The Inscriptions of Sangramadhira

The beginning of the study of the history of Ravivarma Kulasekhara alias Sangramadhira (Born 1226 AD), ruler of Venad, was set on by sewell who delt with the contents of the Arulalaperumal temple inscription of Ravivarma Kulasekhara in his ‘list of antiquities’^[1]. In 1890, Dr. Hultzsch copied the inscriptions and highlighted their purpot in his report on South Indian epigraphy for that year^[2]. This was followed by the collection of the Srirangam inscription of the same king by Dr. Hultzsch in 1891^[3]. In 1896-97, Dr. F. Kelhorn published the text of these two inscriptions^[4]. Again in 1903 Dr. Hultzsch brought to light the Tiruvadi inscription of Sangramadhira^[5].

In his report on South Indian epigraphy, Hultzsch merely recorded the find with the simple comment^[6]:

“The temple at Tiruvadi contains a third inscription of this king which is dated the fourth year of his reign and in 1313 -14 AD”.

It was publilshed within a few years^[7]. The contributions of Kilehorn and Hultzsch could bring out a connected history of the life and times of Sangramadhira [Sangrama-Dhira].

Another epigraph of his dated the fifth regnal year, was noticed in the Valuvur temple in 1909^[8]. However, this record did not furnish any new information about the king. But, in AD 1911, the Poonellee inscription^[9] was discovered, and, on hostorical grounds, it was ascribed to Ravivarma Kulasekhara^[10].

The Chidambaram inscriptions^[11] of the fourth year of Virakerala Kulasekhara was brought to light in 1913, and H. Krishnasastri attributed the same to Ravivarma Kulasekhara^[12]. T.A. Gopinatha Rao edited and publisheed the Tvm epigraph of the king in 1916. In 1924^[13], Venkoba Rao brought to light an inscription of Ravivarma Virapandya from Perunagar and ascribed it to Ravivarma Kulasekhara^[14]. In 1927 Venkoba Rao annnounced the final of an inscription dated the 7th year of one Ravivarma Kulasekhara in the Tirunelveli temple^[15].

Among the Sanskrit inscription of Kerala, those issued by Sangramadhira Ravivarma Kulasekhara are especially notable. They are at different places, namely Tiruvati, Kancipuram, Srirangam, Thiruvananthapuram, Calaigramam, Thiruppankili and Poonamallee. Glimpses of the kings life history will be revealed from the inscriptional portions to be quoted shortely. He composed a play, Pradyumnabhyudaya. He was a patron of letters too. Samudrabandha, the cammantator of Alankara Sarvasva and Kavibhusana, the poet, were his proteges.

The whole Sanskrit matter contained in all the inscription of Sangramedhira, except the Poonamallee inscription, taken together can be classified into five sections as follows.

I. A historical introduction of five verses (Four verses are common to the three i.e. Tiruvati, Srirangam, and Tiruppankili. The Kancipuram epigraphs adds one)

1 svastiśrī jayasiṃha ityabhihitassomānvayottaṃsako
  rājāsīdiha keraleṣu viṣaye nātho yadukṣmābhṛtām
jāto'smad ravivarmabhūpatirumādevyāṃ kumāraḥśśivāt
  dehavyāpya śakābdabhājisamaya?[à] dehīva vīro rasaḥ ||

2 kṣayaṃ nitvā so'yaṃ kalibalamivārāti nivaham
  jayaśrīvat kṛtvā nijasahacarīṃ pāṇḍyatanayāṃ
trayatriṃśadvarṣo eṣa iva yayau keralapadam
  rarakṣa svaṃ rāṣṭraṃ nagaramiva kolambamadhipaḥ ||

3 jitvā saṃgrāmadhīro nṛpatiradhiraṇan vidviṣaṃ vīrapāṇḍyaṃ
  kṛtvā'sau pāṇḍyacolān naya iva tanumān keralebhyopyadhīnān
ṣaṭcatvāriṃśadabdestadbhuvi makuṭaṃ dhārayan vegavatyaḥ
  krīḍaṃ siṃhāsanasthaḥ svayamakuruta mahī kīrtivāṇīramābhiḥ ||

4 kṛtvā keralapāṇḍyacolavijayaṃ klṛptābhiṣekotsavaḥ
  saṃgrāmāpajayena kā?[à]ṅkaṇagataṃ taṃ vīrapāṇḍyaṃ ripuṃ
nītvā sphītabalaṃ tapo'pi vipinaṃ jitvā diśāṃ uttarāṃ
  kā?[\]cyāmatra cadurthamabdamakhilat saṃgrāmadhīro nṛpaḥ ||

5 āmerorāmalayādāpūrvādātha paścimādacalāt
yadukulaśekhara eṣa kṣoṇīṃ kulaśekharasvayaṃ bhubhuje ||

These five introduction verses give as an account of the career of Sangramedhira upto his fourth regnal year and the performance of the besmearing ceremony at Kanchipuram. Sangramadhira’s parentage, race, clan, country, year of birth, etc. are specified first. This is followed by an account of his military exploits in the adjoining countries, his matrimonial relations etc.

There was in Kerala a king named Jayasimha. He belonged to the Somanvaya, and was the lord of the Yadava kings. Ravi varma was born to him in Umadevi. He was born in the Saka year 1188. He destroyed his enemy hordes as he eliminated the evils of the Kali age. He took a Pandya princess for wife. In his 33rd year he led an expedition into the Keralapada. Then he defeated in battle his opponent Vira Pandya, and subjugated the Colas and Pandyas. In his 46th year of age he was crowned on the banks of the Vegavati. After the formal anointing ceremony was fixed, he fought a furious battle against Vira Pandya and drove him from Konkana to the forests and captured the northern regions also. After that he recorded his 4th regional year while at Kanchi. Thus he ruled the territory ‘As far as the Meru as far as Malaya and as far as the eastern and western mountains’ as its only master.

II. The 18 Birudas, given in all the three with no variation^[16].

1. Candrakulamangalapradipa.
2. Yadavanarayana.
3. Keraladesapanyaparinama.
4. namantarakarna.
5. Kupakasarvabhauma.
6. Kulasikharipratistapitagarudadhvaja.
7. Kolambapuravaradhisvara.
8. Sripadmanabhapadakamala paramaradhaka.
9. Pranatarajapratisthacarya.
....................................
....................................
....................................
17. Jayasimhadevanandana.
18. Srikulasekharadeva Among these 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 17, 18 are historically significant.

The first and second titles suggest his descent from the lunar race and the Yadava line. The third indicates that he belonged to Kerala and the Cera stock. The fifth title has to be taken to mean the Kupaka who acquired the positions of the Sarvabhauma. It could also be explained as the Sarvabhauma of the Kupukas. From the historical point of view he was the first Kupaka who become fit for the title sarvabhouma, and So the first explanation seems more appropirate. The title Kolambapuravaradhisvara indicates that he ruled the empire from Quilon. Also, this title, together with the fifth, applied to one and the same ruler would reveal that the Kupakas were not different from the kings of Venad. This would disprove the view of a section of scholars who hold that the two were different political units. The 8th title shows that he was a devotee of Sripadmanabha, and also indicates that in his days collateral branches of Desinganad and Tripparappur had not emerged as distinct dynastic units with well defined territories. The 17th title reveals that he was the son of a certain Jayasimha, while the 18th suggests that he performed the Tulapurusa and Padmagarbha rites and assured the title of Kulasekharapperumal.

III. The actual grant portion containing specifications.

IV. The short poem of 16 verses in praise of the king appendet to the third epigraph^[17].

V. The colophon of two verses given at the end of the said poem.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Sewell, List of Antiquities, 1882, Madras, Vol. I. P 186

[2]:

Annual Reports for 1890, P 2

[3]:

Administration reports No. 46 of 1891

[4]:

Epi. In. Vol. IV. PP 145 -152

[5]:

Administration reports No. 34 of 1903

[6]:

Annual Reports for 1903, P -5

[7]:

Epi. In, Vol VIII, P 8

[8]:

Annual Reports for 19096, Para 74

[9]:

Administration reports No. 34 of 1911

[10]:

Annual Reports for 1911, P 76

[11]:

Administration reports No. 350, 1913

[12]:

Annual Reports for 1913, P 95

[13]:

Travancore Arceological Series Vol. II, PP 53 -59

[14]:

Administration reports No. 344 of 1923, Annual Reports for 1924, P 108

[15]:

Administration reports No. 77, of 1927

[16]:

Travancore Arceological Series Vol. II -PP 58 -59

[17]:

Vide -Infra -P -108 -111