Tiruvārūr, Tyāgarājasvāmin temple

Authors of digital edition: Dorotea Operato (doop), Emmanuel Francis (emfr).

Summary: Assessment of the conduct (vṛtti) of Rathakāras or Kammāḷars, based on the Śāstras, Āgamas, and Purāṇas examined by Brāhmaṇas residing in Pāṇṭikulāntaka-caturvedimaṅkalam.

Languages: Sanskrit (san) [Grantha (grantha), Tamil (tamil)], Tamil (tam) [Tamil (tamil)].

Version: (0227d57), last modified (724458c).

Edition

⟨1⟩ (hara ~) svasti śrī [**********] rathakāran-āy-ulḷa kaṇmāḷa¡n!ukku vṛ¡t!i-vidhānañ collukiṟa smṛtikaḷil gautama-vācakattālum nārada-vacanat=tālum maskara-vacanat=tālum yājñavalkya-vacanattālum [**] lla-vṛtti-vacanattālum brāhma{m·}-purāṇa-vacanattālum kṣatriya-vaiśyāṉulomā{n}n=tarajōtpanno rath¿ā?kāraḥ Anul¡o!ma¡n! e¡n!ṟa Ita¡n!ukku vacanam1. Anuṣṭubh vaiśyata{ḥ}(ś śū)dra-ka¡nn!yāyāṁ sajñātaḥ karaṇa⟨ḥ⟩ striyām· Asmād aṁbaṣṭhato jāto rathakāra Iti smṛtaḥ Atra yājñavalkya-vacanam·2. Anuṣṭubh māhiṣyeṇa karaṇyān tu rathakāraḥ prajāyate nāsyopanayanan nejyā nādhānañ ca niṣiddhyate3. Anuṣṭubh [⏓⏓⏓⏓⏑–] (yat tu) (ka)lpayessya(ndanasya ca) vidyayādhītayā svasya śarīram· varttayed ayam· || Attra śaṃkha-vacanam· || kṣatriya-vaiṣyānulomā{na}ntarajotpanno rathakāraḥ tasyejyādhānopanayana-saṃskāra-kriyāś ca pratiṣiddhās tasyāśva-ratha-

⟨2⟩ -sūtra-śilpa-vāstu-vidyādy-addhyayana-kramaḥ vṛttitā ceti4. Anuṣṭubh Anulomyopaneyānām· sa(ndhy)āyā(m a)pyupāsanam·| nādhānaṁ sannidhān⟨ā⟩gni hotran-naup⟨ā⟩sanan tathā5. Anuṣṭubh na ca pañca-mahā-yajño na vedādhyayanan tathā mantreṇa rahit(ā) tveṣām upanītir api smṛtā|| Attra gautamīya-vivaraṇaṁ kurvvatā maskara-paṭhitaṁ smṛtty-antara-vacanam· Anulomānām upanaya[m eva] na vedāddhyaya⟨na⟩n na pañca-mahāyajñ¿ā? naupāsanan nāg⟨ni⟩hotran na samit·kāryan na sandhyopāsanam upanayanam api tūṣṇīm eveti vi¡s!vakarmmīye6. Anuṣṭubh Am·baṣṭhena karaṇyān tu rathakāraḥ prajāyate jāya [⏓⏓⏑–⏑⏓] [⏓⏓⏓⏓] samarcita(ḥ)7. Uncertain meter na jāyate viśva [*****************] sarvataḥ priyaḥ8. Anuṣṭubh Anulomeṣu sarvveṣu tūṣṇīm upanayaḥ kriyā |9. Anuṣṭubh savarṇām·baṣṭhayor eva sāpi tat· savidhīyate rathakārādi-jā-

⟨3⟩ tīnām upanītir amantrakam· |10. Anuṣṭubh na yajño nāpi sandhyādi kiñcānya⟨d ya⟩t tu vaidikam Ādhāna mātraṁ kurvvīta rathākāras tu viśvakṛ⟨t·⟩11. Anuṣṭubh vāstu-śilpaka vidyābhyāṁ varttayed eṣa nityaśaḥ devatā-pratimāñ cāpi kuryyāc citran tathaiva ca12. Uncertain meter ya¿jñ?ānām api pātrāṇi prati-pūrvvam· prakalpayet· suvarṇ¿n?ābharaṇānāñ ca kāñcāvyaya s¿k?riyā ||13. Anuṣṭubh devatādi-tanūnā⟨ṃ⟩ c¿e? karaṇaṁ śilpa-jīvi¿k?ā | sauvarṇa-vastu-nirmmāṇa⟨ṁ⟩ svarṇnakāra Itīṣyate ||14. Anuṣṭubh Ayas-karmmaṇy ayaskāras takṣā takṣaka-karmmaṇi tanūnāṁ kara(ṇa)n tvaṣṭā sa eva rathakṛt· bhave(t·)15. Anuṣṭubh prāsāda⟨m·⟩ devatādīnāṁ sthāpanāt· sthapati⟨ḥ⟩ smṛtaḥ sthapatir vviśvakṛt· takṣā tvaṣṭā ca rathakārakaḥ16. Anuṣṭubh kāṣṭhiko varddhakiś ceti śilpi-paryāya-vācakāḥ Ip-paṭi cai(y)vāgamaṅkaḷilum pañcarātra-saṃhitaikaḷilum vaikhānasa-granthaṁkaḷilum viśvakarmmīyam Āgastyādi-śāstraṁkaḷilum utpatti-vṛtti-vidhānañ collutalālum Iva¡ne! grāmā(di)-

⟨4⟩ -vāstukkaḷaiyu⟨m⟩ prāsādādi-vāstukkaḷaiyum pratimā-bhedaṅkaḷaiyum pañcāyudhādy-āyutaṁkaḷaiyum brahma-sṛṣṭy-ādi [*****] di-karmmaṁkaḷaiyum ceyya vidhānam uṇṭātalāl Iv-variṣṭhomāpattiyai-y-uṭaiya rathakārānuloman-ākiya karmmāranē Ivai y-ellāñ ceyvā¡n! e¡n!ṟu kallilum cempilum veṭṭi-k-koḷka v-e¡n!ṟu co¡nno!m śrī-pāṇṭi-kulāntaka-c-catur-v-vedi-maṅkalattu gomathattu yajñāta-bhaṭṭa-so(ma)yājiy¡en! yajñātma-bhaṭṭa-somayājinaḥ|| I-p-pati co¡nnen! ko(mmakkai) pu⟨ru⟩ṣottama-bhaṭṭan¡en! || śiriya-ciṅkabhaṭṭa-somayājinaḥ || [******] pratibhāsa{ḥ} śaṁkara-nārāyaṇa-bhaṭṭa-somayājinaḥ ⁋ cakra(pā)ṇi-bhaṭṭasya || I-p-pati co¡nnen! centiṟattu [*******] devabhaṭṭa Ag⟨n⟩i-cidatirātrayājiyē¡n! Agni-cidatirātra-yājinaḥ || kānnikkuṟi keśava(n) so(ma)yājinopy evam·

⟨5⟩ catur-agrahāra(bhuktyā) madhurājāta-bhaṭṭasyāpy evam· pratibhāsa-narasiṁhasya hṛṣīkeśa{va}-bhaṭṭasoma{soma}yājinopy evam· pratibhāsaḥ ௳ kuḷavit tiruvayāṟṟaṭikaḷ deśapriya-bhaṭṭan maka¡n! tiruviyalūraṭikaḷ bhaṭṭasyāpy evam· ⁋ [***] ḷuka(-mū)rtti dakṣaṇāmūrti-bhaṭṭa-vasanta-yājinaḥ ⁋ śrī-rājādhirāja-c-catur-vedi-maṁkalattu muppurā bhavaskaṁda [**] somayājiy¡e!ṉ bhava-skanta [******] kṣatriya-vaiśya-jāta¡n!-āy-uḷḷa [*******] śūdra-jāti-y-āy-uḷḷa

⟨6⟩ [**] Āgamam· [**] ditta-vacanam·|17. Anuṣṭubh sthapatiś śāstra-karmma-jñaś śubhāśubhaviyogavi(t·) bhūparīkṣā ca yā vidyā vāstu-vidyā ca yā parā18. Anuṣṭubh ta [⏓⏓⏓⏑–⏑⏓] sahitau kāryyam ācare(t·) tāveva sahitau [⏑⏓] (sarvasaṁ)pat· kara⟨ṁ⟩ nṛṇām·|| bhīma-saṁhitāyām· ~19. Anuṣṭubh sulekhas suguṇaś śilpaśāstra-jñaḥ karmma-yogyakaḥ|| mānādi-rasa-māna-jñaś śalyoddhāra-viśāradaḥ||20. Anuṣṭubh vāstu-vidyā-kṛtābhyāsaś śilā-doṣa-parīkṣakaḥ sa(rvva)-lakṣaṇa-saṁyuktaḥ sthapatis sa udāhṛtaḥ kāraṇe ||21. Anuṣṭubh sulekhas suguṇo dhīmān· śāstra-jñaḥ karmma-yogyakaḥ vāstu-vidyā-kṛtābhyāsaś śalyoddhāra-viśāradaḥ yogaje ||22. Anuṣṭubh sthapatir vvāstu-tantra-jñas sarva-śāstra-viśāradaḥ mahā-deśa-stha-saṁkīrnnotpanna-janmā (ku)lā(dhamaḥ)23. Anuṣṭubh sthāpako deva-deva⟨s⟩ syād yajamāno janārddanaḥ vidhātā sthapatis sākṣād etair ddharmma-sthis tribhiḥ || suprabhede ||24. Anuṣṭubh Ācāryyam uktavāṁś caiva pūrvvoktān· sam·pragṛhya ca

⟨7⟩ [⏓⏓]syānveṣayet· tat·vat· śilpinaṁ sukulot·bhavam·||25. Anuṣṭubh sthapatis sūtra-grāhī ca varddhakis takṣakas tathā | tanū-karaṇa [–⏑⏓] [⏓⏓⏓⏓⏑–⏑⏓]26. Anuṣṭubh sthapatis sūtra-grāhibhyām· prāsāda-pratimāṁs tathā | Akṣi-mokṣādikaṁ sarvam· kārayet· takṣakottamaḥ |27. Anuṣṭubh sthapatiś śāstra-karmma-jñaḥ kṛta-karmmābhijātavān· Īdṛśaṁ śilpanaṁ grihya prārabhet· sarva-karmmakam· | prapañcottare vidyāsūtre28. Anuṣṭubh sulekhas suguṇo dhīmān· śāstra-jñaḥ karmma-yogyakaḥ vāstu-vidyā-kṛtābhyāsa-ś śalyoddhāra-viśāradaḥ || lakṣaṇa-pramāṇe |29. Anuṣṭubh sarvva-lakṣaṇa-sam·panno nīrograḥ kopa-varjjitaḥ || Upāya-jñas suśīla-jñaḥ kṛta-hasto vicakṣaṇaḥ30. Anuṣṭubh takṣakaś śāstra-sam·panno vinīto vāstuvit· sadā postakaṁ hastadhārī ca kṛtakṛtyas sujātakaḥ prapañca-taṁtre lakṣaṇa-pramāṇe ||31. Uncertain meter prasiddha-deśe saṁkīrnna-jātijobhīṣṭa la [********]

⟨8⟩ [**] ṇaḥ32. Anuṣṭubh vāstu-vidyā-vidhāna-jñas tūhāpoha-samanvitaḥ nimitta{ś}-śakuna-jyotijñāne samyak· prabho(dhakaḥ)33. Anuṣṭubh veda-vid dharmma-vid dhīmān ācāryyaḥ prokṣita-(s suddhīḥ) prāsāda-liṁga-kāryyeṣu ¿mānosura?-kāya-karmmabhiḥ ⁋34. Anuṣṭubh brah⟨m⟩aiva sthapatis sākṣāt· yajamānas tu keśavaḥ gurus sarvasya kāryyasya mahādevas sakāraṇam· ⁋ śrī-pañcarātraṁ kāpiṁ(jalaṁ)35. Anuṣṭubh bhuvaṁ khātvā śilām· paśyed ācāryaś śilpibhis saha śilpinaṁ pūjayet· kāle dhana-dhānya-gajādibhiḥ parama-puruṣa-saṁhitāyām· ||36. Uncertain meter [******] sāreṇa kārayet· [****] ṇam· ௳ śrī-vaikhānasa-mahāstave|37. Anuṣṭubh śilpa-śāstrokta-vidhinā śilpinas samyag ācaret· tasmāt· sarvva-prayatnena Ācāryyaś śilpibhis saha Atri-prokte||38. Anuṣṭubh vidhivat· sthāpayitvaivaṁ śilpibhiś śāstra-kovidai⟨ḥ⟩ Āgastya-vāstu-śāstre||39. Anuṣṭubh svatantra{ḥ}-paratantra-jña⟨ḥ⟩ kṛta-kṛtyas sumānasaḥ

⟨9⟩ (dha)rmma-jñas satya-sam·panna⟨s⟩ sarvendriya{ḥ}-jitendriyaḥ40. Anuṣṭubh Itihāsa-purāṇa-jñaḥ smṛti-vit· vāstu-vit· su¿t?hīḥ Ata[ndrī śu]dha-bhaktaś ca Alubdha(ś cā)malātmakaḥ41. Anuṣṭubh nimittātām· krama-jñaś ca ⟨ci⟩tra-karmma-viśāradaḥ sarvāvayava-niṣpanne vimāne cottarāyaṇe42. Anuṣṭubh pra(śa)sta-(pa)kṣa-nakṣatre yajamāno janārddanaḥ [⏓⏓⏓⏓⏑–⏑⏓] [stha]patiś ca mahātmanaḥ43. Anuṣṭubh [⏓⏓⏓⏓] śarīrāṁgam· pāce bhautika-saṃjñi{ta}ta(m·) vimānaṁ vidhinā samyak· jala-saṁprokṣaṇañ care(t) vāstu-vidyāyāṁ⁋44. Anuṣṭubh viśva-karmmā (ca Ā)cāryo gurutvāt· viśva-karmmaṇām· sthapatiḥ sthāpanaṁ kurvan· Iti śilpi[r vvidhīyate]45. Anuṣṭubh [⏓⏓⏓] sthapatis sa(tya)śāstra-karmma-vicakṣaṇaḥ kṛta-kṛtyaḥ kulīnaś ca Ahīnādhika-lakṣaṇaḥ46. Anuṣṭubh dhārmmikaḥ satyavādī ca gaṇita-jñaḥ purāṇa-vit· citra-vit· sarvva-deśa-jñas sunāmā yamanāmayaḥ47. Anuṣṭubh dṛḍhayonasū

⟨10⟩ (yo)nalasobhayaḥ ⟨a⟩lubdhośanadodīno pramādī ca jitendriya[ḥ]48. Anuṣṭubh sapta-vyasana-jid dhīmān· Ūhāpoha-vicakṣaṇaḥ || sārasvatīye ||49. Anuṣṭubh viśvakarmmā ṛṣer nnāmnā gurutvā(t·) viśva-karmmaṇaḥ sthapatiḥ sthāpanaṁ kurvvan· Iti śilpir vvidhīyate |50. Anuṣṭubh tatva-jñaḥ sthapatis sarvaśāstrāṇāñ ca viśeṣataḥ dhārmmikas satya-vādī ca kṛta-kṛtya⟨ḥ⟩ kulotbhavaḥ

⟨11⟩ (nārāyaṇa-bha)ṭṭa-so⟨ma⟩yājinaḥ ⁋ śrī-rājādhirāja-caturvvedi-maṅkalattu nampūr kaṭṭukkē śrī-raṁganātha-bhaṭṭa-vājape⟨ya⟩yājiy¡en! śrī-raṁga-nātha-bhaṭṭa¡(n)!(ē)¡(n)! [***]

⟨12⟩ svasti śrī ⁋51. Anuṣṭubh vaiśyataḥ śūdra-kannyāyāṁ sannjātaḥ karaṇa-striyām· Asmād aṁbaṣṭhato jāt(o) rathakāra Iti smṛta⟨ḥ⟩ veḷḷāḻa-peṇ pi⟨ḷ⟩ḷai [*******] Eṟi¡n!a vaiśyanukku [**********] piṟan=ta rathakā⟨ra⟩nātava¡n! tacca¡n! Atra gautamī(ya)m· vivaraṇa⟨m·⟩52. Anuṣṭubh māhiṣyeṇa karaṇyān tu rathakāraḥ prajāyate nāsyopanaya⟨na⟩n nejyā nādhānañ ca niṣiddhyate53. Anuṣṭubh sūtrasya vājino vāstuśilpayos syandranasya ca vidyayā⟨bhya⟩dhika⟨ḥ⟩ svasya śarīraṁ varttayed ayam· māhiṣya(nu)kku karṇikku piṟa(ntā)¡n! rathakāra¡n!-ā¡n!a tacca¡n! I{v}va⟨¡n!u⟩kku to¡l!i [**********] ku(ru)taikku Ilakkaṇamum vāstu-śāstramum cilpa-toḻi{la}lum to{r}paṇṇum i⟨la⟩kka(ṇamu)m Ākiṟa In=ta vijaika{ḷ}ḷālē ta¡n! car¿i?ra⟨m⟩ Irakṣikkum Itu rathakāra¡n!-ā¡n!a tacca¡n!ukku vṛt=ti E¡n!ṟu co¡nn!ār ~ yājñavalkīye ta [**] Atra śaṁkha-va(cana)ṁ ⁋

⟨13⟩ kṣatriya-vaiśyānulomān=tarajot·panno rathakāra⟨r⟩-Āna kammāḷar¡o!m Anul¡o!⟨ma⟩rom pratil¡o!mar-āna jātikaḷil Iḻi-toḻil ceyy¡o!m ākavum Eṉṟu coṉṉār [******] kku Iḻi-toḻil ceyy¡o!m ākavum smṛti-vacanaṁkaḷi⟨l⟩ collutalālum paṇṇin¡o!m rathakārarom kṣatriya-vaiśyānulom⟨ā⟩ntarajotpannar rathakāra⟨r⟩ tasyej·⟨yā⟩dhānopanayana-kriyāś cā pratiṣi(ddhatvāt·) tasyāśva-ratha-sūtra-śilpa-vāstu-vidyā-dhanur-vvi⟨dyā⟩nvitāś ceti Ampaṭṭa¡n!ukku karaṇikku piṟan=tā¡n! rathakāra¡n!-ā¡n!a kammāḷa¡n! Iva¡n!ukku toḻil Aśvajātīyamum tēr teruvi

Apparatus

⟨8⟩ ¿mānosura?⟨mānasa⟩ • Emendation following D.

Translation

⟨1⟩ Hara! Prosperity! Fortune!

⟨1⟩ Among the smṛtis which state the rules of conduct for the Kaṇmāḷa1 who is a Rathakāra […], in view of/as per a statement by Gautama, a statement by Nārada, a statement by Maskara2, a statement by Yājñavalkya, a statement in the commentary […], and a statement in the Brahmapurāṇa, a Rathakāra is ...

⟨1⟩ There is a statement to this which states that he is an anuloma:

1.

...

⟨1⟩ Here a statement by Yājñavalkya:

2.

A rathakāra indeed is born through a māhiṣya in a karaṇī. Neither initiation, nor sacrifice, nor kindling of sacrificial fires is prohibited to him.3

3.

...

⟨1⟩ Here a statement by Śaṅkha:

...4

4.

...

5.

...

⟨2⟩ Here a statement from a smṛti mentioned by Maskara5, while making a comment on Gautama:

⟨2⟩ ...

⟨2⟩ In Viśvakarmīya [is the following statement:]

6.

...

7.

...

...

15.

...

⟨3–4⟩

  • Since his origin and rules of conduct are stated so (collutalālum) in the Śaivāgamas, the Pañcarātrasaṃhitās, ...

  • and since the rule is (uṇṭalālum) to do6 ...

we have declared that they engrave on stone and copper [a statement] specifying (eṉṟu) that the Karmmāra7 does so all of these ..., (we, that is:)

  • I, Yajñāta-bhaṭṭa-somayājin ...

  • ...

...

⟨12⟩ Here a comment on Gautama:

51.

A rathakāra indeed is born through a māhiṣya in a karaṇī. Neither initiation, nor sacrifice, nor kindling of sacrificial fires is prohibited to him.8

52.

...

⟨12⟩ He says that a taccaṉ who is a rathakāra is one born to a māhiṣya and a karṇi, that to him […], that the conduct (vṛtti) of a taccaṉ who is a rathakāra is to protect his body through these knowledges that are grammar, architecture, sculpture, …, and grammar.

⟨12⟩ […] in Jāyñavalkya […]

⟨12⟩ Here a statement by Śaṅkha:

⟨13⟩ He says that we, Kammāḷars who are Rathakāras ..., as anulomas, we should, among the anuloma castes, do the menial tasks.

⟨13⟩ And we, Rathakāras, we have done [so], since it is stated in statement of smśrtis that whe should do the menial tasks […].

⟨13⟩ ...9

⟨13⟩ A Kammāḷa who is a Rathākara is one born ….

Commentary

Date = ca. 12th century.

Bibliography

Reported in ARIE 1904-05 (ARIE/1904-1905/A/1904/558). Summary in Mahalingam 1992 (Tj 1668).

Edited in Krishnan 1964 (SII 17.603). Discussed in Derrett 1971.

This digital edition by Dorotea Operato and Emmanuel Francis, based on Krishnan 1964 and Derrett 1971. Dharmaśāstric sources assessed with Resource Library for Dharmaśāstra Studies of the University of Texas at Austin.

Primary

[SII] Krishnan, K. G. 1964. South-Indian inscriptions. Volume XVII: Inscriptions collected during the year 1903-04. South Indian Inscriptions 17. Delhi: Archaeological survey of India (Manager of Publications). Pages 269–271, item 603.

Secondary

[ARIE] ARIE 1904-05. G.O. No. 518, 18th July 1905. Epigraphy. Recording the annual report of the Government Epigraphist for the year 1904-1905, and directing that the report be forwarded to the government of India. Edited by V. Venkayya. No place, 1905. Page 21, appendix A/1904, item 558.

Mahalingam, T. V. 1992. A topographical list of inscriptions in the Tamil Nadu and Kerala states. Volume Seven: Thanjavur district. New Delhi: ICHR. Page 390, item 1668.

[D] Derrett, J. Duncan M. 1971. “Two inscriptions concerning the status of Kammalas and the application of Dharmasastra.” In: Professor K. A. Nilakanta Sastri felicitation volume. Madras: Professor K. A. Nilakanta Sastri felicitation committee, pp. 108–123.

Notes

  1. 1. That is, the Kammāḷa.

  2. 2. That is, Maskarin.

  3. 3. The padas a and b are Yājñavalkyadharmaśāstra 1.91.4ab, but the padas c and d are untraced. They are suspect to D (p. 39).

  4. 4. See Mitākṣarā ad Yājñavalkyadharmaśāstra 1.95.

  5. 5. That is, Maskarin.

  6. 6. That is, since his duty is to.

  7. 7. That is, the Kammāḷa.

  8. 8. The padas a and b are Yājñavalkyadharmaśāstra 1.91.4ab, but the padas c and d are untraced. They are suspect to D (p. 39).

  9. 9. See Mitākṣarā ad Yājñavalkyadharmaśāstra 1.95.