Ancient granite oil-crusher discovered

By Our Staff Reporter

KARUR, FEB. 22. An ancient granite oil-crusher (sekku) of the 10th century A.D., with inscriptions has been discovered at Velliyanai Nathamedu village on the Karur-Dindigul Old Highway in Karur district recently.

According to Mr. A. Abdul Majeed, Director of Archaeology and Mr.Naga Ganesan, Curator, Department of Archaeology, Karur, the Tamil inscriptions around the mouth of the ``sekku'' states it was endowed to the presiding deity Lord Siva of Somur temple by ``Iynurruvar'' (merchant guild). The inscription begins with the auspicious word, `Svastisri,' and runs as follows: ``Somur Mahadevarkku Iynurruvar Iduviccha Sekku.'' Somur is situated near Karur.

Mr. Ganesan said the inscription provided important insights into the structure of merchant guilds, highways and temple related economy of those days. Several merchant guilds were operating in ancient times in the State such as `Iynurruvar,' `Thisai Airattu Iynurruvar,' `Valanjiyar Iynurruvar,' `Ayyampolilar,' `Nanathesikal,' `Pathinenvishyattar,' and `Chitrameli Perianattar.'

They had engaged in trade not only within Tamil Nadu but in a very wide area in the Deccan, Sri Lanka and South East Asian countries.

Karur fell under two important ancient trade routes namely., Dakshinapatham and Konguperuvali. The Dakshinapatham route ran through Karur (now NH.7) and the Konguperuvali started from Kozhikode in West Coast and passed through Palakad, Kangeyam, Karur and Woraiyur (Tiruchi) to reach Poompuhar in the East Coast.

The inscription provided substantial evidence that the merchants of this guild had made endowments to the temples situated along trade routes hoping that the deities would safeguard them, Mr. Ganesan said.Two other oil crushers, though without inscriptions, have also been discovered in the near vicinity. The crushers had been used for crushing the produce from the dry-lands in the region.

The discovery of the oil crushers indicated that there could have been an oil crushing industry in the region, he said.

The inscription was brought to light with the information provided by Mr. Bhuvanandrar of Thaliyapatti near Velliyanai. The site was explored by Mr. Naga Ganesan, who also copied the inscription.

The 10th century oil crusher (sekku) with Tamil inscription which was discovered at Velliyanai in Karur district recently.

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