Banner
Workflow

800-Year-Old Pandya-Era Shiva Temple Discovered in Tamil Nadu

Contact Counsellor

800-Year-Old Pandya-Era Shiva Temple Discovered in Tamil Nadu

CategoryDetails
Discovery800-year-old Shiva temple foundation unearthed in Udampatti village, Melur taluk, Tamil Nadu.
Historical PeriodLater Pandya era (13th century CE).
Inscription Date1217-1218 CE during the reign of Maravarman Sundara Pandya.
Temple NameThennavanisvaram, linked to Pandya royal titles.
Ancient Village NameAttur (modern-day Udampatti).
Key Findings- Stone base of the temple remains.<br>- Tamil inscriptions detail land sale for temple upkeep.<br>- Financial independence of temples under Pandya rule.
Inscription Details- Sale of waterbody (Nagankudi) and land for 64 kasu (coins).<br>- Seller: Alagaperumal (chieftain of Kalavalinadu).<br>- Buyer: Nambi Perambala Kuthan alias Kangeyan.<br>- Funds used for temple deity's daily expenses.
Archaeological Team- Prof. P. Devi Arivu Selvam (Temple Architect).<br>- C. Santhalingam (Archaeologist, Pandya Nadu Centre for Historical Research).<br>- Local authorities and villagers.
Significance- Reveals temple administration, land transactions, and taxation in the Pandya era.<br>- Confirms royal patronage and endowment systems.<br>- Adds to linguistic and historical data of the region.
Earlier DocumentationTamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology (1974-75) noted ancient temples in the area, most now ruined or vanished.

Categories