Banner

Chola-era inscriptions found at temple near Villupuram

Chola-era inscriptions found at temple near Villupuram

  • Inscriptions of the Chola period were discovered at the Vishnu temple at Angur in Villupuram district.
  • They belong to the period of Kulottunga I (1070-1120), Vikrama Chola (1118-1135) and Kulottunga II (1133-1150).

Features of inscription

  • The inscriptions are important because three Chola kings — the grandfather, the father and the son — were associated with the temple.
  • One inscription was hidden behind layers of white wash on the outer wall. It refers to the village as Gangaikonda Chola Vala Naatu Panaiyur Naatu Anangur
  • Another inscription, which is incomplete, starts with the word ‘poomaruviya’, normally found in the inscriptions of Kulottunga.
  • Another 14th century inscription on the basement of the sanctum sanctorum had recorded the donations of a vessel for preparing food and a bell made by Chitrambalavan Padavan, a goldsmith.

About Chola inscriptions

  • Among the dynasties that ruled in India, Cholas played an important role in the history of south India.
  • The Cholas established their history in form of inscriptions, which are recorded on rocks and temples.
  • Most of their inscriptions are written in Tamil, some are in Sanskrit and others in Grantham.

Important inscriptions of Cholas

  • Uttaramerur inscriptions speak about Parantaka I and his victory over Madurai.
  • Another inscription of Rajakesari (Sundara Chola or Rajaraja I) throws light on the gift made by Nakkan Paavai alias Vallanaipaka Thalaikkoli, who considered herself as the daughter of the presiding deity of the temple.
  • The Thiruvotriyur temple inscriptions refer to an endowment given by Maran Parameswaran.
  • Attacks on south Kerala regions are mentioned in the inscriptions discovered from the temples at Cholapuram, Kanyakumari, Darsanam Koppu, Thirunanthikarai and Sucheendram.
  • Brihadeshwara Temple: it is the only temple in India where the king specifically talks in an inscription that he built the temple only with stones and that the king uses the word “katrali”– kal and thali in Tamil mean a temple built of stone