Rajendra I (A.D. 1014-1044)

Rajendra I, who succeeded Rajaraja I, followed the footsteps of his father in conquest and administration too. It is said that Rajaraja's great and solid work was the rock, upon which his son built and achieved unique success as a worthy son of a worthy father. He ruled for about 33 years. On his ascendancy to the throne, he proved himself to be a great warrior and an efficient administrator. His original name was Madhurantaka. But in A.D. 1012 when he became the crown prince, he was known by the titular name Rajendra.^[1]

There are four inscriptions of Rajendra I found on a pillar which now lying on the eastern side of the prakara of the Adavalleswarar temple premise. Of the four inscriptions, the first record^[2] issued in his fifth regnal year (A.D.1016) refers to a gift of 90 sheep for burning a perpetual lamp of the Adavalleswarar temple by one Kutternkovan a vellala^[3] of Vallivalam Village in Nallur Nadu territorial division of Venkundram Kottam. The Meikirthi of Chola Rajendra I starts with Thirumannivalara^[4] clearly states that this place was mentioned as Munnjur during the days of Chola Rajendra I. The record refers to the presiding deity as Mulasthanaththu Paramaswami^[5] of Munnjur. The record also mentions that the Sabaiyar or the temple officials should agree to maintain the offerings of the donor.

One more record of Kadaram Kondan^[6] Chola who is identified with Rajendra I appears on the other side of the same pillar which is now lying on the same eastern prakara mentions a gift of Nallur lands for providing the mid-day meal to the Brahmanas^[7] (Scholars) who were well-versed in Vedas and Sutras of the Salai.^[8] Here the expression Salai is identified an Advanced Educational Institution (Veda pada Salai) of Munnjur. The record further states that the income from these donated lands of the village Nallur was to be used to meet out the mid-day meal of the Brahmanas both the teachers and the scholars who were taught and learn Vedas, Sudras and Sanskrit language and the same donated cultivable lands were exempted from land taxes.^[9]

Further the inscription states that the importance given to Vedas, Sudras and Sanskrit language by Chola Rajendra I. It indicates that the flourishing Advanced Educational Institution known as Salai existed in this temple complex during the region of Rajendra I. Moreover the income from these entire village cultivable lands was to be used for the maintenance of the Salai an Advanced Educational Institution existed in the temple premise. It also indicates that in this institution Vedas and Sudras were taught in Sanskrit language as in the case of Bahur,^[10] Thirubhuvanai^[11] and Ennayiram^[12] the educational institutions of the Medieval Tamil Country. It is revealed by this epigraph that the steps taken by Chola Rajendra I to conduct a similar Educational institution at Munnjur as the famous Institutions that already existed during the Chola period viz Bahur, Thirubhuvanai and Ennayiram in the Villupuram district.

The third inscription^[13] of Chola Rajendra I found on the other side of the same pillar which is lying on the ground in the prakara of this Adavalleswarar temple. The record starts with Meikirthi Thirumunnivalara of Rajendra I mentions the donation of sheep^[14] for burning the three lamps by three temple attendees and the same donation was agreed by the temple Sthanathar to burn and maintain the perpetual lamp.

The inscription further refers to the presiding deity as Sri Mulasthanaththu Paramaswami and the expression Brahmadesa Munnjur of Sri Pandithachola Chathurvedhimangalam^[15] under the subdivision Oima Nadu of Jayankonda Chola Mandalam. The record reveals the fact that the town Munnjur had a Brahmin settlements viz., Sri Pandithachola Chathurvedhimangalam during the time of Chola Rajendra I.

The fourth inscription^[16] of Chola Rajendra I found on the fourth side of the same pillar lying on the ground in the eastern side of the temple prakara mentions the donation of 90 sheep^[17] for providing ghee to the learned Brahmanas (teachers) of the Salai and 30 sheep were donate for providing butter milk for them while talking their mid-day meal.^[18] The same epigraph also mentions that the deed was requested by the Sthanathar of the temple to record the same after getting permission from the Chola official’s viz., Nattiyathan and Solaiyathan^[19] of Arasur, under the subdivision of Pampurikurram, Korukkai Nitha Vinodhini Valanadu of Chola Mandalam. Moreover the epigraph also refers to the provision of potteries to the Salai, by the Potters^[20] of Munnur. The potters provided sufficient potteries for the use of the Salai where the scholars studied.

The same epigraph also makes mention the term Olai.^[21] The expression Olai is identified with an official called Thirumandira Olai or Thirumandira Olai Nayagam. This Thirumandira Olai and Thirumandira Olai Nayagam were the Revenue Board officials of the Cholas were existed in Munnjur region, and the existence of the Revenue Board known as Puravuvarithinaikalam in Munnjur temple. From this it is clear that the Munnjur Revenue Board was functioned in the Adavalleswarar temple complex itself.

From the above mentioned four inscriptional records of Chola Rajendra I, it is clear that Munnjur Adavalleswarar temple enlarged a medium stone structure and become a prominent Saiva centre during the time of Chola Rajendra I. Among the four inscriptions only two of them mention the place name as Munnjur instead of Mudur as mentioned in the Sangam literature Sirupanatruppadai and the Presiding deity as Sri

Mulasthanaththu Paramaswami which may be the prominent name of the Presiding deity during time of the Cholas Rajendra I. Rajadhiraja was the first son of Rajendhra I and ascended the throne in A.D. 1044. Virarajendra became the Chola emperor in A.D. 1063. Adhirajendra ascended the throne in A.D. 1070. After his death Eastern Chalukya Prince became the first ruler of the Chalukya Chola line in the name of Kulottunga I. Vikrama Chola the son and successor of Kulottunga I ascended the throne in A.D. 1020. No inscription of this period is available at Munnur temples.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Ibid.,

[2]:

Ibid.,

[3]:

Ibid.,

[4]:

Ibid.,

[5]:

Unpublished Inscription., See Appendix, No. 2.

[6]:

Ibid.,

[7]:

Ibid.,

[8]:

Ibid.,

[9]:

Ibid.,

[10]:

Ibid.,

[11]:

Ibid.,

[12]:

Unpublished Inscription., See Appendix, No. 3.

[13]:

Ibid.,

[14]:

Ibid.,

[15]:

Unpublished Inscription., See Appendix, No. 4.

[16]:

Ibid.

[17]:

Ibid.

[18]:

Ibid.

[19]:

Ibid.

[20]:

Ibid.,

[21]:

Ibid.,