Epigraphia Indica Vol 26

SR No.: 032580
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Hirananda Shastri
Publisher: Archaeological Survey of India
Publication Year: 1945
Total Pages: 448
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 24 MB

Page 298

No. 29.)
TWO RECORDS OF PARANTAKA I FROM TAKKOLAM.
233
It is dated in the 27th year of the Chola king Rājakēsarivarman and registers a gift of 10 kalaniju of gold and a lamp-stand by a lady named Iļango-Pichchi, who is described as the daughter (magalar) of Vallavaraiyar, and who was probably the senior queen (munnam pugunda müttadēviyār) of Sola-perumāņadiga! (i.e., the Chola king). The high regnal year 27, as well as the absence of the historical introduction Tirua maga!-pola 'ot Rajarāja I in it, favour its attribution to the early king Aditya I (A. D. 870-907). As the Anbil plates of Sundara-Chola state that Aditya I had built on both the banks of the Kāvēri tail stone temples in honour of Siva, the Tirumalavādi temple along with some others in its vicinity, may correctly be presumed to have come into existence in the reign of this Chola king. The astronomical details contained in the present record---namely, 27th year, Tulā, Saturday and Bharani which give the equivalent A. D. 897, October 15, Saturday, which is correct for Aditya I, whose initial date has been determined to have been A. D. 870 or 871", support this surmise.
Sufficient reasons have been adduced in a previous paragraph to show that Vallavaraiyar' was a dynastic title used by the Răshtrakūta kings of this period. The personal name of Vallavaraiyar, the father of the donatrix in the present record, has unfortunately not been specified. As it was not uncommon for the kings of this dynasty to be referred to by their simple dynastic title, the Vallavaraiyar of the Tirumalavādi record may be identified with Krishna II, who reigned from A. D. 878 to 913 and was consequently a contemporary of Aditya I (A. D. 870-907). From these facts, it may be presumed that Aditya I had married a daughter of Krishna II.
The possibility of such a matrimonial alliance having taken place gets confirmation, thoug! in an indirect manner, from another circumstance. The ordinary Prākpit form of Krishna is Kanha, but we find that the Rashtrakūta kings of the name of Krishna are referred to in their records by the name of Kannara'. This latter form is peculiar to the Kanna:12 language of the Rashtrakūta dynasty. Now a record dated in the 8th year of a Rājakesarivarman, palæographically assignable to the reign of Aditya I, makes mention of a prince called Adityan-Kannaradēva, who from the way in which his name has been expressed can be recognised as a son of Aditya and who is also specifically described as the son (pillaiyar) of Sõlaperumânadigal. As this name Kapnaradēva 'is foreign to the Chola dynasty and has not been met with as a name of any of their kings, it may be inferred that this particular cognomen for the Chola prince was due to some Rashtrakūta associations and influence. If, as stated above, Aditya had married the daughter of Vallavaraiyar, i.e., Kộishna II alias Kannaradēva, it may be
1 A portion of the record is damaged. The relevant portion reads :-sola perumi..............................ikku muppam pagunda müttadeviyar Iļango-pPichchi Tirumaluvadi-pPerumanadigalukku nonds..................' and further on " Ivvaippil Vallavaraiyar magalär Iļango-pPichchi vaiytta vilakku." It may be noticed that the lady is eslled only 'müttadēviyar'. The name Pichchi may be derived from the Sanskrit word Bhikeha or it may be equivalent to the Kannada Bijja; but it is not clear why the honorific suffix of ar is not mentioned with her name.
The characters in which this record is engraved are attributable to the 11th century A. D., but when it is remembered that the Srivimäna of the temple was renovated under the orders of Rajaraja I (28th year) and that the old inscriptions were re-engraved in the 14th year of Rājēndra-Chöļa I. (S. 1. I., Vol. V, Noa. 651 and 652) the later age of the writing is easily accounted for. 3 Ante, Vol. XV, p. 50.
Ante, Vol. XIX, p. 85.
Ante, Vol. IV, p. 336. • No. 38 of the Madras Epigraphical collection for 1895 (S. 1. I., Vol. V, No. 595).