Epigraphia Indica Vol 23

SR No.: 032577
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Hirananda Shastri
Publisher: Archaeological Survey of India
Publication Year: 1935
Total Pages: 436
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 25 MB

Page 242

No. 27.] THE VAILUR INSCRIPTION OF KOPPERUNJINGADEVA.
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relationship was to the main branch of the Pallavas, may be inferred from the descriptive labels of the sculptures found in the Vaikunta-Parumal temple at Conjeeveram. Here we find that the kings of the collateral branch of the Pallavas which descended from Bhimavarman, the brother of Simhavarman, were actually called Kadavas. These appear to have been in power over a distant part of the Pallava empire, since, according to the labels mentioned above, Pallava malla had to go a long distance crossing several mountains and impassable forests' to reach Kanchi. When the Pallava power was eclipsed by that of the Cholas, the descendants of the former, under the name Kadava, Tonḍaiman etc., seem to have drifted away from Käñchi towards the South and employed themselves as officers under the Chōla monarchs. In the time of Kulottunga-Chōla II, we find the Kadavas figuring as police officers collecting päḍikával rent in the region now covered by the South Arcot District. Gradually they strengthened their power by influential marriages and by forming compacts with neighbouring chiefs for collective action to safeguard and protect their interests. The most important of these chiefs in the 13th century was Köpperuñjingadeva, the hero of our record. He is first mentioned in an inscription of the 35th year of Kulottunga-Chōla III, i.e., A.D. 12135 and the title Kavalar-Tambiran indicates his early position in the state. He had seen the weakness of the Chōla empire exposed by Maravarman Sundara-Pandya I, who took the Chola country and presented it back to King Kulottunga Chōla III. The time was, therefore, opportune for Kopperuñjinga to assert his independence. So he tried a few years later to supplant the Chōla monarch and failed in the attempt owing to the interference of the Hoysalas. He was, however, able to secede from the Chōla empire and establish an independent kingdom comprising the present South Arcot, Chingleput, and North Arcot Districts. If the Chōla was only an 'Emperor of three worlds' (Tribhuvanachakravarttin), his rival Kōpperuñjinga styled himself an Emperor of all the worlds' (Sakalabhuvanachakravarttin). In the Cambridge History of India, this chief is identified with the son and successor of the Pallava chieftain who was responsible for turning the Ceylonese out of the Pandya country in the war of the Pandya succession'. There is, however, no evidence to support this statement. In fact, such a view is untenable because, the two generals who took a leading part in this war viz., Kulattulan Tiruchchirrambalam-Udaiyan Peramanambi alias Pallavatayar and Vēdavanam-Uḍaiyan Ammaiyappan Annan Pallavarajan belonged respectively to Kulattür (Chingleput District) and Palaiyanur10 (near Madras), whereas Kopperuñjinga was a native of Kudal in Tirumunaippadi" in the South Arcot District.
The kingdom established by Köpperuñjinga I. hardly lasted for half a century, and after Kōpperuñjinga II, it fell an easy prey to the Pandyas when they extended their power into Tondaimandalam. Though a rebel, Köpperuñjinga is recognised as a ruler in a number of later records, and in one of them found at Kattumannarkōyil in the South Arcot District, his successor Köpperuñjinga II is placed between Rajaraja III and Sundara-Pandya1.
1 Some of the Sambuvaraya Chiefs also called themselves Pallavas. Rajanarayana Sambuvarayan was known as Siyan Pallavan (No. 428 of 1922). These chiefs, like the Kadavas, had the title' Alappirandan,' Alagiya Styan, Araśanarayanan, etc.
Nos. 137 of 1900, 45 and 46 of 1903 of the Madras Epigraphical collection.
Nos. 203 of 1902, 460 of 1905, 112 of 1912 and 435 of 1913 of the Madras Epigraphical collection.
Nos. 516 of 1902, 435 of 1913, 234 of 1919, 487 of 1921 and 56 of 1922 of the Madras Epigraphical collection.
No. 487 of 1921 of the Madras Epigraphical collection.
No. 480 of 1902 of the Madras Epigraphical collection.
Nos. 72 of 1924 and 9 of 1926 of the Madras Epigraphical collection.
Vol. III, p. 482.
Above, Vol. XXI, p. 188.
10 Above, Vol. XXII, p. 88.
11 No. 83 of 1918 of the Madras Epigraphical collection.
12 No. 570 of 1920 of the Madras Epigraphical collection.