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Chola inscriptions found at Malayakkoyil cave temple

By Syed Muthahar

TIRUCHI APRIL 27. Four new inscriptions, some of them belonging to the Chola period, have been discovered at a rock-cut cave temple at Malayakkoyil, near Nachchanduppatti on the Pudukottai-Ponnamaravathi road.

In a study, research scholars of the Dr. M. Rajamanikkanar Centre for Historical Research here recently found the inscriptions in the larger of the two rock-cut temples, excavated during the early Pandya reign, in the village. The east-facing smaller shrine has four inscriptions, which were copied by the Government epigraphists in 1929.

According to the director of the centre, R. Kalaikkovan, one of the newly-found inscriptions belonged to the later Chola period, inscribed during the rule of Kulottunga II (A. D. 1143). In this carving, Malayakkoyil is mentioned as Kulamangalam and the deity as Okalisvaramudaiya Nayanar.

The inscription registers a sale deed, by which land at Mankuruchi and a pond were sold to the temple tax-free `devadana' by the Araiyars of Panniyur, included under Irattapadi Konda Chola Valanadu. Though the inscription has been damaged, several names of Araiyars — Rajan Periyan alias Nattuppiriyan, Rajan Ulagan alias Irattapadikondan, Rajan Chathiran, Rajan Enman, Ulagan Kolan alias Dannusirayan, Gunapperaiyan Karrila Malan Uran, Chirummudian Periyan, Urab Devan alias Dhuvarapati Nadalvan — can be made out.

The Penkudithalai eastern channel, which brought water to the Mankuruchi pond, Velan Chey, Kollan Chey, and Virapandyan land have been mentioned as boundaries of the sold land. Another inscription on the west wall of the `mandapam' records a gift of a certain tax entity, `chirukaval', by an individual from Kulottungapuram to celebrate `Karthigai' in the month of Aadi in the temple. The endowment was entrusted with `urar' of Kulamangalam, and Malayakkoyil has been mentioned as Navalur in this inscription.

The third inscription, inscribed on September 12, 1883, was discovered near the flight of steps, which led to the hill temple. It gives the name of the builder of the steps as Ramanathan Chettiyar, son of Periyakaruppan Chettiyar of Thirumalai Chamudram alias Chudamanipuramudaiyan Nachchandupatti. The construction was over on the 14th day of `Aippasi' 1881.

Another inscription mentions the name of the donor of the flight of steps, leading to the smaller temple on the nearby rock, as Ragunatha Pillai.

Dr. Kalaikkovan said a land measure was also discovered during the study. The exact length could not be assessed as one of the plus marks was obliterated. The Department of Epigraphy, Mysore, was informed of the discovery.

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