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The Indian Analyst
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South Indian Inscriptions |
This inscription is dated in the 7th year of
rajendra-Chola I. The kingâs conquests
end with the subjugation of the island of Sandimattivu. As we know that the invasion of the âmany
ancient islandsâ immediately preceded this event and that it took place in the
6th year, it may be concluded that the conquest of Sandimattivu must
have taken place in the 7th year of the kingâs reign = A.D.
1018-19. The Tiruvalangadu plates tell
us that Rajendra-Chola advanced against the Western Country because he had
heard of the disgrace, which the kings of the earth had suffered at the hands
of Parasurama. Not finding him on earth the Chola king desired to conquer the
country reclaimed by him, which was protected against foreign invasion by the
greatness of Parasuramaâspenance. It is
evident that the conquest of the island of Sandimattivu was the most important
event of the campaign against Kerala, which must have taken place in A.D. 1018-19. The subjoined inscription registers an endowment in money in
favor of the image of Srikanthamurtigal set up by Prithivimahadeviyar, queen of
Rajarajadeva. The money was lent out on
interest to the members of the assembly of Narasinga-chaturvedimangalam, a brahmadeya
in Avur-kurram, a subdivision of Nittavinoda-valanadu. The interest was to be paid in kind and
amounted to thirty-seven kalam, one tuni and one padakku
of paddy. This and the next record belong to a class of Tanjore
inscriptions, which are dated during the reign of Rajendra-Chola I. and
register endowments by groups of men.
To each of these groups a shrine in the temple was âattachedâ by order
of the king.[1] Hail! Prosperity! In
the seventh year (of the reign) of king Parakesarivarman alias
Sri-Rajendra-Choladeva, who,â in (his)
life of high prosperity[2], while fortune, having become constant, was
increasing, (and) while the goddess of the great earth, the goddess of
victory in battle, and the matchless goddess of fame rejoiced in having become
his great queens,â conquered, with (his)
great warlike army, Idaiturai-nadu; Vanavasi, whose unbroken hedge of forest (trees)
was extending; Kollippakkai, whose walls were surrounded by âsulliâ (trees);
the camp of Mannai, whose strength (i.e., fortifications) was unapproachable;
the crown of the king of Iram, who came to close quarters in fighting; the
exceedingly beautiful crown of the queen of that (king); the beautiful
crown and Indraâs pearl-necklace which the king of the South (i.e., the
Pandya) previously deposited with that (king of Iram); the whole
Ira-mandalam on the transparent sea; the crown praised by many and the garland
(emitting) beautiful rays, â
family treasures, which the (kings of) Kerala, whose armies
overcame (opponents), rightfully wore; many ancient islands, whose old
and great guard was the sea, which resounds with conches; the crown of pure
gold, worthy of Lakshmi, which Parasurama, having thought of the fortifications
of the impregnable Sandimattivu, had deposited (there) then, enraged in
battle, (he) bound the kings twenty-one times,â there was engraved on stone (the name of)
the village which had received on interest from Chandesvardeva,â who is the first servant of the supreme lord
who has been pleased to take up gladly his abode in (the temple called)
Sri-Rajarajesvara,â the money which
had been deposited until the seventh year (of the reign) of the lord
Sri-Rajendra-Choladeva on account of the offerings and other expenses required
for (the image of) Srikanthamurtigal, which Prithivimahadeviyar, the consort of
the lord Sri-Rajarajadeva, had set up in the temple of
Sri-Rajarajesvaramudaiyar and which the lord Sri-Rajendra-Choladeva had
attached to the artisans (karmigal) of the Perundanam (and) the
accountants.[3] 2. The members of the assembly of Narasinga-chaturvedimangalam,
a brahmadeya in Avur-kurram, (a subdivision) of
Nittavinoda-valanadu have received at the beginning of the seventh year (of
the reign) of the lord Sri-Rajendra-Choladeva, one hundred and fifty kasu
(out of) the money which the artisans of the Perundanam (and)
the accountants had deposited on account of the offerings and other expenses
required for this (image of) Srikanthamurtigal. For (these one hundred and fifty kasu,
the former) have to make over every year, as long as the moon and the sun (endure),
thirty-seven kalam, (one) tuni and (one) padakku
of paddy into the big treasury of the lord at Tanjavur by the marakkal
called (after) Adavallan which is equal to a rajakesari â the
rate of interest being three kuruni of paddy per year for each kasu. No. 83. On the base
of the south enclosure.[4] This inscription is dated in the tenth year of
Rajendra-Chola I. and registers an endowment in money in favour of the image of
Mahameru-Vitanka, set up by Rajarajadeva, and of that of his consort. The money was lent out on interest to the
members of the assembly of Narasinga-chaturvedimangalam mentioned in No.
82. In this case too, the interest was
payable in kind and amounted to fifty kalam of paddy, which had to be
delivered into Tanjai-Vidangan, the big treasury at Tanjavur. Translation In the tenth year (of the reign) of king
Parakesarivarman alias Sri-Rajendra-Choladeva, who, etc.,[5]
â there was engraved on stone (the
name of) the village which had received on interest from Chandesvaradeva,â who is the first servant of the supreme
lord, who has been pleased to take up gladly his abode (in the temple called)
Sri-Rajarajesvara,â (part) of
the money which the servants of the minor treasure 2. The members of the assembly of
Narasinga-chaturvedimangalam, a brahmadeya in Avur-kurram, (a
subdivision) of Nittavinoda-valanadu, have received from
Sri-Rajendra-Choladeva, two hundred kasu out of the money which the
servants of the minor treasure had deposited, until the tenth year, on account
of the offerings and other expenses required for these, (viz.,) (the
image of) Mahameru-Vitankar set up by the lord Sri-Rajarajadeva and (that
of) his consort. For (these two
hundred kasu, the former) have to measure every year, as long as the moon
the sun endure, fifty kalam of paddy into Tanjai-Vidanga, the big
treasury of the lord at Tanjavur, by the marakkal called (after)
Adavallan, which is equal to a rajakesari â the rate of interest being
three kuruni of paddy per year for each kasu (measured) by the marakkal
called (after) Adavallan which is equal to a rajakesari. [1] To the same class belong Nos.9, 11 to 19 and
No. 54 above. [2] Nos. 9 to 19 above and No. 83 below read
neduthiyal. [3] It is also possible that the âaccountants of
the artisansâ is intended. [4] This is a continuation of No. 82 above. [5] This historical introduction of this
inscription is almost identical with that of No. 10 above. [6] Another portion of the endowment made by
these people was lent out to the assembly of Irumbudal alias
Manukulachulamani-chaturvedimangalam in the same nadu; see No. 10,
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