Friday, August 29, 2008

World Heritage Thanjavur temple: state-sponsored vandalism















































http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Chennai/Big_temple_inscriptions_damaged/articleshow/3010487.cms

Times of India, 5 May 2008

THANJAVUR: Granite pillars containing inscriptions at the 11th century Brahadeeswara Temple in Thanjavur have suffered serious damage during restoration and maintenance work by the Archaeological Survey of India.

A visit to the 'Big temple', as it is popularly known, revealed that five stone pillars, brought down and laid in the open prahara as part of the restoration work, were found chipped and cracked, and in the case of at least one pillar, broken.

A portion of one of the pillars was shattered to such an extent that the inscriptions can no more be read fully or documented. These inscriptions date back to the reign of Raja Raja Chola I, the pre-eminent king of the Later Cholas, who conceived and constructed the imposing temple to Lord Siva.

However, the ASI believes that the damage is not irreversible and the original structure can be restored. Sathyabhama Badrinath, superintending archaeologist, Chennai circle, ASI, said the damaged pillars could be mended and affixed in their respective places. "It will look as original as it used to be," she said.

The five pillars were in the thiruchutru maaligai (circumambulatory corridor) in the north of temple. There are over 150 stone inscriptions in the temple, of which 120 belong to the Chola period between 1000 and 1200 AD.

Experts say the inscriptions have much to say about temple administration of the era, land grants by the Chola kings, and details of the temple's jewellery and festivals. And there are nuggets of information, like the one that points to the existence of a bank in the temple that lent money at an interest of 12.5%. There are also references to employees, dancers, musicians and architects.

Declared a world heritage site, the Big Temple stands testimony to the intricacy and skill of Chola era sculptors and architects. Hundreds of thousands of people visit the monument from across the world every year.

Experts who have done extensive studies of these inscriptions say the damaged inscriptions on the pillars in the thiruchutru maaligai refer to orders issued by Raja Raja Chola to his chief commander Krishna Raman alias Mummudi Chola Brahmarayan.

It was restoration that was causing more damage to the world heritage site than aging, they pointed out.

mayilvaganan.v@timesgroup.com

19 September 2008

DETAILS OF INSCRIPTIONS OF RAJA RAJA CHOLA ON THE FOLLOWING PILLARS THAT WERE DAMAGED

Sir:

Namaskaram:

Subeject:With Reference to my report posted in your blog site dated 26.8.2008, I had said that extent of damage will be published separately.

Immense wealth was donated by Raja Raja Chola to the Peruvudayar Temple at Thanjavur. The pillars bear testimony to the fact of the prosperity that prevailed during the reign of the Emperor.The Emperor himself had seen to it that these were recorded as inscriptions. These were found on the pillars .Now these indepth survey reveal the the extent damage done.and details are available to larger audience.If had it been any other country by now the head of ASI would have rolled.
Thanks

GP Srinivasan


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Sept, 18, 2008.

DETAILS OF INSCRIPTIONS OF RAJA RAJA CHOLA ON THE FOLLOWING PILLARS THAT WERE DAMAGED

1) INSCRIPTION NO 47 - Pillar on three sides ( Page 191-192).

2) INSCRIPTION NO 48 - Pillar B . Has inscriptions on two sides.(PAGE 195 -196).

3) INSCRIPTION NO 51- PILLAR B. INSCRIPTIONS ON FOUR SIDES (PAGE 205 207 ).

4) INSCRIPTION NO 51 - PILLAR C. INSCRIPTIONS ON FOUR SIDES. (207 – 210).

5) Mahahamandapam- adhistanam- kumadappadi on the outer wall- maximum damage.

6) Maximum vandalism is found inside the hollow of Sree Vimanam where the original thousand year old one foot thick plaster inside the has been removed – scrapped away . This has not been replaced. This has lead to seepage during the last one year there by weakening of the gopuram. This is considered to be maximum vandalism. This may result in the damage to the gopuram, paintings inside and the damage of the unique Kalasam.

INSCRIPTIONS ON PILLARS THAT WERE DAMAGED

ON A PILLAR OF THE WEST ENCLOSURE

This inscription records that, before the 29th year of the reign of Rajarajadeva, an officer of the king set up a copper image of Bhringisa, to which he presented some ornaments. Regarding Bhringi, I am indebted for the following to Mr. P. Sundaram Pillai, M.A. , Professor of Philosophy , Trivandrum College :--- " Bhringi is one of the attendants(gana) of Siva. Allusions to his bigoted worship of Siva , which would not condescend even to acknowledge the godhead of Parvati, are frequent in Tamil literature.


INSCRIPTION OF RAJARAJA


According to the skandapuranam, it was to annoy his exclusive spirit , that Parvati sought union with Siva in the form of Ardhanarisvara. But Bhringi assumed the shape of a bee and pierced his way through the united body of the god and the goddess, going round and worshiping the Siva portion, only of the hermaphrodite.The goddess avenged herself then by withdrawing all sakti from the zealot, and he is now generally represented as a skeleton, supporting himself with a third leg, which Siva, out of mercy, improvised for him." In accordance with this myth, three legs and three arms are attributed to the image of Bhringisa in paragraph 2 of the subjoined inscription.

1. Hail ! Prosperity ! The following copper image,--- which had been set jp in the temple of the lord Sri-Rajarajesvara until the twenty-ninth year (of the king's reign) by Kovan (i.e., Gopa) Annamalai, alias Keralantaka-Virupparaiyan, a Perundaram of the minor treasure (sirudanam) of the lord Sri-Rajarajadeva,---was engraved on stone, after it had been measured by the cubit measure (preserved) in the temple of the lord, after the jewels (given to it) had been weighed without the threads by the stone called (after) Dakshina- Meru- Vitankan, and after the gold had been weighed by the stone called (after) Adavallan :---
2. One solid image of Bhringisa, (measuring) one muram, two viral and a half in height from the feet to the hair, and having a bush (sedi) of the height of one viral, three divine feet and three divine arms.
3. One pedestal on which this (image) stood, set with jewels (and measuring) twenty viral in length, twelve viral in breadth, and six viral in height.
4. To this (image) were given :---
5. One ornament of three strings (trisaram), weighing, with the lac, five karanju and quarter, and worth three and a half kasu. On ( it ) strung one hundred and fifty pearls, ---viz., sakkattu and crude pearls, ---- (one) talimbam
and ( one ) eye.
6. One necklace( kantha-nan), weighing, ---- inclusive of one rudraksha (bead ) , (one ) eye and ( one ) hook,----( one ) karanju , and worth five kasu .
7.One sacred arm-ring (tirukkaikkarai), (consisting of one) karanju and two manjadi of gold.
8. One sacred arm-ring , (consisting of one ) karanju and four manjadi of gold.
9. One sacred arm-ring, (consisting of ) three quarters (of a karanju) , four manjadi and (one) kunri of gold.
10. One sacred foot-ring (tiruvadikkarai), (consisting of one ) karanju and four manjadi of gold.
11. One sacred foot-ring , (consisting of one ) karanju, (one) manjadi and (one) kunri of gold.
12. One sacred foot-ring, (consisting of one ) karanju, three manjadi and (one) kunri of gold.

ON A NICHE AND A PILLAR OF THE WEST

ENCLOSURE

This inscription records that, before the 29th year fo the reign of Rajarajadeva, his queen Trailokyamahadevi set up copper images of Siva calle Kalyanasundara, of his wife Umaparamesvari, and of the two gods Vishnuand Brahman, who were represented as worshipping the first image, and that she presented a number of ornaments to the first two images. An inscription of the 10th year of the reign of Rajendra-Choladeva (No.11) refers to these two images of Kalyanasundara and his wife as having been set up by Trailokyamahadevi, the consort of Rajarajadeva.

1. Hail ! Prosperity ! The following copper images,---which had been set up in the temple of the lord Sri-Rajarajeswara until the twenty-ninth year (of the king's reign) by Trailokyamahadevi, the consort of our lord Sri-Rajarajadeva,---- were engraved on stones, after they had been measured by the cubit measure (preserved) in the temple of the lord, after the jewels (given to them) had been weighed by the stone called (after) Dakshina-Meru - Vitankan, and after the gold had been weighed by the stone called (after) Adavallan:---

2. One solid image of Kalyanasundara , having four divine arms (and measuring) one muram and three quarters , two viral and a half in height from the feet to the hair.

3. One lotus on which this (image) stood, set with jewels (and measuring ) four viral and a half in height.

4. One solid image of his consort Umaparamesvari, (measuring) one muram eleven viral and a half in height from the feet to the hair.

5. One lotus on which this (image) stood, set with jewels and measuring four viral and two torai in height.
6. One pedestal on which the god and his consort stood, (measuring) two muram and fourteen viral in length, twenty-two viral in breadth , and nine viral in height.
7. One solid aureola, covering the god and his consort, (consisting) of two pillars and on half-moon, and measuring seven muram in circumference.
8. One solid (image of ) Vishnu, standing, pouring out water to this (god), having four arms (and measuring ) twenty viral in height from the fet to the hair.
9. One lotus on which this (image) stood, set with jewels (and measuring) two viral and a half in height.
10. One four-legged pedestal, (which measured) three quarters (of a muram) and three viral in height up to the lotus, and which consisted of four legs and a bush.(sedi) which was one viral and a half thick.
11. One solid (image of) Brahman, represented as offering an oblation (huta) , having [four] arms and four faces , comfortably seated (and measuring) half a muram in height from the feet to the hair.
12 .One pedestal , joined to a lotus, set with jewels ( and measuring ) eight viral in height , twelve viral and a half in breadth, and three quarters ( of a muram ), three viral and a half in length .
13. To (the image of ) Kalyanasundara were given:--
14. One sacred ear-ring (tirukkambi), (consisting of one) karanju and a half of gold.
15. One sacred ear-ring , (consisting of one) karanju, nine manjadi and (one) kunri of gold.
16. One string of round beads (tiral-mani-vadam) , (containing) five karanju and four manjadi of gold.
17.One string of round beads , (consisting) five karanju and one manjadi of gold.
18. One string of round beads, (consisting ) five karanju,two manjadi and (one) kunri of gold.
19. One sacred arm-ring, (tirukkaikarai), (consisting of) twenty karanju and a half and (one) manjadi of gold.
20.One sacred arm-ring,(consisting of ) twenty karanju and a half, two manjadi and (one) kunri of gold.
21. One sacred arm-ring ,(consisting of) twenty karanju and six manjadi of gold.
22. One sacred arm-ring, (consisting of ) nineteen karanju and three quarters of gold.
23. Two sacred foot-rings (tiruvadikkarai), consisting of thirty-five karanju and a quater of gold, --- each (consisting of ) seventeen karanju and a half, two manjadi and (one) kunri of gold.
24. To ( the image of ) the consort of this (god) were given.
25. A spiral (tiru), strung on a neck-ring (pattaikkarai) of gold , weighing (one) karanju and a quater and (one) kunri, and worth three and a half kasu. Into (it) were set three flat and round diamonds; and (on it) were fstened one crystal, one potti and one nali-Ganga padikal.
26. One sacred ear-ring , (consisting of one ) karanju and a half and (one) kunri of gold.
27. One sacred ear-ring , (consisting of one ) karanju, nine manjadi and (one) kunri of gold.
28. One string of round beads, (containing) four karanju and six majadi of gold.
29. One string of round beads, (containing) four karanju and a half of gold.
30. One string of round beads,(containing) four karanju and nine manjadi of gold.
31. One sacred arm-ring, (consisting of ) eleven karanju and three quarters and four manjadi of gold.
32. One sacred arm-ring,(consisting of ) eleven karanju and three quarters, two manjadi and (one) kunri of gold.
33. One sacred foot-ring , (consisting of ) twelve karanju, two manjadi and (one) kunri of gold.
34. One sacred foot-ring, (consisting of ) twelve karanju and half and (one) manjadi of gold.


ON TWO NICHES AND TWO PILLARS OF

THE NORTH ENCLOSURE.

This inscription records that, before the 29th year of the reign of Rajarajadeva, his queen Panchavan-mahadevi (paragraphs 1,36, and 37 ) set up copper images of Siva called Tainjaiyaragar , of his wife Umaparamesvari, and of their son Ganapati, to which he presented a number of valuable ornaments. The description of some of these ornaments a still more detailed than usual, and often obscure, because the measings of part of the technical terms are unknown. As regards the name of the chief image, its first part, Tainjai, is the same as Tanjai or Tanjavur. The second part, Aragar, means ' the beautiful one' . The whole name would thus be synonymous with that of the god TanjaiVitankar, who must, however, be distinct from Tainjaiyaragar, as the image of his consist had been set up by Kundavaiyar, the elder sister of Rajarajadeva.


1. Hail ! Prosperity ! The following copper images,----which had been set up in the temple of the lord Sri-Rajarajesvara until the twenty-ninth year (of the king's reign) by Panchvan-mahadevi, she consort of our lord Sri-Rajarajadeva, --- were engraved on stone, after they had been measured by the cubit measure (preserved) in the temple of the lord, after the jewels (given to them) had been weighed by the stone called (after) Dakshina-Meru-Vitankan , and after the gold and silver had been weighed by the stone called (after) Adavallan:---
2. One solid image, bearing the sacred name of Tainjaiyaragar, having four divine arms and (measuring ) two muram and four viral in height from the foot to the hair ,---including (an image of ) Musalagan, who was lying under that sacred foot, on which (the god) stood.
3. One lotus on which this (image) stood, set with jewels and measuring {five viral} in height.
4. One solid image of this consort Umaparamesvari, measuring one (muram) and three quaters, [ two ] viral and a half in height form the feet to the hair.
5. One lotus on which this (image) stood, set with jewels and measuring four viral and a half in height.
6. One pedestal on which the god and his consort stood, measuring [two] muram and four viral in length , on muram .............in breadth, and eleven viral in height.
7. One solid aureola, covering the god and his consort , consisting of two pillars and one half-moon, and measuring seven muram in circumference.
8. One solid image of Ganapati, stading, having {four diving arms } , and (measuring) three quaters and one eighth of a muram in height from the feet to the hair.
9. One lotus on which this (image) stood, set with jewels and measuring {two} vira and {half} in height.
10. One pedestal, measuring {nineteen} viral in length, nine { and three quarters of a viral } in breadth, and five viral in height.
11. one solid aureola, measuring two. three quarters and one eighth of a muram in circumference.
12. To this (image) Tai {njaiyaragar } were given :---
13. [one] sacred garland (tiru-ma[lai] ) , hanging down , weighing, ---inclusive of the pinju and of the lac, and exclusive of the threads, --- ninety-one karanju, and worth one hundred and twenty-five kasu. On .............and on the inner side (?) were strung .............- nine pearls, viz., round pearls, roundish pearls, polished pearls and small pearls; on twenty-one marriage badges (tali ) , [two].............; on two marriage -badges which were soldered together, and on two talimbam (each of) which consited of five ( pieces) soldere together, were fastened ninety-four crystals, eleven potti and four hundred and: ..........-two diamond crystals; (and) on the [pa]ligai, it had one and one hook.
14. One ornament consisting of single string, weighing,----exclusive of the threads used for stringing, and inclusive of the lac,---four karanju,nine manjadi and eight tenths and worth six kasu. On (it) were strung thirty -one pearls,---viz., polished pearls, small pearls, crude pearls and (pearls) resembling toddy in colour,---two corals, two lapis lazuli, two talimbam, one eye and one hook.
15. One ornament consisting of a single string, weighing ,---inclusive of the minute nails in the talimbam and of the lac, and exclusive of the threads used for stringing,--- four karanju and a half , two manjadi and four tenths, and worth eight kasu. On (it) were strung twenty-eight old pearls ,---viz., small pearls and crude pearls ,---two corals, two lapis lazuli,two talimbam, one eye and one hook.
16. One ornament consisting of a single string, weighing,---inclusive of the lac and exclusive of the threads,--- four karanju, nine manjadi and nine tenths, and worth seven kasu. On (it) were strung thirty old pearls,---viz., polished pearls, small pearls and crude pearls,---two corals, one lapis lazuli, one sapphire, two talimbam, one eye and one hook.
17. One ornament consisting of a single string, weighing,--- inclusive of the lac and exclusive of the threads,---four karanju and two manjadi , and worth ten kasu. On (it) were strung thirty-two old pearls,---viz., polished pearls, small pearls, (pearls) of brilliant water, of red water and of rubbed surface, and sappatti,----two corals two lapis lazil, two talimbam one eye and one hook.
18. One sacred pearl ornament (sri chhanda) , weighing,___ inclusive of the lac , and exclusive of the threads used for stringing,-----one hundred and six karanju, (one)manjadi and two tenths, and worth one hundred and forty-one kasu. (It had) two clasps (?mugam) , two pendants (takkam), eight front-plates (idaikkattu), ten eyes, two front-plates with eyes, eight pins (nembu)soldered together, four double pins, two karadigai, two double hooks , two treble hooks , and eight nails for pearls sewn on (taippu-mutt-ani). On (it) were strung two thousand five hundred and twenty-four pearls, viz., round pearls, roundish pearls, polished pearls small pearls, nimbolam, ambumudu and crude pearls. (On it)
were sewn eight pearls, viz ., sakkattu, sappatti, polished pearls and small pearls. On the two clasps, on the front-plates and on the pedants were fastened thirty-seven crystals, twenty-seven potti and seventy-five tarup [pu].
19. One Telugu ear-ring ([Va]duga-vali) weighing , inclusive of the gold, two karanj and half and three manjadi, and worth seven kasu. On (it) were strung nine pearls, viz., small pearls, nimbolam and (pearls developed only) on one side (? oruppuravan).
20. One sacred armlet (sri-bahu-valaya), weighing , ----inclusive of the lac, and exclusive of the red stones (sivappu-silai) affixed (to it) and of the threads, ---forty-five karanju and a half, four manjadi and (one) kunri and worth fifty-two kasu. On two front-plates and on one clasp were fastened forty-nine crystals, six potti and one hundred and eighty-one diamond crystals. On (it) were strung as pendants ( ?kal ) two hundred and sixty-three pearls, viz., round pearls, roundish pearls, polished pearls and small pearls.
21. One sacred armlet, weighing, -----inclusive of the lac, and exclusive of the red stones affixed (to it) and of the threads,--- forty-five karanju and three quarters and two manjadi, and worth fifty-two kasu. On two front-plates and on one clasp were fastened fifty crystals, six potti and one hundred and ninety-five diamond crystals. On (it) were strung as pendants two hundred and sixty-five pearls, viz., round pearls, roundish pearls, polished pearls and small pearls.
22. One sacred arm-ring (tirukkaikkarai) of balls (gundu)and sockets (kevanam) soldered on a band (pattai) of gold , weighing , ----- exclusive of the threads used for stringing and of the copper nails, and inclusive of the lac,----twenty-two karanju, nine manjadi and (one) kunri,and worth twenty-eight kasu. On eleven strings (vadam) (attached) to two points (tunda) were strung four hundred and eleven pearls, viz., round pearls, roundish pearls, polished pearls , small pearls, sappatti, sakkattu and crude pearls. On (it) werb fastened thirty-two crystals and twelve potti.
23. One sacred arm-ring of balls and sockets soldered on a band of gold, weighing,-----inclusive of the lac, and exclusive of the copper nails and of the threads,----twenty-two karanju and (one) kunri, and worth twenty-six kasu. On eleven strings (attached) to two points were strung three hundred and eighty-five pearls, viz., round pearls, roundish pearls, polished pearls, small pearls, sakkattu, sappatti and crude pearls. On (it) were fastened thirty-two crystals and twelve potti.
24. One sacred arm-ring of balls and sockets soldered on a band of gold, weighing ,----inclusive of the lac, and exclusive of the copper nails and of the threads,---twenty-two karanju and six manjadi and worth twenty-seven kasu. On eleven strings (attached) to two points were strung four hundred and fifteen pearls, viz., round pearls, roundish pearls, polished pearls, small pearls, sappatti and sakkattu.On (it) were fastened thirty-two crystals and twelve potti.
25. One sacred arm-ring of balls and sockets soldered on a band of gold, weighing ,-----inclusive of the lac, and exclusive of the copper nails and of the threads,---twenty-two karanju and three quaters and four manjadi , and worth twenty-nine kasu. On eleven strings (attached) to two points were strung four hundred and twenty-six pearls, viz., round pearls, roundish pearls, polished pearls, small pearls, sappatti , sakkattu and crude pearls. On (it) were fastened thirty-two crystals and twelve potti.
26. A sacred girdle (tiruppattigai), weighing,---inclusive of the lac, and exclusive of the threads and of the stones (silai),---eighty karranju and three quarters, two manjadi and (one) kunri, and worth fifty-five kasu. On one clasp were fastened twenty-four crystals, nine potti and fifty-six diamond crystals. On twelve flowers (pu) , (each of which consisted of) five (pieces) joined, were fastened fifty-four crystals and six potti. On one bud (mottu) at the top of the chief pendant (?tanaittakkam) (which had the shape of ) a braided garland ([p] innukkovai), were fastened one crystal, one potti, nine diamond crystals and eight bundles (savi) of three strings (each) . Into eight small pendants (siru-tukkam),--- in the middle of the bundles,---(each of) which had three vidangu at the top of an enali, were set eight potti and (on them) were fastened sixteen crystals. On the body (? udal), the points, the bundles, the pendants and the chief pendant were strung twothousand three hundred and forty-nine pearls, viz., round pearls, roundish pearls, polished pearls, small pearls, crude pearls , sakkattu and sappatti. On the clasp were sewn nine sappatti pearls.
27. One sacred foot-ring (tiruvadikkarai) of balls and socketssoldered on a band of gold, weighing,----inclusive of the lac, and exclusive of the copper nails and of the threads,----thirty-one karanj , six manjadi and (one) kunri, and worth forty-four kasu. On twelve strings (attached) to two points were strung four hundred and sixty-nine pearls, viz., round prearls, roundish pearls, polished pearls, small pearls, crude pearls sappatti and sakkattu. On (it) were fastened forty-two crystals and thirty potti.
28. One sacred foot-ring of balls and sockets soldered on a band of gold, weighing,----inclusive of the lac, and exclusive of the copper nails and of the threads used for stringing,--- thirty karanju and a half, four manjadi and three tenths, and worth forty-two kasu. On twelve strings (attached) to two points were strung four hundred and eighty-eight pearls , roundish pearls, roundish pearls, polished pearls, small pearls, crude pearls, sappatti and sakkattu. On (it) were fastened forty-two crystals and thirty potti.

29. One sacred arm-ring , (consisting of) eleven karanju and a half of gold.

30. One sacred arm-ring, (consisting of ) eleven karanju, seven manjadi and (one) kunri of gold.
31. One sacred arm-ring, (consisting of ) twelve karanju and a half of gold.
32. One sacred arm-ring,(consisting of) twelve karanju and three quaters and two manjadi of gold.
33. One sacred foot-ring(consisting of ) fourteen karanju and a quarter of gold .
34. One sacred foot-ring, (consisting of ) thirteen karanju and three quarters and (one) manjadi of gold.
35. One small scimitar, the hilt (?), blade (?) and knob of which were inlaid with gold.
36. One plate (taligai), bearing the illustrious name of Panchavan-mahadevi (and consisting of ) seventy-one karanju, six manjadi and four tenths of silver.
37. One cup (vattil), bearing the illustrious name of Panchavan-mahadevi (and consisting of ) seventy-one karanju, six manjadi and four tenths of silver.
38. To (the image of ) Umaparamesvari, the consort of this Tainjaiyaragar,--- the same (queen) gave:---
39. One pair of pearl sidukku, weighing, inclusive of the gold, two karanju and (one) kunri, and worth four and seven twentieths of a kasu. On (it) were strung eighteen pearls, viz., sappatti and small pearls.
40. One pearl bracelet (sudagam), weighing,--- inclusive of the lac , and exclusive of the threads used for stringing,---twenty karanju and a quater and (one) kunri, and worth thirty kasu. To two points (were attached) six karakigai, twenty-four potti which were soldered and set into sockets, and seventy fastened crystals. On fourteen strings were strung four hundred and eighty-one pearls, viz., round pearls, roundish pearls, polished pearls, small pearls, crude pearls, sakkattu and old pearls.
41.One bracelet, weighing,----inclusive of the lac, and exclusive of the threads used for stringing,---twenty-one karanju and a quarter, and worth thirty kasu. To two points (were attached) six karadigai, twenty-four potti which were soldered and set (into) sockets, and seventy-nine fastened crystals. On fourteen strings were strung four hundred and eighty-five pearls, viz.,round pearls, roundish pearls, polished pearls, small pearls, crude pearls, sakkattu and old pearls.
42. One sacred foot-ring , weighing,----inclusive of the lac and exclusive of the threads,---- twenty karanju and three quarters and two manjadi, and worth twenty-five kasu. To two points (were attached) six karadigai, twenty-two potti which were soldered and set (into) sockets , and eighty-seven fastened crystals. On twelve strings were strung four hundred and sixty-seven pearls, viz., round pearls, roundish pearls, polished pearls, small pearls, crude pearls, sakkattu and old pearls.
43. One sacred foot-ring , weighing, ---- inclusive of the lac and exclusive of the threads, ----nineteen karanju and eight manjadi, and worth twenty-four kasu. To two points (were attached ) six karadigai, twenty-four potti which were soldered and set (into) sockets, and eighty-one fastened crystals. On twelve strings were strung four hundred and sixty-eight pearls , viz., round pearls, roundish pearls, small pearls, crude pearls, sakkattu and old pearls.
44. A collar (karai), (consisting of) two karanju, seven manjadi and (one) kunri of gold,---- including one spiral (tiru) which was strung on (it).
45. One sacred arm-ring, (consisting of ) nine karanju and a half and (0ne) kuari of gold.
46. One sacred arm-ring , (consisting of ) nine karnju and a quater of gold.
47. One sacred foot-ring, (consisting of ) ten karanju and a half , two manjadi and (one) kunri of gold.
48.One collar with a spiral (tirukkarai), (consisting of) eleven karanju and a quarter of gold.
49. To (the image of) Ganapati, which the same (queen) had set up, she gave:----
50. One sacred arm-ring, (consisting of) ten karanju and half of gold.
51. One sacred arm-ring, (consisting of) ten karanju of gold.
52. One sacred foot-ring , (consisting of ) eleven karanju and three quarters of gold.
53. One sacred foot-ring, (consisting of ) twelve karanju, seven manjadi and (one) kunri of gold.

References:

Book referred to with reference to the pillars and the inscriptions to identify the damages.
SOUTH INDIAN INSCRIPTIONS, three Volumes
Volume two has Parts 1 & 2,
First published by ASI in 1892
Madras.
By E. Hultzsch.

6 comments:

Ramanathan said...

It looks as though the Govt(tamil nadu?) is least interested in preserving/restoring this great temple.Hope this sad picture will find a remedy soon thru messages from blog spots such as this.

nashradus said...

After all these are stones... you fundamentalists poke your nose into every stupid issue that the government can generate thousands and crores of rupees...

And your narrow mindedness and hatred towards our leader karunanidhi's atheism makes you blind from seeing where temple revenues are being spent...

after all, we take care of the poor by funding them to travel to Haj...

PMPandian said...

heart rending scenes

kumars28 said...

I believe Mr.Nasharadus is unaware of our well renowed cultural heritage. People like you, are the only ones, who go on spoiling the old monuments, which can never be re-built.

Go & read the history first.

Sushil Kumar
Noida

Shriram said...

:( My heart is too heavy to even scold these vandelers!

They deserve the HELL soon!!

Vijay said...

Really sad - seeing the broken pillars with the inscriptions, feel someone has amputed my leg or arm.

Forget the spiritual part, at least for the language - a 1000 year artifact, so much for all the hype about classical language status for tamil.

vj