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South
Indian Inscriptions, Volume 2
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Tamil
Inscriptions
part
- iii
INSCRIPTIONS
OF THE TANJAVUR TEMPLE
ADDITIONAL
INSCRIPTIONS IN THE TANJAVUR TEMPLE AND OTHER MISCELLANEOUS
RECORDS
No.63
On
the outside of the north enclosure
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From the published portion of No. 63, we learn that this
inscription consists of a list of shepherds who had to supply ghee for temple
lamps from the milk of a number of cattle, which had been presented to the
temple before the 29th year of the reign of Rajarajadeva by the king
himself and by others, or bought from the funds of the temple. To each lamp
were allotted 96 ewes,[1]
or 48 cows, or 16 she-buffaloes. The daily supply for each lamp was one urakku
of ghee.
Translation
1. Hail! Prosperity! Until the twenty-ninth year (of the
reign) of Ko-Rajakesarivarman, alias Sri-Rajarajadeva, who, in his
life of growing strength, during which, â (in) the belief that, as well as the
goddess of fortune, the goddess of the great earth had become his wife,â he was pleased to destroy the ships (at) Kandalur-Salai the
conquered by his army, which was victorious in great battles, Vengai-Nadu,
Ganga-padi, Nulamba-padi, Tadigai-padi, Kudamalai-nadu, Kollam, Kalingam, Ira-mandalam,
(the conquest of which) made (him) famous (in) the eight
directions,[2] and the seven and a half lakshas of
Iratta-padi, â deprived the Seriyas (i.e., the
Pandyas) of (their) splendour at the very moment when (they were)
resplendent (to such a degree) that (they were) worthy to be worshipped
everywhere;[3] â cattle
had been given by the lord Sri-Rajarajadeva[4] for (burning) sacred lamps before
the lord of the Sri-Rajarajesvara (temple); (other) cattle had
been given by (other) donors; and (other) cattle were represented
by funds (mudal),[5] as money (kasu) had been paid (for
their purchase into the temple treasury). (These) cattle were
assigned to shepherds (Idaiyar), who had to supply ghee for the sacred
lamps (from their milk), at the rate of ninety-six ewes, or forty-eight
cows, or sixteen she-buffaloes for each sacred lamp. Besides, calves and bulls
which were given along with cows, (had to be reckoned) as cows; lambs and rams
which were given along with ewes, as ewes; and buffalo calves and he-buffaloes
which were given along with she-buffaloes, as she-buffaloes. The shepherds, who
had received the battle, themselves and their people, (viz.,) their
relations, and the relations of the latter, had to supply ghee the treasury of
the lord, as long as the moon and the sun endure, at the daily rate of (one)
urakku of ghee by the Adavallan (measure) for each sacred lamp. (The
names of these shepherds) were engraved on stone as follows: â
2. The cattle, which had been given by the lord
Sri-Rajarajadeva, were assigned to sacred lamps as follows: â
3. From forty-eight cows, which were assigned to the
shepherd Surri Pakkaran (i.e., Bhaskara), who resides in the [Gandha]rva
Street within the limits of Tanjavur, â he
himself and his relations, (viz.) his uterine brothers [Surri] Nara[ n ]
an (i.e., Narayana) and Surri {Sira]lan,[6]
and (his) uncleâs son [So]lai Kuravan,[7]
[the shepherd] . . . . . . . who resides at Paru[vur] in
Vadakarai-kunra-kurram, alias Ut[tunga]tunga-valanadu, . . . . . . . . [have
to supply] for one sacred lamp . . . . . . . .
No. 64. On the outside of the north
enclosure
As appears from its 1st paragraph, this
inscription is a continuation of No. 63. The published portion of the 2nd
paragraph refers to a shepherd who had received 96 ewes,[8]
viz., 69 ewes given by Rajarajadeva, and 27 ewes purchased for 9 kasu,
in order to supply ghee for a temple lamp.
Translation
1. Hail! Prosperity! There were engraved on stone (the names
of the shepherds) to whom had been assigned, for (burning) sacred lamps, cattle
given by the lord Sri Rajarajadeva, cattle given by (other) donors, and
cattle which were represented by funds, as kasu and akkam
had been paid (for their purchase into the temple treasury): â
2. [To] the
shepherd . . . . . . . who resides in the Gandharva Street within the limits of
Tanjavur, were assigned sixty-nine ewes out of the cattle which had been given
by the lord Sri-Rajarajadeva; and (to the same shepherd) were given nine
kasu out of the money which had been deposited by the Perundaram
[Ut]tarang-udaiyan Kera[la-Vi]dividangan,[10]
alias [Vil]llava-Muvenda-Velan, for (burning) a sacred lamp,
which he had vowed (to put up) because the lord Sri-Rajarajadeva did not
take his lamp, which he had vowed (to put up) because the lord
Sri-Rajarajadeva did not take his life[11]
in the battle of Kori.[12]
[At the rate of three ewes for each kasu,
this comes to twenty-seven ewes. Altogether, (the shepherd received)
ninety-six ewes. From (these)]. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . .
No. 65 On the outside of the North
enclosure
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This inscription records an order of king Rajarajadeva, by
which he assigned a daily allowance of paddy to each of forty-eight persons,
whom he had appointed before the 29th year of his reign, in order to
recite the Tiruppadiyam in the temple, and to two persons who had to
accompany the others on drums. This statement is of considerable importance for
the history of Tamil literature[14]
as an unmistakable proof of the existence of the Saiva hymns which go by the
name of padigam or padiyam, and which are collected in the Devaram,
in the time of Rajaraja. The names of the fifty incumbents serve to corroborate
this identification of the Tiruppadiyam with the Devaram, as part
of them are derived from the names of the three authors of the Devaram, viz.,
Tirunanasambandan (paragraph 7) or Sambandan (10, 22, 34, 38, 42),
Tirunavukkaraiyan[15]
(6, 12, 14, 19, 28, 43, 45), and Nambi-Aruran (41, 44) or Aruran (19, 22). The
name of two other incumbents, Siralan (13, 15), is derived from Siraladevar,
one of the sixty-three Saiva devotees, who is referred to in No. 43, paragraph
19. A number of other names pre-suppose the existence of certain Saiva temples,
which without exception, are mentioned in the Periyapuranam. Among these are the temples at Tiruvanjiaym
(2), Arur (8) or Sri-Arur (21), Tiruvaymur (3), Maraikkadu (41) or
Tirumaraikka[du] (17), Aiyaru (46), and perhaps Tiruvidaimarudur (51). The name
Venkadan (16, 27, 29, 36, 40) is derivd from Venkadu or Tiruvenkadu, after
which the mother of the saint Siraladevar was called Tiruvenkattur-Nangai.[16]
The god at Chidambaram is alluded to by the names Ambalavan (11), Ambalattadi
(4, 47), Ambalakkuttan(18), Kuttan (20, 26, 29, 31, 49), Tillaikkuttan (49), Tillaikkaraisu
(33), and Eduttapadam (9, 24, 32).
The name Tiruvenaval (3) is identical with tiru-ven-naval,
âthe sacred white jambu treeâ in the Saiva temple on the island of
Srirangam near Trichinopoly. This temple is now called Jambukesvara,
Tiruvanaikkaval[17]
or (by the Post Office) Tiruvanaikkoyil. The first of these three names means
â(the image of) Isvara (i.e., Siva) (under) the jambu (tree),â
and the two others are corruptions of the ancient name of the locality, viz.,
Tiruvanaikka, âthe sacred elephant-grove.â The full designation of the god, as
used in the Jambukesvara inscriptions, is âthe lord of the sacred
elephant-grove (Tiruvanaikka), alias the lord of the three worlds, who
is pleased to reside gladly under the shade of the sacred white jambu tree
(tiru-ven-naval).â This name and the modern name Jambukesvara refer to
an ancient legend, which is thus narrated in the Periyapuranam (p. 239
of the Madras edition of 1888): â âIn a grove near the Chandratirtha (i.e.,
the Moon-tank) in the Chola country, a linga of Siva made its appearance
under a white jambu tree (ven-navel). This was daily worshipped
by a white elephant. Therefore the place received the name of âthe sacred
elephant-groveâ (Tiruvanaikka). Over the linga, a spider constructed a
canopy, in order to prevent dry leaves from dropping on the linga. When
the elephant saw the cobwebs, he tore them down, because he considered them out
of place. The spider became angry, crawled into the trunk of the elephant and
bit it. The animal dashed its trunk on the ground and died. So did the spider.
In due course, the spider was reborn as the son of the Chola king Subhadeva and
of lhis queen Kamalavati. The boy received the name Ko-Sengannan[18] and inherited his fatherâs kingdom. He
possessed the faculty of remembering his former births and constructed a temple
of Siva near the white jambu tree in the sacred elepohant-grove, where
he, as a spider, had formerly worshipped the linga.â A distinct allusion
to this legend occurs in a Jambukesvara inscription of the Pandya king
Ko-Maravarman, alias Kulasekharadeva, which mentions, âthe sacred street
called after (the god) who transformed a spider into a Chola (king).â[19] That the legend, and the Jambukesvara
temple itself, was in existence in about A.D. 1000, may be concluded from the
subjoined inscription, in which the word tiruve[n]naval forms part of
the name of one of the donees.
Of historical interest is the name Rajadittan (47), which
appears to have been bestowed on its bearer in commemoration of Rajaditya, the Chola
contemporary of the Rashtrakuta king Krishna III.
Translation
1. Hail! Prosperity! Until the twenty-ninth year (of the
reign) of Ko-Rajakesarivarman, alias Sri-Rajarajrajadeva, who, in his
life of growing strength, during which, â
(in) the belief that, as well as
the goddess of fortune, the goddess of the great earth had become his wife, â he was pleased to destroy the ships (at) Kandalur-Salai, and
conquered by his army, which was victorious in great battles, Vengai-nadu,
Ganga-padi, Tadigai-padi, Nulamba-padi, Kudamalai-naldu, Kollam, Kalingam,
Ira-mandalam, (which was the country) of the Singalas who possessed rough
strength, the seven and a half lakshas of Iratta-padi, and twelve
thousand ancient islands of the sea, â deprived the Seriyas of (their) splendor at
the very moment when (they were) resplendent (to such a degree) that (they
were) worthy to lbe worshipped everywhere; â
the lord Sri-Rajarajesvara
(temple), â forty-eight musicians (Piddarar), one person
who should constantly beat the small drum[20]
in their company, and one person who should constantly beat the big drum
(kotti-mattalam)[21] in
their company. These fifty persons were to receive from the city treasury of
the lord a daily allowance (nibandha) of three kuruni of paddy
each, (measured) by the marakkal called (after) Adavallan, which is
equal to a rajakesari. Instead of those among these persons, who would
die or emigrate,[22] the
nearest relations of such persons were to receive that paddy and to recite the Tiruppadiyam.
If the nearest relations of such persons were not qualified themselves, they
were to select (other) qualified persons, to let (these) recite the Tiruppadiyam,
and to receive that paddy. If there were no near relations to such persons, the
(other) incumbents of such appointments[23]
were to select qualified persons for reciting the Tiruppadiyam, and the
person selected was to received the paddy in the same way, as that person
(whom he represented), had received it. Accordingly, (the names of these fifty
persons) were engraved on stone, as the lord Sri-Rajarajadeva had been pleased
to order: â
2. To Palan (i.e., Bala) Tiruvanji[ya]ttadigal,[24]
alias Rajaraja-Pichchan, alias Sadasivan, three kuruni of paddy per day.
3. To Tiruvenaval Sembor[chodi], alias Dakshina-Meru-Vitanka-Pichchan,
alias Nana-Sivan, three kuruni of paddy per day.
4.To Pattalagan[25]
[Am]balattadi,[26]
alias Manotma-Sivan,[27]
three kuruni of paddy per day.
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5. To Pattalagan Siru[d]aikkaral,[28]
alias Purva-Sivan, three kuruni of paddy per day.
6. To Porchuvaran Tirunavukkaraiyan, alias
Purva-Sivan, three kuruni of paddy per day.
7. To Maevan (i.e, Mahadeva) Tirunanasambandan, alias
Nana-Sivan, three kuruni of paddy per day.
8. To Kayilayan (i.e., Kailasa) Arur, alias
Darma-Sivan, three kuruni of paddy per day.
9. To [Set]ti Eduttap[adam],[29]
alias Kavacha-Sivan, three kuruni of paddy per day.
10. To Iraman (i.e., Rama) Sambandan, alias
Satya-Sivan, three kuruni of paddy per day.
11. To Amba[la]van-van-[Pa]t[ta]rga[l][30]
. . . . . . alias Vama-Sivan, three kuruni of paddy per day.
12. To Kam[b]an Tirunavukkaraiyan, alias Sadasivan,
three kuruni of paddy per day.
13. To Nakkan (i.e., Nagna) Siralan, alias
Vama-Sivan, three kuruni of paddy per day.
14. To [A]ppi Tirunavukkaraiyan, alias Natra-Sivan, three
kuruni of paddy per day.
15. To Sivakko[ru]ndu[31]
Siralan, alias Dharma-Sivan, three kuruni of paddy per day.
16. To Ainnurruvan Venkadan, alias Satya-Sivan, three
kuruni of paddy per day.
17. To Araiyan A[nu]kkan, alias Tirumaraikka . . . . .
[alias Dharma-Si]van, three kuruni of paddy per day.
18. To Araiyan Am[bala]kkuttan,[32]
alias Om[ka]ra-Sivan, three kuruni of paddy per day.
19. To Aruran Tirunavukaraiyan, alias Nana-Sivan,
three kuruni of paddy per day.
20. To Kuttan[33]
Maalaichchilam[b]u, alias Purva-Sivan, three kuruni of paddy per
day.
21. To Ainnurruvan Siy[a]rur,[34]
alias Ta[tpuru]sha-Sivan, three kuruni of paddy per day.
22. To[Samba]ndan Aruran, alias Vama-Sivan, three kuruni
of paddy per day.
23. To Araiyan Pich[chan], alias Dharma-Sivan, three kuruni
of paddy per day.
24. To Ka[syap]an Edutta[pa]da-Pichchan, alias
Rudra-Sivan, three kuruni of paddy per day.
25. To Subrahmanyan [A]chchan, alias Dharma-Sivan,
three kuruni of paddy per day.
26. To Kuttan Amarabhujamgan, alias Satya-Sivan,
three kuruni of paddy per day.
27. To . . . . . . . . Venkadan, alias Aghora-Sivan,
three kuruni of paddy per day.
28. Todevan Tirunavukkaraiyan, alias Vijnana-Sivan,
three kurni of paddy per day.
29. To Kuttan Venkadan, alias Rudra-Sivan, three kuruni
of paddy per day.
30. To Ainnurruvan Tiru[va]y[mu]r,[35]
alias Aghora-Sivan, three kuruni of paddy per day.
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31. To Tirumalai Kuttan, alias Vama-Sivan, three kuruni
of paddy per day.
32. To Ainnurruvan Eduttapadam, alias Dharma-Sivan,
three kuruni of paddy per day.
33. To Araiyan Tillaikkaraisu,[36]
alias Purva-Sivan, three kuruni of paddy per day.
34. To Ka[li] Sambandan, alias Dharma-Sivan, three kuruni
of paddy per day.
35. To Ka[p]alika-Vali, alias Nana-Sivan,
three kuruni of paddy per day.
36. To Venkadan Namassiva[yam], alias Rudra-Sivan,
three kuruni of paddy per day.
37. To Sivan Anantan, alias Yoga-Sivan, three kuruni
of paddy per day.
38. To Sivakkoru[ndu] Sambandan, alias Aghora-Sivan,
three kuruni of paddy per day.
39. To [Iraman Kanava]di (i.e., Ganapati), alias
Nana-Sivan, three kuruni of paddy per day.
40. To [Pi]chchan Venkadan, alias Aghora-Sivan, three
kuruni of paddy per day.
41. To Maraikkadan[37]
Nambi-Aruran, alias Nana-Sivan, three kuruni of paddy per day.
42. To So[m]an (i.e., Soma) Sambandan, alias Nana-Sivan,
three kuruni of paddy per day.
43. To Satti (i.e., Sakti) Tirunavukkaraiyan, alias
[Is]sana-Sivan, three kuruni of paddy per day.
44. To Porchuvaran Nambi-A[ruran], alias
Dharma-Sivan, three kuruni of paddy per day.
45. To Achchan Tirunavukkaraiyan, alias Netra-Sivan,
three kuruni of paddy per day.
46. To Aiyaran[38]
Pennorbagan,[39]
alias Hrida[ya-Si]van, three kuruni of paddy per day.
47. To Rajadi[tt]an Ambalattadi, alias Sikha-Sivan,
three kuruni of paddy per day.
48. To[S]elvan Ka[na]vadi Te[m]ban, alias
[Dharma-Si]van, three kuruni of paddy per day.
49. To Kuttan Tillaikkuttan,[40]
alias Nana-Sivan, three kuruni of paddy per day.
50. For beating the small drum, to Suryadeva-Kramavittan,[41]
alias . . . . . . Vidanga-Udukkai-Vijjadiran,[42]
alias Soma-Sivan, the son of [Ta]ttaya-Kramavittan of [Dv]edaigomapuram,[43]
three kuruni of paddy per day.
51. For beating the big drum, to Gunappu[ga]r Marudan,[44]
alias Sikha-Sivan, three kuruni of paddy per day.
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