Thirunanthikarai Cave Temple – Inscriptions
This
cave has four Vattezhuthu inscriptions inscribed one on each side of the
entrance and others on each side of the pillars. One of which bears the name of
the ruler and his regnal year. The inscription, dated in the 18th regnal
year of Rajaraja Chola I found on the western cave wall, registers the gift of
Muttom, the village (name changed as Mummudicholanallur in Valluvanadu
under Rajaraja Thennadu. The gift was made for the celebration of a festival
for Mahadeva of Thirunanthikarai and also for ablution of the deity in the
river, on the Satabhisha, star day in the Tamil month Aippasi, (October -
November) in the year 1003 A.D, being the birthday of the king.
Records a provision made by the king for supply of one nazhi measure ghee every
day for lighting the perpetual lamp in the name of Rajaraja Chola I in the
temple.
Another Inscription records
gift of nine buffalos for the provision of burning a perpetual lamp with
one Uri measure ghee each day for Thirunanthikarai Lord by Ainurruva
Mutharaiyan alias Sithakutti Ambi of Veikottumalai under Nanjilnadu and the
buffalos were handed over to Idayarmangalavan Pavithiran, an official serving
under the village elders (Sabha). The inscription commences with
these words 'the year of annihilation weaponry in Karaikanda Eswaram referring
the date of inscription. 'Karaikanda Eswaram’ is the Saivite temple located
near Katikaipattinam in Eraniel taluk. The inscription was inscribed in a
year when the Chera war-ships were destroyed in Karaikanda Eswaram.
Inscription
inscribed on a pillar, whose date assignable to eight century A.D., records the
gift of 'Ur' (village). For this purpose, one Dhaliyazhavan, along with the
elders of Thirunanthikarai assembled in Kurunthambakkam. The assembly converted
the Ur's name into Sri Nandimangalam and gifted to one Nambi Ganapathi for
purposes of mid-night offerings to the Lord of the temple. The four boundaries
are cited for the village under gift and include a river (name not known),
Nandhi river, Mudukonur and Pakkamangalam. Still Mudukonur and Pakkamangalam are
existing near Nandimangalam.
Inscription
comprising 40 lines was inscribed on another pillar. This inscription records
the gift of land by Mangalacheri Narayanan Sivakaran to Tiruvallavazh Mahadevar
of Thirunanthikarai. The inscription lists out the land pieces. Resolved the
wages to be issued from the land produce accrued from the above land: four
measures (Kalam) to Santhipuram, five measures (Kalam) to Uvachar (category of
temple staff), five measures (Kalam) to Udayar (category of temple staff) and
cleaning staff as well as for puja rituals, the perpetual lamps were lit using
60 measures (Uri) of ghee from the remaining land produce.