THE PANDI MUTHARAYAN ARATTAVATHY ARAYAN

The Hindu news: Tuesday Oct 6 -2009.

KARUR: A team of archaeologists and epigraphists  from the archeological survey of India has unearthed a unique Tamil stone inscriptions belonging to the 9 th century A.D near Karur that for the first time throws light on the matrimonial relationship between the Mutharayar chieftain and pandya rulers of Madurai.

The team led by the assistant superintending epigraphists of ASI, S Rajavelu, including archaeological epigraphy enthusiasts K.Balasubrahmanyam, V. Paneerselvam and S.Alageshan, discovered the inscription at a dilapidated Siva temple atop a rocky outcrop at Veerakanampatti around 20 KM from here on the Karur- Dindigal highway a couple of days back known as Eswaran parai. It houses the stone built temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is on the outer portion of the temple that the team discovered the inscription.

Pandya link:

Speaking of the find, Dr. Rajavelu says that the 9 th century inscription proclaims Pandi Perumdevi , mother of “Pandi Mutharayan Arattavathy Arayan” who was the chieftain of the region, constructed the temple in memory of Pandi Mutharayan Sozhiga Arayan, probably a Kinsman and named the shrine “Kala Eeswaram”. The inscription also carried the eight “Mangala” insignias besides stating that the bequeathing royalty would hold the protector of the charity in high esteem.

“For the first time we have come across a Pandi Mutharayar inscription that states the matrimonial link between the Mutharayars and Pandya rulers especially during the eighth and ninth centuries” observes Dr.Rajavelu. Perhaps the Pandiperumdevi mentioned in the inscriptions could be a Pandya royal lady. He adds.

The Sozhiga Arayan, who was a local chieftain, is also referred to in an inscription discovered by Dr. Rajavelu and his team from a tank at Vellianai village nearby. That inscription had been assigned to the sixth century, Dr. Rajavelu point out.

The dilapidated stone built temple has a squire sanctum sanctorum and rectangular Mukha mandapam. On the Kumudhavari part of the temple a stone inscription belonging to the 12 th century is found. A royal order beginning with the words “Konerinmai Kondani”is also found besides ascribing the name of the deity in the temple as “Thirukundra Thali Udaya Nayanar”.observes Dr. Rajavelu. The team also stumbled on a 13 th century inscription on a separate pillar at the temple during the field study.

Collection by Mrs. Bhagya rao.