Epigraphia Indica Vol 20

SR No.: 032574
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Hirananda Shastri
Publisher: Archaeological Survey of India
Publication Year: 1929
Total Pages: 188
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 40 MB

Page 58

No. 3. ]
THREE TAMIL INSCRIPTIONS OF LALGUDI.
THREE
47
Inscription B is dated on the day of Sadaiyam (Satabbishaj) corresponding to a Tuesday in the month of Dhanus falling in the ninth year opposite to the fourth (i.e., the thirteenth year) of the reign of king Mārañjadaiyan. In the body of the record the king is called Pandyakulapati Varaguņa-Mahārāya. The inscription states that the king gave 120 kasu to a certain Andacattu-Vēļān. This amount was finally received by the members of the assembly of Iļamperunkāy-iruiskai in Idaiyarru-nādu who bound themselves to supply towards interest, the capital remaining intact, one nūli of ghee daily for burning a perpetual lamp in the templo. In case of default the assembly further agreed to pay a fine of 500 kāņam (of gold). Inscription C is dated in the thirtventh year of the reign of the Chola king Rajakēsarivarman. It states that the king's uterine sister Nangai-Varaguņa-Perumāņār gave 30 kalañju of gold for a perpetual lamp to be burnt in the temple with one uri of ghee daily. The assembly of Manalkāl, a brahmadēya of Kalāra-kurram which was a subdivision of Vadagarai-Mala-nādu, received the amount given and sold a piece of land in exchange to the temple.
Before taking up the question of the date of these three inscriptions, I may point out straightway that they are written in the same hand and script and must consequently have been inscribed simultaneously. I may here add that there is another inscription in this very teraple which is coeval with these records and is, apparently, written by the same hand though it refers itself to the Pallava king Nřipatungavarman. It has already been published in the South Indian Inscriptions (Texts), Volume IV. Inscriptions of the throe kings mentioned in these records are also found in several other places. But they are all written in varying types of the Tamil script not resembling the one in which the three inscriptions under notice are incised. As these kings flourished at different periods, the records belonging to their respective reigns could not have been written in the same hand. Consequently, the Lalgudi inscriptions under examination, written as they are in the same hand, must be treated as later copies of older rocords made probably at the time when the temple where they are found was renovated or repaired. Palaeographically they can be assigned to the 10th century of the Christian era.
The inscription which I call C purports to belong to a ruler who is the latest among the kings mentioned in these three inscriptions. The princess referred to in it figures as the queen of Parān. taka Ilangövēlār* in another inscription of Rājakësarivarman which was found at Tillaisthanam in the district of Tanjore. She is also mentioned in a somewhat later record' belonging to the third year of Para kësarivarman: The Tillaisthānam inscription of Rājakësarivarman, unlike the Lalgudi inscription, marks the pulli or virāma as do the Takkõlam and other inscriptions of Rājakēgarivarman, i.e., Aditya I, and ought to be assigned to the same ruler. Two other epigraphs found at Tiruppalatturai refer to Tegnavan Ilangövēļār which is another name for Parantakan Ilangóvēlār. They tell us that he was also called Maravan Pūdiyār. One of them mentions his queen Karralippirāţtiyar also. The name Pūdiyār given to Ilangövēļār and the mention of his queen would show that he is identical with the Kodumbālür chief Bhūti-Vikrama kësari who is reported in the Müvarkovil inscription to have married Karrali and Varaguna. From a Tiruchchendurai inscription we learn that he had a daughter named Pūdi-Adichchapidariyar who was the queen of Arikulakēgari, i.e., Ariñjaya. the son of the Chola king Parantaka I. I have shown
1 See plate (VII) opposite to p. 173. * South Indian Inscriptions, Vol. III, No. 113. * Ibid. No. 127.
Nos. 258 and 273 of Appendix A to the Annual Report on South Indian Epigraphy for 1903-04, and pera. 90 of pert II of the Annuut Report on South Indian Epigraphy for 1907.08.
* Annual Report on South Indian Epigraphy for 1907-08, para. 90 of Part II. • Nos. 316, 317 and 319 of Appendix A to the Annual Report on South Indian Epigraphy for 1903-04.