Tamil inscriptions in Sri Lanka

[33] 'We, the members of great assembly (pērūrom) of Kumārakanam have received thirty gold coins (ilakkācu) from Cēkkilān Caṅkan, a Ceṭṭi (merchant), on the fifth day of the first half of the month of Mārkali in the fifth year of King Ciri Caṅkapoti Mārāyan.

We, the members of the assembly of the great ūr (pērūrom) of Kumārakanam have received (a deposit of) thirty ilakkācu from the Ceṭṭi merchant Cēkkilān Cennai in the seventh year of King Śrī Caṅkapoti Mārāyar.

Paddy and oil shall be supplied daily for two young Brahmins conducting worship and to the one who administers the pilgrims' rest....' Two fragmentary inscriptions found on a pillar at Tirukketisvaram in Mannar, Sri Lanka dated to the reign of Rajendra Chola I (1014-1044 AD).

[43] 'Having received 124 cows he shall supply three ulakku and one alakku of ghee daily for burning lamps perpetually (until the moon and the sun last) at the temple of this God established at Jananātapuram otherwise called Pulanari (a subdivision) of Nikariliccōla- vaḷanāṭu.

We the members of the great assembly of the brahmadeya called Rājarāja - caturvedimankalam of Rājendracolavaḷanāṭu otherwise called Rājaviccātira-vaḷaṇāṭu, having met in the night of Tuesday, when the star Ayiliyam was ascendant, and which was the twelfth day of the month of Kumbha (Māci) in the tenth year of King Sri Cankavarmar His majesty ColaIlankesvara Tēvar.... mūttavakai-Kōyil Māni, who is the collector of revenues of our úr (town or village)' Tamil inscription found in Mānānkēni, Trincomalee District in the reign of Rajendra Chola I (1014-1044 AD) when a Chola viceroy Lankeswaran was ruling.

While (the Goddess of) Fortune was constantly growing, (and) while the great (Goddess named) Lady Earth, the Lady of Victory in Battle and the damsel (named) Matchless Fame having become his great queens, were rejoicing, [he conquered], in [his] life of high prosperity, Itaiturai - nātu, Vanavāci, which is encircled by a continuous hedge of forest, Kollippakkai whose ramparts were surrounded by 'culli' (trees), Mannaikkaṭakkam whose fortifications were unapproachable, the crown of the King of Ilam (Ceylon) (protected by the) warlike sea, the exceedingly beautiful crown of his queen and the fine crown and the garland of Intiran (Indra) which the Tennavar (ie, the Pandya ruler) had (previously) deposited with the former (i. e., the King of Ceylon), and the whole of Ila - maṇṭalam (Province of Ceylon) (surrounded) by the clear sea, the crown praised by many and the garland emitting red rays - the heirlooms - which were rightfully worn by the Keraḷan with the victorious army, the many ancient islands whose old great guard was the ocean which makes the conches resound, the crown of pure gold, worthy of Tiru (Laksmi) that had been deposited in Cantimattivu, in view of its strong fortress, by Parasuraman who, roused in war, had uprooted the kings (everywhere) twenty - one times, and.....out of fear and to his great disrepute, turned his back at Muyanki and hid.....' '(Rajendra Cōla captured) Iraṭtapăṭi Seven and a Half Lakhs (which was) strong by nature, and vast quantities of the nine kinds of treasure, together with the inestimable reputation of Jayacinkan (Jayasinha), who turned his back at Muyanki and hid himself, Cakkarakkottam whose warriors were brave, Maturamaṇṭalam destroyed in a trice, the prosperous (city of) Namanaikkonam with its dense groves, Pañcappaḷḷi with fierce and angry warriors, Mācuṇitēcam with its green fields; a full... together with many (other) treasures (which he carried away), after having captured Intiraratan (Indraratha) of the ancient race of the moon, together with (his) family in the battle at Atinakar (a city), whose great fame knew no decline.....' '.......the ancient Malaiyur with the strong mountain for its rampart, Māyiruṭinkam, which is surrounded by the deep sea that is the moat, Ilankācākam, which is undaunted in fierce battles, Māppappālam, which is defended by abundant water, Mēviḷimpankam, which is defended by fine walls, Vaḷaippantūru which has 'viḷaippantūru', Talaittakkōlam, which is praised by men proficient in the arts, Māttāmalinkam (which is a place) of fierce and cruel battles, Ilāmuritēcam whose fierce strength makes (those who wage) war disintegrate, Mānakkavāram, in whose extensive flower gardens honey was collecting, Kitāram, of fierce strength, which is guarded by the deep sea' 'Atitta-p-pēraraiyan Sri Palavan (Satyāśrayan) (the uṭaiyān) of Putukkuṭi granted 1 perpetual lamp and 84 cows to Velka-vēram otherwise called Rajaraja-perum paḷḷi in Māṇāvatiḷānāṭu,' 'In the 12th year of King Parakēcari-panmar otherwise called Sri Rajendra Coḷa-tēvar, Tariyanan Puvaṇatēvam of Kōlam granted 1 perpetual lamp and 4 kācu to the tēvar of Velkavēram.

In the twenty-fourth year of Parakēcari tēvar who conquered Purvatēcam, the country of the Ganges and Kaṭāram, Pelavān araiyan, a leader of the warriors of the Nānādesis, caused to be constructed this strong and beautiful Aññurruvan - ampalam, which is becoming famous as more and more people seek protection under your name' Pillar inscription set up in the reign of Rajendra Chola II (1054-1063 AD).

[54] 'In the second (regal) year of the heroic (King) Rājendra devar, the celebrated victor at the battle field of Koppam, the chieftain Pallavarāyan Mūvēntavēḷān who resembles Puruşōttaman (Krishna) in beauty, had caused the construction of the Vişnu temple called Mummuṭicola Viṇṇakar in the southern part of Anurādhapura.

This chieftain, who possessed wealth in abundance, also caused to be made a lying-in chamber with a canopy of peacock feathers for the Lord adorned with brilliant ornaments, who was in a tall sitting posture.'

While (the King's) white parasol was raised, expanding like the moon, diffusing sweet mercy on all creatures that abide on the globe, and affording royal protection; while (his) sceptre rightfully swayed all the quarters; (and) while the matchless wheel (of his authority) rolled about the universe that is invigorated by the rays of the sun, the progenitor of his lineage (kulam); (he) took as his consorts in wedlock (vatuvai) the goddess of the beautiful (lotus) flower (Lakşmi), whose austerities (thus) bore fruit, the goddess of the great earth, the goddess of fame, (who resembles) a parrot in beauty, and the matchless goddess of (victory) in war, and adorned (them) with crowns of brilliant Jewels as his rightful queens while the kings of this vast earth worshipped his feet by turns, and wearing as his ornament qualities of heroism and liberality and having established laws of Manu and his fame, (kankaikonṭa) colp-pallavaraju a vellalan of Mankalappaṭi in Virpēṭṭu-nāṭu, a subdivision of kottam in Colamaṇṭalam, made this endowment of a perpetual lamp (tirunonta vilakku) and five (gold) kācu for burning it daily with one ulakku of oil, at the temple of Vānavan mātēvi-iśvaram situated at Jananatamankalam in Rājarājendracola-valanātu, with effect from the month of Cittirai (April–May).

The administration of this endowment shall be the responsibility of the Brāhmaṇa kramavittan of Kōmatam who conducts worship (at the temple) in his capacity as one among those who perform services (within the innermost precinits) and dressed in garments of silk (as a mark of distinction); Tillaināyaka pattan, a Sivabrahmaṇa of this temple; the uvaccan;... kankaikontacola... ācāriyan; Rājādhirāja Muttakkarai-naṭāḷvān, who is responsible for providing protection in the capacity on an araiyan (leader of a military group); the overseers (kaṇkāṇi) of the māheśvaras (worshippers) at this temple; (the dancers:)... kaňkaikonṭa-colamānikkam, Kāman Tiruvi otherwise called Kōtukula Manikkam, Küttan Irājendra vitaňka-mānikkam, Kōvintan Āṭavallāṇ otherwise called Nārpatteṇṇāyira-māṇikkam, Tēvankāmi otherwise called Rajendracola - māṇikkam, Tēvan Uyyavantān otherwise called Muṭikontacola - mānikkam and those who perform the sacred duties assigned to them, by turns in rotation after them at this temple, those supervising the Māhesvaras, the residents of the nātu (nātřār); those who prepare the sacred offerings (paricārakar) and those conducting worship at the sacred feet of God in the sanctum having agreed to burn a perpetual lamp till the moon and the sun endure, received five kācu and one lamp of bell metal 2 spans and 4 fingers long.

)......, that neither die nor age, for (obtaining)......ghee,.......till the sun and moon last.....for......lamp.....set up......(at)......Nallur,....(in) Ilam alias Mum.............' Three Tamil slab inscriptions dating to the Chola era (993-1070 AD), were found in the ruins of a Siva temple in Thirumangalai, Trincomalee District.

King Sanghabodhivarmar otherwise called chakravarttikal Vijayabāhudevar, who was born in the lineage of Ikşvāku of the solar dynasty in the resplendent isle of Lanka, subdued many enemies, entered Anuradhapuram and went through the ceremony of coronation with the blessings of the Sangha for the sake of protecting the Buddhasāsana.

The mahāsthavira vyārini Mugalan, the royal preceptor, well versed in all religious doctrines and branches of learning, of exemplary conduct and behaviour, invited us while he was seated at Uttoruḷmūḷai in the presence of the King's ministers and said: "The great temple of the Tooth Relic should be under your protection."

Thereupon, we the members of the great army assembled together, and having invited for the meeting the Valanceyar, who are our patrons, and also the nakarattār and others who always accompany us, invested the temple of the Tooth Relic with the illustrious name mūnrukait tiruvēlaikkaran daḷadāyp perumpaḷḷi and resolved that it should be under our protection and maintenance, and for the purpose of this meritorious duty we undertake the responsibility of assigning one serviceman and one vēli of land from each unit of the army, to protect the villages attached to this shrine, its employees and treasures as well as those who seek refuge therein, even in the event of death and destruction caused to us, to replace the loss to the personnel and property thus assigned and to do everything required for this purpose at all times and as long as our lineage endures.

In order that this undertaking shall continue as long as the moon and the sun endure, we the illustrious Vēḷaikkārar of many categories including the valankai, itankai, cirutanam, pilḷaikaḷtanam, vatukar, malayāḷar and parivārakkontam attested this document with our own hands, and have caused it to be engraved on copper and stone.

[64] 'The Five Hundred of the thousand directions of the 18-bhūmi, who protect the entire world, who are adorned with five hundred heroic charters, who are renowned for their might, who are the children of Goddess Paramēśvari of Aiyapolil, who transact their samaya tanmam happily in 18 pattinam having streets with tall sky-scraping mansions, in 32 vēḷāpuram, and in 64 katikati-tāvalam... ...comprising ceṭṭi, ceṭṭi-puttiran, kavarai, kātrivan, kāmuntasvāmi, ōttan, ulpacumpaikkaran, palakai, kōttai,., cinkam, pāpuli-vinkam, ., mañcaraviran, mārvattumālai, ankakkāran, āvanakkāran, ..., konkavā!-700, panmai-300, Parantakavīrar, Attikōcam, Tantaḷi-nańkai-vīrar, Vaṭataḷi-naṇkai-virar, ücitolil- vāriyan, kalutai, and kalutai-më (ykkum pākan)... ...while all these were carrying on their samaya tanmai with the unswerving sceptre as their goal and with their fame known everywhere - so that righteousness may thrive and evil may dissipate, We, the 18-bhūmi Virakkoti of Pati otherwise called Southern (ten) Aipoḷil-valapattanam including Vikrama kaṭikaittāvaḷam, having assembled in full, namely: 1.

[67] 'The refuge of the whole world, The Viravalanceyar who had obtained the five-hundred heroic charters (virasāsanas), who possess the glittering long spears, who are adorned by Lakşmi who are of the lineages of Sri Vāsudeva, Kandali and Mūlabhadra, who are the children of Paramesvari of Śri Ayyappoḷil, conduct their business with exemplary patience, from the eighteen paṭṭinam with their terraced buildings, which rise so high as to mingle with the shade of moon light, the thirty-two vēlāpuram and the sixty four katikait-tāvalam, in association with the Ceṭṭis, Ceṭṭiputras, the Kavarai of the Kāsyapa lineage, Kāmuṇṭasvāmi, Ankakkārar, Avaṇakkarar... Konkavāḷar 300, and the Korrakkuṭaip panmaiyar 300.

As this veerampattinam became unstable because of paying an Indemnity, on promise, to Kuttipperumaḷ who was an enemy of the Teci, the nāṭṭuc ceṭṭis of "the eighteen countries" and we the Virakkoṭi and the swordsmen who render service (make this arrangement) so that the paṭṭinam will not perish.

The Viravalancevar possessing the long luminous and fiery spear, endowed with the edict of the Five Hundred Heroes, famous throughout the world because of their valour and whose faces are adorned by Laksmi are the offspring of the lineages of Sri Vasudeva, Khandhali and Mulabhadra.

[71] The following words and phrases can be made out in this otherwise undecipherable record: ghee, lamp, arecanut, burnt lime, dry cultivation, tax, endowment, perpetual, cows, portion, elephants, horses and chariots, garland, city, having sold, of the place, having taken by force, warriors, to be high, kali, kaliyuga, who is not afraid of, having invited, north, land, thing, separate, roll, a measure Pillar inscription from Mankanay, Trincomalee District dated to the 43rd regal year of Jayabahu I (1153 AD).

[86] 'In the fifth year of Parākramapāhu Niccankamallar, the King of Ilankai in the South, the Parākrama atikāri, vanuvēri, the vanquisher of the Five (Pāṇtiyar), a repository of strength and wisdom, who was a grandson of the cenevinātan (sēnāpati) Mēnai, established with pleasure the parākrama atikārip pirivuna to flourish at the town of Sripura nakar so that these-the beautiful temple (kōyil) of the exalted ascetic (munivar) who attained enlightenment, the monastery (alayam), the splendid street exhuming the odour of honey and the cavittam-would become pre-eminent, on the occasion when the sun had gone into the zodiac Capricorn on ponnavantinam (Thursday), which is the seventh day of the fortnight, in the month of Tai (Jan-Feb), the nakşatra being Uttiraṭṭāti.'

[93] 'I, Vēḷaikkāran Mātēvan, who is serving as the executor of orders (āṇatti) and who maintains the records (ōlaikkaran), have been appointed as the chieftain of a mangalam (a territorial division) with the title Uttamacolan by Nanti Kiriñcatan who has the following epithets : kuvalalapura paramēśvaran, kankai kulottaman and kāvēri-vallavar.

Those who recite the name of Vicaiyarama -p pērilamaiyar a thousand times at Valakali, the temple of Uttamar (Siva) at the new and prosperous (town of) Pati, with their minds absorbed in the performance of religious observances, daily, will attain the wealth equivalent to that acquired by those who wander up to the extremities of all directions.'

The Iḷamaiyār of Kilaiccēri, who belongs to the group of Vicaiyarāma-p- pērilḷamaiyār made an endowment for providing cooked offerings daily at the three sessions of worship (at the temple of Nāṇātēci Vitankar of the veerampattinam, which is known as Aipolil.'

On the occasion of the ritual of flower offering at Gokarna when the nakșatra Hasta was ascendant the sun was in the Mesha lagna...' Fragmentary Tamil inscription found in Periyapuliyankulam, Vavuniya District dated to the late 13th century AD.

This dedication was confirmed in the presence of two priests of the castes, Eanam and Warrallepattoem...'[105]The Kotagama inscription found in Kegalle District is a record of victory left by the Aryacakravarti dynasty of the Jaffna Kingdom in western Sri Lanka (14th century AD).

And for the purpose of conducting the sacred services, for offerings of food, for lamps, for garlands, for dances, for audiences and other observances-for the continuance of these-for robes and ornaments for the maintenance of these, to the Omniscient Lord (Buddha) who has been graciously pleased to manifest Himself and remain in this illustrious vihāra, and to the abodes of divinities to these in the shrine thus established, the inhabitants of the realm have all joined together and pledged themselves to pay one panam a year from each house every year, since the shrine has been given the name Lankātilagam - the name of all the inhabitants of the realm.

Whoever may be that virtuous person who, even by a mere word, supports and sustains this charity, the dust on the two feet of that noble personage, the excellent minister called Senā-Langadhigarigal places on his head as if it were a fragrant flower.

For the maintenance permanently of charity towards twelve Brahmins at the alms-hall of the illustrious king of Gods, Sri Parākaramabahu, the sovereign lord of Lanka, granted the pleasant village called Nāymannai.