Vaikunta Vasa Perumal Temple, Nemili – Inscriptions
The
Nemili temple is abound with inscriptions the earliest of which dates back to
the 905 A.D to the rule of the last of the Pallava rulers, Aparajitha Varma
that records a gift of 100 Kuli of land for sounding music at the temple. The
Pillar at the temple was constructed by Kovalan. There are also
inscriptions relating to the Chola and Rashtrakuta rulers.
A 920 AD
inscription in Tamil relating to Parantaka I records the gift of land free of
taxes for worship and offerings during the mid-day service and for a lamp in
the temple to the Sabha of Nenamali (the then name of the place) and a 945 AD
inscription relating to the same ruler records a tax-free gift of 1000 Kuli of
land near the tank.
A 967 AD
inscription on the west wall records the remission of tax on 1000 Kuli of land
granted for sounding of music. Through a Tamil inscription on the west
wall relating to Parantaka Sundara Chola, one comes to know that there was a
gift of sheep in 973 A.D for maintaining the lamp. The North wall of the
central shrine has inscriptions in both Tamil and Telugu that provides
information on the length of the measuring rod by two marks on the wall, the
space between which measures 18 spans.
A 1010AD
Raja Raja I Inscription on the South Wall provides details of taxes to be
levied on crops raised on different kinds of lands. Death duty was to be levied
on Brahmana community to be utilized for benefit of the temple tank. 1032AD
- 11th Century AD inscriptions relating to the rule of Rajendra Chola I dating
to 1032 AD record the gift of 95sheeps for a lamp and the gift of copper lamp
stand to temple by a shepherd.
During
the rule of Rajendra II, a 1054AD inscription records the sale of 500 Kuli of
land by the Maha Sabha for maintaining a perpetual lamp in the temple. A
13th Century AD inscription in Tamil and Telugu dating back to 1252 AD records
the gift of 1010 Kuli of land to the deity for four lamps and for offering
during Irupalli Ezhuchi. Another inscription records the gifting by Raja
Kesari Varma’s gifting of sheep for a lamp. Also seen are inscriptions of
the Rashtrakuta dynasty of the ancient Karnataka area and others of later
times.