South
Indian Inscriptions, Volume 2
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Tamil
Inscriptions
part
- iv
OTHER
INSCRIPTIONS OF THE RAJARAJESVARA TEMPLE AT TANJAVUR
No.84
ON A PILLAR OF THE WEST ENCLOSURE
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No.84
ON A PILLAR OF THE WEST ENCLOSURE
This inscription records the setting up of seven copper
images of the god Ganapati by King Rajarajadeva, viz., two in the
dancing posture, one big and the other small; three of varying heights
comfortably seated; and two in the standing posture.
Translation
Hail! Prosperity! The (following) copper images
which the lord Sri-Rajarajadeva had set up until the twenty-ninth year (of
his reign) in the temple of the lord Sri-Rajarajesvara mudaiyar were
measured by the cubit measure (preserved) in the temple of the lord and
engraved (i.e., recorded) on stone:
2. One solid image of Pillaiyar Ganapatiyar in the dancing
posture,[2]
with four divine arms, (and measuring) fourteen viral in height from the
feet to the hair.
3. One lotus on which this (image) stood, set with
jewels (and measuring) two viral and torai in height.
4. One pedestal on which this (image) stood, (measuring)
sixteen viral and two toral in length, thirteen viral in
breadth and three viral in height.
5. One solid aureola, covering (this image and
measuring) two muram and seventeen viral in circumference.
6. One solid image of Pillaiyar Ganapatiyar, in the
standing posture, with four divine arms, (and measuring) fifteen viral
in height from the feet to the hair.
7. One lotus on which this (image) stood, set with
jewels, (and measuring) three viral in height and one cubit in circumference.
8. One solid image of Pillaiyar Ganapatiyar, in the,
standing posture,[3] with four
divine arms, (and measuring) eight viral in height from the feet
to the hair.
9. One lotus (measuring) two viral in height
and eighteen viral in circumference, forming part of this (image).
10. One solid image of Pillaiyar Ganapatiyar, comfortably
seated, with four divine arms, (and measuring) nine viral in
height from the feet to the hair.
11. One shrub (sedi), half a viral in height,
forming part of this (image).
12. One solid image of Pillaiyar Ganapatiyar, in the
dancing posture, with four divine arms, (and measuring) three viral and
a half in height from the feet to the hair.
13. One pedestal forming part of this (image and
measuring) two viral and two torai in length, two viral in
breadth, and one viral in height.
14. One solid aureola forming part of this (image),
covering (it, and measuring) nine viral in circumference.
15. One solid image of Pillaiyar Ganapatiyar, comfortably
seated, with four divine arms, (and measuring) two viral and a
half in height from the feet to hair.
16. One lotus forming part of this (image and measuring)
one viral in height and seven viral and a half in circumference.
17. One aureola covering this (image) and made with
a circumference of seven viral and a half.
18. One solid image of Pillaiyar Ganapatiyar, comfortably
seated, with four divine arms, (and measuring) one viral and a
half in height from the feet to the hair.
19. One lotus forming part of this (image and measuring)
half a viral in height and four viral in circumference.
No. 85. On a
pillar of the west enclosure.[4]
This inscription belongs to the reign of rajendra-Chola I.
and records the gift of copper, zinc and bell-metal vessels to the image of
Ganapatiyar set up in the principal temple. This image was probably in the
central shrine and was perhaps known as Alaiyattu-Pillaiyar as distinguished
from the Parivaralaiyattu-Pillaiyar set up apparently in the enclosing verandah
of the temple. A portion of the inscription is damaged (II. 23 to 30).
Translation
Hail! Prosperity! The copper, zinc (tara) and
bell-metal (vessels) presented to (the image of) Pillaiyar
Ganapatiyar in the (principal) temple (alaiyam) until the third
year (of the reign) of the lord Sri-Rajendra-Choladeva by Adittan Suryan
alias Tennava Muvendavelan, the headman of Poygai-nadu, who carries on
the management of the temple of the lord Sri-Rajarajesvaramudaiyar, were
engraved (i.e., recorded) on stone after (they) had been weighed
with the scale (tilakkol) known as Adavallan.
2. One copper dish, weighing . . . . . . . . . . palam.
3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . cup . . . . . . . . . . .
weighing . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . [plate] . .
. . . . . . . . . . . weighing . . . . . . . . . . . . .
5. One zinc . . . . . . . . . . . . . stand, weighing
eighty palam.
6. One zinc pitcher with a spout for pouring water,
weighing one hundred and one palam.
7. One zinc box, weighing one hundred palam.
8. One bell-metal dish, weighing seventy-five palam.
9. One bell-metal kaichcholam[5]
weighing four palam and (one) kaisu.[6]
10. One bell-metal given by the same man to the copper
image of Pillaiyar Ganapatiyar, weighing one palam and (one) kaisu.
No. 86. On a pillar
of the west enclosure.[7]
On this pillar are recorded gifts to the shrine of
Ganapatiyar in the parivaralaya made (1) by king Rajaraja until the
twenty-ninth year of his reign, (2) by Adittan Suryan alias
Tennavan-Muvendavelan, the manager of the Rajarajesvara temple and (3) by the
same donor until the 3rd year of Rajendra-Chola I. The date of No.
(2) is not mentioned. This inscription shows that the 29th year of Rajaraja
I. could not have been very far removed from the 3rd year of
rajendra-Chola I.
Translation[8]
Hail! Prosperity! The gold presented until the
twenty-ninth year (of the kingâs reign) by the lord lSri-Rajarajadeva to
(the image of) Pillaiyar Ganapatiyar in the parivaralaya of the
temple of the lord Sri-Rajarajesvaramudiayar was engraved (i.e.,
recorded) on stone as follows (after) it had been weighed by the stone
called (after) Adavallan:-
2. One sacred armlet (Sri-bahuvalaya), (consisting
of) twenty-five karanju and a quarter and seven-tenths[9]
of gold.
3. One sacred armlet, (consisting of) twenty-five karanju
of gold.
4. The jewels presented to this (god) Ganapatiyar
by Adittan Suryan alias Tennavan Muvendavelan, the headman of
Poygai-nadu, who carries on the management of the temple of the lord
Sri-Rajarajesvaramudaiyar, were weighed, without the threads, by the stone
called (after) Dakshinameru-Vitankan and the gold by the stone called (after)
Adavallan and (both) were engraved (i.e., recorded) on stone as
follows:-
5. One ring (?) for the tusk (kombirkolgar),
weighing fourteen karanju and three quarters and (one manjadi
inclusive of the gold and lac, and of the eight rubies, two crystals and
fourteen crystal diamonds fastened on (it), and of the one hundred and
nineteen pearls in all (strung on it, viz.,) round pearls, roundish
pearls, polished pearls, small pearls and sappatti. (Its) price (was)
twenty-three kasu.
6. One sacred gold flower, (consisting of) eight karanju
and a half, (one) manjadi and (one) kunri of gold,â
with one crystal fastened (on it) and the pinju, weighing six
manjadi,â valued at four kasu.
7. One front-plate (kumbhattagadu), (consisting
of) two karanju, four manjadi and (one) kunri
of gold,â with one crystal fastened (on it) and the pinju,
weighing six manjadi,â valued at four kasu.
8. One sacred eye (tirunayanam), (consisting of)
half a karanju, three manajadi and one tenth of gold,â with one
sapphire set on (it) and the pinju weighing four manjadi
and one kunri,â valued at one kasu and a half.
9. One plate made into a mango fruit, (consisting of)
three karanju of gold.
10. One sacred arm-ring (tirukkaikkarai), (consisting
of) six karanju and a quarter of gold.
11. One sacred arm-ring, (consisting of) six karanju
and (one) manjadi of gold.
12. (The following) were presented by the same man
until the third year (of the reign) of king Parakesarivarman alias
Sri-Rajendra-Choladeva: -
13. One forehead plate (mattagattagadu), (consisting
of) ten karanju of gold.
No. 87. On a pillar
of the west enclosure.[10]
This inscription records the gifts made to the Ganapatiyar
shrine in the principal temple by a servant of king Rajarajadeva named
Madurantakan-Parantakan, who was a native of Marudattur in Serrur-kurram, a
subdivision of Kshatriya-sikhamanivalandu. The last of the gifts was made
during the reign of Rajendra-Choladeva and the others during the reign of
Rajarajadeva. Lines 8 and 9 are engraved over an erasure.
Translation
Hail! Prosperity! The jewels presented until the
twenty-ninth year (of the kingâs reign) to Pillaiyar ganapatiyar of the
(principal) shrine (alaya) by Marudatturudaiyan (i.e.,
native of Marudattur) Madurantakan Parantakan (of) Marudattur in
Serrur-kurram, (a subdivision) of Kshatriyasikhamani-valanadu, (and)
a servant (panimagan) of the lord Sri-Rajarajadeva, were engraved (i.e.,
recorded) on stone after (they) had been weighed by the stone called (after)
Dakshinameru-Vitankan and (after) the gold (had been) weighed by
the stone called (after) Adavallan.
2. One forehead ornament (sutti), â weighing,
inclusive of the eleven pearls strung on (it) and of the gold, four karanju,
eight manjadi and (one) kunri,â valued at nine kasu.
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3. Two sacred gold flowers (tirupporpu), (consisting
of) six karanju and a half of gold â at three karanju and a
quarter of gold for one sacred gold flower.
4. One sacred diadem (tiruppattam)[11]
(consisting of) eight karanju and a half and two manjadi
of gold.
5. (The following) was presented by the same man
until the third year (of the reign) of king Parakesarivarman alias
Sri-Rajendra-Choladeva to the same (image):â
6. One sacred thread (pun-nul), (consisting of)
thirteen karanju of gold.
No. 88. On a pillar
of the west enclosure.[12]
This inscription records the gift of a bell-metal dish to
the shrine of Ganapatiyar in the enclosure hall by a servant of Rajarajadeva
who was a native of Kamadamangalam in Purakkiliyur-nadu, a subdivision of
Pandyakulasani-valanadu. The donor was apparently employed in the department,
which regulated the levying of taxes from endowments.
Translation
Hail! Prosperity! One bell-metal dish (taligai),
weighing twenty-nine palam, was presented, until the twenty-ninth year (of
the reign) of the lord Sri-Rajarajadeva, to (the shrine of)
Pillaiyar Ganapatiyar in the parivaralaya of the temple of the lord
Sri-Rajarajesvaramudaiyar by Kanjan Kondaiyan, a native of Kamadamangalam in
Purakkiliyur-nadu, (a subdivision) of Pandyakulasani-valanaldu, a
servant (panimagan) of the lord Sri-Rajarajadeva and the master of the
rent roll in the department (tinaikkalam) of taxes (levied from) endowments.[13]
No. 89. On a niche
of the west enclosure.[14]
This inscription records the gift of two ornaments to the
shrine of Pillaiyar Ganapatiyar by a merchant living in one of the suburbs of
Tanjore. The gift was made âuntil the 29th year (of Rajarajadeva).â
Translation
Hail! Prosperity! The jewels presented until the
twenty-ninth year (of the kingâs reign) of this[15]
(shrine of) Ganapatiyar by Narayanan Kamappai-setti, a merchant living in the
suburban madigai[16]
of Tanjavur in Tanjavur-kurram, were engraved (i.e., recorded) on
stone after (they) had been weighed by the stone called (after)
Dakshinameru-Vitankan and after the gold had been weighed by the stone called
(after) Adavallan.
2. One karkandu[17]
filled with a conch (?) â weighing, inclusive of the two crystals fastened on
(it) and of the handle made of gold, four karanju,â valued at one kasu
and a quarter.
3. One string of round beads, (consisting) of nine karanju
and three manjadi of gold.
No. 90. In the Second
Gopura, left of entrance.[18]
This inscription records the gift, by the priest Isanasiva
Pandita, of 8 gilt copper-pots âuntil the 29th year of Rajarajadevaâ
and one receptacle for sacred ashes, in the 2nd year of Rajendra-Chola.
A ninth pot was presented by Pavana-Pidaran, the Saiva acharya of the
temple in the 3rd year of Rajendra-Choladeva. Sarvasiva Pandita
mentioned in No. 20, dated during the 19th year of the same king[19]
was apparently a successor of Pavana-Pidaran in the office of the Saivaacharya
of the temple.
The gilt copper-pots were all intended to be used as
pinnacles. Nine of them were presented, of which one is said to have been for
âthe temple of the lordâ (paragraph 9) and another for the temple of the lord
Sri-Rajarajesvaramudaiyar (paragraph 11). The other seven appear to have been
intended as pinnacles for the shrines of the regents of the eight quarters. The
regents are eight in number, viz. Indra, Agni, Yama, Nirriti, Varuna,
Vayu, Soma and Isana. As the inscription is damaged, we have not got the names
of all of them. The names of Nairitiyar, Agnidevar, Yamaraja and Varunaraja are
preserved. The shrine of Indra who is the regent of the East seems to have been
in the second gopura for which five pinnacles had apparently been
provided by the king himself. Consequently, seven pinnacles would be enough.
The shrine of Isanamurti is mentioned in No. 57 above as being to the north of
the gate of Rajaraja, i.e., the second gopura, while the shrine
of Agnideva was to the south of the same gate according to No. 70 above. It is
worthy of note that some of the copper-pots (paragraphs 3, 4 and 5) were
weighed with the scale (tulakkol[20])
called Adavallan and the rest with the stone used in the city, bearing the same
name.
The original is mutilated in the first section thus
causing the complete disappearance of about 6 letters in the first line, 10 in
the second and 18 in the third line. In the second section (II. 4 to 8) about 5
letters are damaged in each line in the middle.
Translation
Hail! Prosperity! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . presented by Isanasiva Panditar, the priest of the lord
Sri-Rajarajadeva, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . until the
twenty-ninth year (of the reign) of the lord Sri-Rajarajadeva . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . for placing on the shrines (alayangal).
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2. One pot for the pinnacle (stupikkudam), (made)
of copper (and) laid over with[21]
fifteen karanju of gold, placed on . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (weighing) . . . . . . . . . . .
Ada[vallan].
3. One pot for the pinnacle, (made) of copper (and)
laid over with ten karanju and a quarter of gold, placed . . . . . . .
weighing . . . . . . . . . . by the scale (tulakkol) known as Adavallan.
4. One pot for the pinnacle, (made) of copper (and)
laid over with ten karanju and a quarter of gold, placed on the shrine
of Nairitiyar, weighing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [pa]lam
by the scale known as Adavallan.
5. One pot for the pinnacle, (made) of copper (and)
laid over with ten karanju of gold, placed on the shrine of Agnidevar,
weighing eighty-two . . .
. . . by the scale known as Adavallan.
6. One pot for the pinnacle, (made) of copper (and)
laid over with ten karanju of gold, placed on the shrine of . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . weighing five hundred . . . . . . . . . . . . [karanju]
and a half by the stone called Adavallan (used in) the city
(kudinai-kal).[22]
7. One pot for the pinnacle, (made) of copper (and)
laid over with fifteen karanju of gold, placed on the shrine of
Yamaraja, weighing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [eight] karanju
and a half by the stone called Adavallan (used in) the city.
8. One pot for the pinnacle, (made) of copper (and)
laid over with ten karanju of gold, placed on the shrine of Varunaraja,
weighing five hundred and four karanju and a half by the stone called
Adavallan (used in) the city.
9. One pot for the pinnacle, (made) of copper (and)
laid over with nine karanju and three quarters of gold, placed on the
temple of the lord, weighing four hundred and fifty-eight karanju and a
half by the stone called Adavallan (used in) the city.
10. One receptacle for sacred ashes (madal)
presented by the same (priest) in the second year (of the reign)
of the lord Sri-Rajendra-Choladeva to the lord Sri-Rajarajesvaramudaiyar, (consisting
of) thirty-nine karanju and three quarters of gold by the stone
called Adavallan (used in) the city.
11. One pot for the pinnacle,[23]
(made) of copper (and) laid over with six karanju and two manjadi
of gold, placed on the temple of the lord Sri-Rajarajesvara mudaiyar, until the
third year of the lord Sri-Rajendra-Choladeva, by Pavana Pidaran, the Saiva acharya
(of the temple) of the lord Sri-Rajarajesvaramudaiyar, weighing five
hundred and forty-five karanju by the stone called Adavallan (used in)
the city.
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