As stated in the introductory remarks to No. 43, the subjoined inscription was copied from an earlier stone inscription when the maṇḍapa of the temple was pulled down and re-erected. It is dated in the Śaka year 810 (in words, l. 4 f.) and in the time of a Bāṇa chief who is not mentioned by name, but only by his title Mahāvalivāṇarāja (l. 3 f.).
The inscription records that a Brāhmaṇa of Eṭṭukkūr near Kāvirippākkam (ll. 10 to 12) paid 25 kaḻañju of gold to the villagers of Vaṉṉipēḍu (ll. 5 and 19), who, in return, pledged themselves to supply oil to a lamp in the temple. Kāvirippākkam is the modern Kāvēripākkam,Madras Survey Map of the Wālājāpēṭ tāluka of the North Arcot district.Vaṉṉivēḍu,Kārai-nāḍu, a subdivision of the district of Paḍuvūr-kōṭṭam (l. 5). Kārai-nāḍu owes its name to Kārai,
sakalajaka trayāti
(Line 1.) Hail ! Prosperity ! (During the reign of) Mahāvalivāṇarāja,—[born from the family of Mahābali], who had been made door-keeper by the lord of gods and demons, Paramēśvara (Śiva), who is worshipped in all the three worlds,—in the Śaka year eight hundred and ten,—we, the assembly of Vaṉṉipēḍu, alias Raṇavikrama-chaturvēdimaṅgalam, in Kārai-nāḍu, (a subdivision) of Paḍuvūr-kōṭṭam, received twenty-five kaḻañju of gold, weighed by the balance (used in the case) of charitable edicts,Mādhava-Kramavittaṉ of Eṭṭukkūr, a hamlet on the north-east of Kāvirippākkam, alias A[va]ninārāyaṇa-chaturvēdimaṅgalam, in the same kōṭṭam, in order to supply (one) uḻakku (and one) āḻākku of oil per day for burning one sacred perpetual lamp, as long as the moon and the sun exist, before (the god) Tiruttīkkāli-Perumāṉaḍigaḷ of Tīkkāli-Vallam in Mīyāṟu-nāḍu, (a subdivision) of the same kōṭṭam.
(L. 13.) We, the assembly, shall have to continue this charity without fail, so as to burn (the lamp) as long as the moon and the sun exist.
(L. 15.) If (they) fail in this charity, all the Māhēśvaras shall be liable to pay into courtmaṉṟu, ‘to pay a fine,’ see above, p. 51, note 4.kaḻañju of gold per day.
(L. 17.) Though paying this fine, we, the assembly of Vaṉṉipēḍu, alias Raṇavikrama-chaturvēdimaṅgalam, shall have to continue this sacred perpetual lamp without fail.
(L. 20.) Those who obstruct this (charity), shall incur (all) the sins committed between the Gaṅgā and Kumari.
(L. 22.) This (charity is placed under) the protection of all Māhēśvaras.
Digital edition of SII 3.44 by