Adhanakkottai, Pudukottai
Adhanakkottai is an important village in Pudukkottai,
which has an ancient Siva Temple. The battle between Hyder Ali and Tondaimans
was fought here. There is also a ruined Sastha Temple which has an important
inscription.
Historical Importance
It is here a famous battle was waged. In 1780 and 1781
Hyder Ali overran the Tamil country. After taking over Thanjavur he was
entering the Tondaiman territory. The village could keep the invader at bay,
thanks to the cunning strategy of an inhabitant of the village.
Gandhara was an enterprising, widely travelled Brahmin.
Being a linguist, he spoke to the leader of the army in Hindustani and invited
the army for a grand feast arranged in its honour. The exhausted army readily
agreed. During the feast and the repast, the Tondaiman army surrounded them and
they had no other way except to retreat. But when the army returned after a few
days the Pudukkottai army was well prepared.
A man concealed himself in the hollow trunk of a tree
and shot the commander of the Hider force. This contributed to the defeat of Hyder
Ali. The British were overjoyed.
In the 18th century the Tondaiman ruler gave away the
village to the Brahmins as Brahmadeyam. There exists an agraharam as a result.
The traveler’s bungalow was built in 1833 for the use of the Collector of
Thanjavur, who was, at the time, ex-officio political agent of the Pudukkottai
State.
The presiding deity of the Siva temple is named
Kulottungesvara after King Kulottunga Chozha who installed the lingam.
Adhanakkottai finds mention in a partially defaced
inscription on the walls of a ruined Sastha temple. This inscription refers to
the village as Adanoorkottai, meaning the fort of Adan’s village. There is,
however, no trace of a fort. The inscription also mentions a Siva temple built
during the reign of Kulottunga III, a Mariamman temple and a temple for
Ayyanar, none of which could be found today.
Location
Adhanakkottai is 24 km from Pudukkottai, half way to
Thanjavur. Before the introduction of bus traffic, this was a convenient
halting station for travellers. Fresh cashew nuts can be bought at
Adhanakkottai when travelling between Thanjavur and Pudukkottai.