Valeeswarar Temple, Sevur – Inscriptions
The Current structure dates to
second half of the 20th Century. During its reconstruction, most of
the ancient inscriptions were lost. Only, few were available, and it is also
not legible to read. Luckily most of the inscriptions were read already by the
archaeology team and recorded in the Volume of South Indian Inscriptions. The
original Temple had 12 inscriptions. All these inscriptions belong to 12th
Century Kulothunga Chola I & Vira Chola, 13th Century
Virarajendran, Hoysala King Vira Someswaran & Kongu Pandiya Vira Pandiyan
and 16th Century Mysore Vira Nanjaiyar. As per the inscriptions,
presiding deity was called as Kapaleeswarar and Mother was called as Araperun
Selvi.
During 13th Century
Hoysala King Vira Someswaran period, the place was called as Chembiyan
Kizhanadi Nallur. Sembian Kizhanadi refers to Chola queen. The
inscriptions mainly record about the donation of gold, money, material like
pillar (by Thattan Sirukooththan Maaran), etc, towards burning of
Temple Lamps, Neivedhyam, Pooja. The Servant maid Araiyan Valli of
Vanavan kokizhaanadikal (may be from Chera princess), the wife of Vira Rajendran
also donated gold towards burning of Lamp.
The Murugan Sannidhi was built
during Virapandyan period and Vinayagar Sannidhi was built during 12th
Century Vira Chola period. A Tripuranthaka statue was also donated during Virarajendran
period. The Taxes levied on Soola (Soola, a Kannada word means Dhasi) was
removed during Mysore king Vira Nanjaiyar. Also, during the Chola period the
caste discrimination exists as Idangai and Valangai. Same has been recorded in
the inscriptions.
