Three new inscriptions, including those of Parantaka Chola I and Ragunatha Nayak, have been found at the Palasavananathar temple in Nalur and Srinivasa Perumal temple in Nachiyarkovil near Kumbakonam.
They were discovered during field studies by research scholars of the Dr. M. Rajamanikkanar Centre for Historical Research, Tiruchi. They were researching on maada kovils, a style of temple architecture where the vimana is built on empty tala, according to R. Kalaikkovan, Director of the centre. The scholars have identified nearly 30 maada kovils in Thanjavur, Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur and Tiruchi districts. An inscription belonging to the 38th regnal year of Parantaka (945 AD) was found on a door jamb at the entrance to the sanctum of the Palasavanathar temple.
It records the gift of 92 sheep by Nakkan Aditan, a merchant from Mukkarai, to light a perpetual lamp at the temple of Sambarisvaram (the ancient name for the temple) everyday with one ‘uzhakku' (measure) of ghee. The sheep were handed over to temple shepherds, who undertook the responsibility of measuring the ghee everyday, Dr. Kalaikkovan stated in a release.
An inscription of Ragunatha Nayak, recorded on the 25th of the Tamil month of Thai in 1618 AD, was found on the eastern wall of the first mandapam of the Srinivasa Perumal temple in Nachiyarkovil. It identifies the builder of the mandapam as Aravanai Rangappayan Thirumandapam.
A third inscription, copied from a door jamb of the main entrance of the temple, could be dated to 18th century.
