The inscription of the 7th year of Rajendra-Chola Deva I (1018-19 CE)

This inscription is dated in the 7^th year of Rajendra-Chola I. The king’s conquests end with the subjugation of the island of Sandimattivu. As we know that the invasion of the many ancient islands immediately preceded this event and that it took place in the 6^th year, it may be concluded that the conquest of Sandimattivu must have taken place in the 7^th year of the king’s reign = CE. 1018-19. The Tiruvalangadu plates tell us that Rajendra-Chola advanced against the Western Country because he had heard of the disgrace, which the kings of the earth had suffered at the hands of Parasurama. Not finding him on earth the Chola king desired to conquer the country reclaimed by him, which was protected against foreign invasion by the greatness of Parasurama’s penance. It is evident that the conquest of the island of Sandimattivu was the most important event of the campaign against Kerala, which must have taken place in CE 1018-19.

The subjoined inscription registers an endowment in money in favor of the image of Srikanthamurtigal set up by Prithivimahadeviyar, queen of Rajarajadeva. The money was lent out on interest to the members of the assembly of Narasinga-chaturvedimangalam, a brahmadeya in Avur-kurram, a subdivision of Nittavinoda-valanadu. The interest was to be paid in kind and amounted to thirty-seven kalam, one tuni and one padakku of paddy.

This and the next record belong to a class of Tanjore inscriptions, which are dated during the reign of Rajendra-Chola I. and register endowments by groups of men. To each of these groups a shrine in the temple was attached by order of the king.[1]

Hail! Prosperity! In the seventh year (of the reign) of king Parakesarivarman alias Sri-Rajendra-Choladeva, who, in (his) life of high prosperity[2], while fortune, having become constant, was increasing, (and) while the goddess of the great earth, the goddess of victory in battle, and the matchless goddess of fame rejoiced in having become his great queens, conquered, with (his) great warlike army, Idaiturai-nadu; Vanavasi, whose unbroken hedge of forest (trees) was extending; Kollippakkai, whose walls were surrounded by sulli (trees); the camp of Mannai, whose strength (i.e., fortifications) was unapproachable; the crown of the king of Iram, who came to close quarters in fighting; the exceedingly beautiful crown of the queen of that (king); the beautiful crown and Indra’s pearl-necklace which the king of the South (i.e., the Pandya) previously deposited with that (king of Iram); the whole Ira-mandalam on the transparent sea; the crown praised by many and the garland (emitting) beautiful rays,  family treasures, which the (kings of) Kerala, whose armies overcame (opponents), rightfully wore; many ancient islands, whose old and great guard was the sea, which resounds with conches; the crown of pure gold, worthy of Lakshmi, which Parasurama, having thought of the fortifications of the impregnable Sandimattivu, had deposited (there) then, enraged in battle, (he) bound the kings twenty-one times, there was engraved on stone (the name of) the village which had received on interest from Chandesvardeva, who is the first servant of the supreme lord who has been pleased to take up gladly his abode in (the temple called) Sri-Rajarajesvara, the money which had been deposited until the seventh year (of the reign) of the lord Sri-Rajendra-Choladeva on account of the offerings and other expenses required for (the image of) Srikanthamurtigal, which Prithivimahadeviyar, the consort of the lord Sri-Rajarajadeva, had set up in the temple of Sri-Rajarajesvaramudaiyar and which the lord Sri-Rajendra-Choladeva had attached to the artisans (karmigal) of the Perundanam (and) the accountants.[3]

The members of the assembly of Narasinga-chaturvedimangalam, abrahmadeyain Avur-kurram, (a subdivision) of Nittavinoda-valanadu have received at the beginning of the seventh year (of the reign) of the lord Sri-Rajendra-Choladeva, one hundred and fifty kasu (out of) the money which the artisans of the Perundanam (and) the accountants had deposited on account of the offerings and other expenses required for this (image of) Srikanthamurtigal. For (these one hundred and fifty kasu, the former) have to make over every year, as long as the moon and the sun (endure), thirty-seven kalam, (one) tuni and (one) padakku of paddy into the big treasury of the lord at Tanjavur by the marakkal called (after) Adavallan which is equal to a rajakesari  the rate of interest being three kuruni of paddy per year for each kasu.

No. 83. ON THE BASE OF THE SOUTH ENCLOSURE.[4]

This inscription is dated in the tenth year of Rajendra-Chola I. and registers an endowment in money in favour of the image of Mahameru-Vitanka, set up by Rajarajadeva, and of that of his consort. The money was lent out on interest to the members of the assembly of Narasinga-chaturvedimangalam mentioned in No. 82. In this case too, the interest was payable in kind and amounted to fifty kalam of paddy, which had to be delivered into Tanjai-Vidangan, the big treasury at Tanjavur.

Translation

In the tenth year (of the reign) of king Parakesarivarman alias Sri-Rajendra-Choladeva, who, etc.,[5]  there was engraved on stone (the name of) the village which had received on interest from Chandesvaradeva, who is the first servant of the supreme lord(Siva), who has been pleased to take up gladly his abode (in the temple called) Sri-Rajarajesvara, (part) of the money which the servants of the minor treasure
(sirudanattuppanimakkal)[6] had deposited until the tenth year (of the reign) of the lord Sri-Rajendra-Choladeva on account of the offerings and
other expenses required for these, (viz.,) (the image of) Mahameru-Vitankar set up by the lord Sri-Rajarajadeva and (that of) his consort— to both
of them(they i.e., the servants of the minor treasure) had been attached.