Epigraphia Indica Vol 17

SR No.: 032571
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: F W Thomas, H Krishna Sastri
Publisher: Archaeological Survey of India
Publication Year: 1923
Total Pages: 426
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 16 MB

Page 320

No. 16.] VELVIKUDI GRANT OF NEDUNJADAIYAN: THIRD YEAR OF REIGN. 298
insertion of the Grantha portion in the Vēlvikudi grant might have been somewhat earlier than that in the Madras Museum plates.
The Sanskrit portion of the record commences with an invocation to Siva (verse 1) and goes on to refer in general terms to the Pandya kings and their race, of which the family priest was the sage Agastyal (vv. 2 and 3). At the end of the previous Kalpa, it is stated, there was a powerful king named Pāņdya who was ruling at the entrance into the sea (i.e., on the coast of a gulf) and that the very sa ne king at the beginning of the current Kalpa was born as Budha, the son of the Moon (v. 4). His son was Purūravas; and in his family, whose crest was a pair of fish, which shared with Indra, the lord of gods, half of his throne and his necklace and was a party in the puråņic churning of the milk ocean, was born king Märavarman, a patron of the learned (vv. 6 and 8). His son was Raņadhira (v. 9) and his son Māravarman II Rājasimha (vv. 10 and 11) at whose presence the king P.llavamalla ran away from the battlefield (v. 12). This king Rajasimha married a Malava princess and by her begot king Jațile (v. 14), who was also called Parantaka (v. 17). Thus ends the short Sanskrit eulogy (prasasti) which was composed by the Sarvakratuyajin Varödaya-Bhatça (1. 30).
We may now pass on to what the bigger and the more important part of the record, the Tamil prasasti, has to say, with the remark that the Sanskrit portion, by its brief notice and the very meagre historical material which it supplies in the form of a general introduction, could not have been contemporaneous with the Tamil portion. It was evidently added only later to give a dignified appearance to the grant proper which is in Tamil This Tamil portion begins with the mention of a past event, namely, that the kõlvi-Brahmans' of Pāgapür-Kurram seeing that one of their own community, named Narkortan, the headman of Korkai, who had contemplated the performance of a Vodic sacrifice, with the belp of the ruling Pandya king (adhiraja) Palyāgamudukudumi Peruvaludi, placed his petition before the king and themselves standing in front of the sacrificial ball, blessed that spot to be thenceforth (?) called Võlvikudi. The king granted the village to Napkorran and it was thus that the village came to be enjoyed by the latter for a long time. After this, & powerful Kali king, named Kalabhran, conquering many adhirajas, brought under subjection the whole Pandya country including, of course the village Vēļvikudi which was then resumed. Some time elapsed and after this sprang forth a powerful Pandya, named Kadungon, who reconquered the whole land from his enemies. His son was Avanichūlāmaņi Māravarman. His son was Soliyap Vapevap Banden and his son, Arikēsari A.gamagaman Māravarman, who won a battle at Pali against his enemies; defeated a certain Vilvēli at Nelvēli; destroyed the Paravas and the people of Kuru-nadu; won a victory at Soppilam, conquered the Kõrala several times at the strongly fortified town of Puliyur; made many gifts and protected the Brahmapes and the invalids. His son was Sadaiyan, the lord of the Konga counter (Kongarkomin), who was possessed of the titles Tenga Vanava, Sembiyan, Sălan and Madura-Karunatakan, won a battle at Marudur,
Agastya is also sopposed to have been the founder of the Tamil language and the author of the Tamil grammar Agattigam montioned in Tamil literature. He is referred to as the family priest of the Pandyas also in Kalidisa's Raghuvania, VI. 61, and in the commentary on Iraiyanar. 4gapporul.
Kalvi-andaralar may also mean learned Prihmapur Bat.blja sama.to be wed here in a technical sono. In inscriptions we find the word applied to a close of administrativo odors whose bainous was to carry the applications of petitioners to the hearing of the king. See also Ep. Ind, VOL III, P, 89, foot-pote 7.
81..., the village of the sacrifice. In the Tamil portion in l. 108 f. it is stated that the village had the name Vē vikudi given to it by king Madakudami.
The significance of this title is not apparente Could it be that like Sombiyap and $6bap he could beve acquired it by conquering the Western Chalokyw who were lowo w Karnataka? Bat we know that there were too fue away from the reach of the Pandya. Another possible explanation is that the Pandym might have intermarried with the Châlokys and the imue of: soch an intermiscriugo might well be called the Swot Karnataka'! Agal. the identification of the Kalabhra wible Karnata by W. Vonkosyys ( below p. 906) som to gain in vignifionnce in considering the propriety of the titlo. Madarn-Farandako held by Wing fladalya