ASI team unearths valuable inscriptions near Karur
L. Renganathan
Insightful: The Tamil inscription that throws light on the Pandya link with the Mutherayar chieftains that was unearthed recently-. KARUR: A team of archaeologists and epigraphists from the Archaeological Survey of India has unearthed a unique Tamil stone inscription belonging to the Ninth Century AD near Karur that for the first time throws light on the matrimonial relationship between the Mutherayar chieftains and Pandya rulers of Madurai.
The team, led by the Assistant Superintending Epigraphist of the ASI, S.Rajavelu, including archaeology and epigraphy enthusiasts K.Balasubramaniam, V.Panneerselvam and S.Alagesan, discovered the inscription at a dilapidated Siva temple atop a rocky outcrop at Veerakanampatti, around 20 km from here on the Karur-Dindigul highway a couple of days back. Known as Eswaran Paarai, it houses the stone built temple dedicated to Lord Siva. It is on the outer portion of the temple that the team discovered the inscription.
Pandya link Speaking of the find, Dr.Rajavelu says that the Ninth Century inscription proclaims Pandi Perundevi, mother of Pandi Mutherayan Arattavathy Arayan who was the chieftain of the region, constructed the temple in memory of Pandi Mutherayan Sozhiga Arayan, probably a kinsman, and named the shrine "Kaala Eswaram." The inscription also carries the eight "mangala" insignias besides stating that the bequeathing royalty would hold the protector of the charity in high esteem.
"For the first time we have come across a Pandi Mutherayar inscription that states the matrimonial link between the Mutherayars and Pandya rulers especially during the Eighth and Ninth Centuries," observes Dr.Rajavelu. Perhaps the Pandi Perundevi mentioned in the inscriptions could be a Pandya royal lady, he adds.
The Sozhiga Arayan, who was a local chieftain, is also referred to in an inscription discovered by Dr.Rajavelu and his team from a tank at Velliyanai village nearby. That inscription had been assigned to the Sixth Century, Dr.Rajavelu points out.
The dilapidated stone built temple has a square sanctum sanctorum and rectangular muga mandapam. On the Kumudhavari part of the temple a stone inscription belonging to the 12th century is found. A royal order beginning with the words "Konerinmai Kondan " is also found besides ascribing the name of the deity in the temple as "Thirukundra Thali Udaya Nayanar," observes Dr.Rajavelu. The team also stumbled on a 13th century inscription on a separate pillar at the temple during the field study.
the dark period is between 3rd and 6th C. Afterwards tonnes of info of pallvas. Dhivakar sir has the inscription which actually proves this dark period and the kind who fought it off.
If not this grant was explored, we would have not known most of happening during dark period (as mentioned by historians) and Kalappirar.
Nedunjadaian issued the Velvikkudi grant and was donor of that village to the descendents of the original donees. Much of the early history of the Pandyas too, could not have been peiced together but for this informative and lengthy document.
Long ago, the Sangham Oandyan King Palyagalasalai Mudukudumip Peruvazhudhi granted a Velvikkudi (Brahnim Village - tax free) to a brahmin KoRkai Kizhaan NarkoRRan. When the Kalabhras took over the Tamil country, they destabalised this charity; then centuries later, when Parantaka Nedunjadayan became King of Madurai, one Narasinghan, a descendant of earlier KoRkai Kizhaan represented the King his claim to the Village. The King reendowed the descendent of the original; and on the Velvikkudi copper plates, the new grant was inscribed with unusually full description of the King's acheivement.
The grants were issued in the third year of Nedunjadaiyan.
When completely read all the inscriptions of Velvikkudi plates, Kadungon, the first revived King of Pandya appeared in the plates. He who conquered the Kalappiras.
For people who do research on Pandya, the Velvikkudi grant was goldmine.