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Thursday, November 16, 2017

Thirunanthikarai Cave Temple – Inscriptions

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.