple watchman.
18. The members of the assembly of Puva[nu]r, alias
Avanikesari-chaturvedimangalam, in the same [nadu] have to supply one
temple watchman.
19. The members of the assembly of [P]erunangai-mangalam in
the same nadu have to supply one temple watchman.
20. The villagers of Sirrambar in Pambuni-kurram, (a
subdivision) of [Nittavi]-noda-va[lana]du, have to supply [one] temple
watchman.
NO. 58. On the
outside of the north enclosure.
The outer face of the North wall of the temple enclosure
bears five inscriptions, one of Kulottunga and four of Rajarajadeva. Of these,
only the top lines are visible, while the lower portions are buried underground
to a depth of about five feet. With the permission of the Municipal
authorities, I excavated the whole of the first inscription, as it is the only
inscription of Kulottunga at Tanjavur. It is dated in the 15th year
of the reign of Ko-Rajakesarivarman, alias Kulottunga-Cholada, and opens
with a panegyrical introduction, which describes the achievements of this king.
Mr. V. Kanakaabhai pIllai has already published an inscription of the 42nd
year of the same reign at Tirukkarukkunram in the Chingleput district. I have
copies of a number of others. Three of these have the same introduction as the
Tanjavur and Tirukkarukkunram inscriptions, viz., one of the 18th
year at the Ranganatha temple, Srirangam, one of the 45th year at
Alangudi in the Tanjore district, and one of the 47th year at the
Jambukesvara temple, Srirangam. Others resemble the so-called smaller Leyden
grant.[6]
The king, to whose reign these inscriptions belong, is
identical with the hero of the kalingattu-Parani, a historical poem in
Tamil, extracts from which were published by Mr.
Kanakasabhai.[7]
This identity may be safely concluded from the mention of the following
particulars both in the inscriptions and in the poem: â 1. The conquest of
Chakrakotta by Kulottunga, while he was still a Yuvaraja. 2. The battle
at Manalur on the Tungabhadra. 3. The defeat of the five Pandyas. 4. The conquest of Kottaru. 5. The conquest of Kalinga.[8]
6. The name of one of Kulottungaâs queens, Tyagavalli.[9]
7. His surname Jayadhara.[10]
According to the Kalingattu-Parani, Kulottungaâs
father belonged to the lunar race, and his mother was the daughter of Rajaraja
or Gangaikonda-Chola of the solar race.
As pointed out by Mr. Kanakasabhai and Dr. Fleet, it follows from these
statements, that the hero of the poem is identical with the Eastern Chalukya
king Kulottunga-Chodadeva I., who reigned from A.D. 1063 to 1112; that his
unnamed father and mother were the Eastern Chalukya king Rajaraja I and Ammangadevi; and that his maternal
grandfather, â though inaccurately called Rajaraja in the text of the poem, â
was the Chola king Rajendra-Choladeva or Gangaikonda-Chola. A few important
details regarding the reign of Kulottunga I are recorded in the Chellur grant
of Vira-Choda. He was originally called Rajendra-Choda, â evidently after his
maternal grandfather, the Chola king Rajendra-Chola, â and ruled over the
country of Vengi. Having conquered Kerala, Pandya and Kuntala (the country of
the Western Chalukyas), he ascended the throne of the Chola kingdom under the
name Kulottungadeva. By his queen Madhurantaki, the daughter of the Chola king
Rajendradeva, he had seven sons. His original dominion, the country of Vengi,
he governed through viceroys, viz., 1. his paternal uncle Vijayaditya
VII. (A.D. 1063 to 1077); 2. his son Rajaraja II. (A.D. 1077 to 1078); and 3
his son Vira-Choda (A.D. 1078 to at least 1100). Some of these statements of the
Chellur grant are confirmed by the Kalingattu-Parani and by the
inscriptions of Kulottunga. His original name Rajendra-Choladeva occurs in two
inscriptions o the 2nd year of his reign at Kolar and at
Tiruvorriyur near Madras, while all later inscriptions call him
Kulottunga-Choladeva. His early war with the king of Kuntala is referred to in
the subjoined inscription (1. 3), and his subsequent accession to the throne of
the Chola kingdom, which had fallen into a state of anarchy, is recorded by the
same inscription (II. 4 to 9) and by the poem (x. 26 to 32). Victories over the
Pandyas are also narrated in the inscription (II. 18 ff. and 39 f f.) The
conquest of the Keralas is alluded to by the mention of the Western region ( I.
32), of the Western hill-country ( I. 54) and of the Sahya mountain (I. 52). A
short Sanskrit inscription at Chidambaram must be attributed to the ame Kulottunga-Chola
as the subjoined inscription, because it refers to the conquest of the five
Pandyas, of Kottara[11]
(i.e., Kottaru), of the Keralas, and of the Sahya Mountain.
There is yet another source for the history of
Kulottungaâs reign, â Bilhanaâs Vikramankadevacharita. In this poem he
is called âRajiga,[12]
the lord of Vengi,â and his accession to the Chola throne is placed immediately
before the defeat of the Western Chalukya king Somesvara II and the coronation
of the latterâs younger brother Vikramaditya VI. In A.D. 1076. According to the
Vikramankacharita, Rajiga was the ally of Somesvara II. And was put to
flight by Vikramaditya VI while Somesvara II was taken prisoner.[13]
Those who know the habits of Indian court-poets will not be surprised to find,
that the inscriptions of Kulottunga differ from the Vikramankacharita by
claiming the victory for the Cholas. In the subjoined inscription (II. 23 ff.)
Vikkalan, i.e., Vikramaditya VI., is said to have fled before Kulottunga
from Nangili (in Maisur) to the Tungabhadra river, which appears to have then
formed the southern limit of the Western Chalukya dominions. The smaller Leyden
grant and a few similar inscriptions of Kulottunga couple the name of Vikkalan
with that of Singanan, i.e., Jayasimha IV. Whom his elder brother
Vikramaditya VI. Appointed viceroy of Banavase.[14]
As the Vikramankacharita places Rajigaâs usurpation of the Chola throne
shortly before A.D. 1076, it follows that the reign of 49 years from A.D. 1063
to 1112, which he was only heir-apparent of the Chola kingdom. The name of his
predecessor on the Chola throne is not mentioned in the two chronicles. The Vikramankacharita
relates that, before Rajiga usurped the Chola throne, Vikramaditya VI married
the daughter of the then Chola king, and that after the latterâs death he
secured the throne to his wifeâs brother, who shortly after lost his life.[15] The Kalingattu-Parani (x. 26) calls
Kulottungaâs predecessor âthe king of kingsâ (mannar mannavan). The
eight canto of the same poem contains a short summary of the history of the
Cholas. The last verse (3) of this poetical history probably refers to the
reign of Kulottunga, and the preceding verse (29), which speaks of a king who
defeated the Kuntalas (i.e., the Western Chalukyas) at Kudal-Samgama, to
Kulottungaâs predecessor on the throne. The battle at Kudal-samgama, i.e.,
at the junction of the Tungabhadra and Krishna rivers, is referred to in
unpublished inscriptions of the Chola king Ko-Rajakesarivarman, alias
Vira-Rajendradeva, who claims to have defeated Ahavamalla (II) and his two sons
Vikkalan and Singanan at Punal-kudal-samgama. An inscription of the 5th
year of the reign of this king at Manimangalam in the Chingleput district
proves that he was still reigning after A.D. 1063, the year of the accession of
Vijayaditya VII. off Vengi,[16]
whom he alleges to have re-established in his dominions.[17]
This Vira-Rajendradeva appears to be âthe king of kingsâ who preceded
Kulottunga, and the father-in-law of Vikramaditya VI. The verse of the Kalingattu-Parani,
which mentions the battle at Kudal-samgama, is preceded by another verse (27),
which speaks of a king who won the battle at Koppai. This statement must refer
to the Chola king Ko-Parakesarivarman, alias Rajendradeva, whose
inscriptions record that he defeated Ahavamalla (II.) â at Koppam on the bank
of the big river,â i.e., at Koppa on the Tunga river in the Kadur
district of the Maisur state. This Rajendradeva is perhaps identical with that
Rajendradeva of the solar race, whose daughter Madhurantaki was married to
Kulottunga according to the Chellur grant. The subjoined table shows the
somewhat complicated relations between Kulottunga and his Chola predecessors: -
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Cholas
Eastern Chalukyas
Rajakesarivarman,
Danarnava
alias
Rajarajadeva

Parakesarivarman,
alias
Kundava, ..
Vimaladitya
Rajendra-Choladeva I.
married

Parakesarivarman,
alias Ammangadevi, ..
Rajaraja I
Rajendradeva
married

Rajakesarivarman,
alias Madhurantaki, Rajakesarivarman,
alias
Vira-Rajendradeva
married
Rajendra-Choladeva
II or
Kulottunga-Choladeva
I.
The last lines of the subjoined inscription contain the
name of Arumori-Nangai, the queen of Vira-Rajaendradeva, who, as previously
stated, appears to have been the predecessor of Kulottunga. There are no traces
of letters after the word deviyar in line 64, though there would have
been sufficient room for further lines on the same panel. It appears,
therefore, that the inscription was left unfinished by the engraver, perhaps
because political or private reasons prevented Arumori-Nangai from executing
the donation, which she intended to make to the temple.
Translation
(Line 1) Hail! Prosperity! While the wheel of his (authority)
rolled as far as the golden circle (i.e., Mount Meru) on the earth,
which was surrounded by the moat of the sea, that was (again) surrounded
by (his) fame, â Ko-Rajakesarivarman, alias the emperor (chakravartin)
Sri-Kulottunga-Choladeva,[18]
wedded first in the time (when he was still) heir apparent (ilango),
the brilliant goddess of victory at Sakkarakottam (Chakrakotta) by deeds of
valour.
(L. 2) (He) seized a herd of mountains of rut (i.e.,
rutting elephants) at Vayiragaram (Vajrakara).
(L. 3). (He) unsheathed (his) sword, showed
the strength of (his) arm, and spurred (his) war-steed, so that
the army of the spear-throwing king of Kondala (Kuntala) retreated.
(L. 4) Having established (his) fame, and having
put on the garland of (the victory over) the Northern region, (he) put
on by right (of inheritance) the pure royal crown[19]
of jewels, in order to stop[20]
the prostitution of the goddess with the sweet and excellent lotus-flower (i.e.,
Lakshmi) of the Southern region, and the loneliness of the goddess of the good
country whose garment is the Ponni (Kaveri)
(L. 9.) The kings of the old earth placed (on their
heads) his two feet as a large crown.
(L. 11.) The river (of the rules) of the ancient
king Manu swelled, (and) the river (of the sins) of the Kali
(age) dried up.
(L. 12.) (His) scepter swayed over every region;
the sacred shadow of (his) white parasol shone (as) the white
moon everywhere on the circle of the great earth; (and his) tiger (banner)[21]
fluttered on the matchless Meru (mountain).
(L. 16.) (Before him) stood many rows of elephants,
unloaded from ships and presented as tribute by the kings of remote islands
whose girdle was the sea.
(L. 18.) The big head of the brilliant king of the South (i.e.,
the Pandya) lay outside his golden town, being pecked by kites.
(L. 20.) Not only did the speech (of Vikkalan): â
âAfter this day a permanent blemish (will attach to Kulottunga), as
to the crescent (which is the origin) of (his) family,â[22]
â turn out wrong, but the bow (in) the hand of Vikkalan was not (even)
bent against (the enemy).
(L. 23.) While (Vikkalan) lost his pride, and while the
dead (bodies of his) furious elephants (covered) the whole (tract)
from Nangili[23] of rocky
roads to the Tungabhadra, which adorned the country (nadu) of Manalur, â
(his) boasted valor abated; the mountains which (he) ascended,
bent their backs; the rivers into which (he) descended, eddied and
breached (their banks) in their course; (and) the seas into which
(he) plunged, became troubled and agitated.
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(L. 32.) Being desirous of the rule over the Western
region, (he) seized simultaneously the two countries (pani)[24]
called Gangamandalam and Singanam,[25]
troops of furious elephants which had been irretrievably abandoned (by the
enemy), crowds of women (the angles of) whose beautiful eyes were as
pointed as daggers, the goddess of fame, and the great goddess of victory, who
changed to the opposite (side) out of fear, because (Vikkalan) himself
and (his) father had turned their backs again and again on many days.
(L. 39.) Beng pleased (to resolve) in (his)
royal mind to conquer with great fame the Pandimandalam (i.e., the
Pandya country), (he) depatched his great army, â which possessed
excellent horses (resembling) the waves of the sea, war-elephants (likewise
resembling) waves, and troops (resembling) water, â as though the
Northern Ocean was about to overflow the Southern ocean.
(L. 43.) (He) destroyed the jungle, which the five
Panchavas (i.e., Pandyas) had entered as refuge, when they became much
afraid on a battle-field where (he) fought (with them), turned
their backs and fled.
(L. 46.) (He) subdued (their) country, made
them catch hot fever (in) hills where woodmen roamed about, and planted
pillars of victory in every direction.
(L. 50) (He) as pleased to seize the pearl
fisheries, the Podiyil (mountain)[26]
where the three kinds of Tamil (fourished),[27]
the (very) center of the (mountain) Sayyam (Sahya, i.e.,
the Western Ghats) where furious rutting elephants were captured, and Kanni.[28]
(L. 53.) After (he) had fixed the boundaries of the
Southern (i.e., Pandya) country, every living being[29]
in the Western hill-country (Kudamalainadu)[30]
ascended to the great heaven.[31]
(L. 55.) (He) was pleased to bestow on the chiefs
of the agricultural tracts of his (country) settlements on the roads,
including (that which passed) Kottaru,[32]
in order that (his) power might rise (and) the enemies might be
scattered.
(L. 57.) In the fifteenth year (of the reign) of (this
king), who was pleased to sit (on his throne), while (his) valour
and liberality shone like (his) pearl-necklace of great splendour, and like
the flower-garland on (his) royal shoulders, â Arumori-Nangaiyar, alias
. . . . . . . . . . .[simha]n-mahadeviyar, who was the consort of the lord
Sri-Vira-Rajendradeva, . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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