Indian Antiquary Vol 58

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Charles E A W Oldham, S Krishnaswami Aiyangar, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarka
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 28

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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
(FEBRUARY, 1929
extant. Now, we know that the starting point of Jewish chronology is October 7, B.C. 3761. Therefore A.M. 4830 corresponds to (4830 minus 3761=)A.D. 1069, which according to Jewish tradition turns out to be the approximate date of the Cochin plates, as well as of Bhaskara Ravi, whose name occurs in the Cochin plate inscription as the donor of the grant. . 2. According to another Jewish tradition recorded by a Jew in the Annual Supplement to the Malayalam newspaper Mitavadi for 1926, p. 20, column 2, Lûza, an influential Cran. ganore Jew, who had been murdered by the Portuguese just before they took possession of Cranganore, belonged to the thirteenth generation of the family of Joseph Rabban, to whom Bhaskara Ravi granted the Cochin plates.
We know the Jews are very particular about their genealogy. We know also that the Portuguese took Cranganore in A.D. 1505. And it is generally agreed that three generations comprise a century. (See Chambers' Encyclopædia, 1895, 8.v. Generation.)
Now, thirteen generations or(x100=)433 years from Joseph Rabbân, brings us to 1505. Joseph Rabbân, and hence his contemporary Bhaskara Ravi, therefore, lived about (150.5 minus 433=) A.D. 1072.
It may be objected that there is no reason why the two traditions referred to above should be correct in their statements. Certainly I admit that tradition may or may not be correct, and I grant for the present that the above traditions may not be correct. But it must be noted that these presumably incorrect traditions agree in assigning Bhaskara Ravi to about A.D. 1069—1072, or in round figures to about A.D. 1070.
Let us now consider another Jewish date for Bhaskara Ravi. I got two MS. volumes of old Jewish songs in Malayalam, one on the 7th and the other on the 13th November 1926. They contained two corrupt texts of a song in three parts, describing Joseph Rabbân's riding on an elephant in procession to the Cranganore synagogue, taking the copper-plato grant with him. That song contains a chronogram. Here is a translation of the first verse, and of the portion containing the chronogram.
Part I.
Verse 1. 1. In the presence of God, praise ! 2. In the city of Kota , where everything is available, 3. Cheers and cymbals are in front. 4. He has found favour with three kings. 5. Elephants and men and the kings come together. . 6. (Text corrupt.) 7. While he comes, after receiving such favours, 8. Let us sing to Joseph Rabbân. (Nine verses more in Part I.)
PART II.
Verse 1. 1. In world-famed Vanchi®, from the exalted monarch, 2. He received favours such as the crown, the daytime lamp, and walking cloth.10
1 "GENERATION, a single succession in natural descent, the children of the same perents ; in years three generations are accounted to make a contary."-Chamb. Encyc., 1895, vol. V, p. 129. 3 Kota is the same as Tamil Makotai, Cranganore.
He, viz., Joseph Rabban. • The three kings may be Bhaskara Ravi, his heir apparent, and another prince of the same house. # The composer of the song regards Joseph Rabban as a king of the Jews.
& Vachi is Tiruvafichikkulam (properly, Tiru Añchaikkalam), Bhaskara Ravi's capital. It is very near Cranganore.
1 The oxalted monarch is the Perumal, who was overlord of all Malabar.
S Thomas Cana, the great leader of the Christians of Malabar, is said to have received a crown from Chéraman PerumAl, 1.c., the Chers king of Cranganore, in A.D. 345.
9 Lamp lit by day on festive occasions. io Cloth spread on the way for privileged persons to walk along without touching the ground,