Criticism of certain identifications of the Alvar.

 

The identification suggested by the learned doctor is based on the word “Kulashekharanka” which might be interpreted as one possessed of the name Kulashekhara. Kulashekhara is a common enough name for Travancore sovereigns. In fact, in modern times Kulashekhara forms part of the name of every sovereign, and about the time with which we are just at present concerned it is possible to mention two other Kulashekharas with the earlier of whom perhaps this Kulashekharanka may seem, at first sight, to be identical. In the Trivandram Sanskrit series, edited and published from manuscripts, by the learned Pandit Ganapati Shastrigal, there are two works Tapatisamvaranam and Subhadradhananjayam, both of them dramas by a Kulashekharavarma, who is described as ruler of Mahodayapura. He is besides described as “the best of the descendants of the Kerala family.” He was a devotee of Vishnu as the final verse of the play expresses a longing for complete devotion to Shridhara. He seems to have been an ardent admirer of the Paramahasmas (ascetics of the highest order). The learned Pundit makes a reference, in the introduction to the first drama, to a contemporary of this prince, the author of the Vyangya Vyakhya. He places the author of this commentary later than the author of the Dasarupaka who flourished in the 10th century A. D. He is also said to be the author of a prose work, Ascharyamanjari, which is quoted in a commentary on the Amarakosha called Tikasarvasva, in annotating the word kusala in the first Kanda. In that comment a date is given in Saka and Kali eras corresponding to the year A. D. 1159. From this he ascribes the author to the period between the " latter part of the 10th century and the early part of the 12th century. Mahodayapura the capital of this ruler, is Vanjikulam or Tiruvanjikulam in the modern state of Cochin. It is just possible that this prince is referred to by the name Kulashakharanka in the inscriptions cited by Sir R. G. Bhandarkar; but it must be noted there is no reference to any war in the dramas under reference, and any identification based on the mere similarity of name will at the very best be only a probable guess which might turn out correct or prove to be wrong. I refer to this ruler here as the learned editor of the Travancore series, identifies him with Kulashekhara Alvar, an identification which we shall presently show to be equally impossible, with the other.

There is another Kulashekhara, this time of Travancore, who in very many particulars might come nearer in point of description and distinctive political achievements to Kulasekhara, Alvar. This was Ravivarman Kulasekhara, sometimes called Ravivannabhupa merely, the author of the Pradhyumnabhyudaya, and of a commentary on Alankara Sarvasva, the author of which, Samudrabandha by name, states that his work is based on the commentary propounded by Ravivarmadeva at the request of the pundits of his court. We have a number of inscriptions of this ruler and a rather elaborate prasasti (panegyric) by a poet Kavibhushana. In addition to being the. author of the works above referred to he was a great deal responsible for turning out the Muhammadan garrisons left in the Tamil country after the invasion of Malik Kafur. His mscriptions give the information that he was born in A. D. 1266—7 came to the Keralapadam (Kerala throne) at Kolambapura (Quilon,) in his 33rd year, and got himself anointed victor on the banks of the Vegavati (river running close to Kanchipuram) in his 46th year.3 He claims conquest as far north as Nellore, and has left behind inscriptions of his at least as far north as Poonamallee.^ He claims conquest of the Pandy^, Chola and the Kongu country, and gives himself the titles Sangramadhira and Trikshatrachudamani. If we go by a mere description of achievments, this Ravivarman Kulashekhara 1 would come nearest to the Alvar Kulashekhara.

1. For the whole of this ruler's history see an article by me in the Eranakulam.

College Magazine for July 1919.

His date however is A. D. 1266 to at least A.D. 1316, a date clearly impossible for the Alvar for the reasons given in the previous paragraph. There is besides the crucial evidence that a record of the Chola Kulottunga's 18th year (A. D. 1088)3 makes provision for the recital of one of the works of Kulashekhara beginning “Tettarum-tiral”. There is an inscription in Pagan in Tamil characters of le 13th century according to Dr. E. Hultzrah, This records the construction of a mantapa, id the making of provision for burning a lamp in the temple by a Kulashekhara Nambi of Mahodayarpattinam in Malaimandalam. The record begins with quoting stanza 6 of the Mukundamala. 1

1 Nastha dharme na vasunichaye naiva kamopabhoge
Yadyad bhavyam bbavatu Bbagvan purva [karmanurupam
EtatprSrtbyam mama bahumatam janmajamantarepi
Tvatpadambhorubayugagata nischala bhaktirastu.

This quotation and the name of the donor argue priority of the age of, and may justify the assumption even of some antiquity for, the Alvar.

We must look therefore for Kulashekhara, according to the first inscription, at some distance of time before about A. D. 1088. Having regard to the commendatory verses of Manakkal Nambi we shall have to look for him some considerable time anterior to this, and adequately removed from the middle of the 10th century A. D., say from about 950.