Boothi Vikramakesari

Boothi Vikramakesari was a Velir Irukkuvel commander of the Chola Empire during Sundara Chola's reign. 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. His family was related to the Cholas by marriage. His mother was Chola princess Anupama, the daughter of Parantaka I, while his father was Samarabirama who belonged to the Velir clan. He raised some military conquests during Sundara Chola's reign. His exact period is still unknown, but can be fixed in the second half of the 10th century.

Personal life

The chief's given name was Boothi and he earned the title Vikramakesari through his exploits. He is also called as Tennavan Ilangovel and Parantaka Ilangovelir in inscriptions. He was born to Irukkuvel chieftain Samarabirama and Chola princess Anupama. Samarabirama is called ' Yadu Vamsa Kethu', which means 'The Banner of the Yadu Race' in the Moovar Koil inscription. Two queens of his are known from the same inscription, namely, Nangai Varaguna Perumanar and Karrali.

Inscriptions

An excerpt of the Moovar Koil inscription is as follows,

9.ndadhaN śramānvikramakesarīti samare labdhānyanāmā nṛpaḥ ௳ kāverī-

10. vāri śoṇaṃ samakṛta rudhiraiḥ pallavasya dhvajinyāḥ yo vīroḥ

11. vīrapāṇḍyaṃ vyajayata samare vañciveḷantako bhūT ௳ mattāri sāmajā-

12. hatvā vasanvikramakesarī koṭuṃ pāḷūppurādīndramābikāvivarodare ௳-

13. vidvatkalpatarau kṣītīśvarakaradvadvāMbujendau bhuvaṃ yasmiN śāsati"

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

The following is another inscription from Ghrithasthaneswara temple in Tillasthanam, figuring the queen of Boothi Vikramakesari from the period of Aditya I,

Among the boundaries mentioned in the above inscription there is an embankment called Karikala-karai.