Karkodeswarar Temple,
Kamarasavalli – Inscriptions
There were about 45 inscriptions
found in the
temple premises.
Cholas:
Aditya I
Chola:
The temple seems to have been in
existence as a brick structure even in the days of Aditya I, as two of
its inscriptions refer to an irrigation channel called Kodandarama Vaikkal or
Kodandarama – Peruvaikkal.
Parantaka I or Uthama Chola:
One of the earliest extant
inscriptions found on the south wall of the central shrine belongs to the 9th
regnal year of a certain Parakesarivarman. This inscription might be belonged
to Parantaka I or to Uthama Chola. It contains the earliest mention of the
Kodandarama Vaikkal named after Aditya I; and the Perunguri Perumakkal of the Brahmmadesam of Kamarasavalli Chaturvedimangalam on the
northern bank (of the Kollidam) made a gift of land as for the conduct of Sribali and Thirupalli Ezhuchi services to the
Lord Tirunallur Parameswara. This was the original name of the presiding deity
of this Temple.
Sundara Chola:
The next important inscription
is one of the 5th year of a certain Rajakesarivarman. A gift of land
for Sidari to the
deity of this temple, called here ‘Tirunallur Mahadevar’ is made by Balasriya Bhattan
Sivan Kuttan of Adhanur. This inscription has been assigned to the reign of
Rajakesarivarman Sundara Chola alias Parantaka
II. The same donor makes an endowment in the same regnal year of
Ko-Rajakesarivarman to the temple of Tiruppalturai Mahadevar (Adhimooleswarar Temple)
at Uthamasili Chaturvedimangalam. The present temple structure of Kamarasavalli seems
to have come into existence, if not earlier, at the latest, some time before
the 5th regnal year of Sundara Chola.
Rajaraja I Chola:
There are eight inscriptions
related to the reign of Rajaraja I. One of
his 13th year inscription mentions a gift of 15 Kalanju of gold,
the interest on which was to be given to those who recited the Talavakara
Sama Veda on the day of Thiruvadhirai in the month of Margazhi.
A portion of this inscription is engraved over an earlier inscription. One of
his 15th regnal year inscription mentions a gift of land for the
offering of adalai (sweet rice pudding) on the festival day of Margazhi
Thiruvadhirai. A gift of gold for midday offerings on new moon days was made in
the 17th year of Rajaraja I.
There is an interesting
inscription on north wall of the central shrine dated to 20th regnal
year of Rajaraja Chola I. This inscription talks about the strength of local
assembly (consists of 80 members). A gift of tanks and ponds for supplying red lotuses
daily during the month of Dhanus to the Mahadeva is recorded
in an inscription of the 22nd year of Rajaraja I. A gift of land for
sandal paste and another of gold for lamps are recorded in three other
inscriptions of Rajaraja I.
Rajendra I Chola:
There are three inscriptions of
Rajendra I; one of his 8th regnal year mentions a gift of land to
this temple; but the assembly is said to have met at another temple in the
locality called Sri Kailasam Udaiyar Temple. The next is one of the 17th
regnal year of Vira Rajendra Chola Deva (Rajendra I). Portions of this are
lost and it mentions a gift of land to the temple of Tirunallur Mahadeva (Karkoteswaram). Sakkai Kuthu was a form of
dancing popular in the Tamil land from the Sangam age onwards. A
grant of land by the Perunguri Sabhai of
Kamarasavalli Chaturvedimangalam was made to Sakkai Marayan Vikrama Chola for
performing Sakkai Kuthu thrice
on each of the festivals of Margazhi
Thiruvadhirai and Vaikasi Thiruvadhirai.
Kulothunga I Chola:
There is an inscription dated to
the 26th regnal year of Kulotunga Chola I It is stated that
this Siva temple called Sri Kailasam alias Rajendra Chola Isvaram was
found in a state of neglect; neither the Sribali services not the procession were being conducted. So,
the assembly of Kamarasavalli Chaturvedimangalam decided to revive these items
of services in this temple by collecting one Kuruni of paddy from each harvested field of one ma in extent growing paddy,
millet or gingelly, one nut from every areca tree, and one ulakku of oil from each vellan’s house (homestead) in the village and its hamlets.
It was also decided that these collections were to be made by the revenue
officials.
In the 27th year of Kulotunga I,
a gift of land for a flower garden to the Karkoteswaram Temple is made by the
assembly of Kamarasavalli Chaturvedimangalam a brahmadeya in Kurram,
included in the sub-division of Geya Vinoda Valanadu. A gift of money
for three lamps was made in the 50th year of Kulotunga I. Here the
sub-division is called Vadagarai Ulaguyyavanda
Chola Valanadu, evidently based on another title of Kulottunga I. Another
temple in this locality called Tiruvagatisvaram (Agastisvaram) Udaiya Mahadevar
at Valavan Puliyangudi in Vadagarai Ulaguyyavanda Chola Valanadu is mentioned
in another inscription of the 50th year of Kulottunga I and it makes
a gift of land for worship in this temple.
Vikrama Chola:
There are three inscriptions of
Vikrama Chola. The first of the 4th regnal year concerns a gift of
money for a lamp to the temple of Tiru Karkotaka Isvaram Udaiyar; the second of
the 14th year mentions a gift of land; and the third also of the 14th
year mentions a gift of ten Kalanju
of gold for a lamp to this temple. The sub-division in which
Kamarasavalli Chaturvedi Mangalam was situated is renamed Vikrama Chola
Valanadu.
Kulothunga II Chola:
A gift of land for two lamps was
made in the 3rd year of Rajakesarivarman Tribuvana Chakravarty
Kulottunga Chola II.
Kulothunga III Chola:
A native of Alangudi makes a
gift of money for a lamp and midnight offerings and for betel leaves, areca
nuts, a knife (Kilikattu) and a pair of scissors to the God and Goddess in the
10th year of Tribuvana Chakravarty Kulottunga Chola who took
Madurai. This inscription has to be assigned to the reign of Kulottunga III.
Rajaraja III Chola:
There are three inscriptions
which might be assigned to the reign of Rajaraja III. The growing weakness of
the Chola empire, the rise of local chieftains and the disturbed condition of
the Chola country are reflected in a number of inscriptions of his reign. A
local inscription of the 11th year of Tribhuvana Chakravarty Rajaraja
III records that the Assembly of Kamarasavalli Chaturvedimangalam decided to
have the Grama Karyam (affairs of village
administration) attended to only by those who consented to vacate their seats
by the year according to the old custom. This rule should have meant to prevent
unruly elements grasping power and increasing it for selfish ends over a prolonged
period.
In the 16th year of
Rajaraja III, a gift of a silver forehead plate to the deity is recorded. A
sale of land in Vannam alias Madurantakanallur,
a devadana village
belonging to the temple of Karkoteswaram in his 17th year is
recorded. There are three more inscriptions of the time of Rajaraja III and
they record a sale of land (17th year), a gift of oil for lamps (19th
year) and a gift of oil (by the local oil merchants) for bathing the God on
Saturdays (22nd year).
Rajendra III Chola:
An inscription of the 12th
year of Tribhuvana Chakravarty Rajendra Chola Deva on the walls of the Chandikeswarar
shrine of this temple records a gift of land to the Tiru Gnanasambandha
Tirumadam by one Kunrankilan Tirunavukkarasu Deva, a devotee of the temple and
a native of Urrukattu Kottam in Jayankonda Cholamandalam.
Another of the 14th year of the same ruler makes a gift of land for
a flower garden.
Pandyas:
The grand Chola empire had
eclipsed and the Pandyas now made themselves masters of the Chola country. It
is stated in an inscription of the 10th year of Jadavarman
Tribhuvana Chakravarty Vira Pandya Deva that the people of 18 countries and
79 Valanadus assigned
certain customs-duties on articles of merchandise towards repairs to the temple
of Tirukkarkotakesvaram Udaiya Nayanar in Kamarasavalli Chaturvedimangalam.
Hoysalas:
This region had passed into the
hands of the Hoysalas at the end of the 13th and early 14th
century. An inscription of the 5th year of Hoysala Vira Someswara
records the royal decision that king in settling the dispute between the temple
managers and a private individual regarding the ownership of the village Vannam
alias Madurantakanallur, decided that it should be enjoyed as a temple
property.
Undated Inscription:
There is an undated inscription
of a later date which records the construction of a mandapa in front of
the central shrine by one Avvaiyar Tiruvarangamudiyan Appaninum nalla
Sembiyadaraiyan of Pudukkudi. There is also another inscription which records
that the same person covered the mandapa with
flat tiles.
