It is a well established fact that inscriptions abound in the Tamil language and script. Of all the inscriptions totalling 60,000 in the country, more than 40% are known to exist in Tamil language. Realising the importance of studying epigraphy to trace the history of a region, the ASI has done piorieer work of copying the bulk of the inscriptions which are now stored in the office of the Director of Epigraphy at Mysore. However the decipherment and publication of these inscriptions has not progressed as per original plans. Realising the need to publish all of the undeciphered inscriptions, the Government of Tamil Nadu made repeated efforts to secure these transcripts and get them published departmentally. Finally, the Archaeological Survey of India and the Department of Archaeology have agreed in principle to collaborate in this important venture. The Government of Tamil Nadu vide Ir.No.73s7IMA212-s-2 Tamil Development Culture & Religious Endowment department dt.04-08-200s have approved the joint publication by Director General, ASI, Commissioner of Archaeology, Government of Tamil Nadu.
Accordingly, an MoU was entered into by the officers of the ASI and the TNSDA on 15-04-2005 whereby it was agreed that this agreement will be limited to production of only one volume containing 271 inscriptions in Tamil and Sanskrit languages [in Grantha characters] copied during the year 1915 which may be further extended depending upon the success of the joint venture. The MoU was signed by Dr. K. M. Bhadri, Director (Epigraphy), ASI and Dr. T.S. Sridhar, lAS, Principal Secretary & Commissioner of Archaeology, Government of Tamilnadu.
Accordingly, a team of epigraphists from the Tamilnadu State Department of Archaeology visited the office of the Director of Epigraphy, Mysore and obtained the copies of transcripts and estampages, deciphered afresh the inscriptions and made improvement of their readings wherever necessary. This exercise was carried out between the months of June and September 2005. Subsequently, two more meetings of the Advisory Board were held to fine -tune the publication so as to conform to the standard pattern set by the SII volumes already published by ASI.
The Editorial Board consisted of Dr. T.S. Sridhar, lAS, Principal Secretary & Commissioner of Archaeology, Government of Tamilnadu, Dr. T.S. Ravishankar, Director I/ c (Epigraphy), ASI, Dr. N. Marxia Gandhi, Dy. Suptd. Archaeologist, (Retd.) Dr. A. Padmavathy, Spl. Grade. Epigraphist, (Retd). TNSDA and Dr. S. Swaminathan, Dy. Suptd. Epigraphist, ASI, Mysore. The Board was assisted by Mr. K.S. Sampath, Special grade Epigraphist and Mr. R. Sivanantham, Epigraphist TNSDA Mr. S. Nagarjuna, Dy. Suptd. Epigraphist, Dr. K. Karuppiah and Dr. S. Rajavelu, Asst. Suptd, Epigraphists of the ASl, Chennai circle. The above inscriptions were deciphered by the team of Epigraphists Dr. S. Rajagopal, Ms. R. Vasanthakalyani, Mr. P. Rajendran, Mr. S. Ramachandran and Mr. S. Krishnamoorthy. Dr. K. Panneerselvam and Dr. K. Munirathinam Epigraphist at Mysore also helped in correcting the proof pages. The DTP software was developed and provided by Prof. Kalyanakrishnan, lIT, Madras, whose contribution is gratefully acknowledged here. The DTP work was carried out by Mr. R. Gopu, Mr. K. Kurnaravel, Ms. D. Sathyavathy and Mr. M. Sakthivel Ms. K. Kokila.
The Index was prepared by Mr. K.S. Sampath, Special Grade Epigraphist and Digitaization of the Inscriptions was done by then TNSDA photographer Mr. M.T. Sridharan.
This Project is unique as it recognised the need for collaboration in the historically important task of publication of rare, undeciphered inscriptions in the Tamil language. The Government of India have declared Tamil as a classical language recently. It is all the more appropriate that Tamil inscriptions are edited and published through joint efforts of ASI and Government of Tamilnadu. It is hoped that this volume will be useful to Epigraphists, Research scholars and General public. The success of this volume will encourage us to carry on the project to greater collaborative ventures.
Of the 625 inscriptions copied during the year 1915 by Archaeological Survey of India, 271 records are in Tamil. These records are the collections mainly from North Arcot, Chingleput and Coimbatore districts belonging to Chola dynasty and from Tirunelveli district, which belong to Medieval and Late Pandya dynasties. A solitary record of Rashtrakuta Krishna III, two of Hoysalas and 12 of Partivendravarman, a probable chief of Pallava line are also included. Of the rest, some belong to the reign of the Vijayanagara rulers and their feudatories, while a good number of miscellaneous records are not assignable to any particular dynasty or king.
Out of 271 Tamil records 14 have been already included in the previous publications of the A.S.l. Sl.No.105 from Tirumukkudal (Chingleput district) arid No.262 from Panamalai (South Arcot district) were published in E.l Volume XXI and XIX respectively. One more record of Panarnalai is included in 5.11 Vol. l. Of the two Pallava inscriptions one from Tirumukkudal and another from Brahmadesam are included in the Volume on Pallavas (5.11Vol.XII). Six Chola records, three each belonging to Parakesari and Rajakesari have been published in S.I.I Vol. XIX and XIII respectively and three inscriptions belonging to early Pandyas in 5.l.I Vol.XIV. A brief account of some of the interesting inscriptions is attempted here.
Pallavas Four inscriptions of this volume belong to Pallava dynasty. Two are the records of Rajasimhan and one each of Kampavarman and Nripatungavarman. One Arikkanda Perumanar, son of Kadupatti Muttaraiyar was the donor who figured in the latter record (No.102).
Partivendravarman A considerable number of inscriptions of this collection belong to Partivcndravarman, probably a chief of Pallava line and contemporary of Chola and Adittakarikala of Chola dynasty. These records are ranging from his 2nd to 13th regnal years (A.D. 960-972). He is designated as one who took the head of Pandya: As far as the local administration of Brahmadesam is concerned, trairajya gsdika, ganavariyam, sradhamantas and anjashtasata sabha, are referred to in the early Chola inscriptions, are also common in his inscriptions. One of them records that, two Brahmanas were to be fed in the noon and one among them had to be fed before the offering was made to the presiding deity.
Cholas The Cholas are represented in nearly 86 inscriptions. Of the inscriptions of the Cholas, Brahmadesam and Tirumukkudal are important for they throw light on the social and cultural activities of the age.
The name Rajamalla-chaturvedimangalarn, seems to indicate that it was created by the Western Ganga Rajarnalla, a predecessor of Pritivipati II. It formed a part of Thiruvegambapuram, a nagaram that has been in existence since the time of the Pallava Kampavarman and also a contemporary of the early Cho]a rulers probably created this Brahmanical settlement.
**Contents and Sample Pages**
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