News Excerpt:

In Kangayam, Tamil Nadu, the Virarajendran Archaeological and Historical Research Centre made a noteworthy discovery of two stone inscriptions.

More details about the discovery:

Discovery of 11th century inscription

• The inscription, dating back to the 11th century, features 'Grantham' inscriptions found in the Siva Temple at Pazhnchervazhi village.
• This 220 cm tall stone, uncovered during temple renovations, bears graffiti marks and writings on all sides, depicting symbols like standing lamps, 'trishul,' conch, and moons.
• The inscriptions, repeated words such as 'hrim,' 'hushta,' 'hushra,' 'sham,' and 'lam,' suggest the stone's past worship for curing diseases.

Discovery of 16th century inscription

• The 16th-century Tamil inscription was found inside the Vishnu temple in the same village.
• Measuring 80 cm in height, this stone revealed historical details about pottery-making, mentioning a potter named Kuthar Sungam's donation of four rupees on the 18th day of the Tamil month 'Masi' in the 'Vilimpiya' year.
• The four rupees represented a tax for each pottery wheel, emphasizing the profitability of pottery-making during the 16th century AD.
• The perpetual lamp lighting, funded by the donation, was intended to continue until the moon exists.

Significance of the discovery

This discovery provides valuable insights into the cultural and historical significance of Pazhnchervazhi village, once known as 'Pazhanhepali' and 'Pazhancherpalli,' during the medieval period when Shaivism, Vaishnavism, and Jainism flourished.