The Kulothunga Chola-I inscription (top) and the Vijayanagar period inscription copied from Kodumbalur in Pudukottai district.
PUDUKOTTAI JUNE 8. Thirteen inscriptions, dating back to various reigns between 10th and 16th centuries, were discovered at Kodumbalur, in Pudukottai district recently.
The inscriptions were discovered from two temples, Muchukundeswara Temple and Aintali Temple (whose basement alone now remains) in the village by J. Raja Mohammed, curator, Pudukottai Government Museum, and the joint secretary, Pudukottai History Forum, K. Rajendran, during field studies at Kodumbalur, a town of ancient renown.
The town was ruled by a dynasty of Velirs called Irukkuvels. The Irukkuvels, during the middle ages were allies and vassals of the imperial Cholas. They were believed to have constructed several temples in the region, though nothing remains now, excepting the Muvarkovil and Muchukundeswara temples.
Eleven of the recently-discovered inscriptions were discovered at the Muchukundeswara temple. Four of them belong to the period of Parakesari Parantaka - I (907-953 AD) and one each to the periods of Raja Raja - I, Rajendra - I, Kulothunga - I, Vikramachola, Sundara Pandya, Vijayanagara and an Araiyar chieftain.
According to Dr. Mohammed, the Parakesari inscription mentions the name of the builder and his liberal endowment of lands for conducting daily poojas at the temple. The inscription belonging to the Raja Raja - I refers to a temple Desi Val Isvaram at Kodumbalur.
The temple, which is not in existence, now, is believed to have been constructed by members of merchant guilds. The inscription also refers to a merchant guild, ``Munnuravar'' and the name has come across for the first time during archaeological studies in the region.
The Rajendra period inscription refers to gifts made by a Panan of Kodumbalur Vizhuperaraiyan Vikramakesari Arulmozhi Devan, while the one belonging to the Vikrama Chola (1118-1135 AD) period details the gifting of 100 goats for supply of ghee for daily poojas and keeping two ``perpetual lamps'' burning by Ooralinatha Ambalakoothan Chola Vichathara Peraraiyan in memory of his son, Kunran. This is only the second inscription belonging to the Vikrama Chola period that has been discovered in Pudukottai district.
Another inscription belonging to the Salivahana year 1454 (1532 AD) gives the name of the Amman as Thirumudu Kunrathu Nachiar, which has been brought to light only now. The inscriptions, also refers to several temples such as Thiru Alankovil, Thirupudisvaram and Vikramakesari Griham all of which are not in existence now.
Two other inscriptions belonging to Raja Raja I have been discovered from the Aintali temple and both speak about the gifts made for keeping ``perpetual lamps'' burning.
The team has also found fragments of grantha and Chola inscriptions and pieces of sculptures at a big tank at Matharapatti, two km east of Kodumbalur.
An inscription at a pillar from a temple at the tank refers to it as Minnamalai Iswaram of Kodumbalur. Minnamalai is the surname of Bhuti Vikrama Kesari, an Irukkuvel chief, and the temple had been apparently built by him. The stones used in the temple that had fallen into decay, should have apparently been used for constructing the tank. The discovery throws more light on the history of the region and further studies were being made at the village, Dr. Mohammed said.