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 - i

INSCRIPTIONS  OF THE TANJAVUR TEMPLE

INSCRIPTIONS ON THE WALLS OF THE CENTRAL  SHRINE

No. 6 On the South Wall second tier

This and the next inscription, though of different date, are engraved continuously in two sections. No. 6 fills the whole of the first section and part of the first line of the second section.

The inscription describes a number of gifts, which were made until the 29th year of the reign of Ko-Rajakesarivarman, alias Rajarajadeva, by Arvar Parantakan Kundavaiyar, who was the elder sister of Rajarajadeva and the queen of Vallavaraiyar Vandyadevar. As, according to the large Leyden grant,[1] Rajaraja was the son of Parantaka II. It is evident that the name of his sister, Parantakan Kundavaiyar, is an abbreviation for Parantakan magal Kundavaiyar, i.e., Kundavaiyar, the daughter of Parantaka (II.).

Paragraph 2 records a gift of gold to the same two goddesses, who are mentioned in the inscription No.2.[2] According to paragraph 1, these two images had been set up in the temple of Rajarajesvara by Kundaaiyar herhself. The same princess had set up an image of her mother, to which she presented certain ornaments (paragraphs 3 to 5). Other ornaments were given to the image of the god Dakshina-Meru-Vitankar (paragraphs 6 and 7), which had been set up by king Rajarajadeva (paragraph 1), and to his consort (paragraphs 8 and 9), who was one of the two goddesses referred to in paragraph 2. The remainder of the inscription treats of endowments to these two goddesses (paragraph 10), to the image of Ponmaligaittunjina-devar (paragraph 14), and to the image of the mother of Kundavaiyar (paragraph 19). These endowments were made in the following manner. Kundavaiyar deposited certain sums of money (kasu), which were subsequently borrowed on interest by the inhabitants of certain villages from the shrine of Chandesvara (paragrah 1), the saint in whose name the money affairs of temples are generally transacted.[3] The interest had to be paid yearly into the treasury of the Rajarajesvara temple at Tanjavur either in paddy[4] or in money. In the former case, the interest was three kuruni of paddy for each kasu, and in the latter 12½ per cent. If it assumed that the rate of interest was the same in both cases, one kasu would correspond to the value of 24 kuruni or 2 kalam of paddy. In two instances (paragraphs 18 and 21), money was deposited for purchasing a number of sheep, from the milk of which two private individuals had to supply daily a certain amount of ghee for lamps.[5] The value of one sheep was reckoned as 1/3 kasu. In paragraphs 14 and 19, the value of various daily requirements is given in measures of paddy; the whole list probably represents the daily wants of a single punjari.

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Translation

Hail! Prosperity! Until 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, Ganga-padi, Tadigai-padi, Nulamba-padi, Kudamalai-nadu, 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, — deprived the Seriyas of their splendor, while (he) was resplendent (to such a degree) that (he) was worthy to be worshipped everywhere; — Arvar Parantakan Kundavaiyar gave to the images (tiru-meni) (of the goddess) Umaparamesvari, who is the consort of our lord Dakshina-Meru-Vitankar, and (of the goddess) Umaparamesvari, who is the consort of our lord Tanjai-Vitankar, — which (two images) had been set up in the temple, (called) the lord Sri-Rajarajesvara, by Arvar Parantakan Kundavaiyar, (who was) the venerable elder sister of the lord Sri-Rajarajadeva (and) and great queen of Vallavaraiyar Vandyadevar, — to the image which had been set up to Ponmaligaittunjina-devar,[6] to the image which Arvar Parantakan Mundavaiyar had set up to her mother, and to the image (of the god) Dakshina-Meru-Vitankar, which had been set up by the lord. Sri Rajarajadeva, — gold which was weighed by the stone (used in) the city (Kudinai-kal) and called (after) Adavallan, and jewels (ratna) which were weighed by the jewel weight (kasu-kal) called (after) Dakshina-Meru-Vitankan, — excluding the threads (saradu); the frames (sattam), the copper nails (seppani), the lac (arakku) and the pinju. For the expenses (nibandha)[7] which are required by these (gods), Arvar Parantakan Kundavaiyar deposited money (kasu), to be put out to interest (polisai). (The amount of this gold, these jewels, these deposits) and the money which the inhabitants of (certain) villages had received on interest from Chandesvara, who is the first servant[8] of the supreme lord (paramasvamin), who has been pleased to take up gladly is abode in (the temple called) Sri Rajarajesvara, — was engraved on stone (as follows): -

2. For decorating the sacred hall (tiruvarangu),[9] which (the goddess) Umaparamesvari, who is the consort of our lord Dakshina-Meru-Vitankar, and (the goddess) Umaparamesvari, who is the consort of our lord Tanjai-Vitankar, are pleased to enter, when they are carried in procession (at) the sacred festival (tiru-vira), -(she) gave three thousand five hundred karanju of gold, which was a quarter superior in fineness to the (gold standard called) dandavani, and one thousand five hundred karanju of gold, which was one (degree) inferior in fineness to the dandavani, — altogether, five thousand karanju of gold.

3. To the image, which Arvar Parantakan Kundavaiyar had set up to her mother, (she) gave: -

4. Twenty ear-rings (kambi), consisting of six karanju and (one) kunri of gold.

5. One string of beads for the marriage-badge (tali-mani-vadum), (consisting of) four karanju, six manjadi and (one) kunri of gold, — including the marriage-badge (itself).

6. To (the god) Dakshina-Meru-Vitankar (she) gave: —

7. One ornament consisting of a singe string,[10] on which were strung thirty-five old pearls, — viz.,roundish pearls (anuvattam), polished pearls (oppu-muttu) and small pearls (kuru-muttu), — two corals (pavaram), two lapis lazuli (rajavarta), (one) talimbam,[11] (one) padugan and (one) kokkuvay, and which weighed four karanju eight manjadi and four tenths, corresponding to a value of eleven kasu.

8. To (the goddess) Umaparamesvari, who is the consort of our lord Dakshnina-Meru-Vitankar, (she) gave: -

9. One ornament consisting of a single string, on which were strung thirty-five old pearls, — viz., roundish pearls, polished pearls and small pearls, — two corals, two lapis lazuli, (one) talimbam, (one) kunri, corresponding to a value of twelve kasu.

10. For the sacred food (tiru-amirdu), temple-garlands (tiruppallittamam), oil for the sacred lamps, and other expenses (arivu), which are required, when (the goddess) Umaparamesvari, who is the consort of our lord Dakshina-Meru-Vitankar, and (the goddess) Umaparamesvari, who is the consort of our lord Tanjai-Vitankar, are carried in procession (at) the sacred festival, (she) deposited money, to be put on to interest. Having agreed to measure from (the harvest of) the pasan[12] in the twenty-eighth year (of the king’s reign), as long as the moon and the sun endure, three kuruni of paddy per year as interest for each kasu into the large treasury (bhandara) of the lord Sri-Rajarajesvara (at) Tanjavur with the marakkal called (after) Adavallan, — the members of the assembly (sabha) of Jananatha-chaturvedimangalam, a brahmadeya in Mudichchora-nadu, (a subdivision) of Nittavinoda-valanadu, have to measure every year fifty kalam of paddy for the two hundred kasu which they have received out of (that money)

11. Having agreed to measure from (the harvest of) the pasan in the twenty-eighth year (of the king’s reign), as long as the moon land the sun endure, three kuruni of paddy per year as interest for each kasu into the large treasury of the lord Sri-Rajarajesvara (at) Tanjavur with the marakkal called (after) Adavallan, — the members of the assembly of Irumbudal, alias Manukulachulamani-chaturvedimangalam, a brahmadeya in Avur-kurram, (a subdivison) of Nittavinoda-valanadu, have to measure every year twenty-five kalam of paddy for the one hundred kasu, which they have received.

12. Having agreed to measure from the twenty-ninth year (of the king’s reign), as long as the moon and the sun endure, three kuruni of paddy per year as interest for each kasu into the large treasury of the lord Sri-Rajarajesvara (at) Tanjavur with the marakkal called (after) Adavallan, — the members of the assembly of Rajasraya-chaturvedimangalam, a brahmadeya in Uraiyur-kurram, (a subdivision) of Keralantaka-valanadu, have to measure every year one hundred and twenty-five kalam of paddy for the five hundred kasu, which they have received.

13. Having agreed to measure from the twenty-ninth year (of the king’s reign) three kuruni of paddy per year as interest for each kasu into the large treasury of the lord Sri-Rajarajesvara (at) Tanjavur with the marakkal called (after) Adavallan, — the villagers of Perumilattur in Kirar-kurram, (a subdivision) of Nittavinoda-valanadu, have to measure every year fifty kalam of paddy for the two hundred kasu, which they have received.

14. Having agreed to measure from the twenty-ninth year (of the king’s reign), as long as the moon and the sun endure, thee kuruni of paddy per year as interest for each kasu into the large treasury of the lord Sri-Rajarajesvara (at) Tanjavur with the marakkal called (after) Adavallan, — the members of the assembly of Gandaraditya-chaturvedimangalam in Poygai-nadu, (a subdivision) of Vadakarai-Rajendra-smha-valanadu, have to measure every year one hundred and thirty kalam of paddy for the five hundred and twenty kasu, which they have received out of the money, which (she) had deposited (under the condition), that every year, as long as the moon and the sun endure, three kuruni of paddy should be measured as interest for each kasu into the large treasury of the lord Sri-Rajarajesvara (at) Tanjavur with the marakkal called (after) Adavallan for (the requirements of) the image, which had been set up to Ponmaligaittunjina-devar. (one) kuruni and two nari of paddy (are required) for (conversion into) four nari of old rice (to be used) for the sacred food (tiruvamudu) at both times (of the day), — two nari of old rice (being used) each time; four nari of paddy for (one) arakku[13] of ghee (ney-amudu), — two sevidu and a half (being used) each time;[14] six mari of paddy for six dishes of curry (kari-amudu), — three dishes of curry (being used) each time; (one) nari and (one) uri of paddy for (one) uri of pulse (paruppu-amudu), — (one) urakku (being used) each time; (one) nari and (one) uri of paddy for half a palam of sugar (sarkarai-amudu), — (one) kaisu (being used) each time;[15] two nari of paddy for two sevidu and a half of ghee, to prepare fried curry (porikkari-amudu),— one and a quarter sevidu of ghee (being used) each time; three nari of paddy for two plantains (varaippara-amudu), — one (being used) each time; three nari of paddy for (one) nari of curds (tayir-amudu), — (one) uri (being used) each time; (one) uri and (one) drakku of paddy for mustard (kadugu), pepper (milagu) and salt (uppu); four nari of paddy for fire-wood (viragu); and (one) nari of paddy for eight areca-nuts (adaikkay-amudu) – four nuts (pakku) (being used) each time, — and for thirty-two betel-leaves (vellilai-amudu); — altogether, — including the old paddy for the boiled rice (ponagam), -[16] (one) tuni, two nari, (one) uri and (one) arakku of paddy every day,[17] one hundred and twenty-nine kalam, two tuni, (one) padakku and one nari of paddy every year, or, — (including) the excess (erram) of (one) kuruni and seven nari of paddy, — one hundred and thirty kalam of paddy.[18]

15. For realizing fifty-one kasu, -[19] viz., twenty-six kasu for the sacred cloth[20] to be worn by this (god),[21] two kasu for four sacred curtains,[22] two kasu for four sacred towels (tiruvorradai), two kasu for four sacred canopies (tiru-merkatti) four kasu for sixteen sacred cloths on which rice is offered (tiruppavadai), and fifteen kasu for temple-garlands (tiruppallittamam), at the rate of half an akkam per day or one hundred and eighty akkam per year, -[23] twelve akkam being reckoned as one kasu,— (she) deposited money (under the condition) that, as long as the moon and the sun endure, one eighth akkam per month should be paid as interest for each kasu.[24] Having agreed to pay every year from the twenty-ninth year (of the king’s reign), as long as the moon and the sun endure, one eighth akkam per month as interest for each kasu into the treasury of the lord Sri-Rajarajesvara (at) Tanjavur, — the members of the assembly of Sri-Viranarayana-chaturvedimangalam, a free village (? Taniyr) in Rajendrasimha-valanadu, have to pay every year twenty-four and a half kasu for the one hundred and ninety-six kasu, which they have received out of (that money).

16. Having agreed to pay every year from the twenty-ninth year (of the king’s reign), as long as the moon and the sun endure, one eighth akkam per month as interest for each kasu into the treasury of the lord Sri-Rajarajesvara (at) Tanjavur, — the members of the assembly of Sri-Parantaka-Chaturvedimangalam, a free villalge in Rajendrasimha-valanadu, have to pay every year fourteen kasu for the one hundred and twelve kasu, which they have received.

17. Having agreed to pay every year from the twenty-ninth year (of the king’s reign), as long as the moon and the sum endure, one eighth akkam per month as interest for each kasu into the treasury of the lord Sri-Rajarajesvara (at) Tanjavur, — the members of the assembly of Su[la]mangalam, a brahmadeya in Kirar-kurram, (a subdivision) of Nitta-vinoda-valanadu, have to pay every year twelve and a half kasu for the one hundred kasu, which they have received.

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18. Pattattalan Achchan Adigal has to pour out daily (one) urakku of ghee for the thirty-two kasu, which has received out of the money, which (she) had deposited for (purchasing,) – at the rate of three sheep for each kasu, — ninety-six sheep, (the milk of) which is required (for preparing ghee), in order to keep ten twilight lamps (samdhi-vilakku) burning for this (god), as long as the moon and the sun endure, at the rate of (one) urakku of ghee per day.

19. Having agreed to measure from the twenty-ninth year (of the king’s reign), as long as the moon and the sun endure, three kuruni of paddy per year as interest for each kasu into the large treasury of the lord Sri-Rajarajaesvara (at) Tanjavur with the marakkal called (after) Adavallan, — the villagers of Kundavai-nallur in Karambai-nadu, (a subdivision) of Nittavnoda-valanadu, have to measure every year one hundred and thirty kalam of paddy for the five hundred and twenty kasu, which they have received out of the money, which (she) had deposited (under the condition), that every year, as long as the moon and the sun endure, three kuruni of paddy should be measured as interest for each kasu into the large treasury of the lord Sri-Rajarajesvara (at) Tanjavur with the marakkal called (after) Adavallan for (the requirement of) the image, which Arvar Parantakan Kundavaiyar, — (who was) the venerable elder sister of the lord Sri-Rajarajadeva (and) the great queen of Vallavaraiyar Vandyadevar, — had set up to her mother. (one) kuruni and two nari of paddy (are required) for (conversion into) four nari of old rice (to be used) for the sacred food (tiru-amurdu) at both times (of the day, — two nari of old rice (being used) each time; four nari of paddy for (one) arakku of ghee, — two sevidu and a half (being used) each time; six nari of paddy for six dishes of curry, — three dishes of curry (being used) each time; (one) nari and (one) uri of paddy for (one) uri of pulse, — (one) urakku (being used) each time; (one) nari and (one) uri of paddy for half a palam of sugar, — (one) kaisu (being used) each time; two nari of paddy for two sevidu and a half of ghee, to prepare fried curry, — one and a quarter sevidu (being used) each time; (one) nari of paddy for two plantains, — one (being used) each time; three nari of paddy for (one) nari of curds, — (one) uri (being used) each time; (one) uri and (one) arakku of paddy for mustard, pepper and salt; four nari of paddy for fire-wood; and (one) nari of paddy for eight areca-nut, — four (nuts being used) each time, — and for thirty-two betel-leaves; — altogether, — including the old paddy for the boiled rice, — (one) tuni, two nari, (one) uri and (one) arakku of paddy every day, one hundred and twenty-nine kalam, two tuni, (one) padakku and one nari of paddy every year, or, — (including) the excess of (one) kuruni and seven nari of paddy, — one hundred, — one hundred and thirty kalam of paddy.

20. For realizing sixty-one kasu every year, — viz., thirty-six kasu every year for the sacred cloth to be worn by this (goddess),[25] two kasu for four sacred curtains, two kasu for four sacred towels, four kasu for sixteen sacred cloths on which rice is offered, two kasu for four sacred canopies, and fifteen kasu for temple-garlands, at the rate of half an akkam per day or one hundred and eighty akkam per year, — twelve akkam being reckoned as one kasu, — (she) deposited money (under the condition) that, as long as the moon and the sun endure, one eighth akkam per month should be paid as interest for each kasu. Having agreed to pay every year from the twenty-ninth year (of the king’s reign), as long as the moon and the sun endure, one eighth akkam per month as interest for each kasu into the large treasury of the lord Sri-Rajarajesvara (at) Tanjavur, — the members of the assembly of Sri-Parantaka-chaturvedimangalam, a free village in Rajendrasimha-valanadu, have to pay every year sixty-one kasu for the four hundred and eighty-eight kasu, which they have received out of (that money).

21. Pattattalan Kaliyan [Pa]radan (i.e., Bharata) has to pour out daily (one) urakku of ghee for the thirty-two kasu, which he has received out of the money, which (she) had deposited for (purchasing), — at the rate of three sheep for each kasu,— ninety-six sheep, (the milk of) which is required (for preparing ghee), in order to keep ten twilight lamps burning for this (goddess), as long as the moon and the sun endure, at the rate of (one) urakku of ghee per day.


[1] Dr. Burgeess’ Archaeological Survey of Southern India, Vol. IV, p. 207

[2] See above, page 14.

[3] See Vol. I, p. 92, note 6.

[4] Compare Vol. I, Nos. 85 and 146

[5] Compare Vol. I, Nos. 82, 83, 148 and 150

[6] I.e., ‘the god who was sleeping in the golden palace

[7] From paragraphs 10 to 21 it appears, that the term nibandha included food, clothing, garlands, and oil for lamps

[8] Mulabhritya is a synonym of Adidasa, the usual title of Chandesvara; see Vol. I, p. 116, note 3.

[9] Arangu or arangam is a tabhava of the Sanskrit. Compare an inscription of Krishnaraya of Vijayanagara, which records the building of a ranga-mandapa in connection with a temple of Siva; Epigraphia Indica, pp. 363 and 370.

[10] Ekavalli is a corruption of the Sanskrit ekavali.

[11] Compare the Kanarese and Telugu dalimba which is a tadbava from the Sanskrit dadima, ‘the pomegranate.’

[12] According to the Dictionnaire Tamoul-Francais, pasan, pasanam or pisanam is a kind of coarse paddy which ripens late.

[13] The usual form of this word is arakku.

[14] According, a sevidu was equal to 1/5 arakku, one of which is again equal to 1/8 nari; see page 48, note 5.

[15] Accordingly, a kaisu was equal to ¼ palam.

[16] This refers to the 1 kuruni and 2 nari of paddy, which are mentioned first in the list.

[17] Nisasam is probably a corruption of; see Vol. I, page 116, note 6.

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[18] The calculation of the amount of paddy, which was to be supplied daily, is as follows: -

 

Paddy

Tuni

Kuruni

Nari

Uri

arakku

For conversion into 4 nari of husked rice

For 1 arakku of ghee

For 6 dishes of curry

For 1 uri of pulse

For ½ palam of sugar

For 2 ½ sevidu of ghee

For 2 plantains

For 1 nari of curds

For mustard, pepper and salt

For fire-wood

For 8 areca-nuts and 32 betel-leaves

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

1

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

2

4

6

1

1

2

1

3

..

4

1

..

..

..

1

1

..

..

..

1

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

1

..

..

Total

1

..

2

1

1

If the amount of paddy required per year is divided by this total, we find that the year was reckoned as consisting of 360 days. The excess (erram) was evidently added in order to simplify accounts by fixing a round number, thus: -

 

Kalam

Tuni

Padakku

Kuruni

Nari

Paddy required per year

Excess

129

..

2

..

1

..

..

1

1

7

Total

130

..

..

..

..

 

[19] These 51 kasu are made up; of 24 ½ kasu in paragraph 15, 14 in paragraph 16, and 12 ½ in paragraph 17.

[20] Parisattam is perhaps the same as parivattam.

[21] This refers to the image of Ponmaligaittunjina-devar, which was mentioned in the preceding paragraph.

[22] Namanigai is probably a further corruption of yamanigai (Sanskrit yavanika). Compare naman (or naman) for yaman (Sanskrit Yama)

[23] As in the preceding paragraph, the year is reckoned as consisting of 360 days.

[24] As an akkam (Sanskrit aksha ?) is 1/12 kasu, the rate of interest comes to 12 ½ per cent per annum. In the present case, the result is 24 ½ out of 196 kasu, as stated at the end of the paragraph.

[25] This refers to the image of the mother of Kundavaiyar, which was mentioned in the preceding paragraph.

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