[PDF]Imperial Colas In Karnataka A Critical Study A D 900 A D 1200

IMPERIAL COLAS IN
KARNATAKA ~~ A CRITICAL
STUDY (A.D. 900 == A.D. 1200)


G, KUPPURAM, B.Sc.,M.A.,
DIP. IN EPIGRAPHY,
GANDHTAN STUDIES,
LINGUISTICS,


THESIS SBMITTED TO THE KARNATAK
UNIVERSITY, DHARWAD FOR THE
DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
IN HISTORY AND ARCHAEOLOGY,
1980


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IMPERIAL COLAS IN
KARNATAKA ~- A CRITICAL
STUDY (A.D. 900 == AD. 1200)


G. KUPPURAM, B.So.,M.A.,
DIP. IN EPIGRAPHY,
GANDHIAN STUDIES,
LINGUISTICS.


THESIS SBMITTED TO THE KARNATAK
UNIVERSITY, DHARWAD FOR THE
DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
IN HISTORY AND ARCHAEOLOGY,
1980


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DEDICATED TO MY BELOVED
FATHER GOVINDARAJAN AND
MOTHER KRISHNAVENI WHOSE LOVE
AND FORBEARANCE MADE IT
POSSIBLE FOR ME TO SAVOUR
BOTH THE TEARS AND JOYS OF
STUDENT CAREER TO THE FULL


| AM GRATEFUL TO THE AUTHORITIES
OF THE INDIAN COUNCIL OF
HISTORICAL RESEARCH, NEW-DELHI
FOR HAVING KINDLY GRANTED ME
A FELLOWSHIP.


This is to cextify that the thesis entitled "IMPERIAL COLAS
IN KARNATAKA - A CRITICAL STUDY (A.D. 900 - A.D. 1200)"
submitted by Shri GOVINDARAJAN KUPPURAM for the award of
Doctor of Philosophy in History and Archaeology is based on
original sources and the entire work carried out by him


at this Department under my Supervision.


WM
[4
DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY (GR. Kuppuswany)
AND ARCHAEOLOGY, RESEARCH GUIDE


KARNATAK UNIVERSITY,
DHARWAD - 580 003
KARNATAKA STATE
1980


N.S


ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 8
EIR IIE SEEK


I have great pleasure in recording my deep sense of gratitude
to Dr. G.R.Kuppuswany, M.A.(HIST,), M.A. (ECON.), Ph.D,,
Lecturer, Department of History and Archaeology, Kamatak
University, Dharwad=3 with whose guidance and supervision
it could be possible for me to carry out and complete this


work,


Dr. G.S, Dikshit, Retired Professor of History, Karmatak
University, Dharwad and Dr. K.D, Bajpai, Retired Professor
of Ancient Indian History, University of Sagar, M.P, offered
me valuable suggestions and advice for which T am extremely


grateful to them.


I gratefully thank toDr. §& Settar, Head and Professor of
History and Archaeology, Karmatak University, Dharwad for
his constant inspiration and suggestions offered, Iamalso
thankful to the authorities of Kamada Research Institute
Library and Karnatak University library for providing me


necessary facilities,


My sincere thanks to Thiru P.R., Ganapathy Pillai, Madras
and Shri SR, Sampath, Noble House, Bangalore who have been


extending their help throughout my Research work,


I am also indebted to Shri K.G. Krishnan, Superintending
Epigraphist for Dravidian Inscriptions, Office of the Chief
Ep1graphists, Mysore, for his Kind assistance given tome in
solving many of the complicated problems connected with the


work.


My sincere thanks to Dr. Y. Abbarayalu, Lecturer, School of
Historical Studies, Madurai Kamarajy University for giving me


Some interesting information with regard tomy work.


Further I wish to record my sincere gratitude to Rev. Fr.C.K.
Swany, SJ., Principal, St. Joseph's College (Autonomous),
Tiruchirapalli for pemitting me to refer some of the valuable


of
manuscripts at the library/the esteemed institution,


Lastly appreciations are augmented to my brother Shri G.
Tulasiram and my Sister G, Bhavani for drafting out Some


of the miscellaneous part of research work.


CONTENT S


KK SEK


Page
CHAPTER -T
INTRODUCTION l
Section.1 : Analysis ~ contents “ee
Secotion.2 : Scope “°°
Section.,3 : Sources of Information oe
Section.4 ; Historical background oe
a) Origin and history of the
Safಿgam Colas 0
b) The Dark period °°
c) The Imperial Colas 6
4d) Contacts with Karnataka oe
e) Decline of the Cola
hegemony in Karndtale oe
CHAPTER = IT


ADMINISTRATIVE, SY STEM:


Section1 : Administrative divislons os
Section.2 1: Army Organisations oo
Section.3 : Administration of Justice °
Section. 4 Centralisation and

Regional autonomy 9
Annexure. 0°
CHAPTER - TTI
LAND SYSTEM: 117
Section.1 : Land System °°
Section.2 : Land Survey and Settlement °°


Section.,3 : Land Values 6°


Section ;: Agricultural taxation


Section.5 : Officers and methods of tax


collection


CHAPTER-IV


CHAPTER-V


Annexure -T


Annexure=TI


CHAPTER-VT


Annexure


CHAPTER-VIT
CONST ONS AND LEGACY;


Amexure


APPENDIX:
IT. ABBREVIATIONS
IT, SELECT BIBLTOGRAPHY
IIT. GLOSSARY
IV, MAPS


V, TABLE OF INSCRIPITONS
a) Imperial Colas
b) Feudatories and Chiefs


VI. LIST OF PUBLICATIONS


A PROFESSION;


FIRST CHAPTER


CHAPTER - T
INTRODUCTTON


- Section 1:
ANALYSIS ~ CONTENTS


The I-Chapter deals with the scope of the Study among other
things a survey of the sources and also provides a brief
amalysis of the political history of the ancient and Imperial
Colas with a spot light reference to their contacts with


Karnataka.


The IT-Chapter deals elaborately with the administrative
System and institutions and their functions, It refers in
detail to the structure of the administration at the central,


provincial and local level during the Cola times.


The TIT-hapter is devoted to a study of the land system md
Taxation policy. Adequate attention is paid to all the
aspects of the topic such as the different agricultural ad


rls SEED


# taxes, land survey and settlement and the


nature of local revenue administration 18 traced,


The IV-Chapter contains a detailed study of the economic
conditions prevailing under the Colas relating to agrees,
Industries, Trade md Commerce, professions, Transport and


communication,


The different denomination of currency, weights and measures


are dealt in the V-Chapter,


The Evolutiqn and growth of social and religious institutions,
society, education and social security measures are Jealt


in VI-Chapter.


Chapter=VII is devoted to examine the construction of? tanks,
temples and other public works during the COla period in


Karnataka. - _


b


An attempt is made en the estimate s# the 01a rule in
Karnataka, their contributions and its impact on the succeed=


ing dynasties of Southern Karnataka,


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Section,2:

SCOPE:

The primary object of the present study is to trace the
structure of the Cola administration in Karnataka and its
evolution during the period of their occupation (987 -

1118) and its working. In the course of the study it is
proposed to survey the administrative system, Socio-economic
policy, Religious tolerance and promotion of education,
building activities by the imperial Cola rulers in the


region of Karnataka,


The scope of the study covers the territories of the pre-
sent political boundaries of southern Karnataka (i.e.,
districts of Kolar, Mysore, Bangalore and Tumkur) and also
parts of Kurnool, Anantapur and Chittoor districts of
Andhra Pradesh and Noxth Arcot, Salem, Dhamapuri and
Coimbatore (North Kongu Country) districts of Tamilnadu


which synchronised with the boundaries of the historical


Karnataka- the regions which the Imperial Colas ruled.
The information obtained from the multilingual region border-


ing Karnataka has been used widely to elucidate the study.


The study also takes note of the part played by the feudatory
dynasties who ruled under the Colas and contributed to the
growth of the empire and region. Ths type of study has not
been carried out by the learned scholars t111 now though


abundance of lithic records are available.


ಮ


1, The bordering regions which formed parts of Karnataka are
in historical times situated 1n a strategic position sand-
wiched between the Kannada, Telugu and Tamil speaking areas
and provide us copious material for the present study. The
Western Gangas, Banas and Nolambas with their epicentre in
the present confines of Karnataka, extended their sway over
these border areas even pefore the penetration of Colas into
the areas and as a consequence of which the Kann ada, popu-
lation migrated and settled there. The Imperial 051as who
dominated over these areas also 1ssued records in Tamil and
Kannada, which provides us coplous material for the study.
Hence for these reasons it has been found appropriate to
inciude in the study some distrmocots of Andhra Pradesh and
Tamilnadu which formed the parts of Karmataka during the Cola
perzod - for a detailed study of these reelons refer |
Sampath, M.D., Chittoor through the Ages, (unpublished
Thesis), Karnatak University, Dharwar, 1975.


The period of the study 900-1200 saw the decline of Buddhism
and the impact of Saivism in Karmmataka under the great Colas.
In the light of this study, it will be worthwhile to note the
religzous tolerance of the Colas. It was also a period of
intense temple construction which became the nucleus for
divinity and cultural activities. Even the Social and
Religious institutions continued to flourish apart from the


promotion of axt and architecture and education.


Section, 3:


Sources of _ Information:


The sources for the history of the Imperial Colas their
government and administration in Karnataka may be broadly
classified under four heads, wz.,

a) L1ithic Records

b) Monuments

©) Goins


a) Literature


a) Lithic Records:


The 11thic records are by far the most important and authentic
source for the history of the Colas in Karnataka. The
inscription relating to them have been published un the


volumes of the following publications:


i) Epieraphia Carnatica,
ii) Epiaraphia Indxoa,
111) South Ind1an Inscriptions,
iv) Mysore Archaeological Reports,
v) Annual Repoxts of South Indian Epigraphy,
v1) Trumala Tirupati Devasthanam Inscryptions and


v1.) Kamatak Inscrxptions.


It is proposed to examine below the historical s1iemifi-
cance of some of the important inscriptions of the period
which throw light on the administration, land revenue,
currency, Weights and measures, Religion, Economy and
‘Society and Building activity under Some of the Imperzal
Cola rulers, The Cola inscriptions were issued mainly

in Tamil and Sanskrit, Kannada records being rare.

Besides, several bilingual epigraphs employing both
Kannada and Tamil are in vogue during the period of
2


their occupation. In this connection, Prof. KAW. Sastry


points out in his work "The Colas", as follows:


"Such inscriptions are however, only proof at best the


RS SS


1, Dr. §S. Settar has made revised study of Mys. Arch.
Reports and the following numbers have been published:
IT, IT1 and TV.


2. K.AN. Sastri., The Colas (2nd Edn.), Madras, 1935, p.9.


7


presence of some Tamil immigrants in non-Tamil regions which


were brought for a time under Cola rule."


The following are some of the inscriptions of the Cola rulers


found in Karnataka, chronologically arranged:


Vijayalaya (850 - 871):
The Kidlur record! in Tamil dated 870 is fragmentary but
bears ample evidence to the entry of the Colas in Kammataka


for the first time,


Parantaka-T (907 ~ 947):

The Bairakur inseription” in Kannada dated 934, the earliest
record of the Imperial Colas found in the Kolar district 1s
-& memorial stone inscription for a person who died in a


cow-raid and registers a land grant.


Rajaraja-T (985 - 1013):

(1) Kemnpanapura recozd) dated 991 in Kannada, the earliest
inscription found in the Mysore region which refers to his
title Cea NrSyana* and registers land grant for the
promotion of education.


AL.


1, £c., IX, cp. 203,

2. fc., Xx, Mb. 203.

3, E£c., IV (R), Ch, 145.

4, This is one of the few inscriptions mentioning the title,


2) Koammarasandra inscription! in Kannada characters and
language dated 997 refers to the rule of a feudatory of
Rajaraja-I over Dalignivadi (Tadigaivedi) which is a clear
proof that Bangalore district was brought under the control


of the Colas by then.


3) Malambi grant” an isolated record in Kannada dated

1 00405 found in the Coorg (Malenadu) district, registers
the subjugation of Rudagunadu and the subordination of the
Kofigalvas. A Royal title was conferred on the general


Panchavan Marayan on his victory at the battle of Panasoge.


4) Kaliyuru insoription) in Kannada characters and language
of the 001a general and Viceroy Apramneya dated 1006-07,
recoxds a Jayastambha in commemoration of the general's
victory over several Hoysala Chiefs and occupation of


Kaliyur near Ta}akadd.


\


5) Kolar insoription* (dated 1006) in Tamil registers the


grant of a village to the cult goddess pidamyar, the famous


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1. fc., I, Ht. N11.
2 £c. ’ E ( ’ [er 46.
3. F., V (2), 7.220,
4. fc., Xx, KH. 106h.


9
family deity of the Colas. This record highlights the signi-


ficance and influence of cult worship during the Cola occu-


pation in Karnataka.


6. Balamuri Record! in Kannada dated 1012-15 is the earliest
inscription relating to Colas found so far in the Mandya
aistrict. This inscription is also important as it enables
us to fiz Rajaraja's date of accession to the throne (as
petween 25th June and 25th July 985). It also refers to
his general Panchavepmarayan who was in charge of some
important mandalas (Bengimangalam) in Karnataka and regis-

ters grants to the God of Balamuri by the mler and
Jehajanas.


7. HoAganur inscription? dated 1013 which is the last
record of this great ruler found in Karnataka referring to


a temple grant.


1. Majarpatna inscription” in Tamil dated 1015 is the
earliest relating to the ruler found in Karnataka so far.
It mentions a grant for conducting festivals to the deity
ArumolideviSvaram-udgaiya Mahadevar of Nigarili5olapuram.


Arumolidevan is one of the title of RajyarM)a IT.


ಗವಹಾಮಹಾ ಅ


1, f£c., VI (R), Sr.78:
2. £c., IX, cp. 42a,
3. £c., IX, op. 135,


po


10


1 of 1015-16 is an interesting record


2. SuttUm inscription
composed in Tamil and Kannada language though the Ssexipt is
in Kannada, It is quite possible that during official draft-
ing of any central or provincial matters the Colas adopted
the two language formula i.6,, Kannada and Tamil It records
the sales of land and also Some grants to Goddess Durgaiyar.
It refers in particular to thé Nanadssis and brahnasettis
(the Mercantile Associations) of Ayyapolal (Ayyavole) who
were put as the guardians of the gift and as financiers to
the society even during Cola times. The 1ocal Assembly
(Sabha) is seen here in this record as actively engaged


in business and other village transactions.


3, Sulidenahalli inscription” in Tamil dated 1017 refers


to Revenue and Taxation and their Administration.


4. Belaturu Recozd) in Kannada of 1020 refers to the reno~=
vation of a temple and consecration of linga by a chief


and charity by feeding of a 1000 people.


5. Hunasur record* also in Kannada dated 1020-21 seems to
refer to the Valour showmby a dog on the death of 1ts
master, Also refers to the King seizing gold from the dog
aftar chasing it away which seems that its master was a
traitor to the Kingdom. This stone record was erected in


memory of the deceased,


III (R), Nj. 213,
5


IIT (BR), He. 586.
«° E£c., IV (R), Hs. 4&5,


11


6. Nandigunda inscription! in Kannada dated 1021 refers to
the worship of sone deity and the peaceful rule of Rajendra


Cola I over Ededore-nad {Yedatore).


7. Kolar insoription” dated 1022 refers to the regulation
of revenue matters and of their periodical entry in


revenue registers (Variyilidu).


fy


3


Ny, Nelamangala inscription” in Kannada dated 1029 is an
inportant record from Bangalore district as it gives


infornation about the Religious policy of the Cola rulers.


4


9, SuttUrm inscription” dated 1032 is interesting as it


refers to the encouragement of Meio,


10. Siddhanahalli inscription” dated 1041 in Kannada characters
and language records that besides the recovery of cattle,

the death of a lady in a cow-raid and erection of nemnorial
stone for her. This is the only record found in Kamatale

of the Cola period referring to a heroine's bravery ina
skirmish. Tt also gives the name of Bangalore as Venkalur®.
11. Tadimnalingi inscription! in Tamil dated 1045-44 is the


last record available for the ruler and refers to land.“


p Re Wan ಳ್‌
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grant. PN
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MS A
' 0 i pe “\¥
ದ ATT px \
ME VE ಮ ಹಡದ ದಾ em Snmmene FW
[4 ಗ -1


1. £e., III(R), Nj.201.
2. Bo., X, Ki. 1128. ’ -


3. Ec., IX, N1.1, Te ,
4, Bc., III{R), Ny. 215. i} ಎ
5, Fc, IX, Ht. 1. ಗಾ


6. According to K.G. Krishnan, it is the first reference
to the name of the place,
7. £c., V(R), TN. 239.


Raiadhira)a-T (1012 ~ 1055): 12
1. Talak2d record! 1n Tamil dated 1040-41 the earliest

inscription of this ruler found in Karnataka is fregnentary
and mentions padi-nad in Gangaikondasolavalanad in Mudigonda
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