Inscriptions of Ranipet

                            Inscriptions of Ranipet  

Introduction

Inscriptions are a repository of information and historical events related to the religion, culture, society, and economy of an ancient society. Research books can be written using the information found in inscriptions. Inscriptions are the primary choice of those who write history-related books or research reports. Inscriptions of the following languages ​​have been found in Ranipet district.

1) Tamil

2) Telugu

3) Kannada

4) Urdu and Arabic

The writing systems found in the inscriptions (Tamil inscriptions) are mostly written in Tamil. A few Tamil inscriptions are written with Tamil characters. Tamil inscriptions written using the Vattu script have not been found in this region so far. “Tamil” inscriptions called “Tamil Brahmi” have not been found in the hills here. It is surprising that “Tamil” characters have not been found in these hilly areas, even in the Jain habitats. South Tamil Nadu Especially in the hills of Madurai district, Tamil inscriptions are found along with Jain beds. But they are not found here like them. 

Vellore It is said that there are “Thamizhi” inscriptions along with the Jain beds in the Balamathi hill but when you look at them, they do not look like “Tamil” inscriptions. It is not possible to say for sure any reason why Tamil inscriptions are not found here. After Tamil, Vattalehuthu inscriptions are also rare here. 

The following reasons may be the reason why other language inscriptions (Kannada, Telugu and Persian) are found more in this district.

This district is located on the border of two states (Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh).

2) Chalukyas and Rattrakutas invaded and conquered some areas.

3) Vijayanagaras and Nayaks, who spoke Telugu as their mother tongue, ruled this district.

4) The main reason for the presence of Urdu and Arabic inscriptions here is the rule of Islamic kings.

Whose inscriptions-?

There are inscriptions of the Pallavas, Cholas, Pandyas, Sambuvariyars, Panaras, Vijayanagaras, Nayakas and the Nawabs of Arcot. As far as the Pallavas are concerned, the early Pallavas inscriptions are very few. But the inscriptions of the later Pallavas are found in significant numbers. No other inscriptions have been found except the Mahendravarman I Mahendravadi Rock-cut Grantha inscription. The inscription of the Kadavaraya king Sathi, the founder of the Pallavas, has been found at the place called Thandalam. 

There are a large number of Cholas (from Aditha Chola I to Rajaraja III). Especially the inscriptions of Parthivendrathivarman (Aditha Karikalan) are in large numbers. It is noteworthy that Aditha Karikalan was the ruler of the Thondai Mandala during the time of his father Sundara Chola. The Pandyas include inscriptions of Kulasekara Pandyan, Veera Pandyan and Jatavarma Sundara Pandyan. It is noteworthy that although inscriptions of various kings have been found, no rock paintings have been found. Most of the Urdu and Arabic inscriptions of the Nawabs of Arcot mention the construction of mosques and dargahs and the donations they made to them.

Inscription of Sambuvarayars

The Sambuvariyars were notable petty kings in the history of the Cholas, who ruled Tiruvannamalai and parts of North Arcot with Padavitta as their capital. The inscriptions of these kings are mostly in Tamil. They were also officials of the Cholas and Pandyas and had the right to levy taxes.

An inscription by Vendruman Kondan in the Kalameghaperumal temple of Tirumalaicherry, Kozhikkulathu}; states that the village was “made Veerasambamangalam” and given to Kalameghaperumal as “Sarvamanya Irayili”. There are many inscriptions of Raja Narayana Sambuvariyar and his father Vendru Man Konda Ekambaranathan Sambuvariyar in this area. 

It also states that a Shiva temple was built in the village of Kuttiyam during his time and that it was named after his father (Ekambaranathan). Kudimallur The inscription mentions the son of Raja Narayana Sambuvarayar, Tirumalin Nadan. The Kudimallur inscription also mentions that Raja Narayana Sambuvarayar paid taxes for lands affected by natural calamities. The inscription at the Thiruvallam Vilvanatheeswarar temple mentions “Veerasambanai”. 

This Veerasamban may have been the Sambuvaraya king. The inscription at the Veppur Vageeswarar temple mentions that in the 7th regnal year of Raja Narayana, he imposed restrictions on agriculture on temple lands. 

The village of Semparaya Nallur is evidence that the Sambuvarayars ruled in the Ranipet district. This village must have been originally called “Sambuvaraya Nallur and later changed to “Semparaya Nallur.

Athikosathar Inscription

 

There is a trading group of Athikosathar in the house of a person in this village. The inscription, which dates back to the 10th century AD, depicts a person and an elephant. It is possible that someone from the Athikosathar trading group lived in this area during the Chola period, or the inscription may have been engraved when the Athikosathar came to the Thondai Mandalam

Chaturvedi Mangalams (Brahmadeyas) mentioned in the inscriptions

Kings would give a village as a gift to Brahmins. This would be called “Brahmadeyam” or “Chaturvedi Mangalam”. The Chaturvedi Mangalams mentioned in this inscription are summarized as follows.

1) Avani Narayana Chaturvedi Mangalam (in the name of the Pallava king)-Kaviripakkam

2) Vikrama Chola Chaturvedi Mangalam (in the name of the son of the Chola king Kuluthunga I- Kaviripakkam 

3) Visayakanda Gopalan Chaturvedi Mangalam (in the name of the Telugu Chola king Vijayakanda Gopalan)-Kaviripakkam

4) Parakulandhakan Chaturvedi Mangalam (in the name of the Chola king. The enemy of enemies)-Nemili.

5) Cholar Kula Sundari Chaturvedi Mangalam (This may have been donated to the Brahmins in the name of a Chola princess or queen.)

Perunganchi

6) Videl Viduku Vikramaditya Chaturvedi Mangalam (Bana king in the name of Vikramaditya)

Ammundi

7) Rajanarayana Chaturvedi Mangalam (in the name of Sambuvariyar king Raja Narayana)

 Kalavai

8) Ulakalanda Chola Chaturvedi Mangalam (in the name of the Chola king-Kalavai

9)Aparajita Chaturvedi Mangalam (in the name of the Pallava king Aparajita Varman)

Rajamarthanda Chaturvedi Mangalam

Takkolam

10) Ezunutruva Chaturvedi Mangalam

Patalam

11) Veeravadikara Chaturvedi Mangalam

Kaniyanur

12) Mageshwara Soolamani Chaturvedi Mangalam

13) Visayaditta Chaturvedi Mangalam

14) Iranavikrama Chaturvedi Mangalam

Vannivedu

15) Muthanna Nayaka Chaturvedi Mangalam

(Probably created during the Nayaka period.)

Siru Karumpur

16) Namuludai Chaturvedi Mangalam-

Sivapadha Sekara Chaturvedi Mangalam

Valayathur

Taxes and subsidies mentioned in inscriptions

 We will see the taxes imposed on the people and the grants given to the temples in the temple inscriptions in Ranipet district.

1) Tantikkai Manyam

2) Palathali Pusaipadi Pattavirthi

3) Vettiyan Patti

4) Nulayam

5) Vibhuti Khanika

6) Mukam Parvai

7) Adigari Jodi

8) Vettikattayam

9) Arisakanam

10) Sodikanikai

11) Pattadai

12) Katravadam

13) Ullayam

14) Sarva Manyam

15) Kadamai

16) Ayam

17) Kudimai

18) Choolavari

19) Sodi

20) Kasayam

21) Asivaka Kadamai

22) Alamanji

23) Antharayam

24) Pon Vaari

25) Kusakanam

26) Kannalakanam

27) Urpadin Kudi

28) Pita Nazhi

29) Thachakanam

30) Kaikkuli

31) Kutradandam.

Water bodies mentioned in the inscription

The names of the rivers in this district are also mentioned in the inscriptions. Palaru is called “Paryaru” in the Chola inscriptions. Ponnai River is called “Nuka” River and “Niva” River. During the Pallava and Chola periods, many lakes, ponds and reservoirs were dug in the villages around ranipet and separate boards were formed to maintain them. (e.g. Lake Board and Gate Board). Land was also donated for those lakes. It can be said that agriculture flourished here through these lakes, ponds and reservoirs. 

The two main large lakes in this district are the lake dug in Kaveripakkam during the time of the Pallava king Nandivarman and the “Mahendra Thadakam” lake dug in Mahendravadi during the time of the Pallava king Mahendravarman I. There was a custom of naming the lakes dug in the Chaluva and Nayaka periods with the name of the king and adding it to the name of the king and naming them “Samudram”. (Samudram- a lake like the sea) Examples are “Saluva Samudram”, “Thimma Samudram” and “Senna Samudram”. 

Not only lakes but also kanmais were named after kings. Through these kanmais, lake and river water was channeled to the fields.

1) Mahendra Tadagam (Early Mahendravarman Pallava)

2) Arur Lake

3) Ponnai Kanmai

4) Vilambakkam Well (Chola Paranthakan period)

5) Ozhugaiyur Lake; (Chola period)

6) Kaveripakkam Nandhivarma Pallava's lake

7) Vanniya lake (Chola period)

8) Palli Vettar canal (Chola period)

9) Kandapuri Pettai Thenkal village canal (Sambuvarayar or Chola period)

10) Rajendran Chola period lake

11) Thandalam lake (Kadavar king Satthi period)

12) Ulagalandha Chola canal (Chola period)

13) Sri Rajarajan canal (Chola period)

14) Minnal lake

15) Vimaladithan canal (cut in the name of the Vengi Chalukya king during the Chola period)

16) Peruvangur lake

17) Cholingar "Chola Varithi" lake (Muthalam Paranthakan Chola period which means "Sea of ​​the Cholas"

18) Agaram Vellambai lake and Kanmai

19) Anaimallur “Saluva Samudram Lake” dug by the Saluva king Tippayadeva Maharaja)

20) Kavanur Lake (Chola period)

21) Punganur- Lake dug during the Pallava period

22) Punganur- Paramandaladitthan Pereri (Dug by the Lada Chief during the Chola period)

23) Pulivalam Lake (Dug by an officer of the Saluva king)

24) Parameswara Mangala Tadagam (Dug during the reign of the Pallava king Parameswaravarman I.

25) Punganur Lake

26) Perumpidugu Vaikkal (Pallava period)

27) Thamal Kanmai.

Officials and Chieftain of the Pallavas, Cholas, Vijayanagara and Nayaka kings mentioned in the inscriptions

1) The chief of the Vijayanagara king Pokkanna Odiyar - Somappa Dhananayak

2) Prithvipathi Sembiyan Mavali Vanarayan ( Ganga Chieftain of the first Parantaka Chola)

3) Uttaman Thondaiman (Chola period)

4) Araisur Udayan Iraiyiravan Pallavarayan, the three-headed Chola Poshan (first Rajarasan)

5) Velan Uttama Cholan, the Madurantaka Muvenda Velalan (first Rajarasan)

6) Veera Chola Anukkan Nakkan Seya Nambi (first Kulothunga Chola)

7) Udaya Marthanda Muvenda Velan (first Rajendra Chola)

8) Veeramindan Sengeri Ammaiyappan, the Athi Mallan, Vikrama Chola Sambuvarayan (second Kulothunga Chola)

9) Kiriapparayar (official of Nayaka king Achuthappa)

10) Meenavan Moovenda Velan named Satthan Kala Velan Adhiyan (Uttama Chola)

11) Pallava Perarayan Rajakesari Perarayan (first Paraantaka Chola)

12) Madhurantaka Achaphitaran, son of Kodumbalur Veera Chola Ilangovellalar

13) Vaidumbaraditya Brahmathirajan named Narayana Grama Vithan

14) Ananta Vikrama Pallavariyar named Thirshai Veera Narayana (first Paraantaka Chola)

15) Pappu Reddy (Vaiyappa Nayak)

16) Parantaka Pallavariyar, grandson of Sempiyan Moovenda Velalan of Umpala and son of Chola Moovenda Velal

17) Pandya Chitrarasan Sambuvariyar Veerasampan-?

18) Thirumalin Nadan, son of Raja Narayana Sambuvarayar

19) Pana Chitrarasan Mavali Vanarayan (Chitrarasan of Pallava king Vijaya Nandi Vikramavarman)

20) Samakaran Gandaradithanar, a general named Raja Raja Chola Sambuvarayar

21) Gangara Chief Achala Viman

22) Sengeni Mindan Athi Mallan Sambuvarayar

23) Sengeni Ammai Appan Kannudai Perumal

24) Amaraparan Seeyagangan (Muthalam Kulothunga Chola)

25) Alagiya Pallavan (Chitrarasan of the third Raja Raja Chola)

26) Pallavamarayan (Agent of the Kadavar king Satya)

27) Sengeri Nalayiravan Ammaiyappan, a Rajendra Chola Sambuvarayar

28) Kesuvaiyan Makan Pallava Brahmadharayan (the Chola king Parthivendran, the son of Aditha Karikalan)

29) Pampunikkutram Arasur; Chennipperarayan Kadaman Theeran (the best Chola)

30) Sempiyan Ilango Velar Phuthi Aditha

31) Seeyagangan, the rescued Perumal (the third Rajaraja Chola)

32) Nayak commander Perumal Deva Dhananayaka Udayar.

33) Vedai Perumal, the hunting king Sambuvarayan (the third Kulothungan)

34) Iladarayar Veera Chola (the first Rajaraja Chola)

35) Arulmozhi Vikrama Chola, the king of Rajathira Mahabali Vanarayar.

36) Alathur The Thirunangai Devan, the son of Chitrampalam, was the third king of the Chola dynasty (Vikrama Chola).

37) Sengeni Veerasani Ammaiyappan Thirumendhan Kannudai Perumal Veeravinoda Vikrama Chola Sambuvarayan (the first Kulothunga Chola).

38) Thondaiman Cholapperarayan, the son of Devaka Sundaran, the son of Matiya Perarayan

( Rajaraja-I).

39) Ammaiyappan Azhagiya Chola Sambuvarayan (the third Kulothunga Chola).

40) Nangai Pillai Seyangkonda Brahmathirayan.

41) Ur Azhvan, an officer of the Pallava king Nirupatunga Varman

Measurement systems and coins in inscriptions

Various measures and coins are mentioned in Chola, Pandya, Sambuvaraya and Vijayanagara inscriptions. Some measures are named after the town and the kings.

1) Nazhi

2) Veli (land measurement)

3) Patti (land measurement)

4) Kuhi (land measurement)

5) Rajakesari measurement

6) Rajakesari Ulaku

7) Kadigai Kalatuk Kol (Kadigai-Sholingar)

8) Dharmakatta Kal (Edaikal-?)

9) Dharmakattalai Stone with hole

10) Urakattu Nindar or Urungattu Nindar measurement

11) Anavarathan

12) Veerasampan Kulikai (Sambuvarayan King's time)

13) Thiram

14) Manjadi

Coins

1) Pazhang kasu

2) Madai

3) Kalanju

The following measurement systems existed during the reign of the British and the Nawabs.

1) Dolas

2) Marakkal

3) padi

4) Kallam

5) Kani

6) Kuzhi

7) Raioji Marakkal (named after Raioji, the minister of the Nawab of Arcot, Muhammad Ali Wallaja)

Cities mentioned in inscriptions

The Chola inscriptions of Tirumalaicherry mention “Ulagama Devipuram” (Thirumalaicheri).

2) Chakkarmallur Tamil inscription of the 20th regnal year of Kulothunga Chola III in the Thirukandeeswarar temple. During his reign, Chakkarmallur created a Vijayapattinam called “Chithramezhi Pathineni Umi Pattinam” with the revenue from the lands. 

The town mentioned in this inscription is probably the present Pattinam near Walajapettai-?

3) The Mahendravadi Rock-Cut temple inscription of the Pallava king Mahendravarman I mentions the city of “Mahendrapuri” (Mahendravadi) he founded.

Kudimallur The Pandya king Kulasekara Pandiyan's 12th reign in the Bhumiswarar temple also commemorated the capture of the traitor Kollan and the unification of the Idanga and Valanga factions. 

An inscription by the Vijayanagara king Ariyana Odiyar in the same temple mentions the fighting between the Idanga and Valanga factions. Although this fighting between the Idanga and Valanga factions had been going on since the Chola period, it intensified during the reign of the Vijayanagara Rulers.

Conclusion

When studying inscriptions, one should separate and write down the important information found in them. These are very important for writing about the history of a town.