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No. 30.]
DATES OF PANDYA KINGS.
313
Between A.D. 1200 and 1400 the only year for which this date would be correct, is 1321. In this year the Vrischika-sankranti took place 12 h. 48 m. after mean sunrise of Wednesday, the 28th October. The 17th day of the month of Vțischika therefore was Saturday, the 14th November A.D. 1921; and on this day the 9th tithi of the dark half of the month Karttika) ended 19 h. 50 m., and the nakshatra was Uttara-Phalguni, by the equal space system from 3 h. 17 m., according to Garga from 8 h. 32 m., and by the Brahma-siddhanta from 13 h. 8 m., after mean sunrise.
If this date were one of Måravarman Kulasekhara I., it would fall in either A.D. 1275 or 1276; I need hardly say that for both these years it would be incorrect.
28.-In the Brihadiśvara temple at Gangaikondaśôlapuram. 1 Svasti srih [ll] Kô Mà........ vagachchakkaravattiga! srib(ári)
Kulase[garajdêvarku yandu 4vadu Katka(rka)taka-nåyaxru pûrvva-pakshattu
chatu[r]ddasiyum Sani-[k]kilamaiyum [P]erra 2 Uttirâdattu nâļ.
“In the 4th year (of the reign) of king Macravarman alias] the emperor of the three worlds, the glorious Kulasekharadeva, - on the day of Uttarishadha, which corresponded to a Saturday and to the fourteenth tithi of the first fortnight of the month of Karkataka."
If the equivalent obtained under No. 28 for the date of the 8th year is the true equivalent of that date, this date No. 29, of the 4th year of the king's reign, will in the first instance be expected to fall in A.D. 1317. It actually corresponds to Saturday, the 23rd July A.D. 1817. This day was the 26th of the month of Karkataka; and on it the 14th tithi of the bright half (of the month Sravana) ended 22 h. 22 m., and the nakshatra was Uttarash&dha, by the equal space system and according to Garga for 15 h. 6 m., and by the Brahma-siddhanta for 8 h. 32 m., after mean sunrise.
I may add that, if this were a date of Mâravarman Kulasekhara I., it would fall in either A.D. 1271 or 1272, but that for both these years it would be incorrect
80.-In the Bțihadisvara temple at Gangaikoņdaáőlapuram. 1 ..... [KO] Magapagmar Tribhuvanachchakravattiga! ér[1]-Kulasegaradêvarku
yå[do] 5&vadu S[i]mña-nåyarry 2 půryva-pakshattu trayodasiyum Tinga ..... yum perra Pusattu nál.
“In the 5th year of the reign of king Måravarman (alias) the emperor of the three worlds, the glorious Kulasekharadêve, on the day of Pushy, which corresponded to a Monday and to the thirteenth tithi of the first fortnight of the month of Simha."
The wording of this date is intrinsically wrong, because during the month of Simha the nakshatra on the 13th tithi of the bright half can never be Pushya or any nakshatra near Pushya. The probability is that the month of the date was Mina; and actual calculation shews, not only that it was Mina, but also that the word Pusattu of the text should be altered to Púrattu, i.e. that the nakshatra was Pârva-Phalguni, not Pushya.
I have no doubt that the proper equivalent of the date is Monday, the 5th March A.D. 1319. This was the 10th day of the month of Mina; and on it the 13th tithi of the bright half (of the month Phålguna) ended 3 h. 54 m. after mean sunrise, and the nakshatra was PurvaPhalguni, by the equal space system during the whole day, according to Garga for 12 h. 29 m., and by the Brahma-siddhanta for 7 h. 53 m., after mean sunrise.
1 No. 75 of the Government Epigraphist's collection for 1892.
No. 78 of the Government Epigraphist's collection for 1892.