1844.] 



with a Transcript and Translation. 



the following. The era of the oldest Tamil inscription ip 

 clearly fixed at the latter part of the 11th century, and that 

 previously assigned to the rock sasanam of Saltan Cupam is 

 confirmed. For Viva Chola Deva surnamed Trihhuvana Malta 

 is shown by the same inscription as that which gives the date 

 of Vir Rajendra Chola, to have been the second son of f Jiat 

 prince, and to have been nominated by him viceroy of Telin- 

 gana in S. S. 1001, [A. D. 1079] which would place the execu- 

 tion of the rock inscription stated to have been cut in his 

 38th year, in the beginning of the 12th century or S. S. 1037. 

 corresponding with A. D- 1115. Further, it is evident from 

 the facts of the grant to Alwar, in the temple of Parames- 

 war a Maha-varaha Vishnu, and the subsequent mention of 

 the temple of Mamallai Perumal, that the more modern 

 creed of the Vaishnava sect had been established, and that 

 of the Saiva subverted. Lastly, the place appears to have 

 borne the name of Janandiha pur am in addition to that of Md- 

 mallaipuram, which it is remarkable is invariably here written 

 Mdmallapuram. [ta/rmsbstfLy^ub.] 



In the Appendix to Mr. Ellis' treatise on Merassi rights, 

 a copy and translation of the Salvan Cupam inscription will 

 be found, which, had it been known at the time, would have 

 rendered the publication of that given in a former part of 

 this volume (p. 47,) unnecessary. The two documents agree 

 pretty nearly, but Mr. Ellis seems to have had a less accu- 

 rate transcript, than the one prepared for me, which w T as ob- 

 tained from 3 two copies made by different individuals ac- 

 quainted with the ancient character, and these were carefully 

 collated by Tandavaraya Mudaliar. Mr. Ellis has also in- 

 serted at the same place a version of the few initial half-lines 

 of the Vardha Swaml inscription, but these were evidently 

 too imperfect to give the true sense. He however agrees in 

 referring the local chiefs antecedent to the Cholas to the 

 Curumbar race, though he errs in supposing [Ahawa] Malta 

 to have been one of them. 



