Inscription celebrating Kulottunga Chola’s victory over Pandyas found in Kumbakonam temple

An inscription celebrating the victory of the Kulottunga Chola III over the Pandyas was among new inscriptions copied from the Sri Chakrapani Swamy Temple in Kumbakonam by a team of scholars led by M. Nalini, Chief Epigraphist of Dr. M. Rajamanikkanar Centre for Historical Research, Tiruchi, recently. The inscription belongs to the 11th regnal year of the king, the epigraphist has said.

According to another inscription belonging to the later Chola period, Ovatha Koothan, probably the temple dancer, installed the bronze icon of Palliyarai Nachchiyar. Kilavan Valen had gifted a piece of land to perform the services to the deity.

Two more inscriptions were copied from the mandapam in front of the main sanctum. The one on the east wall refers to a gift of Saluva Thirumalai Devamaharaja, probably a chieftain of Vijayanagar period. Records of his donations to the Ranganathaswamy Temple in Srirangam suggests his period as 15th Century C.E.

The second inscription carved on the north wall identifies a male devotee depicted nearby as Petthappa Nayakka, son of Muttala Krishnaraya Nayakkar, and says that the devotee submits himself to the sacred feet of Chakkratthazhvar through his daily services.

An inscription on a slab placed as a step in front of the Palliyarai Hall reveals the existence of a mutt at Kumbakonam and a certain Kidanai Deva Maharaja had gifted ‘kottrai vasal’ to the same. A flag, a kamandalam, and a plough are depicted in the inscription. The mutt referred here may point to the present Jeer mutt at Kumbakonam, according to R. Kalaikkovan, Director, Dr. M. Rajamanikkanar Centre for Historical Research.

Three later records describe in detail the renovations and additions done to both Chakrathazhvar and Vijayavalli Thayar shrines by philanthropists under the guidance of Sri Ahobila mutt.

Dr. Kalaikkovan, after examining the texts of the copied inscriptions and the architectural elements of the temple, observed that the present sanctum and mukha mandapa may belong to the later Chola period. More than 16 dance sculptures representing rural groups of Chola period were identified during the study. These sculptures throw light on the cultural activities of the later Chola period along with other miniatures noted in the exquisitely carved pillars that closely resemble their counterparts at the Rajagambiran mandapam at Darasuram.

The Chakkarapani Temple is a madakoil and had undergone a few renovations without loosing its original architecture. The different patterns of architectural styles of available structures point to repeated renovations. It is understood that remnants of some ruined Chola temple were included in the present temple structure during its renovation, Dr.Kalaikkovan said in a press release.

The Executive Officer of the temple, Vinoth, S. Seetharaman, Managing Director, Srivatsam, Veppathur and Ganesan, a devotee, helped in carrying out the study, he added.