The Hindu : Chola inscriptions found in temple cellar

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Mar 25, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu

Chola inscriptions found in temple cellar

By Our Special Correspondent

TIRUCHI MARCH 24. Three inscriptions have been found in the cellar of the Kuduminathar temple at Kudumiyanmalai in Pudukottai district, maintained by the Archaelogical Survey of India. One of them belongs to the period of Rajendra Chola I of the 10th century.

Though the existence of the 10-foot long and 4-foot wide cellar was known for long, the inscriptions were found by scholars of the Dr. M. Rajamanickanar Centre for Historical Research, Tiruchi.

According to the centre director, R. Kalaikkovan, as per the Palaeographic evidence, the Chola inscription copied and re-engraved during the Pandyas rule refers to the sale of a land as per royal instructions.

The names of the individuals who had received a specified quantity of gold and agreed to supply ghee for lighting the lamps were also mentioned. The inscriptions were copied by R. Akhila and M. Nalini.

The inscription found on the eastern wall of the maha mandapam of the Amman shrine was engraved in the 14th reignal year of the Sundara Pandya, who gifted the kingdom he conquered to Rajaraja Chola III. As per the inscription, the deity was named Nayanar of Thirunalakkundram, and refers to sale of land at Sikhanallur by the village chief of Kadaladaiyathilankai konda cholavalanadu to one Sankaran Kandan of Kulathur at Malaimandalam. Kandan gifted the land to the workers who maintained the Cherapandyadevan Thirumandapam erected by him at Dhiyana Chiriyan Thiruvettai thoppu. The two types of taxes levied on the land were `Kadamai' and `Kilirrai'.

The third inscription found on the western wall referred to the gift of land by the king to the relatives of one Kuthan of Kaikola community, who sacrificed his life. The reason why he beheaded himself is not mentioned and the inscription comes to an abrupt end.

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