Pandya-Era Temple Unearthed

Context

An ancient Shiva temple dating back to 1217–1218 CE, from the later Pandya period, has been discovered in Udampatti village of Melur taluk, Madurai district, Tamil Nadu, revealing significant inscriptions and socio-economic details. The foundation and inscriptions, attributed to the reign of Maravarman Sundara Pandya, shed light on the temple’s financial autonomy and the historic geography of the region.

Historical Significance

The temple is dated to the Later Pandya period, specifically to 1217–1218 CE, during the reign of Maravarman Sundara Pandya.
It was originally located in the village of Attur (present-day Udampatti) and known as Thennavanisvaram, a name reflecting the Pandya royal title “Thennavan”.

Inscriptions

Two Tamil inscriptions were deciphered from the stone foundation:
- One is a sale deed for a waterbody named Nagankudi, sold for 64 kasu (coins) by Alagaperumal, a chieftain of Kalavalinadu, to Nambi Perambala Kuthan alias Kangeyan.
- The boundaries of the land and waterbody are clearly marked in the inscription.
- Importantly, it is recorded that the land tax was to be used for the temple’s daily maintenance, indicating a financially independent temple economy.

Archaeological and Cultural Relevance

The discovery was made when children playing in the area stumbled upon buried stones.
The excavation was done under the guidance of Devi Arivu Selvam, temple architect and sculpture researcher, and C. Santhalingam, secretary of the Pandya Nadu Centre for Historical Research.
The temple foundation and surviving stone structures match traditional Silpa Sastra