Early Chola-period sculptures, inscriptions found on river bed

A couple of early Chola period sculptures of Dakshinamurthy and Vinadhara Shiva and inscriptions recording donations of money and a piece of land to a temple have been found on the Cauvery river bed near Musiri in Tiruchi district.

Researchers from Dr. M. Rajamanikkanar Centre for Historical Research, Tiruchi, led by its Director M. Kalaikkovan, inspected the sculptures and deciphered the inscription based on information from villagers that some ruined parts of a temple, sculptures, and an inscription could be seen on the bed of the river. The team included M. Nalini, Chief Epigraphist of the centre, and R. Akila, Professor of History, Arignar Anna Government Arts College, Musiri.

According to Dr. Kalaikkovan, slightly damaged sculptures, found in the middle of a thorny bush on the river bed about 200 metres from its bund, could have been part of a temple which had existed in the vicinity.

“The Dakshinamurthi might have been in the south niche of the ruined temple and the sculpture Vinadhara Siva [depicting Shiva holding the veena] might have been in the upper storey of the same temple. Both are meticulously carved and are comparable with the sculptures of Kuranganathar temple at Srinivasanallur, a nearby village,” he said.

Pokkanam, the celebrated bag of ash, carried by Lord Shiva is seen in one of the branches of the banyan tree that spreads behind the Lord. The palm leaves that are supposed to have the agamic content are seen in the left front hand of the God. A beautifully carved Muyalakan is crushed under right foot of Shiva.

Vinadhara Shiva holds the akshamala and a curled snake in the back hands. The veena which is held by the front hands is slightly damaged. Both the sculptures are adorned with rich ornaments.

Other architectural elements such as parts of pillars, roof structures are seen scattered near the stone slab with an inscription. “A huge Linga, which was found nearby, has been brought here and is being worshipped by the villagers now,” Dr. Kalaikkovan said.

Dr. Nalini said the stone slab approximately measures 1.5 metres in length and 60 cm width and carries two Tamil inscriptions which could be dated to the 10th century C.E. on palaeographical grounds.

“The inscription begins with a large trident with damaged letters on either side. A certain individual whose name and place are lost in the record had entrusted 120 kasu with the members of the sabha of Mahendramangalam to light two perpetual lamps at a certain temple, whose name is also lost,” she said pointing out that Mahendramangalam is a village that still exists in Musiri taluk. The second inscription found on the side of the slab mentions about a land gifted to the temple “as a tax-free devadana (gift to the God),” she added.