South Indian Inscriptions

EPIGRAPHIA INDICA

“ In the 4th year (of the reign) of the emperor of the three worlds, the glorious Râjêndra-Chôḷadêva,─ on the day of Anurâdhâ, which corresponded to a Sunday and to the fifth tithi of the first fortnight of the month of Kanyâ.”

The date corresponds to Sunday, the 12th September A.D. 1249, which was the 16th day of the month of Kanyâ, and on which the 5th tithi of the bright half (of Âśvina) commenced 1 h. 42 m., while the nakshatra was Anurâdhâ, by the Brahma-siddhânta for 22 h. 59 m., and by the equal space system and according to Garga from 3 h. 56 m., after mean sunrise.

99.─ In the Sâkshinâthasvâmin temple at Avaḷivaṇallûr.^[1]

1 . . . Tiribu[va]naśakkara[va]-
2 ttigaḷ śr[î]-Irâśêndira-Ś[ô]-
3 ladêva[r*]kku yâṇḍu 22[va]du
4 Mêla-nâyarru apara-pakshattu
5 de(da)śam[i]yum Budan-kilamaiyum [p]e-
6 rra [Śa]dai[yattu] n[â]ḷ.

“ In the 22nd year (of the reign) of the emperor of the three worlds the glorious Râjêndra-Chôḷadêva,─ on the day of Śatabhishaj, which corresponded to a Wednesday and to the tenth tithi of the second fortnight of the month of Mêsha.”

The date will be expected to fall in A.D. 1267 or 1268. It actually corresponds to Wednesday, the 20th April A.D. 1267, which was the 26th day of the month of Mêsha, and on which the 10th tithi of the dark half (of Vaiśâkha) ended 13 h. 40 m., while the nakshatra was Śatabhishaj, by the equal space system for 4 h. 36 m., after mean sunrise.

This result reduces the time^[2] during which Râjêndra-Chôḷa III. must have commenced to reign to the period between approximately the 21st March and the 20th April A.D. 1246.

F.─ TRIBHUVANAVIRA-CHOLA.

100.─ In the Aruṇâchalêśvara temple at Tiruvaṇṇâmalai.^[3]

1 Svasti śrî [||*] T[r]ibhuvanavîra=Śôladêvarku yâṇḍu 11âvadu
2 Chitrabhânu-varushattu Siṁha-nâyarru apara-pakshattu sa-
3 ptamiyum Ve[ḷ]ḷi-kkilamaiyum perra Urôśaṇi-nâ-
4 ḷ.

“ In the 11th year (of the reign) of Tribhuvanavîra-Chôḷadêva,─ on the day of Rôhiṇî, which corresponded to a Friday and to the seventh tithi of the second fortnight of the month of Siṁha of the year Chitrabhânu.”

If the Tribhuvanavîra-Chôḷadêva of this date were identical with Kulôttuṅg-Chôḷa III. who bears the name Tribhuvanavîradêva, the date would fall in A.D. 1188 ; but for that year it is in every respect incorrect. Between A.D. 1000 and 1500 the only day for which the date is correct is Friday, the 23rd August A.D. 1342. This day by the southern luni-solar system fell in the Jovian year Chitrabhânu (Śaka-saṁvat 1264 expired). It was the 26th day of the month of Siṁha, and on it the 7th tithi of the dark half (of Bhâdrapada) ended 10 h. 8 m., while the nakshatra was Rôhiṇî, by the equal space system and according to Garga for 19 h. 42 m., and by the Brahma-siddhânta for 19 h. 3 m., after mean sunrise.
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^[1] No. 605 of the Government Epigraphist’s collection for 1902.
^[2] See above, Vol. VII. p. 176.
^[3] No. 522 of the Government Epigraphist’s collection for 1902.