Indian Antiquary Vol 45

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

Page 98

90
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
[MAY, 1916
of villages after his own name, one to the east of Palamkoṭṭah (Pâlayamkôṭṭai) and the other to the West of Tinnevelly.23 He adorned and beautified these with Siva and Vishnu temples, with well-built Brahman agraharams and well-rivetted teppakkulams. A visitor to the former of these villages will not be surprised at Krishnappa's choice of its site for his work of building and charities. A few furlongs off, across a plain landscape, lie the tiny but scattered rocks of Redḍiampatti. In the south-east and on the western side the hill of Mêlappatti forms a similar outpost. To the North lie the Valanâd rocks forming a miniature watershed, the water from which forms a lake which feeds the small teppakkulams on the eastern end of the village. Situated in a picturesque situation and well furnished with irrigational facilities, Krishnapuram was in reality a place worthy of colonisation. Having fixed it, Krishnappa2 built a temple dedicated to Srinivasa and as many as 108 houses for Brahmans around and in front of it. The temple, once very rich and now poor, is a very fine structure. The front gôpura as well as the front mantapa is plain and ordinary, but what is known as Virappa mantapa inside is the glory of the shrine. The sculptures on the pillars of this mantapa are better worked and more splendid than those of even Tinnevelly. Spirited, lifelike and accurate, they will ever remain among noblest monuments of Indian artistic skill. In one is represented the Kaurava hero Karṇa, with the Nâgastra, thirsting for Arjuna's life-blood in his hands. In another pillar is seen the Indian Achilless, Arjuna, performing furious penance for the acquisition of Pâéupatâstra. Another lifelike portraiture represents, a local chief with his queens. The wealth of skill displayed in the general posture, the dresses and ornaments, and in other respects is exactly similar to that in the Tinnevelly temple and furnish admirable examples of the type of Nâik sculpture. The statue of Manmatha with his sugar cane bows and flower arrows, the figures of Bhima and Yudhishtira, etc. are all elaborately executed.
SECTION II.
Periya Virappa and Visvanatha II. (1573-1595.)
Kumara Krishnappa died 25 some time in 1573, leaving behind him a high reputation for bravery and for great virtues. On his death his two sons, Peria Vîrappa and Viśvanâ
23 The first of these is 6 miles from Palamkottah on the Tiruchchendur road. The other can be seen from the train going from Kallada Kuruchchi to TenkáéÎ.
24 See Madr. Ep. Rep. 1912, pp. 47 and 82; and also Ep. Ind., Vol. IX, pp. 328-41 where the Krishnapuram plates are described. With regard to the Krishnapuram Temple, I heard a curious legend current in the place. The outer prákára of it, I was told, was later on demolished by the Nawab of the Carnatic for the renewal of the Palamkottah fort, but in the course of the destruction, the Nawab's horse died suddenly, and the Nawab himself saw Allah everywhere in the Temple! He therefore discontinued the work of destruction and at the same time provided for the daily expenditure of the Temple.
25 The Pând. Chron. attributes it to Angila Mâsi but the Mirt. MSS. to Angila Kârtikai 19. The Hist. Carna. Govrs. and Supple. MSS. say that he died in A. D. 1480, Kilaka, which is of course absurd. With regard to his successors the latter two authorities, as well as one of the Mirt. MSS., do not mention Viśvanátha II. Regarding the date also there are differences of opinion. While the Hist. Carna. Govrs, and Supple. MSS. assigns the 27 years between 1489 (Saumya) and 1516 (Yuva), the Pand. Chron. gives the period of 24 years from 1571 (Angila Masi) to 1595 (Manmatha Margali). A Mirt. MS., on the other hand, attributes 22 years and 9 months-from Angila Kartikai S. 1494 to Manmatha Avani, S. 1517. [Wheeler mentions Virappa alone and says that he ruled from 1572 to 1595; but he gives the additional information that he was two years of age when his father Krishnappa died and that Nagama Naik and Aryanatha continued to act as regents.] The Gopippalayam inscription of Peria Virappa, dated 1573, which renews an alleged grant of Kûna. Pandya to the Musalmans, distinctly proves that he was on the throne by 1573. For reference to this inscription see Sewell's Antiquities, I, 292 and II, 76 and Nelson's Manual.