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12th century Chola inscriptions discovered at temple in Udaiyalur

A Chola period inscription found at the Kailasanathar Temple at Udaiyalur.

TIRUCHI: Seven 12th century Chola inscriptions and several other fragments were discovered at the Kailasanathar Temple at Udaiyalur, also known as Sivapathasekara Mangalam, near Kumbakonam, by research scholars of the Dr.M.Rajamanickkanar Centre for Historical Research, Tiruchi.

The inscriptions were discovered during a field study conducted by a team of scholars, led by M. Nalini, Reader in History, Seethalakshmi Ramaswami College, Tiruchi. Most of the newly copied inscriptions belong to the reign of Kulothunga Chola III, said R.Kalaikkovan, Director, Dr.M.Rajamanickkanar Centre for Historical Research.

Describing the temple as a virtual treasure trove of inscriptions, Dr.Kalaikkovan said that most of the inscriptions were found to be damaged as a result of repeated renovations.

More than 30 fragments were copied during the study. Some, however, are intact and provide valuable information on the local community, many of whom were ‘tapasvins.’

One of the inscriptions provides information on an endowment made by tapasvin Nagadeva alias Kulothunga Pichan to enable service and worship to Puravarisvaram Udaiyar, a deity consecrated by him in the temple complex. One inscription reveals that Vidya Siva Pandithar, also a tapasvin, had constructed a math in the name of Abhimuthan for Visuvesvara Devar. Lands were donated from various ‘kudumbus’ (which denotes a portion of a cultivable land) of the village for maintaining worship and service at the math and to provide food for devotees on important occasions.

An inscription belonging to the 17th regnal year of Kulothunga III records the gift of ‘kani’ rights made to Narpattenayira Bhattan, a Shiva brahmana, by Agora Sivan. The gift was to enable the brahmana to conduct regular worship at the shrine of Thirugnanasambanda Isvaram Udaiyar, consecrated by Dharma Sivan, father of Agora Sivan, at the Rajagambhira Isvaram Udaiyar Temple complex in the village.

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