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EPIGRAPHIA INDICA.
[VOL. XIX
show an earlier type are ta, ma and ta. The marking of the secondary i-symbol from right to left like a circle over the letter is another archaic feature that is worthy of note. The etymology and orthography of the record do not call for any remarks.
The inscription is dated in the 24th year of the reign of Rajakõsarivarman without any distinguishing epithets and registers the grant of a silver water-vessel with a spout, made to the temple of Tiruvural-Mahādēva by Piridipadiyār, son of Māramaraiyar, on the occasion of a solar eclipse which occurred on the first day of the bright fortnight in the month of Aņi. The donor Piridipadiyār is no doubt identical with the Ganga Prithvipati II, son of Marasimha, who is referred to by the name of Máramaraiyar here. It was on this Ganga chief that the Chūļa king Parāntaka I (A.D. 907 to 953) conferred later on the Bāņa kingdom which he had obtained by defeating the then reigning Bāņa chief, along with the feudatory title Sembiyan Māvali-Vāņarāyap. Since before Parāntaka I the only Chõla king that bore the title Räjakēsarivarman was Aditya I, this inscription must belong to him. Paleographical considerations and the fact that Přithvipati II figures as donor in this record point to the same conclusion.
The importance of this inscription consists in the fact that it can, with certainty, be ascribed to the Chõļa Āditya I ; that it enables us to fix the date of his accession to the throne which has not hitherto been done ; besides, it also reveals the fact that the Gangas under Prithvipati II assumed a subordinate position under, or were at least friendly towards, the Chöļas even during the reign of Aditya I, as they certainly were in the time of Parantaka I.
It is reported in the Udayēndiram grant that the Ganga king Prithvipati I, grandfather of the donor of our record, fought on the side of the Pallava Aparājita against the Pandya king Varaguna in the battle at Sripurainbiyam and secured victory for his ally, though he himself lost his life in the strife. The Pandya king Varaguna, who was defeated in this battle, is no doubt VatragunaVarman, the eldest son of Srimāra Parachakrakólahala.. Of bis reign an inscription had been found at Aivarmalaio in the Madura district dated in the 8th year and Saka 792, from which it is learnt that he ascended the throne in A.D. 862. It is clear that the battle of Sripurambiyam must, therefore, have been fought some time after that date, perhaps in about A.D. 870. The victor in this battle, i.e., the Pallava king Aparājita, continued his rule for some time when he had to encounter a more formidable foe in the Chola Aditya I. The Tiruvälangadu plates state that Aditya I defeated the Pallava Aparājita, gained victory and took possession of his dominions. This must have happened in about A.D. 870.
The statement made in this inscription that in the 24th year of the king's reign there was a solar eclipse in the month of Āņi is of the utmost importance, for it enables us to fix the year of his accession to the throne as will be shown presently. Keeping A.D. 907, the year of accession of Parantaka I, as the last year of the reign of Aditya I, we have to look for the date meant in the
Prithvipati I, having died in the battle of sipurambiyam, it is impossible that he might be meant in this record though Máramaraiyar may be equatod with Sivamära or Marasimha.
See 8.1.1., Vol. II, pago 384. See also Sholingur inscription of Parantaka I (Ep. Ind., Vol. IV, page 224), where the following words अलभत पहमयं प्रसादं वायाधिराजपदलंभनसाधनं are used with reference to the title obtained by Prithvipati II from l'arantaka I.
* See 8.1.1., Vol. II, p. 384, v. 18, and Ep. Ind., Vol. IX, p. 87. * A. R. on Epigraphy for 1907, Pt. II, page 66 f.
No. 705 of the Madrs Epigraphical collection for 1905.
• The inscriptions of Aparajita range in date from the 3rd to the 18th year of reign free No. 135 of the Vedras prgraphical collection for 1905 and No. 351 of the same collection for 1908).
58. I. I. Vol. IIT, P. 419, v. 49.
