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No. 10.) TINNEVELLY INSCRIPTION OF MARAVARMAN SUNDARA-PANDYA I.
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Kaitabha in the form of the Kadava king'', the latter is styled Karnāta-bhüpa-mana-mardiana and Pandya-mandala-sthāpana-sūtradhāra. These claims are sufficient to establish the fact that the Pandya king Märavarman Sundara-Pāndya was allied with the Pallava Peruñjinga even before the latter actually assumed regal powers.
The grant portion of the inscription gives us to understand that in the 20th year and 374th day of the king's reign, when he was pleased to remain on the reclining seat of Malavarayan in the hall of the bed-chamber of the palace (or temple) at Tirunelvēli in Kil-Vēmba-nādu, both the dēvakanmis of the temple of Tirunelvēli-Udaiyar and Sankaran Alagiyaperumāļ alias Malavarāyan of Kālaời, the Premier, made a request that certain lands of Kayattānkuruchchi, which formed part of the jūvita not only of the latter but also of his great grandfather Malavarāyan, who like him held the office of the Premier, should be made tax. free and given to the temple to meet the expenses of offerings and worship to the image of Sokkaņār which the Premier had caused to be set up in the temple : and the king complied with their request. It is worthy of note that the chief office of Premier of the country was held by Malavarāyan and his great grandfather. In fact, some of the offices in early times were hereditary and persons appear to have been given the necessary training and education to hold them.
The geographical names that occur in the inscription are Tañjai, i.e., Tanjore, Urandai, i.e., Uraiyūr, Ayirattaļi, which was also called Mudikondasölapuram and of which Palaiyāru formed part, Puliyur, i.e., Chidambaram, Ponnamarāvatis in the Pudukkottai State, Madurai, i.e., Madura, Kāladio which is situated in the Travancore State, Tirunelvēli, i.e., Tinnevelly, Kayattankuruchchi, also in the Tinnevelly district, Vetchiyur alias Mummadisõlanallur and Sakkarapāņinallur among villages; and Milalai-kürram, Tirumallinādu, Kil-Vēmba-nādu and Servirukkai-nädu among divisions.
TEXT. 1 Svasti eri [ll] Pū-maruviya Tiru-madandaiyum Puvi-madandaiyum puyatt
iruppa nā-maruviya Kalai-madandaiyum Jaya-madandaiyum nalañ-chirappa kol-ā[r*]nda [siņa)-ppu[li]yur=kodu[ñ]-chilaiyun=kulaind=0[lippa) vā!-a[r*]nda
por-[ki]rimēl vari-kkayalga! viļaiyāda irun-kadal-va2 [lai]yatt-inid=afam peruga=kkarun-Kalikadindu ber-kõl nadappa oru-kudai
nilall'=iru-nilan=kulira mū-vagai-tTamiļu=muraimai[yi]l viļanga nalvagai-Vēdamu[m*] navior=udan valara aiy-vagai-vēlviyuñ=chey-viņaiy=
iyatga afu-vagai-chchamaiyamum alagudan tigala elu3 vagai-(ppāda]lum-iyaludan parava en-disaiy-aļavuñ=chakkarañ=chella=kKonganar
Kalingar Kosalar Māļuvar Singalar Telingar Kinara[r*]"
1 Ibid., p. 507. *$. I. I., Vol. IV, No. 1342.B. . It is a suburb of Trichinopoly and the ancient capital of the Cholas.
• This is evident from No. 72 of the Madras Epigraphical Collection for 1924 and from No. 9 of the samo collection for 1926. The place is bereft of early inscriptions at present.
. The inscriptions of this place are registered as Nos. 2 to 23 of the Madras Epigraphical Collection for 1909.
. This is reputed as the birth place of Sri-Samkaracharya and is stated to be on the bank of the Parna river in the Kerala country (see Vidyāranya's Sankara-digvijaya).
7 Read nilalil as in No. 372 of 3. 1. 1., Vol. IV.
Mālavar is the reading in No. 300 of 8.1.1., Vol. V. • Singanar is the form in No. 300 of 8. I, I., Vol. V. 10 Kinnarar may be replaced by Sipar as in No. 372 of 8. 1. 1., Vol. IV, and No. 300 of 8. I. I., Vol. V.