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No. 24].
DATES OF PANDYA KINGS.
No. 24-DATES OF PANDYA KINGS. BY R. SEweli, I.C.S. (RETD.), M.R.A.S.
MARANJADAIYAN. 98.-In the Jambunāthasvāmin temple at Tiruvellarai. 1 Svasti éri [1] Ko Marañjadaiyarku yandu nal[a]2 vadark-edir onbadaradu Vrischiku-ñairru Ti. 3 ngat-ki(lamai] perra Asvati [muda]laga.
"In the ninth (year) opposite to the fourth year of the roig) of king Mārañjadaiyan. -- from the day of) Asvini which corresponded to a Monday of the month of Vrischika."
The names of two sovereigns bearing the title Marañjadaiyan have been brought to light in the territories at one time subject to the Padyan kings. The carlier was alive in A.D. 770 as is gathered from the Anaimalai inscription; the later is believed to have succeeded to the throne some time in A.D. 862-63 (Ep. Inil., Vol. IX, p. 88). No sufficient details exist for verification of the date given for the former. I have examineil the date of the present record on the supposition that it might refer to that Mārañjadaiyay whose reign is said to have begun in A.D. 862-63.
It appears to belong to his thirteenth year, which would porhaps be tho year A.D. 874-75. The date given is so far regular that on Monday, the 29th day of the solar month Vrischika, tho nakshatra Asvini was current for 3h. 21m. at the end of the day hy all tho three nakshatra sys. tems. This civil day corresponded to Monday, November 22nd A.D. 874. On that day Rövati expired and Asvini began at 20h. 36m. after mean sunrise. Therefore according to the ordinary practice of Southern India the Monday in question would have been coupled with Rēvati and not with Asrini. The lunar day current at the Monday sunrise was the 10th sukla of Marga irsha. The 11th sukla tithi began at 18h. 34m. on that Monday, or 31m. after midnight.
Now I understand that the 10th sukla of Märgaśirsha is considered an unlucky tithi (at least Albērúni says that it is so); but that the 11th is peculiarls auspicious since it is the occasion of the great Vaikuntha, or Mukkoti-ēkārlasī, festival in Southern India, and of the mökshada Ekadasi in other parts. And as this tithi ran for about 5 hours before the end of the civil day, Monday, while the nakshatra Asvini was similarly current for about 3 hours before the end of the day, it seems quite possible that this constituted an occasion justifying a departure from the usual practice and the coupling of the Monday in question with Asvini instead of with Rēvati.
If I am right in this surmise the date may be accepted as genuine, and if so this king's reign began some time between November 23rd, A.D. 861, and November 22nd, 862 ; always supposing that "in the ninth year opposite the fourth year" means in the thirtornth year." Coupling with this the date given in the Aivarmalai record (Bp. Ind., Vol. IX, p. 88), which makes Saka 792 synchronous with the king's eighth year, we have for his accession the period March 22nd to November 22nd A.D. 862. This presupposes that the quoted Saka year 792 was the current year.
I No. 81 of the Madras Epigraphical collection for 1910.
? That the Walköpi-akadafi festival takes place on 11th sukla of Märgarirsha I guther from the late S M Natasa Sustri's Irindu Faarts, Fasts, and Ceremonias, p. 60. Mr. L. D. Swamikannu Pillai (Indias Chronology, p. 50,) plaves it on the 11th sukla of Pausha ; but I believe that this is not the case.
