Indian Antiquary Vol 42

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarkar
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 172

164
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
(JUNE, 1913
Chronology), he had constructed a rough ephemeris for the years A. D. 1000-1800. From his description of the ephemeris, however, I gather that it could not have contained more than the first five or six colamns of Table X of my Indian Chronology, if it contained so much; that is, he must have used, as data for all the tithis and nakshatras of a particular year, certain constants derived from the positions of the sun and the moon at the commencement of the year. I mention these details, because for the very same purpose of dealing effectively with Pandya dates, I have also constructed an ephemeris or daily Trayanga for the years A. D. 850-1000 and again from A. D. 1200 to 1500, which I intend to continue backwards as well as forwards; but my ephemeris gives, in addition to constants for every year and every new moon, which I have already furnished in print in Table X of my Indian Chronology, the actual ending moment of the title and nakshatra for every day in the period dealt with. It is possible to discover from this ephemeris, after a few trials and without any calculation whatever, the day corresponding to any combination of tithi, nakshatra and zdra. The accuracy of the results presented to Epigraphists in this article, as well as the ease with which I have been able to obtain positive results where Prof. Kielhorn and other investigators merely reported negative results, are due to the fact that I obtained them, as a rule, direct from my ephemeris, instead of having to work them out every time from my Indian Chronology.
For the sake of ready reference, I give below a list of all the Pandya rulers of the 18th and first quarter of the 14th century, whose initial years have been ascertained either by Prof. Kielhorn or by me, distinguishing by asterisks my own contributions to the list. Where I have been able to reduce to narrower limits the commencement of a reign given by Prof. Kielhorn, this fact is also indicated by an asterisk. Similarly, the fact that I have proved Kielhorn's Vira Påndya (the only prince of that name disclosed by his investigations) to have been a Máravarman is also indicated by an asterisk. To Kielhorn's eight Påņdyas of the 13th century, I have added a dozen new names, so that the obscurity in which the history of the Påndyas of the 13th century has been hitherto involved, and which finds frequent i expression in the annual reports of the Madras Epigraphist, has to some extent been removed. It remains for me, however, to acknowledge gratefully the liberal hints I have received from Mr. Rao Sahib H. Krishna Sastriar, in the matter of determining the broad
Annual Report, 1911-12, p. 71. "No. 392 of 1911 which is dated in the 10th year of Jat. S. Pandya and quctos the 15th of Perunjingadeva may refer to the time of Jat. S. Pandya I (1251 to at least 1261), or to J. S. Pandys
to at least 1290). The latter is more probable, as J. S. Pandya I is always distinguished by the epithet who took all countries," I shall show below that the king referred to is J. S.P. I.
Annual Report, 1911-12, p. 72. "Inscriptions of this Jat. Vira Paņdya, copied in previous years, do not give any ne to the period when he flourished. I shall show, by moans of four inscriptions oopied so early as 1894. and one in each of the years 1906, 1907 and 1908, that this Jat. Vira Pandya oamo to the throne in A. D. 1254 and WAS no other than the person well known to Madras epigraphy as the conqueror of "Ilam, Kongu and Chola."
Annual Report, 1910-11, p. 79. "M&r. Vira Pandya is another unknown king to whose 10th year belongs No.277 of 1910." Again Annual Report, 1909-10, p. 99. "M&r. Tribh. Virs Pandya and Jat. Tribh. Vira Pandya, mentioned in No8, 307 and 494 of 1909, could not be identified with any of the kingsi means of insoriptione, copied in 1905 and 1909, that the only Vira Påndya whose dates were investigated by Kielhorn was a Maratarman; I shall also show that there were at least three Jal. Vira Pandyas in the 13th century.
Annual Report, 1910-11, p. 79. "We do not know who Mar. Sundara Pandya was in whose 12th year.........the kaikkolar...". In Nos. 342, 343 and 814 of 1911 (three dated insoriptions of the 15th year of Mar. Sund. Pandya) the kaikkólars figure again, this time as donors of gifta. I have identified these dates as belonging to & reign which commenced in A. D. 1294.
Annual Report, 1909-10, p. 97. "Jat. Tribh. Sanda Pandya whose identity with any of the known kinge of that name oould not be definitely affirmed... -. One of these insoriptions
...... One of those inscriptions ( 418 of 1909) refers to an earl by Kopperunjangadeva and helps us to identify this Sund. Papdya with Jat. S. P. II." I shall show, by means of 9 inscriptions copied in 1909 (including No. 418 of 1909), and three in earlier years, that this Jat. 8. Padya could not be either J. S. P. I or II, but a different person whose reiga began in A. D. 1970-71.
. 82. Other kings of the name of Sundara Påndy who could not be identified by their characteristic epithets are Koner. Jat. Tribh. S. P. (Nos 69 and 72 of 1908); Jat. 8, P. (214, 217. 395. 411. 414 and 594 of 1908)...... Tribh. S. P. (150 of 1908 and 14 of 1909); ... Vira Påņdya is represented by 18 inscrip tions, in nine of which (119, 120, 123, 128, 134, 290, 401... ... and 598 of 1908 and 59 of 1909) he is oalled Jat. Tribh. Vira Påndya." I shall show below that the eight insoriptions for which details of day and month are available, can be referred definitely to certain known Pandya sovereigns, viz. Jat. S. P. II (411), Mar. S. P. II (130), Jat. V. P. II (194), Jat. V. P. III (119, 120, 182 and 101 of 1908), and Jat, S. P. IV (69 of 1908).