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 - iv

OTHER INSCRIPTIONS OF THE RAJARAJESVARA TEMPLE AT TANJAVUR

No.84 ON A PILLAR OF THE WEST ENCLOSURE[1]

No.84 ON A PILLAR OF THE WEST ENCLOSURE[1]

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.

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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 king’s 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,— with one crystal fastened (on it) and the pinju, weighing six manjadi,— valued at four kasu.

7. One front-plate (kumbhattagadu), (consisting of) two karanju, four manjadi and (one) kunri of gold,— with one crystal fastened (on it) and the pinju, weighing six manjadi,— valued at four kasu.

8. One sacred eye (tirunayanam), (consisting of) half a karanju, three manajadi and one tenth of gold,— with one sapphire set on (it) and the pinju weighing four manjadi and one kunri,— 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 king’s 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), — weighing, inclusive of the eleven pearls strung on (it) and of the gold, four karanju, eight manjadi and (one) kunri,— valued at nine kasu.

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3. Two sacred gold flowers (tirupporpu), (consisting of) six karanju and a half of gold – 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):—

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 “until the 29th year (of Rajarajadeva).”

Translation

Hail! Prosperity! The jewels presented until the twenty-ninth year (of the king’s 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 (?) – weighing, inclusive of the two crystals fastened on (it) and of the handle made of gold, four karanju,— 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 “until the 29th year of Rajarajadeva” 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 “the temple of the lord” (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.


[1] No. 30 of 1897.

[2] Literally ‘as if he were pleased to dance.’

[3] In paragraph 6 the posture is denoted by the word nindraraga and here by ezhuntharuli nindraraga

[4] No. 31 of 1897.

[5] With kaicholam compare katchcholam in No. 46 above, paragraph 46, where it is rendered ‘a girdle (in the shape of) a snake.’ As suggested by Mr. Venkoba Rao, kaichcholam is probably connected with the Marathi kacholem or kachola, which according to Molesworth’s Marathi Dictionary, means “a little metal vessel to hold rice, sandal paste, etc.,

[6] Kaisu was equal to one-fourth of a palam; see above, p. 75. A variant of the word is kasu; see above, p. 130, note 1.

[7] No. 32 of 1897.

[8] I.e., the temple 9alaya) of the attendant deities which was probably in the enclosing hall.

[9] The word ma as a fraction of a manjadi means ‘a tenth’ and not ‘a twentieth’ as it is commonly used in Tamil; see above, p. 36, note 1 and p. 399, note 7.

[10] No. 33 of 1897.

[11] Tiruppattam occurs also in No. 1, above, paragraph 5.

[12] No. 34 of 1897.

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[13] The correct form of this term seems to be puravuvari as it occurs here. The form puravari occurs in a Tiruvallam inscription of the Chola king Adhirajendra (Vol. III, p. 116, text-line 18) and puravuvari in a record of Kulottunga I. from Kolar (ibid. p. 137, text-line 8). In the former, the proceeds of certain specified taxes due from devadana villages are made over to the temple at Tiruvallam, and allotments from the proceeds of those taxes are made chiefly by officers who belonged to the Puravaritinaikkalm. This fact renders my translation of the term not altogether impossible.

[14] No. 35 of 1897.

[15] The shrine mentioned in the preceding inscription is evidently meant.

[16] The exact significance of this word is not clear to me. The word does not occur either in Winslow’s Tamil Dictionary or in Gundert’s Malayalam Dictionary. Perhaps it is connected with the Tamil maligai, ‘a grocery shop,’ and denote a street or quarter of the town where grocer’s shops were located.

[17] Karkandu means ‘sugar-candy,’ which does not suit here. I do not understand the term sangittu adaitha karkandu. The word kandu occurs in paragraph 9 on p. 432, below.

[18] No. 24 of 1897.

[19] Above, p. 107 text-line 13 f.

[20] Perhaps this is the same as the thilakkol mentioned in No. 85 above.

[21] Compare above, p. 245, text-line 8.

[22] Kudinai-kal occurs also in No. 6, above, text-line 1.

[23] The word in I. 12 f. is superfluous as it is repeated in I. 13.

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