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.59
on
the east, north and west walls of the chandesvara shrine
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This and the next inscription (No. 60) are engraved on the
walls of the small shrine of Chandesvara, which is situated opposite to the
North entrance of the central shrine of Rajarajesvara. No. 59 describes one
diadem and nine girdles for the use of the image of Rajarajesvara, the chief
idol of the temple. These ornaments were made partly of gold and jewels from
the temple treasury, and partly of pearls, which king Rajarajadeva had presented
to the temple before the 29th year of his reign. A number of corals,
which formed part of the ornaments, were purchased by the temple treasurers for
gold, which the king had seized after conquering the Chera king and the Pandyas[1]
(paragraphs 2, 3, 4, 9 and 11) in Malainadu (paragraph 3).
This inscription is referred to as being engraved on the
walls of the temple of Chandesvara in paragraph 1 of the inscription No. 3,
which is a mere continuation of the present inscription.
Translation
1. Hail! Prosperity! [The sacred ornaments] of jewels of
the first quality, made (partly) of [gold] and jewels [of the first
quality, which had accumulated] in the treasury [of the lord of the
Sri-Rajarajesvara (temple)], â excluding those which [were exhibited (to
the public?) at the treasury of the lord of the Sri-Rajar]ajesvara (temple),
â and (partly) of jewels, which the lord Sri-Rajrajadeva had been
pleased to give (to the temple) [until deva], who, â while (his)
heart rejoiced, that, like the goddess of fortune, the goddess of the great
earth had become his wife, â in his life of growing strength, during which,
having been pleased to destroy the ships (at) Kandalur-Salai,[2]
he conquered by his army, which was victorious in great battles, Vengai-nadu,
Ganga-padi, Tadigai-padi, Nulamba-padi, Kudamalai-nadu, [Kollam, Kalingam],
Ira-manadalam, (the conquest of which) made (him) famous (in)
the eight directions and the seven and a half lakshas of Iratta-padi, â
deprived the Seriyas of their splendour, while (he) was resplendent (to
such a degree) that (he) was worthy to be worshipped everywhere, â
[were weighed by the jewel weight called (after) Dakshina-Meru-Vitankan,
exclusive of the threads and of the frames, (but) inclusive of the lac
and of the pinju, and were engraved on stone] (as follows): -
2. One diadem (vira-patta),[3]
made [for the lord of the] Sri-Rajara[jesvara (temple)] (and
containing) three hundred and forty-three ka[ranju and] . . . . .
. . .. . . . . of gold, which was a quarter inferior in fineness of the (gold
standard called) dandavani . . . . . . . . . .[crystals, which were
fastened (on it), weighed . . . . . . . . . seven kara]nju
and [(one) manjadi]. [Three potti] weighed (one) ma[njadi].
Ten [diamond crystals] weighed (one) manjadi and (one) kunri.
The lac in (it) and the bands (bandha) weighed two hundred and
seventy-six [karanju and a half, and] three manjadi. [The pinju
weighed . . . . . . . . . . . . karanj]ju and three quarters,
four manjadi and (one) kunri. Sixty-four corals, which were
strung on it (and taken) from the corals, for which the treasurers [of
the chief jewels] supplied the funds [from the gold], which the lord
Sri-Rajarajadeva [had seized after conquering] the Chera king and the Pandyas,
weighed seven karanju, eight manjadi and (one) kunri. [Thirteen]
thousand three hundred and [twenty]-eight [pearls], (which were taken from)
the pearls of [the second quality], which the lord Sri-Rajarajadeva had poured
out as flowers at the sacred feet and with which he had worshipped the feet of
the god, (viz.,) round pearls, roundish pearls, polished pearls, small
pearls, nimbolam, payittam, ambumudu, crude pearls, twin pearls, sappatti,
sakkattu (pearls) of brilliant water and of red water, weighed five
hundred and forty-seven karanju. Altogether, (the diadem) weighed one thousand one hundred
and ninety-seven karanju seven manjadi and (one) kunri,
and was worth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . kasu.
3. One . . . . . . . . . . . . sacred girdle,[4]
made for the lord (and containing) eight hundred and three karanju,
nine manjadi and (one) kunri of gold, which was a quarter
inferior in fineness to the dandavani. [Thirty] . . . . . . . . . . . Crystals,
which were fastened (on it) [weighed three ka[ranju and
nine manjadi. The pinju weighed (one) karanju and a
half, three manjadi and (one) kunri. Five thousand six
hundred and eleven pearls, which were strung on it (and taken from) the
pearls, which the lord Sri-Rajarajadeva had poured out as flowers at the sacred
feet and with which he had worshipped the feet of the god, (viz.,) round
pearls, roundish pearls, polished pearls, small pearls, pearls of brilliant
water and of red water, weighed two hundred and thirty-five karnju and
three quarters, and two manjadi. Fifty-seven corals, which were strung
(on it and taken) from the corals, for which the treasurers of the
chief jewels supplied the funds from the gold, which (the king) had
seized after conquering the Chera king and the Pandyas in Malainadu, weighed
seven karanju and (one) kunri. Altogether, (the girdle)
weighed one thousand and fifty-one karanju, nine manjadi and (one)
kunri, and was worth two thousand kasu.
4. One sacred girdle made of gold, which had been taken
from the treasury, (and containing) ten karanju and three
quarters, and (one) kunri of gold, which was a quarter inferior
in fineness to the dandavani. The lac weighed nine karanju and
six manjadi. The pinju weighed three quarters (of a karanju)
and two manjadi. Fifteen crystals, which were fastened (on it),
weighed (one) karanju and three manjadi. Three potti
weighed four manadi and (one) kunri. Two thousand and
seventy-seven pearls, which were strung (on it and taken from the pearls)
of the second quality, which the lord Sri-Rajarajadeva had poured out as
flowers at the sacred feet and with which he had worshipped the feet of the
god, (viz.,), round pearls, roundish pearls, polished pearls, small
pearls, nimbolam, payittam, ambumudu crude pearls, sappatti,
sakkattu, twin pearls, pearls, pearls of brilliant water and of red water,
weighed fifty-fourkaranju and a half, and two manjadi. Thirty
corals, which were strung (on it and taken) from the corals, for which
the treasurers of the chief jewels supplied the funds from the gold, which (the
king) had seized after conquering the Chera king and the Pandyas, weighed
three quarters (of a karanju) and two manadi. Altogether, (the
girdle) weighed seventy-seven karanju and three quarters, and was
worth one hundred kasu.
5. One sacred girdle made of gold, which had been taken
from the treasury, (and containing) ten karanju and three
quarters of gold, which was a quarter inferior in fineness to the dandavani.
The lac weighed nine karanju, eight manjadi and (one) kunri.
The pinju weighed three quarters (of a karanju) and two manjadi.
Fifteen crystals, which were fastened (on it), weighed (one) karanju.
Three potti weighed three manjadi. [One thousand] five hundred
and forty-one pearls, which were strung (on it and taken) from the
pearls of the second quality, which the lord Sri-Rajarajadeva had poured out as
flowers at the sacred feet and with which he had worshipped the feet of the
god, (viz.,) round pearls, roundish pearls, polished pearls, small
pearls, nimbolam, payittam, ambumudu, crude pearls, twin pearls, sappatti
sakkattu pearls, of brilliant water and of red water, weighed forty-three karanju
and three quarters, and two manjadi. Twenty-four corals, which were
strung (on it and taken) from the corals in the treasury, weighed (one) karanju.
Altogether, (the girdle) weighed sixty-seven karanju and (one)
kunri and was worth ninety kasu.
6. One sacred girdle, made of gold which had been taken
from the treasury, (and containing) [ten kara]nju and a
half, four manjadi and eight tenths of gold, which was a quarter
inferior in fineness to the dandavani. The lac weighed eight karanju
and a half, three manjadi and (one) kunri. The pinju
weighed three quarters (of a karanju). Fifteen crystals, which were
fastened (on it), [weighed three] quarters (of a karanju),
three manjadi and (one) kunri. Three potti weighed
three manadi and two tenths. One thousand five hundred and ninety
pearls, which were strung (on it and taken from the pearls) of the
second quality, which the lord Sri-Raajarajadeva had poured out as flowers at
the sacred feet and with which he had worshipped the feet of the god, (viz.,)
round pearls, roundish pearls, polished pearls, small pearls, nimbolam,
payittam, ambumudu, crude pearls, twin pearls, sappatti sakkattu,
pearls of brilliant water and of red water, weighed forty-five karanju
two manjadi and (one) kunri. Twenty-four corals, which
were strung (on it and taken) from the corals in the treasury, weighed three
quarters (of a karanju), three manjadi and (one) kunri.
Altogether, (the girdle) weighed sixty-seven karanju and six manjadi,
and was worth ninety-five kasu.
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7. One sacred girdle, made of gold which had been taken
from the treasury, (and containing) ten karanju and a half, and
four manjadi of gold, which was a quarter inferior in fineness to the dandavani.
The lac weighed eight karanju and three quarters, and two manjadi.
The pinju weighed three quarters (of a karanju), (one) manjadi
and (one) kunri. Fifteen crystals, which were fastened (on it),
weighed (one) karanju and two manjadi. Three [potti]
weighed two manjadi and (one) kunri. One thousand six hundred and twenty-five
pearls, which were strung (on it and taken from the pearls) of the second
quality, which the lord Sri-Rajarajadeva had poured out as flowers at the
sacred feet and with which he had worshipped the feet of the god, (viz.,)
round pearls, roundish pearls, polished pearls, small pearls, nimbolam,
payittam, ambumudu, crude pearls, twin pearls, sappatti, sakkattu,
pearls of brilliant water and of red water weighed forty-three karanju and
(one) manjadi. Twenty-four corals, which were strung (on it and taken)
from the corals in three treasuries, weighed (one) karanju. Altogether,
(the girdle) weighed sixty-five karanju and a half, and three manjadi,
and was worth ninety kasu.
8. One sacred girdle, [made of gold which had been taken
from the treasury], (and containing) ten karanju and a half, and
four manjadi of gold, which was a quarter inferior in fineness to the dandavani.
The lac weighed eight karanju and three quarters, and (one) kunri.
The pinju weighed three quarters (of a karanju). Fifteen
crystals, which were fastened (on it), weighed (one) karanju
and (one) kunri. Three potti weighed two manjadi
and (one) kunri. [One thousand] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. pearls, which were strung (on it and taken from the pearls) of the
second quality, which the lord Sri-Rajarajadeva had poured out as flowers at
the sacred feet and with which he had worshipped the feet of the god, (viz.,)
round pearls, roundish pearls, polished pearls, small pearls, payittam,
ambumudu, crude pearls, twin pearls, sappatti, sakkattu, pearls
of brilliant water and of red water, weighed forty-one karanju and a
half, and (one) kunri. Twenty-four corals, which were strung (on
it and taken) from the corals in the treasury, weighed (one) karanju.
Altogether, (the girdle) weighed sixty-three karanju and three
quarters, and three manjadi, and was worth [ninety] kasu.
9. One sacred girdle made of gold, which had been taken
from the treasury, (and containing) ten karanju and three
quarters, and [two] manjadi of gold, which was a quarter inferior in
fineness to the dandavani. [The lac weighed eight] karanju and
three quarters, two manjadi and (one) kunri. The pinju
weighed three quarters (of a karanju) and two manjadi. Fifteen
crystals, which were fastened (on it), weighed (one) karanju,
four manjadi and (one) kunri. Three potti weighed two manjadi
and (one) kunri. One thousand five hundred and eighty-six pearls,
which were strung (on it and taken from the pearls) of the second
quality, which [the lord Sri-Rajaraja]deva had poured out as flowers at the
sacred feet and with which he had worshipped the feet of the god, (viz.,)
round pearls, roundish pearls, polished pearls, small pearls, nimbolam,
payittam, ambumudu, crude pearls, twin pearls, sappatti, sakkattu,
[pearls of] brilliant water and of red water, weighed forty-one karanju,
seven manjadi and (one) kunri. Twenty-four corals, which were strung (on
it and taken) from the corals, for which the treasurers of the chief jewels
supplied the funds from the gold, which (the king) had seized after
conquering the Chera king and the Pandyas, [weighed half a karan]ju
and four manjadi. Altogether, (the girdle) weighed sixty-four karanju,
and was worth ninety kasu.
10. One sacred girdle, made of gold which had been taken
from the treasury, (and containing) ten karanju and three
quarters, and (one) majadi of gold, which was a quarter inferior
in fineness to the dandavani. The lac weighed eight karanju and a
half, and (one) kunri. The pinju weighed three quarters (of
a karanju). Fifteen crystals, which were fastened (on it),
weighed three quarters (of a karanju), two manjadi and (one)
kunri. [Three potti weighed] two manjadi and three tenths. One
thousand . . . . . . . . . hundred and thirty-four pearls, which were strung (on
it and taken from the pearls) of the second quality, which the lord
Sri-Rajarajadeva had poured out as flowers at the sacred feet and with which he
had worshipped the feet of the god, (viz.) round pearls, roundish
pearls, polished pearls, small pearls, nimbolam, payittam, mabumudu,
crude pearls, twin pearls, sappatti sakkattu, pearls of brilliant
water and of red water, weighed forty-one karanju, four manjadi
and one tenth. Twenty-[four] corals, which were strung (on it and taken)
fro the corals in the treasury, weighed (one) karanju. Altogether,
(the girdle) weighed [sixty]-three karanju and a quarter, and
four tenths (of a manjadi), and was worth ninety kasu.
11. One sacred girdle, made of gold which had been taken
[from the treasury], (and containing) ten karanju and three
quarters of gold, which was a quarter inferior in fineness to the dandavani.
The lac weighed nine karanju and a half. The pinju weighed three
quarters (of a karanju) and two manjadi. Fifteen crystals, which
were fastened (on it), [weighed (one) karanju, two man]jadi
and (one) kunri. Three potti weighed two manjadi
and (one) kunri. [One thousand] five hundred and sixty-six
pearls, which were strung (on it and taken from the pearls) of the
[second] quality, which the lord Sri-Rajarajadeva had poured out as flowers at
the sacred feet and with which he had worshipped the feet of the god, (viz.,)
round pearls, roundish pearls, polished pearls, small pearls, nimbolam,
payittam, ambumudu, crude pearls, twin pearls, sappatti, sakkattu
pearls of brilliant water and of red water, weighed forty karanju and
three quarters, and two manjadi. Twenty-four corals, which were strung (on
it and taken) from the corals, for which the treasurers of the chief jewels
supplied the funds from the gold, which (the king) had seized after
conquering the Chera king and the Pandyas, weighed three quarters (of a karanju)
and four manadi. Altogether, (the girdle) weighed sixty-four karanju
and three manjadi, and was worth ninety kasu.
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No. 60 On the south
wall of the Chandesvara shrine
This inscription records that, before the 2nd
year of the reign of Rajendra-Choladeva, four water-pots of gilt copper were
presented to the temple of Chandesvara. The donor was a temple manager, whose
name occurs in several other inscriptions of Rajaraja and Rajendra-Chola (Nos.
26, 38, 40, 41 and 43).
Translation
1. Hail! Prosperity! The water-pots (kuta) of
copper covered[5] with gold, â
which had been placed in the temple (koyil) of Chandesvara until the
second year (of the reign) of the lord Sri-Rajaendra-Soradeva by Adittan
Suryan, alias Tennavan Muvenda-Velan, a headman (of) Poygai-nadu,
who carried on the management of the temple of the lord Sri-Rajarajesvara, â were
weighed by the stone called (after) Adavallan, and engraved on stone (as
follows): -
2. One water-pot of copper covered with gold, which had
been placed in the temple of Chandevara, weighed three hundred and ninety-seven
karanju, â including five karanju and a half, and two manjadi
of gold which was laid over (it).
3. One copper water-pot weighed four hundred and one karanju,
â including six karanju and two manjadi of gold which was laid
over (it)
4. One copper water-pot weighed four hundred and five karanju,
â including five karanju and three quarters of gold which was laid over
(it).
5. One water-pot of copper which was covered with gold,
weighed three hundred and eighty-five karanju â including five karanju
and three quarters, two manjadi and (one) kunri of gold
lwhich as laid over (it).
No. 61 On the west
wall of the Brihannayaki shrine
This and the next inscription (No. 62) are engraved on the
west wall of a shrine, which is situated on the north side of the large Nandi. No.
61 is dated on the 334th day of the 2nd year of the reign
of a king, who styles himself Tribhuvanachakravartin Konerinmai-kondan. As I
have shown in the introduction to No. 21 (page 110), this is not a proper name,
but a title, which is applied to various kings. The inscription records, that
the king had built the shrine on which it is engraved, and which was called
Ulagu-murudum-udaiya-Nachchiyar, i.e., âthe goddess who own the whole
world,â within the Rajarajesvara temple at Tanjavur, and that he presented to
that shrine eleven veli of land in the village of Kottagarkkudi, alias
Ulag-anda-nayaki-nallur. The second name, which means âthe good village of the
goddess who rules the world,â was evidently bestowed on the village with
reference to the goddess, to whose shrine it was given. The four boundaries of
the land, which had been granted, were to be marked with stones, on which a
trident, the emblem of Siva, was engraved[6]
(paragraph 6).
Translation
1. Hail ! Prosperity! (The following are) the
contents of an order, which was written concerning (the village of)
Kottagarkkudi, alias Ulagandanayaki-nallur.
2. Tribhuvanachakravartin Konerinmai-kondan (addresses
the following order) to the authorities (tanattar) of the temple (koyil)
of the lord Sri-Rajarajesvara (at) Tanjavur: -
3. âFrom the month of Vaigasi in the second (year
of our reign), we have given as tax-free land eleven veli in
(the village of) Kottagarkkudi in Vidaiyapura-parru, (which forms)
the western portion (mel-kuru) of Arumorideva-valanadu, for (providng)
raw rice (amudu-padi) and other requirements to (the image of)
Ulagu-murudum-udaiya-Nachchiyar, which we have set up in this temple.
4. âLet it be engraved on stone and copper, that these
eleven veli of land shall remain (the property of that image) as
long as the moon and the sun endure!
5. âWe have ordered it to be engraved on stone and copper,
that this land shall be free from taxes, including the tax in money (kasu-kadamai),
(the taxes on) trees (maravadai), dry crops (pun-payir)
and tanks (kulavadai),[7]
the tax on measures (alavu-varga),[8]
urai-nari, (the share of) the village-watchman (who is placed)
over the Vettis, the eighth share (araikkalvasi)[9]
and all other taxes (varga), and including the dues[10]
(obtaining) within the site (nattam) of this village.â
6. This is the signature of Parandiparayar. âLet stones (marked)
with the sacred trident (tiru-sula) be set up at the four boundaries of
this l and!â This is the signature of the headman (udaiyan) of
Kodumalur. This is the signature of the headman of Kayalur. On the 334th
day of the second year (of the kingâs reign).
No. 62 On the west
wall of the Brihannayaki shrine
This modern inscription appears to record, that a certain
Mallappa-Nayakkar ordered the inhabitants of the village of Puliyur to build the
mandapa which adjoins the Brihannayaki shrine, and which was called âthe
mandapa of Murti-Amman,â and that he rewarded their services by
assigning to them the remnants of the offerings to the goddess for âas long as
the moon and the sun endure.â The name which is applied to the god of the
Tanjore temple in this inscription, Periya-Udaiya-nayanar, âthe great lord,â is
evidently the Tamil prototype of the present designation Brihad-Isvara.
Translation
As the stones (for) the manadapa of
Murti-Amman, â a mandapa (which) Mallappa-Nayakkar (had built in) the
temple (of) Periya-Udaiya-nayanar (at) Tanjavur, â were supplied
gratis (by) the inhabitants of Puliyur, and as these people did work
(gratis), it was ordered that the remnants of the offerings (prasada)
before the shrine should be given (to them). Accordingly, let (these
gifts) continue as long as the moon and the sun endure!
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