Aamoor - An Enigma

 

It is intriguing that a place, referenced to denote the location of the great Mahabalipuram, and many other temples in the Chola inscriptions, could become so diminished in stature, at the time when the British arrived.

Prof E Hultzsch, in the Book South Indian Inscriptions published in 1890 mentions the Chola inscriptions at the South and the North Base of the Shore Temple, Mahabalipuram.

According to these inscriptions, Mamallapuram formed part of ஆமூர் நாடு, a subdivision of ஆமூர் கோட்டம்.

 Both this district and subdivision were named after the present village of Aamoor near Mamallapuram.

Few other temples part of Aamoor Kottam as per inscriptions are -

Kaayaaru

Senkanmal

Sirudavur

Thirupporur

Details of the inscriptions are given as a footnote. **

 

The antiquity of Aamoor could go back to even earlier times.

In the Sangam literature சிறுபாணாற்றுப்படை, poet இடைக்கழிநாட்டு நல்லூர் நத்தத்தனார்  mentions the places எயிற்பட்டிணம், and ஆமூர்  to reach the palace of King  நல்லியக்கோடன் who was an artist and a great Patron. His country was ஒய்மாநாடு  generally understood to be around திண்டிவனம்.

There is a general consensus on எயிற்பட்டிணம்  being மரக்காணம்,  but ஆமூர் is still debated. 

Since, in the ancient times, travelling along the coast was easier, a distance of just about 70 kms from Marakkanam to Aamoor gives rise to an enticing possibility!!

The Road to Obscurity

The Vijayanagar / Nayaka era inscriptions had continued to mention Aamoor Kottam.  Therefore, there are strong possibilities that instability after the fall of the Vijayanagar Empire, and continuous attacks and battles that followed, might have caused the ruin.

The British Gazetteer mentions the devastating effects of Hyder Ali’s invasion in 1780 in the Chengalpattu region and records that after the war, massacres and successive calamities in 1784, many places had become devoid of human habitation. Many had to give up their lands for a month’s subsistence or less.

https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/A_Gazetteer_of_Southern_India/AbYBAAAAYAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1

Slab in front of Vigneswara Temple – Inscription Classified as Chola – ARIE No 80 /1933-34

Seems to record repairs to the big tank at Amur by a certain Kumanan. An inscription in another slab in the same place - Aamur alias Subramanya - Chaturvedimangalam was a tiruvidaiyaattam of Perumal Arulaalanatha

It is sad that in a place of such importance, its ancient temples could not survive.

**Footnote - Inscriptions

**Kaayaaru – ARIE No 440 / 1922 - Begins with the intro - thirumagal Pola…Registers the land of sale by the assembly of Kaayaar in Kumuli Nadu - Aamoor Kottam to senneelathulaan Maaran Singan who set apart the land for burning the perpetual lamp to the God Aaderideva.

Senkanmal - ARIE No 225 / 1916 Records that a village separated from Araiyanseri in Senkazhuneerpattu, together with the proceeds on 10 salt pans were given for the worship and repairs to the temple of Senkanmaaleswaramudaiya nayinar at Rajakesarinallur alias Taiyur in Ayiraveliparru, a division of Kumuzhi Nadu in Amoor Kottam by Sellappar Viranarasimha Naayakar son of Thazhuvakkuzhaidhaan Bhatta.

ARIE No 226 / 1916 Registers a sarvamaanya grant of certain taxes by the king, for worship and repairs of the temple of Sengalmaaleesuramaiya Nayinar at Rajakesarinallur alias Taiyur in Ayiraveliparru of Amoor Kottam, Jayamkonda cholamandalam. The order regarding the grant was issud by Somaya Dennayaka in accoordance with the written order of Rajanarayanan Sambuvaraiyar

Sirudavur -    ARIE No 82 / 1933-34 Aamoor Kottathu, Aamoor Naattu, NagasingaChaturvedhimangalam - Old name - Donation of land by Thagadoornaatu Aazhvaan

Thiruporur -  ARIE No 120 / 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

ARIE No 122 / 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