Epigraphia Indica Vol 25

Author(s): Sten Konow, F W Thomas
Publisher: Archaeological Survey of India

Page 51

36
EPIGRAPHIA INDICA.
between Rajakesari Sundara-Chōla and Rajakesari Rajaraja I. The Udaiyarguḍi record1 dated in the 2nd year of Rajakesarivarman (Rajaraja I) states that the lands belonging to some persons who were implicated in the death of Aditya-Karikala were confiscated by the king; and it is reasonable to consider, from the trend of political events that attended the succession of UttamaChōla, that he had himself countenanced this act of treachery, which led him a step nearer to the Chōla throne. The Tiruvalangaḍu' plates while slurring over the actual facts that culminated in Aditya's death make, however, the significant remark that Rajaraja did not wish to succeed to the Chōla territory, so long as his uncle Uttama-Chōla coveted it'. These facts suggest that Aditya must have been killed before Uttama-Chōla's actual succession, and so Aditya II must have lived and ruled before A.D. 969-70.
[VOL. XXV.
The Leiden plates of Rajaraja I mention that while yet a boy, he (Aditya) ' played sportively in battle with Vira-Pandya, just as a lion's cub (does) with a rutting mad elephant, proud of (its) strength' while the Tiruvalangaḍu plates are more explicit in stating that he killed the Pandya king (who must have been the same Vira-Pandya) in battle,' and having deposited in bis (capital) town the lofty pillar of victory, (viz.), the head of the Pandya king, Aditya disappeared (from this world) with a desire to see heaven'. From these statements, we can infer that Aditya II had won his military spurs even during the reign of his father and that he did not live for a long time after his own independent victory over his Pandya adversary. Though the title talai-konda as sumed by kings, has, in some rare instances, been interpreted to connote a simple capture of the crown of their opponents, this specific statement in the Tiruvalangaḍu plates warrants the conclusion that Vira-Pandya literally lost his head, i.e., met his death, in his encounter with Aditya. The highest regnal year found for Vira-Pandya in the records so far copied is only 15+5, i.e., 20, and it was probably the last year of his reign. As the earliest year in which the title Vira-Pandiyan-ralai-konda is applied to Aditya is 2, we may assume that the 20th year of Vira-Pandya coincided with the 2nd year of Aditya's reign.
Of Aditya's father Rajakesarivarman Sundara-Chōla, it is stated in the Leiden plates that he fought a fierce battle with his enemies at Sevvür (Chevura), while the Kanyakumari record mentions that the Pandya opponent of this king fled from the field of battle and hid himself in a forest. The earliest record' of Sundara-Chōla crediting him with this achievement in the title Pandiyanai-chchuram-irakkina is dated in his 7th year; and as he is considered to have reigned from about A.D. 956 to 973, this conflict with the Pandya king, who must have been Vira-Pandys himself, could have taken place only in about A.D. 964. It seems probable therefore that the Pandya king was then simply defeated and routed, that he actually lost his life in another subsequent near engagement in which Aditya distinguished himself, and that this signal victory gave Aditya the title of Vira-Pandiyan-ralai-konda, in common with the two feudatories Parthivendravarman and Bhuti-Vikramakēsarin1o, who must have both helped him in this exploit.
1 No. 577 of 1920 and ante, Vol. XXI, p. 165.
2 S. I. I., Vol. III, p. 420.
Ante, Vol. XXII, p. 256.
Prof. K. A. Nilakanta Sastri: The Colas, Vol. I, p. 169. This is not convincing.
No. 256 of 1907 from Tiruvidaimarudur, dated in the 4th year of Aditya, states that he destroyed ViraPandya and took his head' (Vira-Pandiyanai erindu talai konda).
Trav. Archl. Series, Vol. III, p. 156.
doubtful.
No. 291 of 1908; ante, Vol. XII, p. 126.
The Colas, Vol. I, p. 180. No. 123 of 1895 is attributable to him and the astronomical details-17th year, Kumbha, Sunday, Revati-give the equivalent A.D. 973, February 9, Sunday.
No. 223 of 1915. Parthivēndravarman's identity with Aditya II himself or with Prithvipati II seems
10 No. 129 of 1907.