Dr.R.Nagaswamy
#A0522D
An Outstanding Epigraphical Discovery in Tamilnadu
Epigraphy
The most outstanding discovery in the field of Epigraphy in recent years, is the Pulankuruchi rock inscriptioin of King Cendan Kurran, brought to light by the Tamilnadu State Department of Archaeology, during the village to village survey of Epigraphs and Antiquities. The Trichy District Archaeological Officer, Thiru D. Tulasiraman discovered this epigraph, inscribed on the slopes of a hillock. The inscription is significant in many respects.
It is the longest early inscription noticed so far, running to over 15 metres (45 feet) in length and two metres (6 feet) in height. The record is in excellent Tamil and written with great care, free from orthographical errors. The inscription is dated in the year 192, (Nurru Tonnurru Irandu) and day 36, and month Tai and is inscribed in the reign of King Ko-Cendan Kurran.
The epigraph reads:
Epigraph
Ko Cendan Kurrarku yandu Nurrut tonnurrirandu,
Nan Muppattaru Pakkam Tai-P Pirai Nal............
Obviously the record is that of Kurran, son of Cendan, the King. The inscription is in three parts. The second part is completely worn out. Except a few letters here and there, nothing could be made out. Even the first section is damaged considerably at the beginning and also in the middle. The third section is fairly well preserved and begins with the words "Ko-Cendan-Kurrarkku" which is clearly the beginning of the record. It is not clear whether each one of these three sections is a separate record. But it is evident that all the three sections belong to one and the same transaction as the letters, names etc. are absolutely identical. The record refers to number of Devakulas, Brahmadayas, and Tapatap-Pallis. Further a number of Territorial divisions like Muthurru Kurram, Ayvuvallakkurram, Devanaru Kottam, Avarruk-Kurram, Ceyak-Kottam, Vennadu, Cinmanuru, Kudaluru Nadu, Van Pandi Nadu, Konga Nadu, Devanaruk-Kottam, Cendak-kottam, Matirai.
It also refers to Karunjevukar, Ilakkandarumikal. Ulaviyapp Peruntinai, Perumpadai, Brahmadaya Kilavar, Karan Kilamai, Kudumbiyar. Irun Nadu Kappar, Puram Kappar. Muppuru Kappar and Neri Aram Ceyvar.
Besides, the record refers to Nirnilam (wet land) Puncey (dry land) Tottam (groves) and Kalani and also refers to lands sold earlier Virruk kondu Kudutta pun cey Nilan)
A few usages found in this record are:
1. Brahmadaya Kilamaiyum, (Miyat) chiyum Kondal.
2. Brahmadayak Kilamaiyum Karanmaiyum Kondalal urut padudal, Kol Kondeludi-k-kuduttal, Elududdal, vel Kuru Ceyal, Kudumbadap perudal, Kurram Tolil ceydal, Urun Nadu Kattal., Kudikalai Eval kollal, Neri Aram Ceydal, Puram Kattal, Muppuru Kattal.
Proper Names
Nallam Kilan Inanguman, Mulan, Kurran, Kannan, Taman Kari, Vennattan Nariyan Kari, Pullattevan, Ambar Kilan, Kumaran Pondai, Adukilan Kiran Kari are some proper names worthy of mention.
The record ends with the statement that "I, Venattan alias Nariyan Kari copied and executed this deed". Obviously, this is a land deed, the exact nature of which is not clear due to the damaged condition of the record in the middle.
The importance of the record may be discussed. Date: The epigraph is the earliest dated record in Tamilnad, so far brought to notice. It refers to the year 192 (one hundred an ninety two) and 36th day The earliest era so far known is the Saka era 380 (458 A. D.) corresponding to the 22nd regnal year of the Pallava ruler Simhavarman mentioned in a Jaina text, Lokavibhaga. The era 192 mentioned in the Pulankuruchi record in all probability is Saka era, (270 A.D.). The general trend in Tamilnad, is to record the regnal year in grants, but occasionally one of the following three eras are mentioned.
a) Saka era (beginning 78 A.D.)
b) Kaliyuga era beginning 3101 B.C.) and
c) Kollam era (beginning 825 A.D.).
The Pulankuruchi epigraph is not certainly dated in Kollam era, which is too late for its paleography. It could certainly not refer to Kaliyuga era, since the date is too early to think of any script. By elimination the only era that could have been referred to in this record is the Saka era, which gives a date of 270 A.D. in Common calander. The paleography is in accordance with the date. It would thus be the earliest record so far noticed in India, referring to the Saka era.
The two important records in early Tamil Brahmi (Damili) script, referring to the Chera ruler Ko Adan Cel Irumporai, from Pugalur, and Nedunjeliya Pandyan from Meenakshipuram, do not refer to any year either the regnal year or any one of the eras. The colophons of the 'Padirru Pattu' refer to the regnal years of the Chera rulers, but the dates of the Colophons are highly debated. The PulanKuruchi record pointedly refer to an era, and thus is the earliest dated land mark in the history of Tamilnadu.
Further it refers to the month of Tai by the name "Pakkam Tai Pirai". The month Tai is referred to in the Sangam literature. The mention of the month as Pakkam and Tai is also met with for the first time in this record.
Territorial Divisions
The territorial divisions Kurram, Kottam, Nadu and Ur are referred to in this record indicating that the country was divided into well knit territorial units and that there were suitable officials to look after the various aspects of administration.
Among the territorial divisions mentioned, the following deserve special attention.
Pandi Nadu, Konga Nadu,Ven-nadu and Kudaluru Nadu are mentioned by the division nadu. While the Pandi Nadu, Konga Nadu, and Ven Nadu are bigger territories almost ruled by Kings, it is not known how the territory Kudaluru Nadu was administered. Whether it is identical with Kambam Kudalur region is also not certain. That Konga Nadu and Ven Nadu are also mentioned besides Pandi Nadu in this record shows that this epigraph was of considerable importance.
The following are the Kurrams referred to in the record. Muthurru kurram, Ayvuvalla Kurram, Avarruk-Kurram. While the first mentioned viz, Muthurruk-Kurram is known the other two are not so well known and are yet to be identified. It is of interest to note that this region, where Pulankuruchi is located is called Ollaiyur Kurram, in ancient inscription. That Ollaiyur Nadu is referred to in Sangam Literature is well known. There is a reference to Ollai Varrai Vali in this record.
Among the Kottams referred to, thre is one called Cendak-Kottam. This record is dated in the reign of Cendan Kurran. It is not known whether the 'Cendan-Kottam' was named after Cendan the father of this Kurran.
Devakulas
The record is also interesting as it refers to a number of Devakulas and Brahmadayas. A careful study of the Sangam literature reveals that Vedic sacrifices are more frequently referred to than temples dedicated to Gods, though the later are not unknown. That the temples were assuming greater importance subsequent to the Sangam age is reflected in this record. That by the sixth century A. D., the temples have become the centre of social, cultural and religious life of the people and they inspired the great devotional movements from the 6th to 8th century A. D. This record points to the fact that the movement has started in the Third century A. D.
Brahmadayas
The lands gifted as Brahmadayas also deserve special mention. The record uniformly mentions such lands as Brahmadayas lands gifted to Brahmins. In later records, the term occurs as Brahmadeya and not as Brahmadaya. All the early Pallava copper plate charters assignable to 4th 5th century A.D. use the term Brahmadeya. Even the earlist Pandya Copper plate of 8th century A. D. mentions only Brahmadeya and the same term ontinues to be employed in the succeeding centuries. The Pulankuruchi record is the earliest Epigraphical record in Tamil land referring to it as Brahmadaya. The colophon of the 2nd verse of Padirru Pattu, extolling the greatness of Neducheral-adan states that the Chera ruler gifted 500 villages in Umbar-nadu as "Brahmadaya" to Kumattur Kannan. It is a pointer to the early date of this record. It must also be admitted that the colophons of the Padirru Pattu collection date back to an earlier age than hitherto held. The Puankuruchi record refers to Brahmadaya Kilavar which obviously shows that such Brahmadayas had leaders or representatives known as Kilavar (vrddhas). Discussing the poet, Arisil Kilar Dr. U. V. Swaminatha Iyer, in his editorial note on Padirru Pattu says that Kilar is an exclusive title of Velala. But this view needs modification in the light of the present discovery.
Kudumbu
The Pulankuruchi record makes a reference to 'Kudumbu Adal' dividing the settlement into wards for administrative and social purposes. In the well-known Uttaramerur inscription on village assembly, the division of the settlement into 30 Kudumbu is mentioned. This occurs in the context of a Sabha, a Brahmin settlement so much so some scholars opine that the constitution of wards and the elective system of the village assembly is exclusive to Brahmin settlements. The method of electing a representative by the pot-ticket method, is alluded to in the Sangam literature. However in the present record, the term 'Kudumbu adapperal' is not explicitly associated with Brahmadaya. The term 'Kudumbar' is a general term used by Buddhists, Jains, and Hindus. An early inscription assigned to the beginning of the Common era, found in Thirupparamkunram mentions one "Ila-Kudmbikan'. The Pulankuruchi inscription points to the existence of ward system in the Third century A. D.
Revenue Department
Two important revenue administrative officers are mentioned for the first time in this record.
1. Kurram Tolil Ceyvar (administrators of the revenue division) and 2. Ulaviya Peruntinai, probably referring to Officers in-charge of Agricultural taxation-for in later epigraphs, Tinaik-Kalam and Tinaikkalathu Kankani, occur in such contexts. Whether the Ulavia is equal to the 'Samcarantas' of the Prakrit charters, deserve study. Another important officer mentioned is "Neri Aram Ceyvar". They must be considered the equivalents of the Dharma-Mahamatras of Ashokan edicts. Regarding the detailed functions of this departmental Officers, a reference may be made to Radha Kamal Mukherji's 'Ashoka' (p. 29). However, some of the functions mentioned are (a) to secure the pious people from worry and (b) to avert unjust imprisonment or Execution or other molestation, procure or relief in justifiable cases (p. 30). This almost correspond to the word "Neri Aram Ceydal" of this record.
There are others mentioned like 'Karun Cevukar' i.e. Military commanders, "Ilak-Kandarvikal' (roving Bards). Another usage in the record is "Kaval Kondu Arayum Tudai". This seems to be equal to Rajjukas of the Ashokan record. All these usages seem to suggest that there was a well established administrative machinery nearer to the Asokan administrative structure.
Sale deeds
Two more inter-related usages that deserve attention are Virrukkondu Kudutta Nilam. This usage is found in later epigraphs where well-drafted documents were executed for sale of lands. It would indicate that by the 3rd century A.D., sale transactions of lands were accompanied by written documents. Further this Pulankuruchi record was supervised (are drafted in their presence) by a number of persons whose office and names are like the following:
1. Nallan Kilan Inanguman
a Ulaviya Peruntinai,
2. ... Adu Kilan Kiran Kari,
a Ulaviya Peruntinai.
3. Ambar Kilan Kumaran Pandai
also a Ulaviya Peruntinai.
In later records the members of a village assembly of Nagaram or Nadu affix their signature at the end of the document. From this record it is clear, that the presence of number of Officers is required to attest the document.
The early records of Pallavas and Pandyas refer to Karanmai and Miyatchi. This record refers to Karamai and Karankilamai.
However, the Pulankuruchi record refers to 'Tottam' a grove or orchard. This word does not seem to occur in Sangam Literature.
It is seen from the Pulankuruchi record that the transactions, transcended a small territory and included Pandinadu and Konganadu. It is an indication that the ruler Ko Cendan-Kurran held sway over an extensive territory.