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 324

No. 16.] VELVIKUDI GRANT OF NEDUNJADAIYAN : THIRD YEAR OF REIGN. 297
battles fought by him as described in the commentary under reference, are not found in the eulogy of Tēr-Maran given in the Vēļvikudi plates. On the other hand, Måravarman, the great grandfather of the donor Neduñadaiyan, is not only called Arikosari but is also stated to have fought victorious battles at Pali, Seppilam and Nelveli which same are mentioned of him in the commentary on the Agapporul. This mention, therefore, of the very same battles both in the plates and in the commentary, sufficiently warrants our identifying Nedumāşan of the commentary with Maravarman, the great-grandfather of Neduñjadaiyan and not with Tēr-Vāran. Nakkirar has sung also of Neduñjeliyan in Puranawūru, and it is not impossible that this Nedunjeliyan is identical with Seliyan, the father of Arikēsari Māravarman.
Of the six ancestors of Neduñadaiyan mentioned in the Tamil portion of the inscription and the three immediate ancestors mentioned in the Sanskrit portion, we learn nothing more than that the first king Kadungon who came to rule after the Kalabhra interregnum was a Pāņdy-adhirĒje, that the next Märavarman bore the title Avanichaamani and that the third Sēndan, also called Seliyan and Vanavan, was probably identical, as stated above, with Neduñjeliyan of the Puranānūru fame. The fourth king, whose military achievements are given in detail, was Sri-Māravarman Arikësari Asamasaman, who in addition to the victorious battles mentioned already, destroyed the Paravas and the people of Kuru-nādu. The fifth Sadaiyan, also called Ranadhira, was the lord of the Kongas, fought battles against the Ayavēl at Marudur, and with the Mahārathas at Mangalapura ; and the sixth, Tēr-Måran or Rajasimha, defeated Pallavamalla, perhaps at Kulumbar, and fonght battles at Neduvayal, Kurumadai, Marnikurichchi, Tirumangai, Pavalar, Kodumbalar and Periyalür and subjugated the country of Mala-Kongam as far as Pandi-k Kodumiţi. He contracted relationship with Gangarāja, marrying the daughter of the Ganga prince to bis son Neduñjadaiyan, himself having married the daughter of the king of the Malavas. The fact that he defeated Pallavamalla shows that Tēr-Märan must have been a contemporary of that king and lived about A.D. 710-760.
As regards the territorial terms and village names that occur in the inscription, Pågapurkūrram is identical with the division of that name in which the village Solavandā near Madura was included. Malava is identical with Mala-nāļu. Kusu-nādu, and the granted village Vēļvikudi, and the villages Nagarür, Korranputtür and Pāyal mentioned in the description of the boundaries of the latter cannot be identified. Korkai is the well-known seaport of that name in the Tinnevelly District. Of the villages Nelvēli, Sennilam, Puliyur in Kerala), Marudăr, Mangalapura, Neduvayal, Kurumadai, Mapnikapichchi, Tirumangai, Pavalor, Senguļi, Pudāngodu, Kodumbaļor, Kulumbar, Periyalür, Pandikkodumiți, Kädal Vañji, Koli, Peņņāgadam, Náttukkurumbu, Karavandapuram and Venbai, -Nelveli is Tinnevelly;
1 Ibid., pp. 129 ff.
2 Describing the several grades of ralers, the Kamikāgama states that an adhiraja-adhiraja is the form which the inscription uses throughout the Tamil portion-holds the second rauk among kings:
चतुम्ममुद्रपर्यन्तं पृथिवों यः प्रपालयेत्। चक्रवर्णी समाख्यातः सप्तराज्यं प्रपालयेत् । अधिराजममाख्यात:
(Hindu Iconography, Vol. I, Part 1, p. 29 n.) • Melava is identical with the old Mala-nida ur Rajāśraya-Yalanidu (sve 8. I. I, Vol. II, Introduction, p. 24, and Historical Sketches of Ancient Dekhan, p. 129).
• Udayachandra, the general of Nandivarman Pallavamalla, also claims in the Udayondiram grant to have defeated the Pandya at Mannaikkudi (S.I.T., Vol. II, p. 868, Text, 7. 60 f.). Perhaps we may have to identify Mannaikkudi with Mappikurichchi which is mentioned in the Tamil portion (Text, 2. 73 f.) as one of the place where Tēr-Maran was victorious,
No. 127 of the Madras Epigraphical Collection for 1910. • See above noto .