Key Highlights
- Foundation of an 800‑year‑old Shiva temple uncovered in Udampatti, Melur taluk.
- Inscriptions dated 1217‑1218 CE reveal the temple’s name, Thennavanisvaram, and its self‑sufficient finances.
- Sale deed records a waterbody, Nagankudi, and surrounding lands transferred for 64 kasu to support daily temple expenses.
- The site confirms the village’s former name, Attur, and provides linguistic evidence of Pandya‑era administration.
- Findings illuminate temple patronage, land‑ownership patterns, and economic autonomy during the Later Pandya period.
Detailed Insights
The excavation exposed only the stone base of the shrine, yet the accompanying Tamil inscriptions offer a window into the socio‑economic fabric of the 13th‑century Pandya kingdom. The inscriptions, penned under the reign of Maravarman Sundara Pandya, document a transaction in which Alagaperumal, the chieftain of Kalavalinadu, sold the Nagankudi waterbody and adjacent fields to Nambi Perambala Kuthan (also known as Kangeyan) for 64 kasu. The proceeds were earmarked for the temple’s day‑to‑day upkeep, underscoring the institution’s financial independence.
Beyond the monetary details, the record delineates the four boundaries of the property, offering precise cartographic data that can aid in reconstructing the ancient landscape. The temple’s name, Thennavanisvaram, aligns with royal titles of the Pandya dynasty, suggesting possible royal patronage or endorsement.
Prior surveys by the Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology in the 1970s had noted the presence of several ancient temples in the region, many of which have since vanished. The discovery of this foundation therefore represents a rare and valuable addition to the corpus of Pandya‑era archaeological evidence.
Key Concepts
- Pandya Era – The period of rule by the Pandya dynasty in South India, roughly spanning the 6th to 14th centuries CE, noted for its patronage of art and architecture.
- Temple Endowment – Donations or land grants given to a temple to ensure its perpetual maintenance and religious functions.
- Kasu – An ancient Tamil coin used as a medium of exchange during the Pandya period.
- Maravarman Sundara Pandya – The king who reigned from 1216 to 1238 CE, under whose rule many temple inscriptions were produced.
- Nagankudi – A waterbody referenced in the inscription, whose sale formed part of the temple’s financial strategy.