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EPIGRAPHIA INDICA.
[Vol. VI.
north-east corner of the temple, from which we learn that Siyamangalam belonged to Tepparrurnadu, a subdivision of Palagupra-kôţtam, & district of Jayangonda-Chôļa-mandalam. The temple itself was then called Tirukkarrali, s.e. the sacred stone temple' (Nos. 60 and 69 of 1900), and Tan-Audar (Nos. 61, 62, 63 and 65 of 1900).
A.-Inscription of Lalitankura. This inscription (No. 67 of 1900) is engraved on the right pillar of the gate. It consists of a single Sanskrit verse in the Arye metre and is written in the same archaic alphabet as the cave inscriptions at Trichinopolys and Mahendravådi. It records that “this (temple) named Avanibh&jana-Pallaveśvara ” was caused to be made by king Lalitankura. From the cave inscription at Vallam we know that Lalitankura was a surname of Mahendrapötaraja, who, according to Mr. Venkayya's researches, is probably identical with the Pallava king Mabondravarman I. Two other surnames of the same king were Satrumalla and Guņabhara, of which the first occurs at Trichinopoly and Vallam, and the second at Trichinopoly, Vallam and Mahêndravaời. Thus the Pallava king Mahendravarman I., who reigned about the beginning of the seventh century of the Christian era, is now known to have excavated four rock-cut shrines, of which that at Mahendraváļi 'was dedicated to Vishạn, and the three others to Siva. The name of the Siyamangalam cave, Avanibhájana-Pallavēsvara, means
the Isvara (ie. Siva temple) of the Pallava (king) Avanibhajana. Hence AvanibhAjana, i.e. the possessor of the earth,' must have been another surname of Mahendravarman I.
TEXT.8 1 Lalita[m]kuréņa rajñ-Åva2 nibhája[na]-Pallavēśvaran-nama [1] 3 kåritam=état-sve[dh]&(chchha)-karanda4 m=iva punya-ratnânâm [ll ]
H
O
TRANSLATION By king Lalitankura was caused to be made this templo) named AvanibhajanaPallavobvara- casket, as it were, (worked at) his will (and enclosing) jewels, (vis.) good deeds.
B--Inscription of Vijaya-Nandivikramavarman. This inscription (No. 68 of 1900) is engraved on the left pillar of the gate. Its alphabet is Tamil, with the exception of the Grantha words svasti frí at the beginning and fri in line 10, and resembles that of the Tiruvallam rock inscription of Vijaya-Nandivikramavarman; but the letter has throughout its archaio form, while in the Tiruvallam inscription the modern form with fully developed central loop occurs twice.10- The language is Tamil. As in the Madras Museum plates of Jaţilavarman," the rules of sandhs are not observed in Perumbálavir (1. 7 f.)
This subdivision was named after Tennáttar, No. 127 on the Madras Surrey Map of the Wandiwash taluks.
The same district is mentioned in two inscriptions at Tirumalai near Par (South-Ind. Insor. Vol. I. Nos. 72 and 74), in Tiruvallam inscription (ibid. Vol. III. No. 68), and in the Alampundi plate (above, Vol. III. p. 226).
South-Ind. Incor. Vol. I. Nos. 88 and 34, and Vol. II. Plate . • Above, Vol. IV. No. 19.
South-Ind. Inser. Vol. II, No. 72. • Madras Christian College Magasine of November 1898, and above, Vol. III. p. 278.
The synonymous biruda Bhuvanabhajans occurs in the inscriptions of the Pallava kings Narasimha and Rasimha at Mamallapuram and Kificht: South-Ind. Inser. Vol. I. Nos. 8, 7, and 25, 28rd niche.
• Prom inked estampages prepared by Mr. G. Venkoba Rao in 1900 and 1901.
By this simile the king suggests that he built the temple in order to obtain merit in the future life. 10 South-Ind. Ingor. Vol. III. p. 90 and note 6. 11 See Mr. Venkayya's remarks in Ind. Ant. Vol. XXII. p. 68 f.
