Dr.JB has started an interesting thread in agathiyar. I am forwarding the initial interaction between him and myself for the benefit of PS group members.
Gokul, you've given all the arguments I'd thought up:-)).
> > Adithya was murdered. Nobody got punished. > > PROBABLY THE MOST INTERESTING PART OF THIS WHOLE SERIES. Infact it is this which inspired ponniyin selvan. The thiruvalangadu copper plates also mention the murder of aditya so indirectly : > " Aditya (the sun) set. The whole world was surrounded by the > darkness of kali" The darkness refers to the confution that >prevailed after his death - probably.
K.A.N says that the Thiruvalangadu plates seem to gloss over these events - making enigmatic statements. Kalki seems to have followed the same course in PS.
> > Now, what do you make of it. > > If you were to write a novel and especially you happen to be a Pandya sympathiser.
If I were a Pandyan sympathiser ...
I'd try to make it clear that Uthama Chozha had indeed been responsible for Adhitya Karikalan's murder. He stood to benefit the most, after all. ["...He formed a party of his own, and brought about the murder of Adithya II (Adhitha Karikalan), and having done so, he forced the hands of Sundara Cola to make him heir apparent..." - K.A.N.]Incidentally, that's the stand Balakumaran has taken, in his novel 'Udaiyar'.
> "...He formed a party of his own, and brought about > the murder of Adithya II (Adhitha Karikalan), and having done so, he > forced the hands of Sundara Cola to make him heir apparent..." - > K.A.N.
It is very interesting to read the counter arguements raised by sadasiva pandarathar who felt strongly that uttama was innocent. He mentions Rajaraja's records which hail uttama in high note. RR also named his own son as mathuranthaka (rajendra's another name) to show his respect for his chitappa.
Kalki believed sadasiva pandarathar word by word. Many of the facts / poetic quotations in ponniyinselvan are taken straight from pandarathar.
Dear Gokul, Just saw your mail. After writing on Kerala Mercinaries, while I was driving back home, I was pondering the subject again and again. Suddenly I recalled: KERALANTHAGAN VOIL in Periyakoil... No Madurantagan voil... Of all the names, why did he chose this particular name.. He is obsessed with Kerala war.. Identifying these mercinaries has only made him the King - the process by which he could over-power Uthama and sit in throne - as an Emperor! It is mentioned that Uthama himself has crowned him..
RR did not name his son Madurantaga. As mentioned earlier, such names are conferred upon or self proclaimed...
Incidentally do you know that Pandarathar hailed from Thirupperumbuyam?
Ironically the Mahadevar is SATSHINADHAR - though famous for Vennimaram - Kinaru - Chettippenn episode of Thiruvalayadal puranam. Even today you can find a Vannimaram - Chettippen - Kinaru engraving in one of the pillars near old Sundareswara (protected during Malikafur period) in Madurai. Thiruppurambuyam - Madurai connections are un-ending!
"Thiruvarur Record SI XIII (570/1904) 30th day 2nd year - Aug 986: Semibyan madevi made offerings to temple FOR THE WELFARE OF UTHAMA CHOZHA." "Thiruppurambiyam 338/1927 : 988 - RR 3 yr: GIFT of a Silver POT by Udayapurattiyar, on behalf of her son UTHAMA"
UTHAMA was also known as VIKRAMA CHOZHAN:
" VIKARAMA CHOZHA MARAYAN figures in UTHAMA's Tiruvadi record XIX 307 in Year 12. The same person figures as RAJARAJA PALLAVARAYAN @ Vikrama Chozha Marayan in Kuhur Record 290/1917 :: 7th RR's year"
=THE ABOVE ARE QUOTED FROM N.SETHURAMAN :: EARLY CHOLAS
THIS VIKRAMA CHOZHA MARAYAN who changed his name and loyalty is hailing from Kolar - (PALAMANER name is there today also near Bangalore which resembles PAZHAMARNERI near Thirukkattuppalli). He was a Minister under Uthama. Constructed Vikramachozhamangalam. Got the Royal Order to have a canal formed from Cauvery to temple lands when Uthama was sitting in Kanchi Palace..
I strongly believe that he is instrumental in unearthing the assassination of AK. Not only he changed his name, he also changed his Loyalty by constructing Olagapuram Siva Temple (under ASI now) near Marakkanam, named after OLAGAMADEVI alias THANDHI SAKTHIVIDANGI :: Empress of Rajaraja. He was also known as Pazhuvur Nakkan. Panchanvan madevi - Queen of RR - also hails from Pazhuvur. Rajendra's pallippadai for Panchavan Madevi should be revolving around this nexus.
> ANOTHER GREAT MYSTERY. THE DEATH OF RAJARAJA IS NOT AT ALL RECORDED > CLEARLY. NOT A SINGLE AUTHENTIC IMAGE OR SCULPTURE OF THIS GREAT KING > IS AVAILABLE TO US !!! NOT EVEN IN PERIYA KOIL !!! >
Gokul, isn't the image of Raja Raja and Karuvur Thevar an authentic one? If not, any idea what period it belongs to?
> Gokul, isn't the image of Raja Raja and Karuvur Thevar an authentic one? > If not, any idea what period it belongs to?
Pl refer my article titled "Karungallil oru kaviyam" - while there are many who believe that the painting represents karuvoor thevar / rajaraja, people like Dr.Kalaikkovan strongly object. Though the paintings belong to rajaraja period, we are not sure whether the guy is rr. that it is the other guy - the one with beard - who is most likely to be rajaraja. The artist modelled sundaramoorthy nayanar based on rajaraja. There is no historic proof to this, however. It is something which your heart believes in.
> Gokul, isn't the image of Raja Raja and Karuvur Thevar an authentic one? > If not, any idea what period it belongs to?
According to Dr.Kalaikkovan, Karuvur thevar who sang Thiruvisaippa (11th Thirumurai) lived only after 2-3 centuries of RR. There is no relationship between RR and KT. The reason Dr.K gives for this theory is that KT's name is not mentioned in any of the inscriptions in periya kovil as well as other temples which has the inscriptions of RR. The name of 'Esaana siva pandithar' was mentioned as RR's guru.
Since KT didn't exist at all during RR's period, how can that saint in the painting be KT?