TIRUCHI, TAMIL NADU, INDIA, September 16, 2008: Two 13th century inscriptions have been found at the Meenakshisundareswarar temple at Thuvarankurichi during its renovation.
The Pandya inscriptions were found during a field study carried out by
research scholars of the Dr. M. Rajamanickkanar Centre for Historical
Research, Tiruchi, One of the two inscriptions refers to Thuvarapathi Velar, who had held sway in the region during 13th and 14th centuries. The inscription records his gift of land to people who played music at the temple during the reign of Pandya king Kulasekara Deva. A piece of land allotted to musicians, called “uvachar,” was mentioned in the inscription. It says that Manikka Nadalvan, a local chieftain, and Siva Brahmanas of the temple had accepted the gift. It also throws light on a monthly festival celebrated with pomp.
Dr. Kalaikkovan said the new finds had helped to understand territorial division of Thuvarapathi and provided information about Velar chiefs.