Irayiran Chiriyan Explained

Irayiran Chiriyan, known as Kulacekara Nampi, was a 13th-century Indian Ocean merchant magnate from Kodungallur in the present-day Kerala.^[1] He was probably a member of the Indian merchant guild Nanadesikal (Ayyavole Ainutruvar).

He is known for his donations to a Vishnu temple at Myingpagan, a mile south of Pagan, Myanmar.^[2]

Pagan Inscription of Irayiran Chiriyan

• Originally part of a Vishu tempe in Pagan.
• Engraved on a sandstone.
• Now preserved at National Museum, Pagan.
• Discovered by A. T. Arundel, CSI.
• Impression by Taw Sein Ko.
• Language: Tamil (Tamil script).

The Tamil portion is prefaced by a Sanskrit sloka (Grantha) from verse 6, Mukundamala (referring to the intense devotion of the towards Vishnu).

Notes and References

1. Karashima, Noboru, and Y. Subbarayalu. 'Ancient and Medieval Tamil and Sanskrit Inscriptions Relating to Southeast Asia and China.' Nagapattinam to Suvarnadwipa, ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute, 2009, pp. 271–291.
2. E. Hultzsch, "A Vaishnava Inscription at Pagan", Epigraphia Indica 1 (1902-1903): 197-98.