Kulottunga III (A.D.1178-1218 A.D.)

The importance given to saivism in Munnur, Adavalleswarar temple by Kulottunga III is attested by his five inscriptions. Kulottunga III was crowned as the Chola emperor in A.D. 1178. The first record of Kulottunga III (A.D.1178-1218 A.D.) dated in his 11^th regnal year (A.D.1188) is found on the eastern side wall of the Mahamandapa of the Central shrine. The record^[1] mentions the land gift by an individual namely one Balakannan Kaman Thiruvagadeeswaran alias Vijayanarayana Chadurvedimangalam Mudaiyan^[2] of Eraiyur in, Kunra Nadu under the Urrukkattu Kottam of the same Jayankonda Chola Mandalam, to the members of the Mahasabha of Munnjur for the maintenance of the lake,^[3] the proper distribution of water and irrigation system for agricultural productivity of Munnur. Besides they have right to collect Eriyum, a tank tax^[4] in the form of kind for further maintenance of the public tank. Certain amount of paddy was collected as tax in the form of kind also mentioned in this record i.e. one thuni for one ma of land as public tank tax.

Besides the record makes mention that the tank tax was collected as equal for both the Kalanipunjai and the Kattuppunjai^[5] the two major kinds of the land divisions of the wet land on those days. More over the record is also mentioned that in addition to the tax, the members of the Mahasabha of Munnjur donated 10 gold coins^[6] for the maintenance work occurred on special occasions.

This Balakannan donated the land and the income of the tank tax was also used to maintain the public tank of Munnjur. It reveals that Balakannan may served as the minister of a Cholas. Therefore he gave permission in the name of Kulottunga III to collect tank tax viz., Eriyum for its regular maintenance. The measurement of the tank tax was one Thuni of paddy for one ma of land both wet land and dry land irrespectively.

In addition to this land donation and tax collection the Mahasabha^[7] of Munnjur had donated 10 kasu^[8] for the special maintenance of the public tank. Whenever the four walls of Tank found weak it was the duty to strengthen or rejuvenate the walls by adding mud and rock. It was the special duty. The cost for this rehabilitation work on special occasion of the public tank was managed by donation of Mahasabha.

From this it is clear that the record was a real testimonial for the irrigation system and its maintenance by Collective responsibility viz., the minister, the Govt. and the Mahasabha members. Moreover it is testimonial for the assistance of Mahasabha in Munnjur a small unit of administrative division and its autonomous, status, the systematic maintenance of water reservoir of the village and the special Tank taxes levied as per the land measurement and the care taken by the Government during the days of the Cholas.

The second inscription^[9] of Kulottunga III is found on the eastern side steps of Mathavarayan Mandapa is issued in his 24^th regnal year (A.D.1201). The record states that one Samanthan Adhiyamon conducted the Kudamuzhakku^[10] service the consecration ceremony on the vimana of the presiding deity of the temple. Besides the record also registers the establishment of Thertham known as Thirumanjana Kinaru^[11] by one Samanthan Adhiyamon of Kannur on the second prakara of the temple. The same record also mention the construction walls on the three sides of the Mugamandapa alais Madhavarayan Mandapa and placed a door in front side of the Mandapa and donated two perpetual lamps to the Presiding deity of the temple. The record also mention the various names of the Presiding deity viz Rajanarayana Chadurvedhi Mangalaththu Udaiyar alias Sri Mulasthana Mudaiyar alias Adavallanayanar.

From the above mentional inscriptional record it is clear that the construction of the outer walls and doors of the Mukamandapa, the digging of Thertham or well to bring holy water for rituals and worship to be conducted in this temple during the time of Kulottunga III. The Kudamuzhakku service or consecration ceremony temple completion ceremony took place during the time of Kulottunga III in his 24^th regnal year A.D. 1201. Principal shrine clearly states that the moreover the donor Samanthan Adhiyamon of Kannur might have been served as one among the Commander-in-Chiefs of the Chola army. The suffix Adhiyaman perhaps due to his birth in the Tamil traditional royal clan which is familiar during the Sangam age or he might have subdued the local chieftains and established the Chola supremacy in the region of Munnur. Moreover the record clearly states the present temple construction was computed during the time of Chola Kulottunga III.

An inscription^[12] of Kulottunga III is found on the North wall of the Arthamandapa in front of the central shine issued in his 30^th regnal year (A.D.1207). It records that one Vartharayan an individual who approached and requested the Chola King Kulottunga III to celebrate Thirubhuvana Viran Avani Thirunal^[13] an annual festival in the month of Avani in the Surname of Kulothhunga III to the presiding deity Adavallannayanar. The record also registers a gift of 56 veli^[14] wetland at Thudandhur Kaliva Vannianallur of Oima Nadu and half portion of the total dry lands and half portion of the uncultivable land (Naththam land) for the annual celebration and to maintain the temple. The record also makes mention that these lands were donated as tax free devadana land.^[15]

The record further speaks that the deed was intimated with the revenue board officials’ viz., Variyilar and Variputhagam^[16].The royal order was recorded and executed by Thirumandira Olai a Central Revenue Board official of the Cholas. Besides, the Royal Order was also intimated to temple officials’ viz., Kariyamseivar, Mahaswara Kankani and Devakanme Kovil Kanakkar^[17] for proper execution. The above mentioned three high worthy temple officials were responsible to received the Royal Order from the ruler, the declaration of royal order to temple officials and execution of the order in systematic manner.

A fourth inscription^[18] of Kulottunga III is found on the left side entrance of the Presiding deity issued in his 32^nd regnal year (A.D. 1209). It records a gift of certain amount of gold coin^[19] for conducting daily rituals with food offerings^[20] to the main deity. The record also refers to the temple accountant Devakanme^[21] to whom these donation of gold coin were entrusted.

The fifty record^[22] of Kulottunga III dated in his 33^rd regnal year (A.D.1210) is found on the left side of the Madharavayam Mandapa. It mentions the previous land gift to Principal deity by his predecessor of one Kudal Alapiranthan Azhagiya Pallavan alias Kadavarayan^[23] wants to record the deed once again on the walls of temple and continued the daily Pujas^[24] and offerings to the Principal deity of the central shrine in the name of Kulottunga III. From this we can infer that the Kadavarayars in order to increase the religious merit of the donors who were their own predecessor, once again recorded the previous donation in stone.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Ibid.,

[2]:

Ibid.,

[3]:

Ibid.

[4]:

Ibid.

[5]:

Ibid.

[6]:

Ibid.

[7]:

Ibid.,

[8]:

A.R.E., 64 of 1919.

[9]:

Ibid.,

[10]:

Ibid.,

[11]:

A.R.E., 50 of 1919.

[12]:

Ibid.,

[13]:

Ibid.,

[14]:

Ibid.,

[15]:

Ibid.,

[16]:

Ibid.,

[17]:

A.R.E., 56 of 1919.

[18]:

Ibid.,

[19]:

Ibid.,

[20]:

Ibid.,

[21]:

A.R.E., 63 of 1919.

[22]:

Ibid.,

[23]:

Ibid.,

[24]:

K.A. Nilakanta Sastri, The Colas, Madras, 1955, p. 365.