Pundarikakshan Perumal Temple, Thiruvellarai – Swastik
Well
There
are as many as 7 Theerthams within the temple complex and one of them is the
Swasthik kulam or Maamiyaar – Maattu Penn (Mother in law – Daughter in law) Theertham
or Chakra Theertham, maintained by Archeological Survey of India (ASI). The
Swastik shape of the tank makes it possible that people bathing at one Ghat
cannot view any other Ghat. This swastika-shaped temple tank built during 800 A.D. is present in
the south-western corner of the street around the temple.
This
unusually deigned well located at the back of the (beyond the compound wall of
the) temple premises. This swastika shaped well is surrounded by hedges and
bushes. It has four stepped gateways. The well together appears like the symbol
'Swastika.' Each wing of the Swastika has 51 steps leading to the water and, on
descending down the 20th step, one must take a right to reach the
tank below. The supporting beams made of stones crisscross the structure.
The
peculiar feature of the well is that it ensures privacy for those taking bath
in the four enclosures. Hence local people call it as Mother-in-law -
Daughter-in-law Tank since when taking bath in this tank both of them would not
be visible to each other. This peculiar shaped well was excavated by one Kamban
from Alampakkam during the year 805 A.D. during the reign of Pallava king
Dantivarman (746 - 847 A.D.). It was excavated under the instructions of
Dantivarman.
The well
is named after 'Marpiduku' one of the royal titles king Dantivarman and
popularly called as 'Marpiduku great well.' There are statues of Nandhi
(bull vehicle) and Nagas (serpents) found around the well. According to the
hoarding kept there the well underwent renovation during the 13th century A.D.
by Hoysala Veera Ramanathan and this renovation was carried out by Kudanthai
Vanigan Uyyaneri Kaatinaan.
One
inscription found in this well is in poetical form and describe the
immortal life of man. This well had been renovated with the financial
assistance of 13th finance commission 2013-14. In modern times, it
is maintained by the Department of Archaeology of the Government of Tamil Nadu.
Inscriptions:
An
inscription found on one of the side wall of the well speaks about the
excavation of the great well:
No. 40 -
(A. R. No. 541 of 1905) - Thiruvellarai, (then) Lalgudi Taluk, Trichinopoly
District. On the margin of a well called 'Nalumulaikkeni' - This inscription
records the construction of a well called Marppidugu-Perunkinaru at Tennur in Thiruvellarai
by Kamban Araiyan, the younger brother of Visayanallulan of Alampakkam, in the
4th year of Dantivarman. Published in Epigraphia Indica, Vol. XI, p.
157. (Grantha and Tamil characters).
ஸ்வஸ்தி ஸ்ரீ பாரத்வாஜ கோத்திரத்தின் வழித்தோன்றிய
பல்லவ திலத குலோத்பவன் தந்திவர்மர்க்கு யாண்டு
நான்காவ தெடுத்துக் கொண்டு ஐந்தாவது முற்றுவித்தான்
ஆலம்பாக்க விசெய நல்லூழான் தம்பி கம்பன் அரையன்
திருவெள்ளரை தென்னூர் பெருங்கிணறு இதன் பியர்
மார்ப்பிடுகு பெருங்கிணறு
"The
object of the inscription is to document the well known as Marpidugu Perunkinaru at
Thiruvellarai Thennur. Kamban Araiyan (Mutharaiyar chief), the younger
brother of a certain Viseya Nalluzhan of Alampakkam. Commencing the work
from fourth year of Kulothbhavan Dantivarman of Pallavatilata (tilaka)
family which is said have sprung from the Bharadhwaja Gotram and completed
in his 5th year at Thiruvellarai Thennur and named it as 'Marpiduku Perunkinaru.'
The
section 2 of the inscription is the Tamil verse and is composed in
Asiriyappaa meter. Here Kampan Araiyan speaks about the immortal life of human
being:
ஸ்ரீ கண்டார் காணா உலகத்திற் காதல் செய்து நில்லாதேய்
பண்டேய் பரமன் படைத்த நாள் பார்த்து நின்று நைய்யாதேய்
தண்டால் மூப்பு வந்து உன்னைத் தளரச் செய்து நில்லாமுன்
உண்டேல் உண்டுமிக்கது உலகமறிய வைம்மினேய்.
பண்டேய் பரமன் படைத்த நாள் பார்த்து நின்று நைய்யாதேய்
தண்டால் மூப்பு வந்து உன்னைத் தளரச் செய்து நில்லாமுன்
உண்டேல் உண்டுமிக்கது உலகமறிய வைம்மினேய்.
This
poem in Tamil declares that no object in this world is permanent. I saw a
person yesterday. Today I couldn't see him because he died. Human life is
immortal and impermanent. In such a world of impermanence don't fix your love
(likes) on the materialistic objects. Lord of Creation has made you to give
birth on a specific day. As the human life is immortal, don't forecast
future from your day of birth and confuse yourself emotionally. Before age
could wither your body and to shrink, consume (spend your wealth) reasonably
well for your maintenance purposes and leave the remainder of your wealth for
charity.
