Epigraphia Indica Vol 28

Author(s): Hirananda Shastri
Publisher: Archaeological Survey of India

Page 80

No. 6) JAVANTINATHAPURAM INSCRIPTION OF VARAGUNA-MAHARAJA means the Mangalam (agrahara-village) between (two) rivers (idai + asu) and the present Javantinathapuram and Lälgudi are situated just between the rivers Kävēri and Kollidam (Coleroon) which was the region called Idaiyarru-nādu or perhaps Idavai for short. It is not unlikely that it was during one of these campaigns that Varaguna II destroyed Vēmbil (Vēmbarrür) and encamped at Niyamam (Nēmam, Tanjore taluk) as stated in his Tiruchirappalli records (c. A.D. 874-5). His Ambāsamudram inscription of A.D. 878 states that he encamped at Araibür.on the bank of the Peņņār in Tondai-nadu, an event which might have taken place in the course of the subjugation of Nandivarman III which achievement, as pointed out above, occurred before A.D. 867. The text of the Ambasamudram record does not militate against such a possibility. Perhaps it was on the occasion of his presence in the Pallava country that Tennavan Pallavaraiyan alias Magan Achchan of Poliyür (i.e. Poļūr near Arkonam), the seat of a minor Pallava family sought service under him. This chieftain figures in a record of Varaguna at Tiruppattür, Ramnad District, of A.D. 867-8. It cannot be said, however, that even after these military marches across the Chola country into the Pallava dominion, Varaguna II was able to establish anything like sustained or supreme control over the regions. For, we find that the Pallavas were not completely dislodged from the Chola territory in these years. Records of Nandivarman III of the 21st and 22nd years of reign (c.A.D. 872-3) and of Nripatunga of the 2nd year of reign (c. A.D. 875) are found in the Chõļa country which, apparently, continued to be a disputed land till Nripatunga, by his resounding victory against the enemy in or about A.D. 880 established his rulo firmly over this territory, too.' In a record of the 18th year of the reign (c. A.D. 890) of the Pallava king at Tiruvadi in the Cuddalore taluk, Pandya Varaguna-Mahārāja figures as the donor. Subsequent to this date we rarely meet with any records of Varaguna II in Chola territory while records of Nřipatunga of regnal years 22 (c. 894), 2316 (c. 895) and 24" (c. 896) are found in the same region. It would, therefore, appear that in the latter part of the reign of Varaguna II, the Pāņdyas lost both in power and in prestige.
Turning now to the text of the Javantināthapuram record under study, a few remarks may be offered regarding the places mentioned in it. Idaiyarrumangalam, the meaning and derivation of which have been explained above, may be Javantināthapuram itself. The residents of this village say that it had another name Mayilraigam which is evidently what is mentioned in the inscription as Idaiyarrumangalattu-Tirumayilrangam. Tirumayilrangam was perhaps another name for Idaiyarrumangalam or, more likely, a suburb of it. Andanadu, the region whenoe the Vēlän hailed, is identical with the country round about Dindigal," in the Madura District.
1 Nos. 413 and 414 of 1904 of the Mad. Ep. Coll. ; An. Rep. A.8.1., 1903-4, pp. 271 ff. Above, Vol. IX, p. 86. • Above, Vol. IX, p. 84. . Above, Vol. VII, pp. 25-26. • No. 90 of 1908 of the Mad. Ep. Coll. . Nos. 144 of 1929 and 180 of 1907 of the Mad. Ep. Coll. ; 8..I.I., Vol. XII, Nos. 56 and 87. No. 122 of 1929 of the Mad. Ep. Coll. ; 8.1.1., Vol. XII, No. 61.
Above, Vol. XVIII, pp. 5ff. • No. 360 of 1921 of the Mad. Ep. Coll. ; 8.1.1., Vol. XII, No. 71. .Nos. 301 of 1901 and 38 of 1931 of the Mad. Ep. Coll. 1. No. 84 of 1892 of the Mad. Ep. Coll. ; 8.1.1., Vol. IV, No. 531, plate VIL
u No. 22 of 1931 of the Mad. Ep. Coll. ; 8.1.1., Vol. XII, No.78. In view of the presence of Nripatunga' records in Chöln country on these datos, the date c. 890 A.D. generally assigned to the final annexation of Pallava territory from Aparajita by Chola Aditya I has to be reconsidered.
11 8.I.I., Vol. III, p. 450.