Jambai, Thirukovilur, Villupuram
Jambai is a 1 km2 village in Tirukkoyilur taluk in Villupuram district in
the Indian state of Tamil
Nadu. The major occupation of the people living at this
place is agriculture and handloom. In 2011, it had a population of 2,000
people.
Etymology
Jambai got its name from Jambunatheshwarar temple,
a Chola period (Shiva) temple. According to the inscriptions present inside
the temple, this village was called as Valayur during the Parantaka
Chola I period. Hence,
"Jambai" might be a later name to this village.
Location
Jambai is located on the northern bank of the river,
Thenpennai. It is 19 kilometres (12 mi) northwest of Tirukkoyilur and 25 kilometres (16 mi) south of Thiruvannamalai.
About the village
Jambai village has more-than-1000-year-old heritage. At
Jambai, Saivism, Jainism, Buddhism and Saktism prevailed. In 2006, a beautifully carved 10th
century A.D. Buddha sculpture was
stolen from the middle of the Fort area paddy field. There are two Siva
temples, One Saptamatrika shrine, one Ayyanar temple on the hill and other
Ayyanar temple in north east corner of the village. Jain Tirthankara relief
carving is seen in the hill on the way to Pallichandal. The importance of the
village comes from the presence of the Shiva temple called Jambunatheshwarar
temple and Jambai malai containing 1st century B.C.E. Tamil
Brahmi inscriptions, Jain
abode, caves and beds.
History
Jambai is a small hamlet in Tirukkoyilur talk of
Villupuram district in Tamil Nadu, India. It is located in the Manalur Pettai
subdivision of Tirukkoyilur taluk which has twenty one villages including
Jambai. It lies at a distance of 19 km in the west of Tirukkoyilur on the
northern bank of river Pennai. It is surrounded by natural caverns archaic
hillocks and green fields. Jambai occupies an important place in the history of
Tamil Nadu. It has a deep antiquity. The antiquity of this place can be traced
back to the Neolithic period (B.C.E 4000-2000).
There are evidences to prove the existence of a
Neolithic settlement in vicinity of the village. The Neolithic polished hand
axes of black stone and stone flakes are found scattered in large number in
this area pointing to the existence of a Neolithic settlement in and around
Jambai. Jambai had a continuous history and a few settlements of Iron Age have
also been noticed. Different types of burials belonging to the Iron Age are
found in the northern bank of the river Pennai. These burials are well known in
South India as Megalithic burials dating back to 6th century B.C.E.
Vicinity of Jambai such burial types are also found in
the neighbourhood of Jambai at places like Devariddiyarkuppam, (1.K.m from
Jambai), Kangainur (2.K.m from Jambai), Sembadai (3K.m. from Jambai) Kottur (22
K.m from Jambai), and Tayanur (23 K.m. from Jambai). In the light of the above
facts, it may be noticed that Jambai and its neighborhood could have been inhabitation
region of Tamil Nadu right from the Neolithic age. This region occupies a
significant place not only in the early historical map, but also in the pre and
proto historical map of South India. The last phase of the Megalithic period
with the early Sangam age and therefore the existence of settlement at Jambai
during the Sangam age are proved beyond. But there is no direct reference to
Jambai in the Sangam literature.
However Tirukkoyilur, region which lies at distance of
19 K.m. in the east of Jambai, is referred to in many of Sangam works like
Sirupanarru Padai, Purananuru, Narrinai, Kurunthogai and Pathitrupathu,
According to these works, Tirukkoyilur region was ruled by the Sangam
chieftains, known as Malayamans during the Sangam age. Therefore Jambai and its
neighbourhood might be existed as a flourishing part of Tirukkoyilur region and
should have come under the rule of Malayaman chieftains during the Sangam age.
The Malayamans were the chieftains of the Cholas during the Sangam age. On many
of them served as commanders in the Chola army at the times of territorial
contest.
It is noticed that Thirumudikkari was the earliest ruler
of Malayaman family mentioned in the Sangam works like Agananuru, Purananuru
and Kurunthogai. He was one among the Kadai Elu Vallalgal is meaning the seven
great patrons of literature and arts during the Sangam age were Pari, Ori,
Kari, Nalli, Pehan, Ay and Adiyaman. These chieftains were often at war with
each other. It is glanced from Purananuru that Thirumudikkari once attacked
Adiyamman Anji of Tagadur (modern name Dharmapuri region) and in retaliation
Adiyaman invaded & captured Tirukkoyilur. This was attested by the
discovery of Tamil Brahmi inscription near Jambai in 1981. This record is
important because there is no inscriptional evidence to the Adiyaman chiefs
till then. This Jambai inscription assumes historical significance in this
respect. Moreover, it throws light on the identification of the Satyaputra
rulers mentioned in the Asokan inscriptions. It is now believed that the
Satyaputras are the chiefs Adiyaman. It also gives ratification to the war between
Adiyaman and Thirumudikkari and of the former's victory and also confirms the
existence of the rule of the Malayaman chief Thirumudikkari over Jambai during
the Sangam age.
After the fall of the Sangam rulers, Kalabhras held sway
over the Tamil country. But the origin and names of Kalabhras rulers are still
obscure due to lack of sources and hence this period was, considered as the
“Dark Period”, in the history of Tamil Nadu. It is gathered from the Kasakkudi
plates of the Pallava ruler Simhavishnu (586-610 C.E) that defeated the Kalabhras,
Cheras, Cholas and Pandyas and even the Ceylonese and his country extended from
Andhra region to the Kaveri delta. Tirukkoyilur region seems to have been under
the control of the Pallavas but it was not directly ruled by them. A record of
the Pallava ruler Nandivarman II in 735 C.E at Manalurpettai (4 K.m from
Jambai) records that Bana chief Vanakovarayan Sittavadatto Adigal was ruling
this area. It is further stated in the record that his daughter Madavodigal
gifted two villages to burn a perpetual lamp in the local temple. It is a well
known fact that the Bana rulers assumed the title Vanakovarayars and
Vanadirayars.
More over the inscriptions found in the Jambai temple
also indicate that Jambai was situated in the political division called
Vanakopadi nadu which was obviously the Paddi or territory of the
Vanakovarayars. Just referred to the original territory of the Banas in ancient
time was called Perumbanappadi which extended from Punganur in the west to
Kalahasti in the west in the Telugu country. It is surmised that a small colony
of the Banas at a later stage moved further south crossing the Palar River
which was their Southern boundary and settled on the banks of the river South
Pennai, calling the new province as Vanakoppadi nadu. Hence is understood that
Jambai in Vanakoppadi nadu was ruled by the Banas during the Pallava period
until the Chola ruler Aditya-I (871-907 C.E) established his power in this
region after defeating the Pallava ruler Aparajita in 891-892 C.E.
During Chola Period Parantaka I (907-955 C.E), The
Cholas rose to power in the middle of the 9th century C.E. under Vijayalaya who
captured Thanjavur from the Mutharayars. His son Aditya I assisted the last
Pallava king Aparajithavarman in the battle of Sripurambiyam against the
Pandyas and then turned against him and killed him. He put an end to the rule
of the Pallavas in the Tamil country and extended his sway up to Thondaimandalam.
Paranthaka was the son and successor of Aditya and he extended the boundaries
of his empire upto Kanyakumari in the south Nellore in the north. He included
the Pandya kingdom and assumed the title of “Madurai Konda Parakesari Varman”
in his third regional year after his victory over the Pandyas and capturing of
their capital Madurai. Towards the end of the rule of Parantaka (I) a
substantial protection of Thondaimandalam slipped out of his hands and it was
annexed by the Rashtrakuta ruler Krishna III who invaded Kanchi with the help
of Butuga II, the western Ganga ruler. The decisive battle at Takkolam in 949
C.E. ended in great failure to Parantaka I and Rajaditaya his eldest son was
killed in this battle and Krishna brought Thondainadu and Thirumunaippadi Nadu
which comprised the Thiruvannamalai, Vellore, Cuddalore, Villupuram and
Chengalpattu districts under his control for a short period of over three
decades 949-968 C.E. We have no Chola records from these districts for a short
period while Krishna’s records from 955-968 C.E. are found in these regions.
After the death of Krishna III in 968 C.E, The
Rashtrakuta inscriptions disappear and the Chola records began to reappear in
increasing numbers in this region indicating the revival of Chola control
during the reigns of Kandaradiya, Arinjaya, Sundara Chola and Uttamachola.
There are eight inscriptions of Krishna III found in this Jambunatha temple at
Jambai. These inscriptions recorded that the gifts were presented in cash and he
was kind to this temple. There are totally eight inscriptions of king Krishna
III records gifts of lamps and sheep’s to the temple. Jambai was called in
various Names (i.e.) Valaiyur, Nittavinapuram, Rajendrapuram, Virarajendapuram,
and Sambai during the period of Cholas, attested by the records in the temple.
At present it is a village on the northern bank of the
Pennai. The earliest inscription of this temple belonged to Parantaka I. It
refers to Jambai as Valaiyur. This name must have been derived from the sage,
Valaimamuni who was a native of this village. He was called Valamamuni because
he took the form of a fish called Vala fish in Jambai. According to the local
tradition, there was pond where the Jambunatha temple is found at present and
the main deity (linga) was formed on its own in this pond. When the sage saw
this linga in the pond he took the form of a fish and entered the pond to
lordship the linga. Hence he came to be called Valaimamani and this village
should have derived the name Valaiyur in memory of the sage.
It has an ancient temple called in the past according to
the earliest inscription Parantaka I that of Tantonrippiran at Pennai-Vadagarai
Valaiyur. Another inscription describes that Valaiyur was a city of Valaiyur by
Viranarayaniyar queen of Kandaraditta and the daughter of Solamadeviyar
mentioned in Jambai was known as Valaiyur during in during the Parantaka Chola
period. Nittavinodapuram was one of the titles assumed by king Rajaraja I.
After the death of Krishna III in 968 C.E, The Cholas re-established their power
in this region hence to ascertain the regained Chola power in the region the
name of the ruling monarch Nittavinodan was attached to this village as Nitta
Vinodapuram. This village was called Jambunathesvaram during the reign of
Rajendra I Kulottunga I and Vikrama Chola as attested by the records in the
temple. It means the place of lord Jambaineswarar. Jambai was called as
Rajendrapuram during the reign of Rajendra II [1051-1053C.E] and during the
subsequent period of Virarajendra [1063-1069C.E] it was called Virarajendapuram.
From the time of Kulottunga (I), this village came to be called as Sambai. This
name should have been derived from the word Sambai which means Solpith (i.e.)
Aeschynome. Aspera which is a kind of sledge due to the Luxuriant Sambu grass
here, the village should have derived the name Sambai which has also mentioned
in the inscriptions as Sanbai and Sambai. This can be viewed in the larger
context of several villages in Tamil Nadu which are named after honey as Tenor
and milk as paalur etc. Though the inscriptions of this temple mention the name
of the principal deity as Tantorniswarar, the local people call the deity as Jambuskewarar,
Initially the name should have been pronounced as Sambukeswarar meaning the
Lord Siva who bestow happiness and the village where the temple of
Sambukeswarar located come to be called as Sambai.
After the decline of the Chola power on when this place
subsequently conquered by Kadava chief Kopperunjingan, the Pandyas and the
Vijayanagar rulers, as the same name Sambai was retained. The name Sambai had
corrupted as Jambai in due course of time. Kopperunjingan was one among the
feudatories of Cholas when the Chola power at the centre declined during the
reign of Raja Raja III, he took advantage of it and established his power at
Sendamangalam near Villupuram in 1234.C.E. As a result Jambai came under his
rule for as short period. But soon he was over powered by the Pandya a ruler
Sundara Pandya I who captured Sendamangalam in 1279 C.E. from the onwards Kopperunjingan
become a subordinate of the Pandyas until his death in 1297 C.E. There are
totally five inscription of Kopperunjingan in this temple raining from
1253-1258 C.E. They mention about the gifts and endowments made to the temple
by him and officials. Towards the end of the 13th century C.E, The Pandyas rose
to power.
Maravarman Sundra Pandya invaded the Chola country and
defeated Raja Raja III in 1219 C.E. This led to the decline of the Chola power
in Tamil Nadu and Raja Raja III was made a vassal of the Pandya kings. The
final blow to the Cholas came when Jatavarman Sundra Pandya I invaded Chola
country during Rajendra Chola III period in 1257 A.D. His success in the war
led to the establishment of the Pandya rule in the Chola country. This temple
has six inscriptions belongs to the later Pandya period All of them are related
to donation of lands. The hegemony of the Pandyas in the considerable portion
of South India did not last long. In about 1308 C.E. after the death of Maravarman
Kulasekara Pandyan a civil war broke out between his two sons Sundra Pandyan
and Vira pandyan.
During the period three invasions of Muslims had taken
place in Tamil Nadu so much of confusion and uncertainty prevailed in the
region. The atrocities committed by the Muslim rulers of Delhi in the south
paved the way for the rise of Vijayanagar Empire in the South. There are
totally ten inscriptions of the Vijayanagar period found in the temple of
Jambai. The Vijayanagar Empire on the banks of river Tungabhadra heralded a new
era for the revival of Hinduism and Hindu Kingdom in Tamil Nadu. Harihara I was
the first ruler of Vijayanagar Empire. He ruled from C.E.1336 to C.E.1355.
During his reign Kumarakampana son of a Bukka (I) (1344-1377C.E), took an expedition
to the south and extended the conquest of Vijayanagara dynasty was attested by
the Thiruverangam grants. Kishnadevereyar Thiruverangam is a village near
Jambai at a distance of one Kilometer. After the death of Harihara II
(1377-1404C.E), there was a struggle for the crown among his three sons
Virupaksha I, Bukka II and Devaraya I, In this Devaraya-I succeeded to the throne
and became the great ruler of Vijayanagar empire.
The stone inscriptions of Vijayanagar rulers are found
Tirukkoyilur, Thiruvannamalai and Thiruverangam. It is considered that Jambai
should have been part of the Vijayanagar kingdom. Hence Jambai is the last days
of the Vijayanagar ruler and Gingee Nayaka major part of Tamil country. Jambai
remained under the British rule on 15th August 1947C.E. After the independence
the Villupuram district was part of south Arcot till 1993 and after that this
South Arcot was divided into two districts such a Cuddalore, and Villupuram.
But on the basis of village Panchayat Act of Tamil Nadu 1950 declared that
Jambai remained a village in Thirukovilur Taluk of Villupuram district till
1979 A.D. The village Panchayat at Villupuram was started according to the act
Jambai is now under the administration of town Panchayat in Tirukovilur Taluk
Villupuram district. Jambai is historically an important place from its
inception to the present day. This is supported still more by the inscriptional
and other evidences, found in the Jambunatha temple of Jambai.
Places of Interest
Jambai
Malai:
For brief details, please refer;
Jambunatheshwarar
Temple:
For brief details, please refer;
Kasi
Visvanathar Temple:
Another notable Shiva Temple located near Jambai.
Connectivity
This place is in the border of the Villupuram district
and Thiruvannamalai district. It is located 54 km towards west from District
head quarters Villupuram, 32 km from Mugaiyur, 41.5 km from Thiruvennainallur,
19.7 km from Thirukovilur, 26 km from Thiruvannamalai, 94 km from Pondicherry
and 202 km from State capital Chennai.
Nearest
Railway station: 15 km from
Andampaliam railway station; 16 km from Tandarai railway station; 20
km from Thirukovilur railway station; 27 km from Thiruvannamalai railway
station.
Nearest
Airport: Chennai.