Indian Antiquary Vol 18

SR No.: 032510
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: John Faithfull Fleet, Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 454
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 19 MB

Page 258

240
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[AUGUST, 1889.
require some modifications, which I subjoin here with due respect to that able scholar, who, if he still lived, would gladly approve of a correction of some details of secondary importance. First, the central shrine of the Tanjore temple does not bear only one inscription of about A.D. 1100,5 but a considerable number of inscriptions of various kings and dates, one of which is dated as late as Saka 1377 (expired). Secondly, none of the Tanjore inscriptions mentions either Kulôttunga-Chola or Vira-Chôla. Kulottunga-Choḍadeva I. (A.D. 1063-64 to 1112-13), also called Rajendra-Choda after his maternal grandfather Rajendra-Choladeva, was the son of the Eastern Chalukya king Rajaraja I. (A.D. 1022-23 to 1063-64) and inherited the Chola kingdom from his father-in-law, the Chola king Rajendradeva. The two Chola kings, to whose reigns most of the inscriptions of the Tanjore temple belong, are Rajarajadeva, the founder of the temple, and his son Rijendra-Choladeva, the father-in-law of the Eastern Chalukya king Rajaraja I. (A.D. 1022-23 to 1063-64), who had received his name from that of his maternal grandfather. The subjoined table, which is based on a number of Sanskrit and Tamil inscriptions, shows the relations of the three above-mentioned Chôla kings to the Eastern Chalukyas, and contains the names of their Western Châlukya contemporaries :-7
Western Chalukyas.
Cholas. (Súryavatia).
1. Satyasraya II. fought with Rajarajadêva, who was the (Saka 919 to about 930.) (about Saka 926.) I
Eastern Chalukyas. (Sómavaméa). father-in-law of Vimaladitya. (Saka 937 (?) to 944.)
I
2. Jayasimha III. fought with Rijêndra-Chôladêva, who was the father-in-law of Rajaraja I. (about Saka 940 to about 964.) (Saka 944 to 985.) 1
I
3. Ahavamalla II. fought with Râjêndradeva, who was the father-in-law of Rajendra-Chôda or Kalottunga-Chôḍadeva I. (about Saka 964 to about 990). (Saka 985 to 1034). Thirdly, Dr. Burnell states in his paper, that the Tanjore inscriptions mention a village called Malakúta-chudamani-chaturvêdi-mangalam. The reference is to an inscription of the 29th year of the Chola king Ko-Rajakesarivarman, alias Rajarajadeva, and to an inscription of the 10th year of Ko-Parakesarivarman, alias Rajendra-Choladeva. Each of these two inscriptions reads in clear Tamil and Grantha letters of 2 to 3 inches height:-Nittavinoda-valanáttu Avûr-(k) kúrṛattu brahmcdéyam Irumbudal-ágiya Manukula-chúlámani-(ch)chaturvédi-mamgalattu sabhaiyár; "the members of the sabhá of Irumbudal, alias Manukula-chalamaņichaturvedi-mangalam, a brahmadéya in Avar-karram, (a subdivision) of Nittavinoda-vajanadu." This disposes finally of the possibility of identifying Hiuen-Tsiang's Mo-lo-kin-ch'a with Kumbhakôṇam, and the name of Malakûța has to be struck out on the map, which is prefixed to Dr. Burnell's South-Indian Palæography.
The first half of the name Mo-lo-kiu-ch'a is no doubt the well-known Dravidian word mala, a hill' (mala in Malayalam and malai in Tamil), and the second may be connected with kurram, which means a division,' or more probably with kottam, which means a district' in Tamil inscriptions. Thus Mo-lo-kiu-ch'a or Malakotta would be a synonym of Mala-nadu or Malai-nadu, 'the Hill-Country.' The former is used in Malayalam and the second in Tamil as a designation of the country of Malabar. But, as Hinen-Tsiang places Malakôṭṭa to the south of Dravida and attributes to it a circuit of 5,000 li, General Cunningham10 is doubtlessly right,
Compare Dr. Burnell's South-Indian Paleography, 2nd edition, p. 40 and passim.
According to an inscription of his 26th year, the temple was called after him Rajarajéévara. Two undated inscriptions record that the prákaru (tiruchchurrumaligai) of the temple was built at his orders by the commander of his forces (anopati).
For full details see three of my Progress Reports (Madras G. O., 27th July 1888, No. 745; 6th September 1888, No. 877; 7th November 1888, No. 1050) and my forthcoming first volume of South-Indian Inscriptions, p. 32 and
Nos., 40, 67, 82, 127.
This name means the Brahmanical village (called after) Manukula-chudamani (i.e. the crest-jewel of the race of Mann; viz., the Chola king).'
On this vor hybrida see Yule and Burnell's invaluable Hobson-Jobson, p. 411.
10 Ancient Geography of India, Vol. I. p. 549.