http://www.hindu.com/2009/08/30/stories/2009083059750500.htm Tiruvannamalai: Tamil looped character (vattezhuthu) inscriptions belonging to Chola period found near here have been deciphered by K. Karuppaiah, Assistant Superintending Epigraphist, Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
Dr. Karuppaiah, who camped here recently for a week, found several valuable inscriptions that were either left uncared for or worshipped as deities by ignorant locals in the countryside of Tiruvannamalai district.
Important among them are two looped letter inscriptions found inside an irrigation tank in Sirupakkam village. According to Dr. Karuppaiah, the normative inscriptions seek to protect the irrigation tank and give values for protecting the structure while pouring curses on possible vandals.
Object of worship An inscription belonging to the reign of a Chola king, Koparakesari, was found inside the `chinna erikkarai' of Sirupakkam village. It was being worshipped by the locals as Oomai Vediyappan, he said.
The inscription dates back to the 15th year of the reign of Koparakesari, in a period before the Great Raja Raja Chola, whose era starts from 985 CE. So, the inscription is more than 1000 years old. The inscription, carved out of stone, declares that "destroyers of the tank will go to the deepest of hell than the seventh hell and the foot of the one who maintains it well is above my head."
What is amazing is that the village is still called Sirupakkam as found in the inscription and the irrigation tank is intact. Another inscription found at the same irrigation tank is identical in letter structure and content he said.
Donation of land An inscription found in `pachayathal parai' in the Periyakolappadi village in Chengam taluk speaks about the donation of Devadhana Kuzhi 300 (land allocated for maintenance of temple) to Manavala Eeswaramudaiaya Nayanar (temple). Kuzhi is an ancient standard of measurement of land.
Presently there is no trace of the temple, leave alone the land, said Dr. Karuppaiah.
He suggested that the inscription could have belonged to 9th or 10th century CE. He has also discovered a hero stone from Chinna Kolappadi village.
R. Sekar, lecturer of history, Muthurangam Government Arts College, Vellore; T. Devendran, research assistant; and S. Alagesan, copying assistant, accompanied Dr. Karuppaiah in his expeditions.