The Rashtrakutas and their Times c22.130

c22.130

The above table gives the contents of the Marakkal, as determined by the Āḍavallāṉ or RāJakesari measure, which was current in the district of Tanjore in c. 1000 A.D. The value of a Marakkal differed in the past as it differs now in different districts. In the South Arcot district in the time of Kṛṣṇa III, the Marakkal prevailing was the one determined by the Perilmai measure which was 25% larger than the ordinary Marakkal, since it was equivalent to 10 and not 8 Nāris.(91) It may be pointed out that even today, the Marakkal of the South Arcot district is larger than that of Tanjore, but the excess today is 50% and not 25%. The Mādevi measure of Marakkal, that is mentioned in another record of Kṛṣṇa III(92) hailing from the same district seems to be identical with the Perilmai measure. At Annamalai the Marakkal was determined by the Annamaa measure,(93) at Takkolam it was fixed by the Kavaramoli measure.(94) Since these places are near the district of Arcot, it is permissible to infer that these last two measures like the Perilmai one were larger than the Āḍavallāṉ one. It may be pointed out that even today there is a great diversity of measures prevailing in Tamil country; the Kalam of Trichy, South Arcot, and Tanjore is equal to 48, 36, and 24 Madras measures respectively. While trying to find out the prices, we shall have to take great precautions in determining the precise contents of the Marakkal in use.