Valeeswarar Temple, Sevur – Inscriptions

Valeeswarar Temple, Sevur – Inscriptions

The Current structure dates to second half of the 20^th 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 12^th Century Kulothunga Chola I & Vira Chola, 13^th Century Virarajendran, Hoysala King Vira Someswaran & Kongu Pandiya Vira Pandiyan and 16^th Century Mysore Vira Nanjaiyar. As per the inscriptions, presiding deity was called as Kapaleeswarar and Mother was called as Araperun Selvi.

During 13^th 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 12^th 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.