Kovalam - From VeeraChozhappattinam to a Fishing village

The history of Kovalam is a microcosm of the history of this region. Having faced repeated invasions and human interventions, physical evidences of its ancient past remain veiled as of now.

Information from Inscriptions

Interestingly, we find early information about Kovalam at Thiruvidanthai!

On the South wall of the central shrine of Thiruvidanthai Varaha Perumal Temple, is an inscription belonging to the era of VeeraRajendra Chola (1063 – 1070 CE).

It mentions that the standard measure adopted in paddy calculations of this temple, was the one used at Komalam as Kovalam was then called.  

In the time of VeeraRajendra Chola I, Kovalam acquired the name - VeeraCholaPattinam. 

Incidentally, the name Veerapattinam in ancient times, indicated a trading port protected by the armed forces.  

Kailasathanar Temple Inscriptions from the Chola Era

The Kailasathanar Temple and it's குளம்.

1.    Sanctum – There is an inscription at the base of the moolavar Shivalingam - ஶ்ரீசாத்தெருமான் மூர்த்திப்பேர், in the scripts of the 8^th – 9^th centuries. சாத்து  was known to be the name of a Trade body in the Chola Era

2.   Kailasathanar Temple wall ARIE No 10 / 1934-35

It registers the grant of a portion of the cess due on arecanuts, tamarind and other commodities by Pattanasvami Karpulukku Nalla Settiyar son of Nallunaar Pattanasvami Nachchamma Settiyar for worship and offerings in the temple of Kailasanathar at Kovalam Pattanam, which was under the jurisdiction of Obaachchi Amman. It is dated to the 16^th century.

Incidentally, the title Pattanasvami refers to the title given to the leader of the trade body.

3.   Kailasathanar Temple Wall -ARIE No 11 / 1934-35

A fragment on the South wall of the platform at the entrance of the temple. States that the image of Dakshinamurthy was installed in the temple by Marundan Thiruvagattissuramu… a merchant of Thirunaavalur.

Some scholars seem to think there was a port called Saptasamudram at Kovalam . But there seems no unanimous agreement over it.

The Great Chengalpattu Survey 1767 -1774

When this region came under the British rule, they instituted a detailed survey of the territory. Data was compiled in detail from the Palm leaf manuscripts during the years 1767 - 1774 from the towns, ports and every village.  These records give us quite a glimpse of the past as it then was.

The schedule of goods that entered and left the port of Kovalam in the 1700s on which customs duties etc were levied includes -

 Textiles, Palm Jaggery, Coconuts, Butter, Ghee, Onions, Tamarind, Salted Fish, Betel Leaves, Toddy and so on. 

From the records available from 1762 -1766, it is estimated that 400 tonnes of Paddy was traded per year.  This gives a fair idea of the scale of agricultural production and commerce that was done here.

There were 45 acres of Salt Pans in Kovalam and another 45 acres at Semmencheri. 

There were 194 households of which 59 were traders, and 14 were goldsmiths and shroffs who probably provided money- changing and other financial services. There were 36 households of Fishermen who also ran boats between the shore and the ships anchored.

The traders, goldsmiths and others had to leave Kovalam in later decades, but the Goddesses they continued to worship have kept the memories alive.

Kovalam Salt with a larger grain was said to be the best in the region. Proximity of the salt pans to the port saved on the transportation costs.

All the salt from Kovalam seemed to have been exported to Bengal.

The logistics of arranging food for the troops from a region that the British were trying to overpower into submission was also a factor. Therefore, ships full of salt from Kovalam were sent to Bengal from where food grains were brought back to feed the British garrison in this region.

“ Many a time, instructions were issued to the salt manager at Kovalam to load only those ships with salt, that showed proof of having brought grains to Madras.”

A large part of India, without access to the sea, had very little natural salt. A high levy on salt was a source of profits for the British East India Company.

Therefore, the British administration seemed to find the business of running a monopoly on the manufacture and selling of salt to be very lucrative than from revenues from other activities at Kovalam.

Salt for export was stored on a platform on the beach at Covelong and a depot for inland sales at the opposite side of the canal.

The manufacture of salt became a monopoly of the East India Company under Regulation I of 1805.

Incidentally, Indians started smuggling salt from the coastal regions to avoid the high taxes.

A series of customs houses came to be established in Bengal in 1803 to prevent the smuggling. These customs houses continued to be established when more territories were brought under the British control. From Punjab to Orissa, thick hedges up to 12 feet were grown.

Customs officers and other men patrolled the line and they had more than 14000 staff in 1872. The line and hedge were abandoned in 1879, when the British conquered Sambhar Lake in Rajasthan and applied tax at the point of manufacture.

Meanwhile, salt became the only commodity handled at the ports of Kovalam and Sadras, the other important port of the region in that era. The Collector of Chengalpattu in his report of 1835, had reported that apart the export of salt to Bengal, there were no other exports or imports by sea from these ports in his district.

With a general decline in other trade and activities, most traders, artisans, and other service professionals left the town. In time, the export of salt came down and the great trading centre and port that Kovalam once was, transformed into what it is today.

Conversation with residents interestingly reveal,  decades ago when this area was thinly populated and  roads weren't fine, many people preferred taking a boat at Kovalam to reach Thirupporur and other places along the coast. 

That could be a great option to ease the traffic congestion even today!

Robert Clive and Kovalam

Capture of Kovalam and Chengalpattu firmly established Clive as a leader and military strategist.

The East India Company had multiple dealings with the local powers of the time,and were under pressure to mount an attack on ‘ Covelong’ as it was then called by them.

With Trained troops having been deployed elsewhere, according to British sources, about 200 European recruits just landed in Madras, who are represented as ones from  jails of London, and 500 newly raised sepoys headed to Kovalam on 15th September 1752.

Clive, though in a state of impaired health volunteered to accept this command and marched to  Kovalam, which had a square Fort with the French, had no moat / ditch but mounted 30 pieces of cannon and was defended by 50 Europeans and 300 sepoys.

The fire of the enemy  had disconcerted ill- trained  British army when a shot killed and wounded 14 and they did not dare to venture forward and some were found concealed in the bottom of a well.

Clive, leading by the front, exposing himself to the hottest of the enemy’s fire won their confidence which ended with the surrender of the fort.  It cemented Clive's reputation after his exploits at Arcot.

A private establishment is said to be functioning at the site of this action. 

Quaint temples of Kovalam have now seen transformation. A city need not be caught in a time warp. But it should preserve something that once made it vibrant and colourful.

References 

ASI Reports

The Chengalpattu Survey – Centre for Policy Studies

The Life of Lord Clive – by Sir George Forrest.

Cholas in Thondaimandalam

 

There is a deep Chola connection to Thondaimandalam that has endured for over 1100 years. It is the Veeranarayanan Lake, popularly known as the Veeranam Eri that also provides drinking water to Chennai today. 

This lake that has supported millions of lives over the centuries with water for agriculture, was created by Rajaditya Chola, son of Parantaka Chola I after whom the lake has been named. Prince Rajaditya and his soldiers, while training to participate in the battle at Thakkolam near Arakkonam, have spared no effort in this mission of creating history through this lake.   

There were many more huge lakes of the Chola Era.

கண்டராதித்த சோழன் created a lake known as செம்பியன் மாதேவி பேரேரி in Ariyalur District.

உத்தம சோழன்  created the மதுராந்தகம் ஏரி, the largest lake of the Chengalpattu district and the second largest in the state.

சுந்தர சோழன் ( Parantaka II ), father of Rajaraja II created a lake on the route from Cuddalore to Chidambaram now known as பெருமாள் ஏரி.

குந்தவை பிராட்டியார் created a lake in  விழுப்புரம் district, near திருவெண்ணைநல்லூர் in the குளத்தூர் village. The lake without much maintenance is now known as பிரட்டேரி!!

Rajendra Chola I to commemorate his victory  created சோழகங்கம் lake now known as  பொன்னேரி at கங்கைகொண்ட சோழபுரம்.

Maintenance of the lakes were given utmost importance. Every resident had to pay a tax called ஏரிவரி\ உள்வரி for the maintenance. In addition to that they had to contribute physical labour too.

Depending on the features of the area, the cleaning and desilting  of the lake was done annually or even every month in some instances.

The Kaveri belt gave them more scope with its beautiful rivers, so they created many canals and irrigation channels from the rivers themselves.  

Parantaka I expanded his territory from the Kaveri region  on defeating the Pandya and Rashtrakuta kings. The fierce battle was fought  at Thakkolam near Arakkonam and his son Rajadityan was killed.

 It was during the reign of Parantaka I  that the famous Inscriptions on internal administration at Utthiramerur were done.  Chola rulers continued the finer traditions of the Pallavas in administration, water management, temple building etc.

Vijayalaya Chola was the progenitor of the mighty the empire of the Imperial Cholas, that was to rule a good part of Bharat and beyond the seas.

 His son Aditya I ( 871-907 CE ) by rendering military assistance to  Aparajita Pallava  in his battle with the Pandyas, received a small territory for his services and became a Chieftain. He later defeated Aparajita Pallava and captured Thondaimandalam and he was called தொண்டைநாடு பாவின சோழன் in the inscriptions at தில்லைதானம்.

 Chola presence was consolidated by Raja Raja Chola I and his son Rajendra Chola I. Both of them before their coronation as kings were in charge of defending the northern territories.

Raja Raja Chola built a temple Arinjaya Choleeswaram at Melpadi in memory of his Grandfather.

Rajendra Chola, the mighty emperor who conquered Orissa, Bengal and countries beyond the sea in the far East built his Capital city Gangai Konda Cholapuram on a grand scale to commemorate his victories. 

He retained his fondness for the Thondaimandalam  and had a special connection to Thiruvotriyur temple.

 An official of his administration has built a temple, Rajendra Choleeswaram at Kaavanthandalam, 20kms from Kanchi and his Guru Isaana Siva Pandithar has built GangaiKonda Choleeswaram at Koozhampandal, 18 kms from Kanchi.

Numerous temples built of bricks were rebuilt with stones in their rule spanning several centuries.

The close association had only increased, and we find many

 Inscriptions of the Chola times from Parantaka I to Rajendra

 III the last Chola King in 1279 CE in many temples around us.

1.     Agaram - Maanaampathy

2.      Kalattur

3.       Karumbur

4.   Karayampedu    

5.    Kaayaaru

6.    Mambakkam

7.    Oragadam

8.    Paalur

9.    Padur 

10.Thirumukkudal

11.  Payyanur

12.Perumaanur

13.Perunthandalam

14.      Sastrambakkam

15.Sirudavur

16.Thirukkachur

17. Thiruvadisoolam

18.Madampakkam

19.Thiruvidanthai

20.     Kilambakkam

21.Singapperumal Kovil

 

 

 

 

 

Pallava Presence around us - வாதாபி கொண்ட நரசிங்கப் போத்தரசர் வைத்தது.

 

“.....திருக்கழுக்குன்றத்து ஶ்ரீமலைமேல் மூலத்தானத்து  பெருமானடிகளுக்கு வழிபாட்டுப் புறமாக வாதாபி கொண்ட நரசிங்கப் போத்தரசர் வைத்தது.” 

    – Inscription at the Thirukkazhukunram temple

Pallava Presence around us

The presence of the 500 year Pallava Era in Thondaimandalam, is felt around us to this day.  

Structural Pallava Temples built with perishable materials in most places have been transformed into stone temples in the subsequent centuries. The earliest structural stone temple of the 7^th century  built by Parameswara Pallava survives in the Village of Kooram near Kanchi.

A few temples built of stone in Kanchipuram and Panamalai with traces of the original paintings, have survived to this day with a semblance of their original form.

However, we have the songs of the Naayanmaars that establish the presence of Shiva temples in the Pallava territory and that of Azhwars for the presence of Temples of Vishnu.

 

Thirupporur

Ancient Thirupporur temple has seen a Pallava contribution to its building in the 8^th century.

Seen from the inscriptions, Thirupporur had been a special place with donations from the places we see today and grants received from the kings

-  During the reign of Vikrama Chola ( 1118 – 1136 CE) - Inscription Registers gift of land free of tax by the assembly of Sembakkam alias ParakesariNallur in Sirukunra Nadu to provide for the celebrations in the temple of Subramanya deva (ARIE No 121 / 1933-34)

- Gift of paddy by certain residents to the village of Kaayaaru alias Kamalanarayana Chaturvedhimangalam in Kumizhi nadu subdivision of Amoor Kottam in Jayamkonda Chola mandalam to provide for offerings and lamps and other requirements in the temple of Pillayaar Subramanya Deva at Thirupporiyur. Era of a chola king with the title Rajakesarivarman (ARIE No 122 / 1933-34)

- Registers the grant of a veli of land as tax - free devadaana to the temple of Subramanyadeva. Era Vikrama Chola deva (ARIE No 123 / 1933-34)

- Seems to register gift of land made after purchase by a resident of Ilanallur for conducting the Ardha Jaama Poojai - Midnight service in the temple. (ARIE No 124 / 1933-34)

 -Agreement given by a Sivabrahmana at the temple of Subramanyadeva at Thirupporur in Kumuzhi Nadu, sub division of Amoor Kottam, district of JayamkondaChola Mandalam to burn 5 twilight lamps in return of the cows received from 2 persons in the Era of Vijaya Ganda Gopala Deva. He was the Telegu Choda ruler of Thondaimandalam after the fall of the Chola Empire and the subsequent foray of the Pandyas for a while. (ARIE No 121 / 1933-34)

This is a Pillar with inscription in Pallava Grantham script, displays  Two titles of the king, describing his qualities, most likely chosen by the king himself.  They are :

1. Guna Vineetha ( meaning -The Modest one, though possessing many virtues )

 2. Bharani Thilaka ( The  Ornament of the World )

Thirupporur had continued to be a unifying force both culturally and spiritually until the advent of the British in 1764.  

Thiruvidanthai

The temple of Thiruvidanthai, right on the Sea Coast, then known as Guna Kadal – meaning the Eastern Sea, was visited by Thirumangai Azhwar in the 8^th century and he had composed his paasuram on the “இடவெந்தை எந்தை பிரான்”.

It is said The temple derives its name from  Varahaswami in the Sanctum with his face turned towards the left –  திரு + இட+ எந்தை ( எம் + தந்தை )

The Sthala Puranam of the temple describes the scenic route along the coast as, ““அந்த வழியில் வாவிகளும், பூஞ்சோலைகளும், தடாகங்களும், அழகிய விருக்க்ஷங்களும், நாநா மிருகபக்ஷிகளும் இருந்தன “.  Water Bodies, Flower Gardens, Beautiful Trees, and multiple birds and animals – can anyone imagine a more beautiful world. Blessed to live in this land.

It must have been one of those temples that transformed into a stone construction in Chola times about 1000 years ago. Interesting  aspects seen from the inscriptions in the temple are

 

1.      Distance had not been too big a deterrence in the olden days. The  atmosphere had also been conducive for travel and trade. Donors include Merchants who had come as far as Kodungallur in Malai Naadu and a village in Valluva Naadu  a good 700 kms away !

 

2.     Donors from many places of  Greater Chennai area such as Mayilaarpil of Puliyur KOttam, Thirumangalam, a village in Puzhal KOttam, Thiruvorriyur in Puzhal KOttam have been engraved.

3.     Corpus donations had been accepted, the interest on which had funded lighting of the lamps or feeding of the brahmins engaged in the preservation of vedas.

4.    Donations hadn’t been made to the residents of  Thiruvidanthai alone. The economic aspect of it was taken care of by donating to the residents of some villages around Thiruvidanthai on their undertaking to fulfil their obligations.

1.      Maadambakkam in Nedunkunra Naadu – Puliyur KOttam

2.     Paduvur in Paduvur Nadu – in Aamur KOttam

3.     Thaiyur / Thalaisayanapuram – in Kumuli Naadu – Aamur KOttam

 

Details of the inscriptions are in Appendix A

 

The Mandapams in the temple with assorted pillars seem to indicate renovations after destructions with materials salvaged or even outsourced.

 

The huge sacred Kulam of the temple has wonderful trees. One cannot help wishing the society of today feels the same way about water bodies and trees as our ancestors did.

Thiruvadisoolam – ( Thiruvidaichuram )

விரிவளர் தருபொழில் இளமயில் ஆல

வெண்ணிறத் தருவிகள் திண்ணென வீழும்

எரிவள ரினமணி புனமணி சாரல்

இடைச்சுர மேவிய இவர்வண மென்னே  1

Ah !! The Graciousness of the One Residing at Idaichuram, a place of Forest full of Trees and vegetation that remain green all the year with peacocks, robust water falls,&  luminous gems!!  Wonders Sambandar…

… “மல்கிய சாரல்
இலைஇல வங்கமும் ஏலமுங் கமழும்
இடைச்சுர மேவிய இவர்வண மென்னே.”

-       சம்பந்தர் தேவாரம்

 

-        The Gracious one residing at Idaichuram which smells pleasantly of cardamom and cinnamon

 This temple of Thiruidaichura Nathar on the  Thirupporur - Chengalpattu road, had wonderful smells of spices in the 7^th century!

The temple has many inscriptions that give us an interesting peep into our history.

1.      An inscription of the 12^th / 13^th century, directing Officials to register the land given to the temple ordained as tax free, speaks of the meticulous administration and records of those times.

2.     In the year 1128 CE,  Seerangan, a shepherd from Pallavaram of Puliyur Kottam had undertaken to provide a certain amount of ghee to the temple every year. A distance of  about 40 kms hadn’t meant much to him!

3.     Another inscription of 1117 CE is interesting. Matrilineal Inheritance of a property, is generally seen in Kerala. Inheritance by the children of the daughter had not been generally in practice in Tamilnadu.    A person, Thamizhadhraiyar Perumaan Nithamadigal  from a place called Kalathur had inherited lands from his mother’s family and had donated three fourths  of it to this temple and the document appears to be elaborately signed by at least 7 persons. The interesting donation is clear in its description – the land that is dependent on the rains, has forest, hills, standing trees looking above, and a well looking below!

4.    Three other persons who had inherited one fourth had also donated their share. Were they people from the Kerala region settled here? Or did some communities here follow such inheritance practices?

Thirukkachur - திருஆலக்கோயிலுடைய மகாதேவர்

மறவேன் அடியேன் வயல் சூழ்ந்த

ஆலைக் கழனிப் பழனக் கச்சூர்

  ஆலக் கோயில் அம்மானே. 

-       சுந்தரர் தேவாரம்

Kachchur, a place surrounded by fertile agricultural lands and water bodies is how Thiruchchur was described by Sundaramoorthy Nayanar  when he visited this ancient temple during the 8^th century.  This temple has a beautiful stepwell.

There are numerous  Inscriptions right from the times of Cholas, Pandyas, Feudatories, the Local Chieftains ,to Vijayanagar Emperors. In addition to the Royal donors, contributions by common citizens have also been recorded in this temple.

The astounding aspect is,  contrary to the popular myth propagated in recent times; our villages were never isolated islands.  Travels and transportation indicate a buoyant culture and economy.

-       Era Kulothunga Chola I ( 1070 -1120 CE ) the inscription records a gift of a Nanda lamp, and 90 sheep to meet its expenses to the temple and the deity… by a certain Eyinangudi - Kilavan Nambi …. In Urrukkaattu Kottam in Jayankondachola Mandalam. It appears the sheep were left in charge of someone belonging to Manimangalam in Nedunkunra Nadu in Selumur Kottam.  (AR 266 / 1909)

-       It records, a gift of 90 sheep to provide ghee for nanda lamp for the temple of Tiruvaalakkoilaandaar of Thirukachur by Tiruvarangadevan alias Virudarajabhuyamkara Chola Vaniyan of Iruppakkalakkudi of Venkunra Kottam in Jayamkonda Chola Mandalam. It is stated that the 90 sheep were divided amongst three or four persons for maintenance, who had agreed to carry out perpetually the object of the gift. AR 269 / 1909)

-       It records, a gift of  a nanda lamp  to the temple of Tiruvaalakkoilaandaar by Kirandai Selvan Survadevan of the same place. It is stated, that to provide for the gift, he sold a piece of land for a sum of 5 anradu - narkasu to the Oor of the place. ( AR 265 / 1909 )

-       During the reign of Rajadhiraja The inscription records a gift of tax, paid in oil as well as one pazhankaasu per oil press , from the oil presses established in the temple of the God Tiruvaalakkoyiludaiya Mahadevar of Tirukkachur alias Nittavinodha Nallur, to provide for the expenses of the temple connected with the burning of 2 nanda lamps and 10 sandhi lamps, for food offerings on every Amavasya Day, and for oil for the torches used on the occasion of taking out, the images in procession. The gift  was made by the assembly consisting of the oil mongers of Sri Kaanchi Maanagar and the people of 24 Nagarams of Kanchi Mandalam, who had gathered in full strength, with no absentees, in the temple of Tirukkaattupilliyudaiya Naayannar of Kanchi Maanagar.  This endowment is stated to be a jati dharman. One Samayanaraya Tamilavelaan is stated to have written this on the orders of the Nayara ( members of the above-mentioned assembly ).

-       Records gift of money made by one Pushpagiri Maanikka Kuttan of the Thyagavinodha Tirumadam situated in the Thirumadaivilagam of the temple for 3 lamps in the temple.

-       Registers the grant of a village as devadana to the temple with effect from the month of Adi. It refers to a vaidya vritti in the village. Incidentally, there is a second temple on a hill called Oushadhagiri – hill with medicinal herbs.

-       Gift of gold for a twilight lamp in the temple by VisveswaraDeva a Mudhaliyar of Thiruppaadhiripuliyur. Mentions the Thyagavinodha Matha in the Thirumadaivilagam of the temple.

The Inscriptions in Thirukkachur are too numerous to be listed here.. 

It speaks of Pazhamkaasu indictating new coins minted had a different value. It speaks of droughts that happened. It also speaks of  Pandyas who after defeating the Cholas in the 13^th century came to the temples here and made contributions. 

Other Temples / Places with Pallava Inscriptions

Acharavakkam - Agateeswarar Temple – Nrupatunga Pallava

Registration of Land as Archanabhoga to Agattiarittevar by a certain Sankan after purchase. ( AR No 108 / 1933 -34 )

Nrupathunga Pallava ruled between 865 – 906 CE. Those were times when the Pallava empire was losing steam. The space for the rise of a new Power in the form of Cholas was evolving.

 

Kalattur – Munkudumeeswara Temple

– Slab built into the floor of the Mukha Mandapam – ARIE No 349/1911 – Era - Nandhi Varma Pallava

It mentions Kalattur Kottam and Parameswara. Therefore, it could be the time of Nandhivarman II who ruled between 732 -796 CE

It was during his reign that Vaikunda Perumal Temple, originally known as  Parameswara Vinnagaram, a divya desam sung by Thirumangai Azhwar, was built at Kanchi, the capital city. This temple has, in its prakaram sculptures depicting the events and the history of the Pallavas.

 

Maanaampathy – Thirukareeswara Temple - Once known as Thirukkarapuram Udaya Naayanaar temple

Era - SakalabhuvanaChakravarti Koperunjinga – A King who claimed to be of Pallava descent in the 13^th century

AR 221 / 1930-31 Gift of cows for a twilight lamp to the temple by Sivadasan Rishabhavahanadevan of Thiruvegambamudaiyaan, the accountant of the village of Thirukkarapuram and a member of Aalungana and his brother Aalavanda Pillai.

Now this King Koperunjinga, who called himself Sakalabhuvana Chakravarti,  is seldom seen in the history text books at school. When we look deeper, we find an inscription - AR No 285 / 1921 – at the Muktiswara temple  ( north and west walls ), Attur in the Chengalpattu district.

This King had gifted the village of Attur for a seven storied gopuram at the southern entrance of the Chidambaram temple.  Researchers have placed him as a contemporary of the Chola King Raja Raja III ( 1216 -1256 CE)

Inscription AR No 286 / 1921 in same temple, has information about Koperunjinga. He had called himself a Divine Flower of the Pallava dynasty, Protector of the world and so on. (Pallavakula-parijata, Kadavakula-chudamani, Avanipalana-jata etc).  

The power of the Chola Empire was declining in the 1200s  and capture of the Thondaimandalam had been attributed to Koperunjinga. He claims  supremacy over the Chola, Pandya, kings of Karnataka and Andhra.

His connection with Mamallapuram and Kanchipuram is indicated by the titles Mallapuri-vallabha and Kanchipuri-kanta

The inscription has an about the tax to be paid,  issued through Neelagangaraiyar, who seems to have held an important office in his administration.

 

Padur - A Slab in Mettu theru

It speaks of a Vishnu Temple that existed at Padur in Pallava times.

The beginning of this inscription is lost, but from the script,  it had been assigned to Nandivarman III. It is dated in the 18th year and registers the gift of 96 sheep by the shepherds (kottaanradis) of Amur-kottam for burning a perpetual lamp before the god Peruma[na*]digal  of Vilupperundaya-Vishnugriham in Paduvur. AR No 8 /  1934-35

 

Nandi Varman III ruled between 846 -869 CE. He fought with the Pandyas to when he was challenged from the south. His victory over them at Thellaaru ( தெள்ளாறு)  was significant and he therefore he was known by his title தெள்ளாறு எறிந்த நந்திவர்மன். நந்திக் கலம்பகம் was composed on his valour in this battle.

 

He had a fleet of ships and was also known as கடற்படை அவனி நாரணன்.  During his rule over Poompuhar, Tamil traders travelled to Thailand. A tamil inscription of the 9^th century has been found in Thailand that says, a lake was created in his name and was left under the care of a Trade Body called மணிகிராமத்தார்.  

Payyanur –  Ettiswara temple

On a rock near the temple. Era - VijayaNandivikramavarma Pallava

1.      ARIE No 109 / 1932-33 Registers the agreement made by the Gana of Payyanur to excavate a tank in the village .There were two more inscriptions found in  1932 by ASI in the same temple.

2.      On the west and south walls of the dilapidated temple of Ettiswara

ARIE No 108 / 1932-33 Stones misplaced and some lost. Registers the orders of Neelagangaraiyar granting some land as devadaana to the temple of Ettesuramudaiya - Naayanar of Paiyyanur after settling a dispute over this land with the sabha by consulting the inscription engraved in the temple which was however damaged in certain places. Two ascetics are said to have given up their lives on account of the dispute.

3.     On a Broken Pillar lying in the village – Era – Rajaraja Chola III - ARIE No 110 / 1932-33 - Seems to register a gift - Rajaraja Chaturvedhimngalam

 

Poonjeri –  On a Rock on the eastern side of the village – Pallava Era.

Inscribed are the following names, the sculptors / friends engraving their names.

ARIE No 105 / 1932-33 – Kevaadha Perunthachchan , Kunamalla, Paiyyamilippaan, Chaatamukkiyan and Kaliya

 ARIE No 106 / 1932-33 – Namah Thiruvorriyur Aabhajar

ARIE No 107 / 1932-33 – Kollan Seemagan

 Pudhuppakkam – Selliamman Temple

1.      ARIE No 60 / 1923 - On a slab built into the floor of the mandapa in front of the Saptamatrika Shrine in the Selliamman Temple at the village of Pudhuppakkam. – Era - Pallava Pottaraiyar. 

It was just a fragment in 1923, describing gift of land as Bhatta vritti by a member of the Nallilamangalam of Eyir Kottam

2.     ARIE No 61 / 1923 - This temple had two more broken slabs of the Chola Era  in the same compound in 1923. 

It mentions Gift of land free of taxes to the temple of Bhatari by the assembly of Nallilamangalam of Merpalugur Nadu , a sub division of Maniyirkottam

3.   Era of Aparajitha Varma Pallava, the last Pallava Ruler

ARIE No 62 / 1923 - Another slab in the compound of the Selliamman Temple. Aparajitha Varma Pallava who ruled for about 20 years from  870 – 890 CE

This Stone chipped off,  seems to record a gift of land.

Aparajitha Varma Pallava was the last Pallava ruler who was defeated by Aditya Cholan after which Thondaimandalam became a part of the Chola Empire. Kampavarman, said to be the younger son of Nandivarman III had ruled over a small territory for some years. 

Keerappakkam  - Era of Kampavarman - ARIE No 20-22/1934-35

This village had a lake near which slabs with these inscriptions in the granthi script were found by the ASI in the year 1934-35. It speaks of a Jain temple and a monastery in the northern part of the village around the year 886 CE.

A group from Kumizhi had made arrangements for the people in the monastery to be fed.

They had wished the lake of Keerapattur ( Possibly this could have been the name of the lake then ) to be protected and maintained. For this purpose, they have donated 20 kuzhi of land to Sangan, a resident of this place.

In addition to this, the wife of குமாரந்தை அறவாணனன் of a place called ஞாயிறு had her hereditary land in this village. She has performed Bhoomi Dhaanam of this land  to the village assembly for the protection and maintenance of the lake.