Indian Antiquary Vol 56

SR No.: 032548
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Richard Carnac Temple, Charles E A W Oldham, Krishnaswami Aiyangar
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1986
Total Pages: 286
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 13 MB

Page 191

SEPTEMBER, 1927 1
106
THOMAS CANA
With the knowledge of the sun, and the moon that rises at night, that know this as witnesses. The handwriting of the then younger prince Kuru Perumalar.
If any one contradicts and questions this grant, let him turn over and refer to the documentary granite stone that lies at the northern gate of the temple at Cranganore 31
Literal translation of Malayalam Documents (No. 2).22 When of yore to immigrate to Malankara 23 The gentleman Tominan Kinana casa yed, -Verily.26 The king'e sons26 belonging to seventy-two families These good citizens, four hundred, Embarked by the grace of the Catholicos.Verily. The foreigner who came entered Cranganore, He entered, and when he visited the Chêra King, in plenty He presented gold and coral and pearls and obtained the country. He came, at an auspicious time endeavoured, and gained his end.--Yerily. That his greatness may be manifest in all the world around, He gave him marks of honour—the fivefold bands, the eighteen castes 28. The horn, 29 the flute, the peacock feather fan, the conch, 30 the canopy, 31-Verily. The gold crown32 and all other good ornanents.
20 I remember having read in the Gazetteer of Malahar that this stone has not yet been discovered even after diligent search. Was it one of the stones taken away by the Portuguese at Goa ? This is Burnell's statement in his little pamphlet A few suggestions as to the best way of making and stilizing copies of Indian inscriptions (Madras, 1870): "The Portuguese at Goa took some inscriptions on stone to their native country." Of. Indian Antiquary, IT, 183. By this I understand that they took inscribed stones, not copies of inscriptions on them. Some of these may have come from Malabar. (For Moens' search, see Dutch in Malabar, pp. 172, 173).
[I lave read of stones, pillars, etc., removed by the Portuguese from monuments to the North of Goa, from near Surat for instance, but not from Malabar. Others than the Christians in Malabar seem to know about a copy of the Thomas Cana privileger inscribed on a stone near the Tiruvafijikulam temple. The Diwan of Cochin, whom I met in January 1924, knew of this and was keen on making a search for it. He said that the impression among the people was that the stone had been buried when Tippu Sultan came down on Tiruvanjikulam. Yule, Hobson-Jobson, 8.o., Shinkali, quotes Dr. Gundert, Madras Journal, XIII, 122: "One Kerala Ulpatli (i.e., legendary history of Malabar of the Nasrani), says that their fore. fathers... built Codangalur, as may be learned from the granite inscription at the northern entrance of the Tiruvan jiculam temple."-H.H.)
31 The extract is from the footnote on pp. 11 and 12 of Ancient Sonys (Malayalam), Kottayam, 1910.
33 Communicated by the Rovd. H. Hosten, S.J., St Joseph's College, Darjeeling, at whose request his work was done by Mr. Joseph on 7th December 1923.
33 Malankara is Malabar of the Arabian travellers, bar being equivalent to the Malayalam kara, coast. 34 Tomman Kinan, Thomas Cana, Kņayi Tomman are three forms of the same name. 36 Verily indicates a peuge in the song and forms the chorus.
36 King's sons' is the title Mappila (son-in-law) granted to the Christians in Malabar by one of the old Chéra kings. There are the Sudras of Malabar, called Nairs, who have the title pilta (child). Gouves, I am told, translates this title Mappila as king'a son. (He does. Cf. Jornada, fol. 4v: "With these privileges joined to those which Xardo Perumal had granted them, the Christians of Malavar became much more accredited, being held in such account that the name by which they are still called to-day in the kingdoms beyond the Mountain of the Pande is sons of kinga".-H.H.)
37 Fivefold, band : two varieties of drums, cymbals, trumpet, and gong. 38 Eighteen Hindu low ontoe. Or, bodyguards versed in the eightoon feats of arms. 39 A musical hom, producing a monotonous protracted note.
30 For blowing. 31 See Travancore State Manual, II, 139; 'pavilion.'
33 A tall peaked crown of gold whe-until lately in use for bridegrooms. I remember to have seen it worn by my older brother on the occasion of his wedding. Bridegrooms generally are allowed All those privileges and marks of honour.