[Solved] Kudumiyamalai: The 7th Century Musical Inscription

Name the location of the musical inscription containing groups of musical notes arranged for the benefit of his pupils by a king in the seventh or eighth century CE.

[CDS 2023 (I)]

Detailed Solution & Historical Context

Concept

Ancient inscriptions often served as 'textbooks in stone', preserving technical knowledge like music and grammar for future generations.

Authentic Source Evidence

The Kudumiyamalai Inscription in the Pudukkottai district (Tamil Nadu) is a rare record of musical notes in seven classical ragas (Shadja, Madhyama, etc.).

Analytical Breakdown

Option D is Correct: It is written in the Pallava Grantha script and is generally attributed to King Mahendravarman I.

Purpose: The inscription explicitly states that the notes were arranged for the benefit of students (Shishya-hitartam).

Conceptual Deep Dive & Logic

"Which script was used for the Kudumiyamalai musical inscription?"

The Pallava Grantha script was used, which was common for Sanskrit inscriptions in South India.

Examiner's Mindset & Pro-Tip

"Kudumiyamalai is one of the world's oldest surviving examples of written musical notation in a public space."

Topic Clusters (click to see related topic questions)

Analysing authentic CDS (I)previous year questions is non-negotiable for serious aspirants. Thoroughly decoding past exam trends related to Ancient Indian Musicology helps you understand the examiner's mindset. Mastering specific entities like Kudumiyamalai inscription and Pallava music builds the analytical intuition needed to clear the exam. Practice Previous Year Questions here →