No. 101 to 105 Melaikkoyil, Madhuvanesvara, Adhipurisvara temples

No. 95 to 97 Abhiramesvara shrine, Chandra sekhara temple, cave at tirumalai

No. 98 to 100 Ujjivanathasvamin, Kharapurisvara, Madhuvanesvara temples

No. 106 to 108 Narasingapperumal, Sivayoganathasvamin temples

No. 109 to 110 Lakshminarayana-Perumal, Madhuvanesvara temples

No. 101.—  ON THE EAST WALL OF THE ROCK-CUT SHRINE IN THE MELAIKKOYIL TEMPLE AT KUDUMIYAMALAI; LEFT OF ENTRANCE[1]

The subjoined record refers to two servants of prince Kodanda who must be the same as Kondandarama Rajaditya, the eldest son of Parantaka I[2].  Tirumerrali is the same as Melaikkoyil mentioned in the other records from Kudumiyamalai.  Kadugal which forms part of the name of a woman-servant of Rajaditya (1.4) occurs in the Tanjore inscriptions as the name of one of the village goddesses.

Hail ! Prosperity ! In the 15^th year of (the reign of) king Parakesarivarman who took Madirai (Madura), Kudiyan Kadugal of Mangalavasal in Panriyurnadu, who was one of the female (servants) (attached to) the kitchen (madaippalli) of Prince (pillaiyar) Kodanda, gave seven and a half kalanju of pure gold (tulaippon) for one perpetual lamp to (the temple of) the lord of the Tirumulattanam (temple) at Tirunalakkunram in Kunriyur-nadu.  Olai Virttan of Adiyaraiyamangalam in Munaippadi, who supplied (sandal) paste[3] to Prince Kodandar, gave 3 (kalanju) of pure gold (tulaippon) for one lamp to be burnt during day-time (in the temple) of the god of Tirumerrali.  (The assembly of) all Mahesvaras shall protect (this charity).

No. 102.—  ON THE SOUTH WALL OF THE CENTRAL SHRINE IN THE MADHUVANESVARA TEMPLE AT TIRUKKALAVUR[4]

This record which is dated in the 24^th year of Parantaka I. registers a gift of land for a lamp by a temple-woman of Jayabhimatali in Tanjavur, in the presence of king Parakesarivarman.  Jayabhimatali, as the name of a temple in Tanjore, occurs in one of the inscriptions of the Brihadisvara temple[5] which registers the gift, of service-women of that temple, by Rajaraja I.

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Hail ! Prosperity ! In the 24^th year of (the reign of) king Parakesarivarman, who took Madirai (Madura), Nakkan Sandiradevi (attached to the temple) of Jayabhimatali at Tanjavur gave in the presence of king Parakesarivarman for burning regularly with (one) ulakku  of oil (one) perpetual lamp placed (by her) in (the temple of) Mahadeva (Siva) at Tirukkarugavur, two ma  of land to the south of the field for sacred lamp granted by Avur – nattu Velarat Vadavur – Vengadu, two ma (of land) to the west of this (land), the mound to the south of (the channel called) Ulvaykkal and the enclosed field of the mound which has been made cultivable.  Receiving all these lands, one perpetual lamp shall be burnt as long as the moon and the sun (last).  (The assembly of) all Mahesvaras shall protect this (charity).

No. 103. – ON A SLAB BUILT INTO THE VERANDAH ROUND THE CENTRAL SHRINE OF THE ADHIPURISVARA TEMPLE AT TIRUVORRIYUR[6]

This record, which is, dated in the 29^th year of Parakesarivarman Parantaka I.  registers a grant of 30 kalanju  of pure gold for a lamp to the temple of Mahadeva at Tiruvorriyur.  The donor was Iravi Nili, the daughter of the Chera king Vijayaragadeva.  From the inscriptions published so far we do not know of any Chera king of name Vijayaraga who was a contemporary of Parantaka.  It has been noted above that Kokkandan Sthanu Ravi was a contemporary and friend of Rajakesarivarman Aditya I., father of Parantaka I.  Perhaps Vijayaraga (i.e., Vijayaraghava), if at all he was an actual ruler of the Chera country, might have succeeded Sthanu Ravi either as his son or his brother.  The friendly relations that thus existed between the Cholas and the Cheras during the reigns of Aditya I and Parantaka I deserve to be noted.

Translation

(Line 1.) Hail ! Prosperity ! Nili, daughter of the Kerala king Vijayaraga, verily gave thirty niskha of pure gold for a lamp to (the temple of) Isana (Siva) at Adhipuri.

(L. 3.) In the 29^th year of (the reign of) king Parakesarivarman, who took Madirai (Madura), Iravi Nili, daughter of the Chera king Vijayaragadeva, gave thirty kalanju of pure gold tested by the stone of the village (urkarchemmaipon), for burning as long as the moon and the starts (last), one perpetual lamp in (the temple of) Mahadeva (Siva) at Tiruvorriyur.  (In exchange) for four and a half kalanju of gold per year (which accrues) as interest on this (amount of) gold, (calculated) at the rate of three manadi of gold on each kalanju, the land (which forms part) of the field (called) Vadagarai Maruderi [in Tiruvorriyur has been given.  The landlord’s share (svamibhoga) realized (from this land) after deducting (its) taxes is granted as permanent poliyuttu (to last) as long as the moon.

No. 104.—  ON THE SAME SLAB[7]

This is a record of Parantaka I of his 30^th year, which mentions a grant by prince (pillaiyar) Arindigai or Arindigai – Perumanar, one of the sons of Sola-Perumanadigal (i.e. Parantaka I).  The Tiruvalangadu plates call this prince Arindama and elsewhere we find the forms Arinjigai, Arimjaya, and Arikulakesariyar.  The term nishka which occurs in the Sanskrit portion of the grant corresponds to kalanju of the Tamil portion, as in No. 103 above.  According to Monier Williams’ Sanskrit-English Dictionary, nishka is a coin varying in value at different times; but kalanju in Tamil has invariably represented a particular weight of gold bullion (= about 80 grains).

(Line 1.) Hail ! Prosperity ! The illustrious son of the Chola king, named Arindigai, who possessed keen intelligence, who was the beloved (of the goddess) of wealth, who was (the god of) death to (his) enemies and whose greatnes was accompanies by virtuous character and god qualities, gave 30 nishkas of gold by weight to the god, the Conqueror of (the demon) Pura, who resides in Adhigrama, for a lamp to be burnt always and also gave a big metallic lamp-stand.

(L. 6.) In the 30^th year of (the reign of) king Paramesarivarman who took Madirai (Madura), prince (pillaiyar) Arindigai-Perumanar, the illustrious son of Sola-Perumanadigal (i.e., Parantaka I.) gave to (the temple of) Mahadeva (Siva) at Tiruvorriyur thirty kalanju of pure gold tested by the stone of the village for burning (one) perpetual lamp, as long as the moon and the stars (last) under the supervision of Sendan . . . . . . . . . . . . . diyappan, a resident of . . . . . . . . . . .Satapattur in Ali – nadu.

No. 105.—  ON ANOTHER SLAB BUILT INTO THE SAME VERANDAH[8] The subjoined record is also dated in the 30th year of king Parakesarivarman Parantaka I.  Later on, in the body of the inscription (1. II) his 35th year is mentioned.  It follows that the epigraph must have been engraved on the stone not earlier than the 35th year of the king and that till then it must have been preserved in the royal archives.  It registers a gift of gold for a lamp to the temple of Tiruvorriyur by prince Kodandarama, the eldest son of (the Chola king) Sola-Perumanadigal (Parantaka I). A portion of this gold is stated to have been invested with the residents of Vellivayil who agreed to pay interest once in six months on the deposited amount and to give two meals every day to the man that came to demand the interest thereon.  The rate of interest  was three manjadi per kalanju per annum (i.e.,  fifteen per cent).  Vellivayil is evidently the same as Tiruvellavayal, eight miles east of Ponneri. The temple of Kodandaramesvara at Tondamanad was also called Adityesvara and Mr. Venkayya surmised from this that Kondandarma must have been a surname either of rajaditya, the eldest son of Parantaka I., or of his second son Gandaraditya[9].  The subjoined inscription calling Kodandarama the eldest son of Parantaka proves conclusively that the former must be identical with Rajaditya of the large Leyden plates.  It might further be remarked that in the Tirumalpuram inscription (No. 142) printed below, the Chola king Aditya I. is called Tondaimanarrur-tunjinadeva.  Mr. Venkayya identifies the village Tondaimanarrur with Tondamanad.  If this identification is correct it follows that the temple of Kodandaramesvara or Adityesvara at Tondamanad and who, it is not improbable, also held the title Kodandarama, just like his grandson Rajaditya. (Line 1.) . . . . . . . . . . .. . . gave two lamp-stands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . for burning lamps every day. (L. 3.) In the 30th year of (the reign of) king Parakesarivarman who took Madirai (Madura), the eldest prince, the prosperous Kodandarama, the illustrious son of Sola-Perumanadigal Parakesarivarman, deposited sixty kalanju of pure gold tested by the stone of the village, for two perpetual lamps under the supervision of Echchapperuman of Sirrinaval in Mudichchola-nadu and of the body-guard (meykappan) Nadaiyuran of Koyinallur, for burning two perpetual lamps in (the temple of) Mahadeva (Siva) at Tiruvorriyur as long as the moon and the stars (exist).  Out of this gold, in the thirty-fifth (year) of this king, the residents of the village (urom) of Vellivayil in Pulalerikil-nadu (a subdivision) of Pulal-kottam, received thirty kalanju of pure gold tested by the stone of the village.  The interest on this gold . . . . . . . . . received, at the rate of three manjadi per kalanju (viz.,) four and a half kalanju of gold. . . . . . . . . . . . two kalanju and a quarter of gold for every six months commencing with (the month of) Masi . . . . . . . . .shall be received through the administrators of Tiruvorriyur[10] . . . . . . . . . . . . To the persons who come to demand the gold (i.e., the interest), we shall give two meals every day.  Failing (to do) this . . . . . . . . . . . . . . to the dharmasana, a fine of twelve kanam per day . . . . . . . . . gave . . . . . . . . The fine being deposited . . . . . . . . . . . the standing . . . . . . . . . we the above-mentioned . . . . . . . . . . of Vellivayil. . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . [1]  No. 347 of 1904. [2]  See No.105 below. [3]  The office held by Olai Virattan under the prince must have been one connected with the toilet of Rajaditya. [4]  No. 38 of 1910. [5]  Above Vol. II, No. 66, p. 292. [6]  No. 169 of 1912. [7]  No. 170 of 1912. [8]  No. 164 of 1912. [9]  Madras Epigraphical Report for 1904-05, page 50, paragraph. The phrase Thiruvottriyuraanikeezha has been tentatively translated as “through the administration of Tiruvorriyur”.  The term ooraani may be compared with Niraanikkan ‘one who takes care of the sluice of a public tank’. Home Page

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