The Colas c31.23

c31.23

Though the weight and fineness of the standard gold coin of the realm were fairly determinate, there still existed a large variety of systems of weighing and assaying. Without stopping to give an exhaustive account of these systems, a few examples may be given to illustrate the general conditions that prevailed. The mention of *Viḍēlviḍugu-kal* used for weighing gold at Kumaravayalur in the Trichinopoly area in an inscription of Āditya I may be some indication that continuity in the system of weights and measures was ordinarily sought to be maintained irrespective of dynastic changes. In the Tanjore inscriptions of Rājarāja, two different weight units are found used, the *āḍavallān* for weighing gold and the *dakṣiṇamēruviṭaṅkan* for jewels. Outside Tanjore may be noticed the ‘stone used for weighing Rājarājan-kāśu’ at Tiruvārūr,⁶¹ the *vaiyagattār-kal* at Tirumalavāḍi,⁶² the *viḍēlviḍugu-kal* at Tiruccenduṟai⁶³ and Paḻuvūr⁶⁴ and the *kempōnāgarasu-niṟai* at Taḍi-malingi,⁶⁵ or simply the stone used in this village of Śrīkaṇṭha-caturvēdi-maṅgalam (Tiruverumbūr).⁶⁶ The absolute weights of these different units are not easily determined, but they all used the same denominations of *kalañju* divided into 20 *mañjāḍis*, each *mañjāḍi* being the equivalent of two *kunṟis*. The fineness of gold is likewise