New stone inscriptions put Ootathur Sivan temple two centuries older to 10th C
Trichy: New
stone inscriptions
deciphered by the state archaeology department at
Suththa Rathneswarar temple
in Ootathur village in Trichy district has revealed that the Sivan temple is much older than thought. The temple had been believed to belong to the period of Vikrama Chola (1118-1135), but new stone inscriptions show that the temple is in existence since the reign of
Parantaka Chola I
(907-955).
The state archaeology department said that 12 stone inscriptions were found at the temple during an inspection by K Manivasan, additional chief secretary of the tourism, culture, and religious endowments department. Five inscriptions were intact while seven inscriptions were in a fragmented state. Out of the five fully readable inscriptions, four were inscribed during the Cholas and one during the Pandyas.
The temple was renovated during the reign of Vikrama Chola, during which many stone inscriptions in the temple belonging to the period of Raja Raja Chola I and Rajathiraja Chola I were shifted from sanctum sanctorum to the Nootrukkal mandapam in the temple.
The inscriptions read that Ootathur village previously calledThiruootathur and was reclassified from 'Mazha' administrative zone to 'Rajasariya' administrative zone during Rajendra Chola I period.
The new inscriptions recorded that Bagavan Mani Nangai, wife of Sruthiman Nilavailiyan, donated a new door to the temple in 937 AD, 30th reign year of Parantaka Chola I. Similarly, in 998 AD, 13th reign year of Raja Raja Chola I, Nakkan Aiyaaran alias Sundarachola Mutharaiyan, donated 30 cows to keep the temple's 'Nanda" lamp illuminated day and night. One of the inscriptions also praises Rajendra Chola I (Gangaiyum Kedaramum Konda Sri Rajendra Cholan) for his victorious conquests over Ganges and Kedah (Malaysia).
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