________________
No. 2.]
DATES OF PANDYA KINGS.
32.-In the Akshêsvara temple at Achcharapakkam.! 1 Svasti eri [ll] Tribhuvagach[cha]kra[va]ttiga[?] ér[1]. Vi[ra]-Pâņdi[ya]dêvarkka
[y]Apdu 7[vajdu Karkadaga-gayatru apa (ra)-pakshattu N(&)2 yarru-k[i]lamai[yu]m saptamiyum perra Aśvati-nå[!).
“In the 7th year of the reign) of the emperor of the three worlds, the glorious Vira-Pandyadeva,- on the day of Asvini, which corresponded to a Sunday and to the seventh tithi of the second fortnight of the month of Karkataka."
If the equivalent found for the date No. 31, which is of the 15th year of the king's reign, is the true equivalent of that date, this date No. 32, which is of the 7th year of the same reign, will in the first instance be expected to fall in A.D. 1259. The date actually corresponds to Sunday, the 13th July A.D. 1250, which was the 17th day of the month of Karkataka, and on which the 7th tithi of the dark half of the month Âshadha) ended 11 h. 3 m., and the nakshatra was Abvini for 19 h. 3 m., after mean sunrise.
The two dates Nos. 31 and 32 together shew that the reign of Vira-Pandya commenced between (approximately) the 11th November A.D. 1252 and the 13th July A.D. 1253.
B-MARAVARMAN PARAKRAMA-PANDYA.
33.-In the Rishabhdávara temple at Sengama. 1 Syasti buh u Sakarbda[m] 1262n melko Marapagmar T[i]ru(ri)bu
[va] nasakravattiga! sri-Parakrama-Påņdiyadêvarkkd yându 6[vadu] Vris
chika-ngyarra pûrvva-pakshattu dvadasiyum Budag-ki[lamaiyum perra] 2 Uttarattádi-n[A][*).
“After the saka year 1262 (had passed), in the 6th year of the reign) of king MAravarman (alias) the emperor of the three worlds, the glorious Paråkrama-Pandyadeva, - on the day of Uttara-Bhadrapada, which corresponded to a Wednesday and to the twelfth tithi of the first fortnight of the month of Vrischika."
For Saka-Samvat 1262 expired this date regularly corresponds to Wednesday, the 1st November A.D. 1340, which was the 5th day of the month of Vrischika, and on which the 12th tithi of the bright half of the month Kårttika) ended 22 h. 56 m., and the nakshatra was Uttara-Bhadrapadå for 1 h. 19 m., after mean sunrise.
34.-In the Kaildsanátha temple at Mannargudi. 1 Svast[i] $r[1] [11] K8 [M]Ärapanmar Tr[i]bhu[va] nachal ra(vatti]ga! [éri].
Parákrama-PA[y]diyadávarkku ya[udu 8vadu] Dhanu-[n]dyarra apara
paksbattu nayamiya[m] V[e]lli-kk[i]lam ai]yum per[ra] 2 Attatta nå!.
In the reth year of the reign) of king Måravarman (alias) the emperor of the three worlds, the glorious Parakrama-Pandyadêva,- on the day of Hasta, which corresponded to a Friday and to the ninth tithi of the second fortnight of the month of Dhanus." • If this date were one of the 8th year of the king's reign, it ought, in accordance with the result obtained ander No. 33, to fall in Saka-Samvat 1263 or 1264 expired; but for either of these years it would be incorrect. The date, in my opinion, is really one of the 18th (not the 8th)
No. 243 of the Govermout Epigraphist's collection for 1901. • No. 113 of the Government Epigraphist's collection for 1900. * No. 100 of the Government Epigraphist's collection for 1897.