Epigraphia Indica Vol 28

SR No.: 032582
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Hirananda Shastri
Publisher: Archaeological Survey of India
Publication Year: 1949
Total Pages: 526
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 31 MB

Page 385

270
EPIGRAPHIA INDICA
[Vol. XXVIII
during summer and firewood during winter in the mandapa at Govindavādi, besides making provision for feeding 15 Brāhmaṇas daily. The three taxes specified in B were evidently his lovy, as the chief of the region, the proceeds of which he made over for the upkeep of the tank constructed by him and called after his surname Paramandaladittan."
As stated in inscription A, Isvarapichchan belonged to Tigai or Tiśai-yāyirat-taiññurru-nagar, a trading corporation of South India whose activities extended even beyond the borders of India. An inscription in Tamil dated in Saka 1010=1088 A.C. at Loboe Toewa, Baros, Sumatra, mentions this body which is also known as Nanādēsi, Padinen-vishayattar or Padinen-bhumis-Tibai-yayiratt-aiññūruvar. In an inscription from Viriñchipuram, North Arcot District, members of this body are mentioned as "merchants of the 18 countries trading in the four directions." The present inscription is one of the few early records mentioning this body.
From its appellation, this organisation may be taken as one containing 1,5007 or 500 members, but an inscription from Kalafapakkam (North Arcot District) favours the latter interpretation. This inscription records an endowment of land by the Nānādēsis for feeding people during the annual festival of the local temple in the manda pas called Nānādēsiyan-sälai and Aiññurruvanambalam. Generally in lithic records, this organisation is introduced with an elaborate string of biridas and its members enjoyed a considerable measure of autonomy, owing no exclusive political allegiance to any king in particular.
Of the taxes specified in B, the meaning of Pida-nāļiis not clear. It also occurs in the form Pudā nāļilo and Pudāļi.11 Pudā means a door and the term may be interpreted to mean a levy of 1 näli on each house. Urpadin-kādila may be taken as a levy of 10 kādi of grain due to Or, i.e., assembly or village. Kannālakkānam is a fee of one kānam (of gold) received on every marriage occasion.18
The territorial division, Padavūr-kottam, comprised portions of the modern taluks of Arkonam, Walajapet, Vellore and Gudiyattam of the North Arcot District.
A. TEXT
Front Side 1 $14akarsai yāņdu 19882 8-ttāvadu Paduvūr-ko
3 ttattu Pun[gañūr] 1 Ibid. 2 Nos. 267 and 323 of the Madras Epigraphical Collection for 1906. 3 Above. Vol. IV, p. 293 ; Annual Report on Epigraphy, Madras, 1892, para 11. No. 82 of the Madras Epigraphical Collection for 1907.
Nos. 193 and 402 of the Madras Epigraphical Collection for 1939-40. People of the 18 samayas and Nanadebis are mentioned in No. 387 of 1926.
No. 193 of the Madras Epigraphical Collection for 1939-40.
A body called Ayiratte unürruvar is noticed in a record of Mārañjadaiyan from Tiruppattur in the Ramnad District (Nos. 136 and 138 of the Madras Epigraphical Collection for 1908).
• No. 291 of the Madras Epigraphical Collection for 1939. . It is also mentioned in the Larger Leiden Grant (above, Vol. XXII, p. 234). 10 Tandantottam Plates, S.I.I., Vol. II, p. 521, text 1. 33. 11 Vēlürpālaiyam plates, 8.1.1., Vol. II, 509, text 1. 52.
12 Cf. Or-kafariju-kabu and Ur-kajanju in No. 113 of the Madras Epigraphical Collection for 1896 (8.1.1., Vol. V. No. 976, text-line 42).
13 Above, Vol. XXII, p. 263. 1 The letter & is engraved in Grantha. 15 The letter r is engraved with a circle at the top. 16 The sign for hundred after the first figure 8 is peculiar.