Naralokaviran

Naralokaviran was a general in the Chola army during the reign of Kulottunga Chola I and his son Vikrama Chola[1] He was the headman of Arumbakkam and a resident of Manavil in Manavil nadu in Tondaimandalam. He maintained a large fief at Manavil.[2] Just as Karunakara Tondaiman, the other general of Kulottunga Chola I who distinguished himself in the Kalinga and northern wars, Naralokaviran led many of the king's campaigns in the south and distinguished himself in the Pandyan wars.[3] He had many titles like Madurantaka Ponnambala-koothan, Sabharnataka, Kalingarayan and Porkoyil Tondaiman.[4]

Family

A son of the general called Surainayakan alias Madhavarayan is known to us from inscriptions. He too served as an officer under Vikrama Chola.[5]

Religious Contributions

He is known for a number of benefactions to the Nataraja temple in Chidambaram and was responsible for the construction of two large temple gateways and for the expansion of the goddess shrine within the temple complex. He took interest in festivals and made contributions for the provision of lamps on the processional routes, watering the streets during the festivals, a bull vehicle for the deity to ride during the Bhikshatana procession and a bugle inlaid with gold to herald the arrival of Lord Shiva.[1] During the reign of Vikrama Chola, he built the hundred-pillar hall and named it after his overlord.[3]

Inscriptions

The general figures in many inscriptions of Kulottunga Chola I and his successor Vikrama Chola. An inscription of the 28th year of Kulottunga I(begins with Pugal madu) from Neyvanai in South Arcot district states that some lands were renamed as Sungamtavirtta-sola-nallur (after the king) and were donated to Porkudangudutta-aruliyadeva at Tirunelvennai upon request by the general.[6] He continued to serve Kulottunga Chola I's successor Vikrama Chola as well. He figures in an inscription of the 4th year of Vikrama Chola (begins with Pumadu Punara) from Tiruvarur that states that he bought some lands from the sabha of Tirunallur for providing garlands of red lillies to the Sri-mulasthanam udaiyar (god) of Tiruvarur.[7] Another inscription of the 6th year of Vikrama Chola(begins with Pumadu Punara) from Tribhuvani(Pondicherry) states that the general set up some land for a temple site, a hall and a flower garden and dedicated it to Arulakara-Iswaram udaiyar for the prosperity of the king and the village.[8]

References

  1. 1 2 Aghoraśivācārya. A Priest's Guide for the Great Festival. Oxford University Press, 2010 - Religion - 191 pages. p. 19.
  2. ↑ B. Natarajan. The city of the cosmic dance: Chidambaram. Orient Longman, 1974 - Travel - 164 pages. p. 72.
  3. 1 2 B. Natarajan; Balasubrahmanyan Ramachandran. Tillai and Nataraja. Mudgala Trust, 1994 - Chidambaram (India) - 632 pages. p. 50.
  4. ↑ S. R. Balasubrahmanyam; B. Natarajan; Balasubrahmanyan Ramachandran. Later Chola Temples: Kulottunga I to Rajendra III (A.D. 1070-1280), Parts 1070-1280. Mudgala Trust, 1979 - Architecture - 470 pages. p. 20.
  5. ↑ S. R. Balasubrahmanyam; B. Natarajan; Balasubrahmanyan Ramachandran. Later Chola Temples: Kulottunga I to Rajendra III (A.D. 1070-1280), Parts 1070-1280. Mudgala Trust, 1979 - Architecture - 470 pages. p. 177.
  6. ↑ K.A. Nilakanta Sastri, Professor of Indian History and Archaeology, University of Madras. The Colas Volume II, Part II. p. 576.
  7. ↑ K.A. Nilakanta Sastri, Professor of Indian History and Archaeology, University of Madras. The Colas Volume II, Part II. p. 614.
  8. ↑ K.A. Nilakanta Sastri, Professor of Indian History and Archaeology, University of Madras. The Colas Volume II, Part II. p. 618.

See also

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