>Dl2000 at 18:29, 19 July 2020

2020-07-19T18:29:06Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2020}}
[[File:Moovar Koil Temple.jpg|thumb|right|Moovar Koil Temple]]

'''Boothi Vikramakesari''' was a [[Velir]] [[Irukkuvel]] chieftain and a feudatory of the medieval [[Chola]]s. He is best remembered for building the [[Moovar Koil]] temple complex, a collection of "Three temples" in the village of [[Kodumbalur]], 36 kilometres from [[Pudukkottai]] in [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]].{{cn|date=July 2020}} His family was related to the Cholas by marriage. His mother was a Chola princess while his daughter married Chola prince [[Arinjaya Chola|Arindama]].<ref name=museums/>

==Dating==
Some scholars and historians identify him as a contemporary of [[Parantaka I]] while some others like Venkayya identify him as a sub-ordinate of [[Sundara Chola|Sundara Chola Parantaka II]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Encyclopaedia Indica: South India, Volume 89 of Encyclopaedia Indica: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh|author=Shyam Singh Shashi|publisher=Anmol Publications|year=2000|page=291}}</ref> It is more likely that he was a feudatory of [[Parantaka I]] as a daughter of his, namely Boothi Aditya Pidaari was married to [[Arinjaya Chola|Arikulakesari]], the younger son of [[Parantaka I]].<ref name=museums>{{cite book|title=Journal of Indian Museums, Volumes 17-20|author=Museums Association of India|publisher=Museums Association of India|year=1964|page=13}}</ref>

Moreover, the chief and his family members figure in inscriptions of the [[Pallava]] King [[Nandivarman III| Vijaya Nandivikramavarman]] and later in inscriptions of [[Aditya I]], so he seems to have initially been a sub-ordinate of the [[Pallava]] King and then a feudatory of the [[Chola]] King [[Aditya I]] after the latter overthrew the former's son [[Aparajitavarman|Aparajita]]. Subsequently, he seems to have continued in service of [[Aditya I]]'s son [[Parantaka I]]. Consequently, his period can be fixed between the latter half of 9th century and beginning of the 10th century.<ref name="Archaeological Survey of India, India. Dept. of Archaeology, India. Archaeological Survey 1987 99–100">{{cite book|title=Epigraphia Indica, Volume 32|author=Archaeological Survey of India, India. Dept. of Archaeology, India. Archaeological Survey|publisher=Manager of Publications|year=1987|pages=99–100}}</ref><ref name="raosahib"/>

==Personal life==

The chief's given name was Boothi and he earned the title ''Vikramakesari'' through his exploits.<ref>{{cite book|title=The early Chōḷas history, art, and culture|author=S. Swaminathan|publisher=Sharada Pub. House|year=1998|page=65}}</ref> He is also called as ''Tennavan [[Irukkuvel|Ilangovel]]'' and ''Parantaka Ilangovelir'' in inscriptions.<ref name=museums/> He was born to [[Irukkuvel]] chieftain Samarabirama and [[Chola]] princess Anupama. Samarabirama is called ''Yadu vamsa kethu'' that is the ''Banner of the Yadu race'' in the [[Moovar Koil]] inscription<ref>{{cite book|title=The early Chōḷas history, art, and culture|author=S. Swaminathan|publisher=Sharada Pub. House|year=1998|page=33}}</ref> Two queens of his are known from the same inscription, namely, Nangai Varaguna Perumanar and Karrali.<ref>{{cite book|author1=Madras (India : State)|author2=B. S. Baliga|title=Madras District Gazetteers: Pudukkottai District|publisher=Superintendent, Government Press|year=1983|page=802}}</ref> As mentioned earlier, a daughter of his, namely Boothi Aditya Pidaari was married to [[Arinjaya Chola|Arikulakesari]], the younger son of [[Parantaka I]]. She is known from an inscription from a temple at [[Tiruchendurai]].<ref name=museums/>

==Inscriptions==

An excerpt of the [[Moovar Koil]] inscription is as follows,

{{Cquote|<center>''.. there was (called) Anupama (meaning peerless), (who) was literally true to her name, a daughter of the Chola king, and a beloved of this Yadu vamsa kethu(Banner of the Yadu race, that is Samarabirama)''
''Of her was born to him the glorious king called Bhuti otherwise called Minnamala Vikramakesari (the Lion of Valour).{{cn|date=July 2020}}
</center>}}

Another inscription from the period of [[Pallava]] King Vijaya-Nandivikramavarman from Kilur, [[Tirukoilur|Tirukovilur]] taluk, South [[Arcot]] district. The script and language of the inscription is in [[Tamil language|Tamil]] and paleographically the inscription can be dated to the 9th century,

{{Cquote|<center>''..the inscription is dated in the sixteenth year of the Ko Vijaya Nandivikramavarman and records the gift by Maravan Pudi alias Tennavan Ilangovelar. The gift consisted of 24 kalanju of pure gold weighed by videlvidigu, the standard stone, out of the interest of which the Nagarattar of Tirukkovalur undertook to supply ghee for burning a lamp.<ref name="Archaeological Survey of India, India. Dept. of Archaeology, India. Archaeological Survey 1987 99–100">{{cite book|title=Epigraphia Indica, Volume 32|author=Archaeological Survey of India, India. Dept. of Archaeology, India. Archaeological Survey|publisher=Manager of Publications|year=1987|pages=99–100}}</ref>''
</center>}}

The following is another inscription from Ghrithasthaneswara temple in Tillasthanam, figuring the queen of Boothi Vikramakesari from the period of [[Aditya I]],<ref>{{cite book|title=Early Chola Temples: Parantaka I to Rajaraja I, A.D. 907-985|author=S. R. Balasubrahmanyam|publisher=Orient Longman|year=1971|page=116}}</ref>

{{Cquote|<center>''(Line 1) Hail Prosperity, in the 13th year of the reign of King Rajakesarivarman, Tennavan Pirudimarsan alias Katti Orri-uran gave 25 kalanju of gold for burning one perpetual lamp with (one) ulakku of ghee everyday the (god) Mahadeva (Siva) at Tiruneyttanam which was a devadana in Poygainadu; and Varaguna Perumanar the queen(deviyar) of Parantaka Ilangovelar gave 25 kalanju of gold for one perpetual lamp. With this total of 50 kalanju of gold (some) lands of the god were cleared of its borders and mounds and were converted into a wet field. The boundaries of (the reclaimed) these lands are:-..
''(L 7) West of the cultivated land of the (god) Vishnu Bhattaraka (lying to) the east of the border; north of the embankment called Karikala-karai; east of the karay dry lands of the god; south of the (channel called) Andanur-vaykkal.<ref name=raosahib>{{cite book|title=South Indian Inscriptions, Volume III, Miscellaneous inscriptions from the Tamil Country|author=Rao Sahib H. Krishna Sastri|publisher=The Director General, Archaeological Survey On India, Janpath, New Delhi|year=1987|pages=249–250}}</ref>''
</center>}}

It is of interest to note that among the boundaries mentioned in the above inscription there is an embankment called Karikala-karai.<ref name=raosahib/>

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Tamil history]]
[[Category:History of Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Tamil monarchs]]
[[Category:10th-century Indian monarchs]]

Boothi Vikramakesari - Revision history

>Dl2000 at 18:29, 19 July 2020