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Lieutenant S. Rajagopal and Dr. R. Praiya Assistant Professors of History, Mannar Thirumalai Naicker College, Madurai, have together discovered 13th century Later Pandya’s inscription, found between Rosanapatti and Pradukkarnapatti villages in Aundipatti Taluk, Theni district. According to this later Pandya inscription, incomplete words were found about the donation provided by a citizen “Thirupuvan konn Angarayan to a small chieftain E Kilangudi Thevar Thondaiman”. This news was published in Dinathanti on 14 June 2020; Dinamalar on 13 June 2020. |
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9th Century, 1st Pandya Era, Oil press inscription discovered in 27 July 2020 near V.Periyakulam and Saranthanki village in Vadipatti Tk in Madurai District. The Vatteluthu stone inscription says cekku was made by Kāṭaṉ Utta Nādi |
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13th century 2nd Pandiyas period land boundary inscription in agricultural field in Sadayalpatti village, Bodi Taluk, Theni District in 18 Jan 2021. Dr. S. Rajagopal verified a large size stone buried half within the soil and half outside in the farmland. He also discovered that it was found that some lines in Tamil script were inscribed on it and took estampage with the help of the landowner. The stone inscription is engraved with Tamil characters in five lines. As per the inscription inscribed style, the inscription was around 800 years old and dates back to the late 13th century Pandyan period. The inscription is engraved on the south side of the stone as (“SAVASTSRĪ SAVAṆAṈAR NILATTUKKU TEṈ ELLAI”) "Southern boundary to the land of Savast Sri Savananar". This news was published in The Times of India on 18 Jan 2021; Dinamalar on 20 Jan 2021. |
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The team of Mannar Thirumalai Naicker College professionals and students led by the Archeological activists, Lieutenant Dr.S.Rajagopal and Dr.R.Praiya, discovered a rare 400 year old Nayak inscription at Papamadai, Avaniyapuram village in Madurai district. Twin stone pillars and two inscriptions in a single pillar are discovered. First inscription revealing 19 lines inscribed with the first 3 letters in Telugu invoking devotional word. This inscription also says the Madurai Nayak dynasty, the 6th King “Veerappa Nayaka Ayan is being thanked profusely by one Algatchiyar Pillai regarding the Kings donation and constructing a sluice for the local irrigation purposes”. The second inscription was engraved at the eastern side of the same pillar. The beginning words are in the dilapidated condition due to natural calamity. This news was published in Dinamani on 22 March 2021; The Hindu on 24 March 2021.and Times of India in 28 March 2021. |
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Lieutenant Dr. S. Rajagopal, Dr. R. Praiya, Assistant Professors of History from Mannar Thirumalai Naicker College along with final year history undergraduate students have discovered a 250 years old stone inscription. The inscription describes the donations in front of Kunpandiyan Kovil has been discovered at Thenparankundram in Madurai district. This donation inscription was set up on the Girivalam or Circumambulation path of the Lord Thiruparankundram Subramania Swami darshan. As per the script inscribed style, this inscription is dated 18th-19th Century. There are 20 lines inscribed on the stone in Tamil script. This inscription says that "Uthandarama Servaikaran son of Nagalapadi Veerasinnu Servaikaran, has donated water distribution shed (Neer Panthal), Nandavanam (Flower garden) and also a well construction in front of the Koonpandiyan temple." This news was published in The Hindu and Published in Dinamani on 4 Apr 2021. |
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A team of Dr.D.Uma and Dr.P.Sindhu, Assistant Professors, Department of History from Mannar Thirumalai Naicker College, Madurai undertook a field visit to the Choultry of Queen Mangammal at Umathampatti village near Sattur. During their visit, they discovered two load bearing stones (Sumaithangi Kal). Usually, these stones were erected to keep the load to take rest by travellers on the way of their travel. They are erected in memory of the pregnant ladies who die before delivery. This news was published in in Dinathanti –Tamil on 15.10.2021. |
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Lieutenant Dr. S. Rajagopal and Dr. R. Praiya, Assistant Professors, Department of History from Mannar Thirumalai Naicker College, Madurai have conducted a field study of the historic imperative inscriptions scattered on the ground at the foothills of Thirupparankundram, in Madurai. During their field study, they discovered a 105 year old inscription related to donation, which is found on the left side of the Girivalam or Circumambulation path of the Thiruparankundram Subramania Swamy temple enroute. This inscription is located inside of the 167 Kirama 24 Manai Telugu Chettiar Uravinmurai building. The stone slab inscription consists of four feet height and one feet width which is found on the way to Saravanapoigai of Subramania Swamy temple. This inscription is engraved in the early quarters of the 20th Century. This stone slab is inscribed with 26 lines of Tamil script. This inscription says that “in the mandapa, for the benefit of community people, Kanthan chettiyar son of Maharaja Sri Mattapparai Konanch chettiar belong to a resident of Singarathoppu in Chennai pattanam and his wife Jithammal, a daughter of Komanampatti Bomman chettiar donated money for digging and construction of a well on 5th June 1914. The well may be constructed to fulfil the requirement of devotees drinking water facility and for bathing for the benefit of the general public during the journey of the Girivalam of the pilgrimage. This donation inscription was set up on the Girivalam path of the Thiruparankundram Subramania Swamy temple. This news was published in The Hindu and Published in Dinathanti -Tamil on 20 Nov 2021; & Dinamalar in 21 Nov 2021. |
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Lieutenant Dr. S. Rajagopal and Dr. R. Praiya, Assistant Professors of the Department of History, Mannar Thirumalai Naicker College conducted a field study on the discovery of inscriptions in and around Alankanallur, Madurai District. They discovered 200 years old temple, a chathiram and nine inscriptions. The temple and the Chathram are surrounded by fertile farmlands which were safeguarded by the Chervaikarars the names of those as follows: Maniyan Cheruvaikkaran, Kumara Irulappa Cheruvaikkaran, Muthirulandi Cheruvaikkaran, Kumara Sonai Cheruvaikkaran, Alagayi, Virai, Chennammal Kumaran Veeran Cheruvaikkaran, Kumaran Subramania Cheruvaikkaran. the words Chatram, Kinaru, Thoppu, Urani, Sivam and Vinayagan Thunai are also found in the Ganesha Temple built by Kumaran Subramania Cheruvaikkarar. In memory of these Chervaikarars who dedicated their lives in meticulously safeguarding the lands, the sculptures of the Servaikarars are installed, additional interesting information is that the sculptures of their spouses also find a place along with them. The upper part of the temple is adorned with bas-relief sculptures wherein we find exquisitely carved figures of four-feet fish, bird swallowing a snake, and worshiping devotee. The Chervaikarars who were prominent in this area two hundred years ago were highly philanthropic and since this was a busy path connecting various places it was abound travellers who were taken care of by the Servaikarars with great dedication. Not only lands but their attitudes too were fertile which made the journey of the travellers’ hunger-free and safe also. The inscriptions found in this temple and in Chattaram were read with the help of S Santalingam. Former Assistant Director of the Archaeological Survey of Tamil Nadu. This news published in Dinamalar on 25 Jan 2022, The Hindu on 26 Jan 2022. |
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A new, 800 year old Second Pandiyar inscription has been found in an agricultural land in Nochchikulam village in Alangulam circle of Tenkasi district. The team comprising of Lt Dr.S.Rajagopal and Dr.R. Piraya, Assistant Professor, Department of History, Mannar Thirumalai Nayakkar College, Madurai were engaged in a field study on the historically significant ancient inscriptions scattered on the ground floor under the direction of the College President and Secretary. They found a cylindrical stone half buried in the farmland and half out. The excavation was carried out with the help of Appaya Nayak, the owner of the land. The carving is 5 feet high, half a foot wide at the top and one foot wide at the bottom. This cylindrical stone rests on a rectangular shaped stone. The inscription is dated to 1294 - 1295 during the reign of King Kulasekara Pandyan, later Pandya ruler. Here the lines of Pitagai Karulapayar Nalandi under Kallaka Nadu donated in the Tamil year Saya are found. The inscription dates back to the 13th century. There are 18 lines in this inscription. Of these, 13 lines are clear and the remaining five lines are ambiguous. This news was published in Dinajeyam, TOI, Dinamalar and Thinakathir on 15 Feb 2022. |
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Lieutenant Dr. S. Rajagopal and Dr. R. Praiya, Assistant Professors, Department of History from Mannar Thirumalai Naicker College, Madurai have conducted a field study in NalatinPuthur Village Kammai in Kovilpatti Taluk, Tuticorin. They discovered a madai construction and donation with an inscription which is engraved in the early quarter of the 20th Century, in a 9 feet stone inscribed with 25 lines of Tamil script. This madai was constructed by “MUDUKU MEENDANPATTI MAHARAJAR RASAMANI JEGAVEERA ETTAPPANAICKER MAPILLAI SOTHIYA SEVITHA MADAI” |
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A team of Dr. P.Sindhu, Dr. D.Uma, Assistant Professors and Mr.L.Priyadharshan, Mr.Vigneshwaran, Miss.S.Ishwarya and Miss.Sivamalinidevi Department of History from Mannar Thirumalai Naicker College, Madurai have conducted a field study on “The choultries of Madurai Nayaks”. During their field study, the crew discovered the 17th century inscription in four feet height and two feet width at Maurthankudy village near Kallikudy. This inscription described about the Nayak taxation. |
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Lieutenant Dr. S. Rajagopal and Dr. R. Praiya, Assistant Professors of the Department of History, Mannar Thirumalai Nayakkar College conducted a field study on the discovery of ancient inscriptions in and around Alankanallur, Madurai District. They found a dilapidated unworshipped a thousand-year-old post-Pandyan temple in midst of trees. In this temple, the Garbhagiragam, Arthamandapam and Mahamandapam are found in a completely dilapidated condition. The contribution of the later Pandya, Vijayanagara and Nayaka kings are shown through the evident of the architecture such as Mahamandapam, Arthamandapam and sculpture. There is no idol in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple. But there is ample evidence that it may have been a Vaishnava temple. On the pillars at the entrance of the temple, a four-feet-tall statue of Garudhalvar and an Anginaeyar make it clear that the temple belongs to the Vaishnava shrine. The pillars of the temple have sculptures of Vaishnavism such as the conch, the wheel, and the Narasimhar. The temple is beautifully decorated with embossed sculptures of dancers and embossed sculptures of female maternity. The sendu symbol between two fish figures which fells from the roof of the entrance of the temple, proves that the temple belongs to the Second Pandyan period. The rectangular Mahamandapam has pillars with artistic intricacies. Also the statues on the bottom of the pillars in the Mahamandapam are buried in the soil to a height of at least one foot. Broken statues of males and females standing and seated are found in the Mahamandapam. The Ardhamandapam and the Garbhagraha are in a state of complete disrepair. A line inscription of Narayana Perumal is engraved on the entrance of the temple between Mahamandapam and Garbhagiragam. Also, in the Mahamandapam, the name Alhagar is engraved on the right side. But no inscription has been found regarding the construction of the temple or the donation or the puja method. According to the public, during the reign of King Thirumalai Nayak, the people of the area used to come to the temple to offer alms during the Chithrai festival. The temple is surrounded by alluvial soil. The temple is built entirely of black stone, on a silt floor. It is believed that the temple was destroyed due to invasions and the heavyweight of the stones. The professors said that it is true that by maintaining the temple properly, future generations would have the opportunity to learn about the architecture, sculpture and antenatal medicine of the Tamils. C. Sandalingam, the former Deputy Director of the Department of Archaeology, confirmed the temple belongs to a post-Pandiyar period. This news was published in The Hindu, Dinamalar and Dinamani on 28 March2022, and Published in Dinathanti -Tamil on 30 March 2022. |
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A team led by Dr.R.Praiya and Lt.Dr.S.Rajagopal, Assistant Professors of Mannar Thirumalai Naicker College have found 1100 year old Vatteluthu inscription at Thirumanikam, a village in Peraiyur taluka, Madurai, which is about twenty-five kilometers from Usilampatti. Periyakanmai village is located beneath the Western Ghat. It is also known as Thirumanikkam Periyakanmai. This place serves as a drainage ground from the Western Ghats. At present there are one hundred drainages in Madurai. This big water reservoir (kanmai) is just one of them. From this water reservoir, water is distributed to three villages namely Thirumanikkam, Meenatchipuram and T.Ramanathapuram. The capacity of this water reservoir is 1.832 million cubic meters. The area covered by water is 148.2 hectares. The catchment area, the depth of the gorge and the length of the gorge are 60.38 sq km, 2.57 m and 3300 m (3,3 km) respectively. The strategic area of the land is 313.99 acres. There are eight-foot parallel pillars on the east side of the Great water reservoir. These two parallel pillars are connected by two four feet stone planks. On the north pillar of the parallel pillar, on the north side, alphabet letters are engraved. These inscriptions belong to 9th and 10th century. This Vatteluthu inscription was earlier discovered but due to natural erosion it was not correctly red by researchers. As per our researcher it consists 13 lines. This inscription says, Sangarathattan, a goldsmith from Koodarkkudi (which is RR Nagar in Viruthunagar District) Vembangudi Madai and paid tax for that (previously it was read as Kasiva Karana Thaattan constructed this Madai). And from this Kanmai three villages such as Thirumanikkam, Meenatchipuram and T.Ramanathapuram received water for irrigation, three times in a year. This inscription information read out with assistance of retired archaeologist Dr. C. Santhalingam of Madurai. This news published in Dinamlar,Dinamani, Dinakaran and Dinamani in 15 May 2022. |
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A team consisting of Mannar Thirumalai Naicker College History Department Assistant Professors and inscription enthusiasts Dr. S. Rajagopal, Dr.R. Praiya, also Historical Sociologist S. Aswath, Thavasi, Ajay Kumar, were engaged in a field study of inscriptions and paintings. They discovered a 4000-year-old rock painting and a cave at Perumal Hill, Madurai South Taluk, Madurai. Perumal Hill also known as Karadipatti Hill is about 3 kilometers from Keezhakuilgudi. Currently, this Perumal hill is declared a protected area under the Archaeological Survey of India. Now a rock of this Digambara Jain hill is newly discovered to have a human figure clothed in crimson color. The head of the standing human figure looks like a small triangular nail head. Two clothed legs are clearly visible. This painting is about 4000 years ago, says a former archeologist of Tamil Nadu Dr.S.Santhalingam has confirmed. And many paintings are found around it in a ruined state. Extinct paintings are particularly difficult to find. So, by scanning these rock paintings through 3D scanning with modern technology one can see the true full replica of the paintings. About 100 meters from this sketch rock, two Neolithic caves have been newly discovered by the above team in a thick bush area hidden by rough rocks that are not inhabited by humans. Each cave can accommodate about 10 to 12 people. A natural water tank 10 feet long, 6 feet wide and 6 feet deep is found at the top of the hill for the drinking water required for daily life by the people who lived in the caves. 10 feet in front of this cave is a natural high rock. The interior surface of the cave has been detonated on the backside of the mountain, causing the surface of the cave to crumble under the shock. Dr. S. Rajagopal, and Dr.R.Praiya said that more historical facts can be discovered by improving the research in this place and removing the ruins of the cave. This news was published in Dinathanthi and Dinamani on 11 August 2022 |
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A team consisting of Dr.R.Praiya, Lieutenant. Dr. S. Rajagopal, Assistant Professors, Department of History, Mannar Thirumalai Naicker College, Madurai, and social activist Thiru S. Aswath were engaged filed study to the research of vital inscription around of southern district of Tamilnadu. The team has recently discovered a 400-year-old Madurai Nayak period donation inscription and took estampage. This stone inscription has been found opposite to Vinayagar temple in Rajadhani village, Aundipatti taluk, Theni district. Originally, this inscription was installed during renovation work by Madurai Nayak at the ancient Pandya Meenakshi Sundareswarar temple at Rajadhani. Now, this temple has a fully dilapidated condition and is located en-route from Aundipatti to Velapparkovil. Knowingly unknowingly the village committee leaders shifted this inscription and installed it in front of the Vinayagar temple of Rajadhani village. During the field study, the team found the inscription. The stone inscription consists of 3 feet in height and one foot in width. It has been engraved in Tamil- scripts, inscribed in the early quarter of the 17th Century. The inscription contains 11 lines on the eastern side and 16 lines on the western side of the stone slab. On the front side of the stone, an inscription has found the Vaishnava symbol, the sun, the moon, and a lotus flower with some buried letters on the north side. There are no letters on the south side of the stone. By expressing the conformity of Bodhi Naicker this inscription was installed. This stone inscription says that the Kandamanayakanur Palayakkarar Veerakandama Naicker received the donation from Muthu Veerappa Nayak, the sixth ruler of the Madurai Nayakdom in 1621-1622 AD. The donation inscription expresses that, the bounded lands of Kandamanayakanur, a Patti for keeping cattle, donated land to Brahmins and temples. This information was read out with the help of a retired Archaeologist of Tamilnadu Dr. C. Santhalingam of Madurai. Like that some inscriptions and some stone uncared stone sculptures are scattered surrounding the area. Both history professors’ and his team is searching for more inscriptions in the surrounding area. It is expected that more exploration will help more Madurai ruler information and Knadamanayakkanur local administration details in a fresh light. This news published in Dinamani and Dinamalar, Madurai and Dindigul on 12 Oct 2022 and The Hindu on 15 Sep 2022. |
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A team consisting of Lieutenant. Dr. S. Rajagopal and Dr.R.Praiya, Assistant Professors, Department of History, and III Year History student Ajay of Mannar Thirumalai Naicker College, Madurai, were engaged in filed study to the research about inscription around southern district of Tamilnadu. The team has recently discovered a 200-year-old Karuppasami Temple Inscription of Eliyarpaththi in Madurai. This slab stone inscription says about the construction of the temple from a donation made by the villagers. Both professors took estampage of the inscription information was read out with the help of a retired Archaeologist of Tamilnadu Dr. C. Santhalingam of Madurai. This infor*mation published in Aavanam Issue 33/2022. |
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Lieutenant. Dr. S. Rajagopal and Dr.R.Praiya, Assistant Professors, of Mannar Thirumalai Naicker College, Madurai, were discovered a 400-year-old t in Tiralli Village of Thirumangalam Taulk in Madurai District. This news published in Dinathanthi on 6 Dec 2023 Dinamani on 07 Dec 2023 and Times of India in Chennai on 09 Dec 2023. |
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