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13th century inscriptions found in ancient temple

Tirupattur(TN),Jul28(PTI) Inscriptions dating to the Pandya and Nayak period in the 13th and 18th century have been found in a dilapidated temple in Pudukottai district, throwing light on the social and political environment of that time. The inscriptions date back to the period of Sundara Pandiyan (1212-1239), Jatavarman Kulasekara Pandiyan-II (1237AD)-to Veerapandiyan (1253-74) and Nayak period (1782AD) said a team of epigraphists who recently found the etchings on the tank bund of the ancient temple in Vellanchar village. The Inscriptions also mention about a piece of land gifted to the temple by merchants,farmers and temple employees. Raja Mohammed,President, Pudukottai Historical Cultural Research Centre, said the two inscriptions on Jatavarman Kulasekara Pandiyan II who ruled only for two years,throws light on how erudite members of his court and cabinet were. Jatavarnam Kulasekara Pandiyan II ruled the area along with some other Pandiya rulers as per the inscriptions. The name of the temple,according to the inscription, was "Kulothunga Choliswaram"-and the presiding deity Kulothunga Choliswara Mudaya Nayanar(Shiva). Though the temple was built during the period of Chola ruler Kulothunga II(1133-1150) and christened Kulothunga Choliswaram, the pandiya kings renovated them in the next century.The renovated temple also retained the same name, epigraphists said. They said the 2nd century AD remains found there were another interesting feature of the temple.As the farmers (Velankudi) were settled in the area it was called Vellanchar, Char meaning forest,they said. Epigraphist Karu Rajendran suggested that the temple should be cleared off bushes so that they could read "a lot more" inscriptions found in the temple.