CHENNAI: While archaeological excavations and carbon dating helps significantly in establishing the date/period of construction of buildings and temples, subsequent information about what went on in these places could not be gleaned in any other way except through written sources. One of these written sources are inscriptions on temple and cave walls, and it is on this important aspect that retired archaeologist K Sridharan elucidated as part of Pallava Mallai, a series of lectures by heritage experts held recently by Tamil Heritage Trust.
His talk was on the importance of Tamil inscription found from the excavations at Mamallapuram, which revelead the recent history of the temple town. “The Pallavas were responsible for the construction of several temples in Mahabalipuram, but after the Pallavas, how do we know what went on in them?”
he explained.
“Mamallapuram came under the influence of several reigns such as the Cholas, Pandyas, Telugu Cholas and the Vijayanagara kings, all of whom contributed to the temples of Mamallapuram,” said the retired deputy superintendent archaeologist, State Archaeology Department.
Several excavations had unearthed inscriptions detailing the culture of the temple town in ancient times. “On the way to Mamallapuram, there is a site known as Saluvunkuppam, where they excavated the ruins of a 2000-year-old Subramaniar temple,” Sridharan explained. “The Archaeological Survey of India established that several Pallava Varman kings from the 9th Century AD had contributed to the worship of the temple.”
An inscription found on the rock shows several descriptions of worship during the Sangam Chola period, where donations were made for land and resources. Afterwards, the temple got buried under rubble. “Near Saluvankupam, there’s a cave called Adhirana Chandeshwara Graham, which was built by the King Rajasimha. It also showed donations made to the temple during the 10th Century reign of Rajaaja.”
He gave details about ancient names that were given to the current temples in Mamallapuram. “Three of the shore temples mentioned there — called Kshatriyasimhapallaveshshwara graham, Rajasimhapallaveshhwara graham, and a Vishnu temple in the middle called Naravadi Vishnu graham – were called jalasayanam in Rajaraja’s inscriptions.”
In Poonjeri village, the names of the architects were inscribed in the Pallava monuments they helped build. “Also of importance is the Thirumangazhai Aalvar temple which is praised as thalasayanam.
“A continuous history of nearly 2,000 years can be gleaned from the detailed inscriptions on the walls of these temples,” he said. “Some inscriptions are missing, where the slabs have been broken or exposed to erosion, but we have excellent replications. More inscriptions can be found,” he said. “Tamil inscriptions were an important way to study the later history and cultural impact on Mamallapuram.”