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SEPTEMBER, 1895.]
the difficulties of the Vatteluttu Alphabet in general, and the faintness of this inscription in particular, I have reason to be gratified that it has only served to attest at least Sri-Vira-Keralavarman's rule in 1144 A. D. and the re-establishment of his authority in Tenganâd.
EARLY SOVEREIGNS OF TRAVANCORE.
No.
257
III.
Seventeen years later we get a glimpse of another sovereign of Vênâd. On Saturday, the 7th Iḍavam 336 M. E., the throne of Venad was occupied by Sri-Vira-Ravivarma Tiruvadi. The authority for this statement is an inscription in old Tamil, in four long lines on the southern wall of an old temple, in another deserted village near Olugunacheri, now called Puravachori, a name as much fallen from its original proud designation of Puravari-chaturvêdimangalam, as the village itself from its former pristine glory. For the benefit of such as may wish to verify this document, I must note that the priest in charge of this temple is an inveterate heavily-worked pluralist, and his movements are more incalculable than most mundane phenomena, so that one ought to go prepared to stay at Olugunacheri for a week to catch a glimpse of this servant of many gods and to be admitted into the courtyard of the pagoda. Yet if you believe the priest (and it would be profane not to do so), the pújás are most regularly performed: only, if you go there in the day time, they are going to be performed at night, and if you go there at night, they will have been finished daring day! The inscription would run thus in English; -
Old Tamil Sen-Tamil Current.
3 29.
Puravacheri Inscription of Vira-Ravivarman.
"Hail! Prosperity! In the year opposite the year 336, after the appearance of Kollam, with the sun six days old in the sign of Taurus (i. e., the 7th Iḍavam), Saturday, Makayiram star,44 was the following deed in cadjan passed:-The loyal chieftains of Sri-Vira-Iravivarma Tiruvaḍi, graciously ruling over Vênâd, declare that with the object of providing for the daily offerings to the Alvar in (the temple of) Puravaravu, in Puravari-chaturvedimangalam, and for a perpetual lamp to the same deity, are granted under tiruvidaiyattam tenure, to last as long as the moon and the stars endure, the following paddy lands, irrigated by the Chârâr channel of Talakkuḍi, and by the waters of Cheyyanêri tank in Châravayal, viz., Unnandiṭṭai, measuring ++ and Puduvûr Múlai measuring, making a total of 18+ lands, the dues on which at the rates of assessment obtaining in the village amounting to máttál 7 **, the servants of this Alvår, shall lease out, levy, and cause to be measured at the door of the pandara (granary), as per temple measure called puravariyán, and conduct the above said expenses without failure. The four boundaries of the lands, thus set apart, are ordered to be marked off by demarcation stones bearing the emblem of the holy discus, and in order that the allowances might continue without let or hindrance, this deed itself is commanded to be inscribed on stone and copper, in witness whereof are our signatures: Pallalan Aiyan (signature). Chingan Rangan (signature). Nârâyanan Sankaran (signature). Kôdai Dêvan (signature), and sign
manual."
This proves that Sri-Vira-Ravivarman was on the throne of Travancore on the 7th Idavam 336 M. E., or about the end of May 1161 A. D. It being but seventeen years since we saw SriVira-Kêralavarman, recovering possession of Tenganâd, we may rightly presume that Sri-ViraRavivarman was his immediate successor. Pullâlan Aiyan46 and others who signed this document were probably the feudal chieftains who conducted the administration of the day. Talakkuḍi being in the very confines of the present eastern boundary of Travancore, we may take this grant as evidencing the extension of the Vênâd sovereignty all over the south. It is noteworthy
Makayiram is Malayalam for Mrigastrsham, a star about the head of Orion. It means here the lunar man. sion on the day.
46 Pandaram or bhandaram means usually the king's treasury.
46 Aiyan is here no title, but the name of the person himself.
