Kadava Kopperunjinga II

The first inscription^[1] of Kopperunjinga II issued in his regnal year (A.D 1226) is found on the south side of west prahara. The record states that one of his accounts officer known as Kudal Alapiranthan Devaramazhakkiyan Vanavarayan^[2] verified the temple accounts for the 8^th and the 9^th regnal years. The last two years total revenue of the place Munnjur one hundred thousands of kasus^[3] were donated for the maintenance of the temple.

The second record^[4] of Kopperunjinga II issued in his 3^rd regnal year (A.D.1246) is found on the front side walls of Mahamandapa. The inscriptions register a gift of Devadhana^[5] land and its income was used for conducting the daily pujas and food offerings^[6] to the main deity and the maintenance of the Adavalleswarar temple. The record also refers that the same gift was already given by one Iyyadevar and inscribed in the temple being continued and patronized by one Azhagiya Pallavan Viranarayana Kachirayan and officials of Kopperunjinga II. From this it is clear that the Kadavarayas also extended their patronization to Munnur Siva temple. Kopperunjinga II was an ardent votary of Saivism.

In addition to the above mentioned donations the record also mentions certain tax incomes viz., Thari Iray^[7] meaning weaving tax, Thattar Bhattam meaning the tax collected from Gold smiths, Chekkuk Kadamai meaning tax from the Oil mill traders, Vaniyarper Kadamai meaning tax collected from Traders community knows as Vaniyars and from their trade guilds, and Tharagu Bhattam meaning the tax collected from Mediators or Agents who got commission for their trade contacts for conducting the daily pujas food offerings and maintenance of the temple.^[8]

The third inscription^[9] of Kopperunjinga II in his 12^th regnal year (A.D.1255) is found on the south side of the cella outer wall. The record registers a gift of 750 Kuli^[10] of land and it was made by one Madevan Kulottunga Chola Vellalan^[11] of Amber. The 750 Kuli of land was purchased from the Brahmanas and the same was entrusted to the temple Siva Brahmanas for burning 10 Santhi^[12] lamps in front of the five entrances from evening up to Arthasama puja.^[13]

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Ibid.,

[2]:

Ibid.,

[3]:

A.R.E., 62 of 1919., S.I.I., Vol. 12., no. 134.

[4]:

Ibid.,

[5]:

Ibid.,

[6]:

Ibid.,

[7]:

Ibid.,

[8]:

A.R.E., 80 of 1919., S.I.I., Vol. 12., no. 176.

[9]:

Ibid.,

[10]:

Ibid.,

[11]:

Ibid.,

[12]:

A.R.E., 54 of 1919.

[13]:

Tamilnattu Varalatru Kuzhu, Tamil Nattu Varalaru, (Pandiya Peruvendar Kalam), Chennai, 2000, p. 11.