http://www.hindu.com/2009/10/06/stories/2009100652480500.htm
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.
