The Trivandrum and Vadassery Inscriptions

[Full title: The Trivandrum and Vadassery inscriptions of Adityavarma alias Sarvanganatha]

There are altogether three inscriptions in this group. The first of them is engraved on the south wall of the Krishna shrine in the Padmanabha Swami temple, Tvm. It consists of one Sanskrit verse written in Grandha characters. The second inscriptions contain five Sanskrit verses in Grandha characters and all of them are engraved on the north wall of the same shrine. The third inscription is on the north and east bases of the Mandapa infront of the Krsna temple at Vadassery. It has four complete verses and fragments of a fifth.

The first inscription^[1] records that in the Saka year 1296, expressed by the chronogram colapriya, when Jupiter dwelt in the house of Leo, king Sarvanganatha caused to be reconstructed the Cow-shed, the house of lamps, the Krsna shrine and the Mandapa at Syanandurapura out of the devotion and for fame.

The verse is:

siṃhaste ca bṛhaspatau samakarodabde ca colapriye
  gośālāñca sudīpikāgṛhamaho kṛṣṇālayaṃ maṇḍapam
bhaktyā caiva yaśorthamapyatitarāṃ dharmārthamapyādarāt
  syānandūrapure sukīrtisahitassarvāṅganātho nṛpaḥ ||

The earliest study of the inscription was made by Prof. P. Sundaran Pillai^[2]. About the same period Kielhorn published the correct text of the inscription with a highly improved translation^[3] and the date of the record calculated in 10th October AD 1374 and 26th March AD 1375. Rao^[4] republished the text of the inscription with no additional remarks.

Sundaran Pillai made a balanced study of the two inscription and identified the Sarvanganatha of the first Gosala inscription with the Adityavarma of the second record^[5]. That means, the second inscription is nothing more than a reiterating document. These two records, taken together, furnish the following historical data:—

In the year Saka 1296 (1550 M. E), there was in Venad, a ruler with the cognomen Sarvanganatha. His proper name was Adityavarma. He had happy relations with the Colas, if the chronogram Colapriya has the usual episodical implication. King Adityavarma alias Sarvanganatha was responsible for the reconstruction of the Krsna shrine, the Mandapa infront of it, the Deepasala around the shrine, and the Gosala.

The second Gosala inscriptions contain five verses. According to the first verse the Navatva or renovation of the Krsna shrine, the Mandapa and the Gosala was conducted by king Adityavarma.

The verse is:^[6]

śrīgoṣṭakṛṣṇālayamaṇḍapānāṃ
  gavāñca kṛṣṇasya ca bhūsurāṇāṃ
niveśanārthaṃ kṛtavān navatvaṃ
  ādityavarmā paravīravīraḥ ||

The second and third verses do not contain anything of historical value. The fourth and fifth verses purport on the transformation of the artistic excellence of the Mandapas, that was pulled down for the new structure.

In 1910 Gopinatha Rao^[7] brought to light the Vatassery inscriptions which was made the foundation of his doctrine of identity between the Sarvanganatha and Adithyvarma of the first and second Gosala inscriptions respectively, since this record combined the name Adityavarma and the cognomen sarvanganatha. But the inscription is undated^[8]. It consists the four complete verses and fragments of a fifth. The first verse seeks to justify the cognomen sarvanganatha.

It is composed as if pronounced by the king himself.

śabdajñosmyatha lakṣyalakṣaṇaguruḥ sāhityasaṅgītoḥ
  smṛtyarthātmapurāṇaśāstra nigamān jāne pramāṇānapi
ṣaṭtriṃśatsvapi hetiṣu śramaguṇaiśśabhaiḥ kalānāṃ kulānyabhyāse
  yudhi bhūpatīśca vijaye sarvāṅganātho'smyataḥ ||

The king proclaims “I am verily the sarvanganath” then follows the reasons. They are I am the Sabdajna, I am the preceptor (Guru) of both Laksya and Laksna in respect of literature and music. I know the smritis, Arthasastra, the Atmasastra, the Puranas, and the Agamas as well as the Purana. I shine fourth by the qualities of enterprise, in the use of the 36 types of weapons. I do practice in all the kalas and I win the kings in battle.

The second and third verses form a Yugmaka. Adityavarma was well versed in all arts.

It is a matter for wonder that those who have excellence in all the branches of learning.

sāhitye nipuṇe kecit kecit śāstre ca kovidāḥ
  kecit gīte kṛtābhyāsāḥ kecita śāstre kṛtaśramāḥ
ādityavarmaṇa! bhavataḥ sāmyamicchanti te katham
  pāraṅgatena vidyānāṃ ekāṃ vidyāṃ samāśritaḥ

The fourth verse is merely a prior of the poet to infant Krsna and contains practically no historical data.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Travancore Arceological Series Vol. I -PP 171 -173

[2]:

Originally pub. in Indian Antiquary -Vol. XXV July (1896) and later brought out in Book form.
Sundaran Pillai—Some early sovereigns of Travancore, Madras, 1943 -P. 74

[3]:

Epi. In. Vol. IV -P. 203

[4]:

Travancore Arceological Series Vol. I -PP -171 -172

[5]:

Sundaran Pillai -Loc -Cit -Pp. 74 -80

[6]:

For a description of this monument, See, Poduval R.V. “The Arts and Crafts of Kerala, Cochin 1970, P. 137

[7]:

Travancore Arceological Series Vol. I. -P. 172

[8]:

At the same time there is another fragmentary record dated Kollam 548, belonging to the reign of a certain Aditya Varma in the same temple.