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Thrikkakara - Evidence Cast in Stone

The Thrikkakara temple is rich in epigraphical evidences. Most of the inscriptions are in Vattezhuthu and are about land grants and temple offerings. The records shed light on both the antiquity of the temple as well as on the history and heritage of the region. Five of the inscriptions belong to the reign of the Chera king Baskara Ravivarman, three belong to the reign of a king Indu Kotha Varma and one to the reign of Baskara Ravi Varman and two others mention Kannan Purai mention some other early chiefs. Some of the important and interesting epigraphical records which are of historical, religious and sociological significance are as follows.

One of the most important inscriptions belongs to the time of the reign of the Kulasekhara emperor Indu Kotha Varman Tiruvadi who had his capital at Mahodayapuram; A refers to the following transaction. It says having received gold, the chief of Kalkkarai Nadu Kannan puraiyan gave with libation of water certain lands to the bhattaraakar Tiruvadi of thrikkatkarai. It was agreed that from the owner’s share of the produce of that land, they should supply twelve dishes of sacred meals, the gold required for performing the worship of the deities in the enclosure veranda on a particular day in the month of Masi and gruel to be supplied during the month of Karkadaka. From the other half i.e.: the cultivator’s share, the expenses for meeting three dishes of meals and the cost of lighting one perpetual lamp was to be met.

Another inscription on a slab of stone lying in the courtyard of the temple relates to the twenty years of the reign of the king Indesvaran Koodai. It registers an assignment of the revenues of certain lands yielding an annual income of 12 Kalams of paddy for burning two perpetual lamps and for feeding two Brahmins in the temple. One of the lamp, it says was made of silver and it was to be burnt with camphor inserted in the wick. If this worship is allowed to be failed even for one day, a fine of 2 ½ kanaam of gold was to be levied.

Yet another inscription relating to the reign of king Indu Kotha Varma Tiruvdi engraved on the outside of the south and east bases of the suttru mandapa of the Vishnu temple registers a gift of land made by a chief for meeting offerings to the temple. The land was exempt from taxes by the chieftain. In return, certain quantity of ghee was to be given to the temple to light a lamp. If there was default even for a day in supply of ghee, double the quantity was to be paid the next day. If default is there for one whole year, the beneficiary was to give up the right and also the land.

There is a reference to a kizhanadikal and his queen giving a land grant to the Thrikkakkara temple as a worship offering. A number of Pulayas who worked on the land was also handed over with the grant. Another declaration issued by Kannan Puraivan during the reign of Indu Kotha Verma is about a landlord ‘Chazhusikhamani’ making a land grant and is descriptions. He could have been a landlord of the Chola Kingdom.

Another inscription on south and east bases of the surru mandapa of the Vishnu temple registers gifts of lamp to the temple.

Another inscription on the eastern base of the central shrine refers to regulate the conduct of temple servants, the Ellangallur Nambiathiri who are called ‘Aenperumakal’ in most inscriptions. It fixes penalties also in case of violation of that code of conduct. One of the rules was that temple servants shalnot borrow money in the name of the deity. If they borrowed both the debtor and the creditor were to pay a fine of 100 kalanju of gold to the temple.

Yet another inscription on the eastern base of the surru mandapa registers certain regulations preventing the district officials from lending money to temples and temple servants. If in spite of this, they did lend money, they were prohibited from proceeding against the debtor for the recovery of the loans. It goes further and says that if a worshipping priest had received loans, he should not be permitted to render duty in the temple. Thus, the arrangement for the management of the temple routine is detailed.

Yet another inscription on the eastern base of the central shrine refers to the Aenperumakal. Another one on the outside base of the surru mandapa, south and eastern base and also right in the entrance relating to the reign of Koindu Koodai Tiruvadi registers that money was gifted by Kannan Kumaran in favor of the temple to enable the temple officers to purchase lands. They nominated two other persons as cultivators with condition they supply annually 600 nali of paddy to the temple. Failure to carry out the condition resulted in the loss of the cultivating right.

Another inscription engraved on the outside of the south base of the first prakara relating to the 6th year of the reign of Chera king Baskara Ravi Verma registers a gift of money by Koodai Keralan of Serrumarrappulai to the temple for feeding the Brahmins. The money was received by the temple officials and entrusted to Divan Narayanan and his three brothers on condition that they supplied 12 kalams of paddy annually. In case of failure, they were obliged to leave to the temple alternate land yielding 15 kalams of paddy.

An inscription of importance is seen on the southern base of the mandapa. It says that when that inscription was engraved already 3706 years had elapsed since the consecration of the deity. This inscription is believed to belong to the 13th century AD. So some epigraphista believe that the facts engraved here are too absurd to be accepted.

Another inscription relating to the 23rd year of Baskara Ravivarman i.e.: 1000 AD is seen on the right of the entrance into the Ambalam. It records gifts of lands for lamps and feeding Sri Vaishnava pilgrims.

Yet another damaged record on the base of the platform in front of the temple relating to the 31st year of the reign of Baskara Ravivarman records arrangement regarding collection of rents from the tenants of the temple lands.

One another inscription on the base of the front mandapa relating to the 42nd year of Baskara Ravivarman records gifts of 40 kalanjus of gold for purchasing land by Govinda Kunrappolan of Kuralayani for purchasing land to provide for the mid-day offering to the deity from the day of Pooradam to Tiruvonam. The offerings were to be distributed equally half to the Brahmins and Sri Vaishnavas and the other half to the temple.

Another inscription on the base of the front mandapa relating to the 58th year of Baskara Ravivarman records that a person took up the Kaaraanmai of certain lands and in return he bound himself to burn a perpetual lamp in the temple.

On the eastern base of the central shrine there is an inscription relating to the reign of the Chera dynasty king Koparkaran Ravivarman and refers to a gift of gold.

Another inscription on the proper left of the entrance into the first prakara of this temple which records the gift of land to the temple for meeting the expenses of various items. The scale of expenses falls items and the particular temple services are indicated in detail.

On the outside east base of surru mandapa in the proper left of the entrance into the first prakara of the temple, there is an inscription relating to the king Poolan Iravi which refers to a gift of ornament by Koodai Puraiyan of Koodai Sreekandan.

Yet another inscription on the outside south base refers to gift of land by a dancing lady.

There are also a number of minor inscriptions recording offerings for lighting perpetual lamps in the temple. These are referred to in the book Travancore Inscriptions – A Topographical list by R. Vasudeva Poduval.