Studies in Cola History and Administration c14.86

c14.86

gold intended to announce the arrival of Dēvadēva (God of gods) was presented by him to the temple (st. 16, v. 1066). Ten nityadīpas of fragrant camphor (st. 20, v. 1067), a golden water-pot (st. 21, v. 1065), an image of Sambanda (st. 26) together with a large number of precious jewels (st. 18, 24) and arrangements for annual abhiṣēkas in the different shrines in the temple (st. 22, 25 and v. 1071) formed part of Naralōkavīra's endowments to the temple of Naṭarāja. A prākāra and a maṇḍapa and a high outer wall of stone were erected for the shrine of the goddess Pārvatī whose image was clad in a splendid robe and adorned from head to foot with fine jewels befitting the dancing hall of her lord (sva-pati-naṭanāsthāna-yōgyam) (st. 28-30 vv. 1077, 1078, 1080). Lastly, Naralōkavīra gave a perpetual endowment for the daily supply of oil and milk for children to signify the universal motherhood of the goddess (st. 31). The Tamil part adds a few items to this long list of Naralōkavīra's charities in Cidambaram; of these the most noteworthy are the engraving on copper-plates of the whole of the Dēvāram as it was sung by the three hymnists (v. 1088) and the construction of a stone sluice to a large irrigation tank in the neighbourhood of Cidambaram (v. 1094).