South Indian Inscriptions

EPIGRAPHIA INDICA

This date would be expected to fall in A.D. 1244 or 1245, and it actually corresponds to Monday, the 26th June A.D. 1245. In A.D. 1245 the Mithuna-saṁkrânti took place 9 h. 41 m. after mean sunrise of Friday, the 26th May, which was the first day of the month of Mithuna ; and the 32nd day of that month therefore was Monday, the 26th June.^[1] On this day the first tithi of the bright half (of the second Âshâḍha) ended 16 h. 5 m. after mean sunrise, and the nakshatra was Pushya, by the equal space system and according to Garga the whole day, and by the Brahma-siddhânta for 22 h. 59 m. after mean sunrise.

The date shows that the reign of Râjarâja III. could not have commenced before (approximately) the 27th June A.D. 1216.

130.─ In the Aruṇâchalêśvara temple at Tiruvaṇṇâmalai.^[2]

1 Svasti [śrî] [||*] [Ti]ribuvanachchakkaravattigaḷ śrî-Irâjarâjadêvar[k*]ku yâṇḍu 30vadu Danu-nâyarru apara-paksha[t]tu trayô[daśi]yum
2 Anilamum perra Nâyarru-kkilamai-nâḷ.

“ In the 30th year (of the reign) of the emperor of the three worlds, the glorious Râjarâjadêva,─ on a Sunday, which corresponded to (the day of) Anurâdhâ and to the thirteenth tithi of the second fortnight of the month of Dhanus.”

The date apparently corresponds to Sunday, the 17th December A.D. 1245, which was the 22nd day of the month of Dhanus, and on which the nakshatra was Anurâdhâ, by the equal space system and according to Garga for 17 h. 44 m., and by the Brahma-siddhânta for 12 h. 29 m., after mean sunrise. But the tithi which ended on this day, 15 h. 44 m. after mean sunrise, was the 12th, not the 13th, of the dark half (of Mârgaśira).─ The word trayôdaśiyum of the original therefore would be a mistake for tuvâdaśiyum.

G.─ RAJENDRA-CHOLA III.

131.─ In the Vêdâraṇyêśvara temple at Vêdâraṇyaam.^[3]

1 Sva[sti] śrî [||*] Tirubuvanachchakkaravattigaḷ śrî-Irâśêndira-Śôladêvarkku yâṇḍu.
2 nâlâvadu Magara-nâyarru=ppûrvva-pakshattu prathamaiyum Budan-kilamai-
3 yum perra Tiruvôṇattu nâḷ.

“ In the fourth year (of the reign) of the emperor of the three worlds, the glorious Râjêndra-Chôḷadêva,─ on the day of Śravaṇa, which corresponded to a Wednesday and to the first tithi of the first fortnight of the month of Makara.”

The date corresponds to Wednesday, the 5th January A.D. 1250, which was the 12th day of the month of Makara, and on which the 1st tithi of the bright half (of Mâgha) ended 12 h. 45 m., while the nakshatra was Śravaṇa, by the equal space system and according to Garga for 13 h. 47 m., and by the Brahma-siddhânta for 15 h. 6 m., after sunrise.

132.─ In the Vêdâraṇyâśvara temple at Vêdâraṇyam.^[4]

1[Ti]r[i]buvanachchakkaravatti[ga]ḷ śrî-Râśênd[i]ra=Śôladê[va]rku [y]âṇḍu [o]n-
2 badâvadu Magara-nâyarru pûrva-[pa]kshattu dvitîyaiyum Śev[vâ-kki]lamaiy pe-
3 rra Śadaiyattu nâḷ.
__________________________________________________________

^[1] The Karkaṭa- or Dakshiṇâyana-saṁkrânti took place 0 h. 16 m. after mean sunrise of the 27th June.
^[2] No. 504 of the Government Epigraphist’s collection for 1902.
^[3] No. 423 of the Government Epigraphist’s collection for 1904.
^[4] No. 418 of the same collection.