Tirunelveli Region Travelogue (Pandyan Yatra 2015) Part 1: Planning the Site Seminar

@ Kazhugumalai Photo courtesy: Ms Ramamani Jeyaraman

@ Kazhugumalai Photo courtesy: Kishore Mahadevan

@ Kazhugumalai Vettuvankoil Photo courtesy: Kishore Mahadevan

For the last five years, Tamil Heritage Trust (THT), an organization of heritage lovers in Chennai, have been organizing the site seminar every year as annual event. 'Prof Swaminathan mooted and organized the concept of a Site Seminar, to familiarize a few individuals passionately interested in the heritage of the Tamil country, but clueless about where and how to start.'  Table 1 shows the list of site seminars organized by Tamil Heritage Trust.

Table 1. List of Site Seminars Organized by Tamil Heritage Trust

Year	Name of the Site Seminar	Place or Region	State
2010	Mamallapuram Site Seminar Athyanthakaama Ashrama Vijaya	Mamallapuram	Tamil Nadu
2011	Ajanta and Ellora Site Seminar Paranjothi Yathirai	Ajanta & Ellora	Maharashtra
2012	Mukkudai Yathirai	Pudukkottai District	Tamil Nadu
2013	Site Seminar: Srirangam Tiruvaranga Ulaa	Srirangam	Tamil Nadu
2014	Gurjari Yatra - Gujarat Site Seminar	Gujarat Select Monuments	Gujarat
2015	Pandyan Yatra	Tirunelveli Region Select Monuments	Tamil Nadu

For the sixth site seminar 2015, 'the southern sections of Pandyan territory, centered around Tirunelveli region' was identified as the heritage site for and the Pandyan Yatra was undertaken by a team of 24 members between January 23 Friday and January 27 Tuesday 2015, both dates inclusive. I was one of the fortunate participant of the Pandyan Yatra.

THT's Pandyan Yatra was NOT a religious tour, or a pleasure trip or sightseeing excursion. Instead Pandyan Yatra clearly focused to cover only on art, archaeology, architecture, epigraphy, history, iconography aspects of the monuments.  The purpose of Pandyan Yatra was to intensely explore the heritage of the southern sections of Pandyan territory for deeper understanding the heritage of the region. 

Tirunelveli region was under the rule of the Pandya Dynasty and was known as 'Thenpandiyanadu'. The Imperial Cholas included this region under the province called 'Mudikonda Cholamandalam'. The Madurai Nayakas preferred to call it as 'Tirunelveli Seemai'. The British East India Company formulated the 'Tinnevelly district', which was composed of the present Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi districts and parts of the Virudhunagar and Ramanathapuram districts.

Map of Tirunelveli Region

The region also comprise all five geographical traditions of Sangam Tamil Literature: Kurinji (mountains), Mullai (forest), Marudham (paddy fields), Neithal (coastal) and Palai (desert). Ancient holy hill 'Pothigai,' the abode of Tamil sage Agasthiyar (who developed Tamil language) forms part of this region. The   crawling   clouds  on the Western Ghats, the picturesque Pothigai hills and the Kurtallam water falls are  the  special features which make  Tirunelveli  unique. Tirunelveli region is blessed with the perennial river Thamirabharani - the lifeline of the region and forms the major river basin in this region. The other  streams include Vaippar, Nambiar and Hanumanathi. The fertile land is blessed with lush green paddy fields, coconut groves, banana plantations,  water-falls and palm trees add a picturesque dimension. The region is dotted with many early Pandyan rock-cut caves and well-preserved structured temples built by Pandyas, Cholas and Nayakas.

Since the culturally rich Tirunelveli region is very vast, it is not easy to travel the entire region. Therefore the site seminar set to catch a glimpse of the region's heritage and planned to focus on some specified heritage monuments as shown in Table 2:

Table 2: Itinerary of Pandyan Yatra 2015

Date	Monuments	Region
23 Jan 2015	Kazhugumalai - Jain Monastery,	Kovilpatti Region
	Kazhugumalai - Vettuvankoil,
	Kazhugumalai - Kazhugachalamurthy Temple
24 Jan 2015	Malayadikurichi Rock cut Cave of Early Pandya	Sankarankovil Region
	Thirumalapuram Rock cut Cave of Early Pandya
	Singampatti Zamin Palace located near the foothills of Manjolai Estate
	Kutraleeswaran Temple and Chitra Sabha - one of five dancing halls of Lord Nataraja
25 Jan 2015	Mannar Koil Rajagoplalaswami Temple. Ashtanga Vimana.	Ambasamudram Region
	Thiruvalivaram Tiruvalisvarar Temple
	Brahmadesam Temple
	Kallidaikurichi Temples
	Ambasamudram Temples,
	Thirupudaimarudur Temple
	Cheranmadevi Bhakthavatsala Perumal Temple
26 Jan 2015	Tirukurungudi Nambi Temple (108 Divya Desam)	Nanguneri & Tirunelveli Region
	Tirunelveli - Palayankottai Museum,
	Nellaiappar Temple,
	Nanguneri Vanamamalai Perumal Temple
27 Jan 2015	Srivaikuntam Vaikuntanathaswami temple Navatirupati (108 Divya Desam)	Toothukudi Region
	Alwartirunagari Temple Navatirupati (108 Divya Desam)
	Tirukolur. Temples
	Krishnapuram Temple

Tamil Heritage Trust - Site Seminar itinerary Brochure

Tamil Heritage Trust - Site Seminar itinerary Brochure

Tamil Heritage Trust - Site Seminar itinerary Brochure

The participants were provided with best available information to ensure a successful journey. The Pandyan yatra 2015 was slightly modified from the itinerary shown in Table 2 in terms of timing of visit and few cancellations and additions of places.

The participants organized number of weekend preparatory site seminar meetings on Sundays during 16th November 2014 - 18th January 2015 and invited few persons, who are familiar with these sites, to deliver the series of pre-visit lectures and power-point presentations. The participants also research out  on one or two places of interest and shared information through presentations. 

Arkay Center is conveniently located in Mylapore, and Mr Ramakrishnan has been very kindly hosting preparatory site seminar meeting there. V Chandrasekhar, has very kindly offered his house at "Shrinidhi", 12/1 Reserve Bank Colony MG Road, Thiruvanmiyur, Madras 41 and his residence has often been the venue for most site seminar meetings.. 

Table 3: The preparatory lectures for the Sixth Site Seminar:

Date	Talk on
16.11.2014	History of the Pandyas -Sangam, Early and Imperial by Ramakrishnan at  Arkay Center, Mylapore
30.11.2014	Iraiyanar Agapporul - a book on Tamil grammar, which changed the nature and subjects of Tamil Literature by Badri Seshadri  "Shrinidhi", 12/1 Reserve Bank Colony MG Road, Thiruvanmiyur, Madras 41
	MaduraiKanchi - a Sangam era epic that describes the city in that period by Badri Seshadri  "Shrinidhi", 12/1 Reserve Bank Colony MG Road, Thiruvanmiyur, Madras 41
14.12.2014	Madurai Sultanate The fall of the Pandyas & Muslim rule in Madurai by Ravishankar Thiagarajan  "Shrinidhi", 12/1 Reserve Bank Colony MG Road, Thiruvanmiyur, Madras 41
	Singing along the Tambraparni - Verses from the Thevaram and Prabhandam by Pradeep Chakravarthi Navneet Krishnan has accompany Pradeep by singing some of these compositions.  "Shrinidhi", 12/1 Reserve Bank Colony MG Road, Thiruvanmiyur, Madras 41
21.12.2014	Nanguneri Temple and Vanamamalai Mutt by Deivanayagam   "Shrinidhi", 12/1 Reserve Bank Colony MG Road, Thiruvanmiyur, Madras 41
	Pandyan Cave Temples & Monoliths by Vijayakumar.S (Poetry in Stone)    "Shrinidhi", 12/1 Reserve Bank Colony MG Road, Thiruvanmiyur, Madras 41
11.1.2015	Pandya temples by K.S Sankaranarayanan    "Shrinidhi", 12/1 Reserve Bank Colony MG Road, Thiruvanmiyur, Madras 41
	Jina Images of Kazhugumalai as seen by Lisa by Ravishankar Thiagarajan    "Shrinidhi", 12/1 Reserve Bank Colony MG Road, Thiruvanmiyur, Madras 41
18.1.2015	Nellaiyappar and Kanthimathi Amman Temple by Siva Thiyagarajan and Kishore   "Shrinidhi", 12/1 Reserve Bank Colony MG Road, Thiruvanmiyur, Madras 41

 
The following documents were shared 'Athyanthakama' Yahoo Group:

1. பாண்டிய நாட்டில் பயணமும் படிப்பும் Kanaka Ajithadoss (Yahoo Group 20.11.2014)
2. Jaina Images of Kazhugumalai (PDF) shared 

The following documents published elsewhere were included in the Guide 'Pandyan Yantra':

1. A new Pandya Record and the Dates of Nayanmars and Azhvars  by Nagaswami R
2. A Brahmadeya Gift by Pandya Arikeari  by Nagaswami R
3. Kalugumalai: Jain Images by Dr. Lisa N. Owen
4. Malaiyadikurichi Inscriptions Tell Tales  by Pradeepchakravrthi
5. Nellaiyappar Temple: Rare kritis by Pradeepchakravrthi
6. Dakshinamurti on vimanas of Vishnu temples by RKK Rajarajan
7. நின்றிருந்துகிடந்த நெடியோன் ஜெயமோகன் November 24,2010 (http://www.jeyamohan.in/9346)
8. ஸ்ரீவைகுண்டம் ஆழ்வார்திருநகரி கிருஷ்ணாபுரம் ஜெயமோகன்

Pandyan Yatra 2015 (Guide Book) THT

This is a travelogue of Pandyan Yatra 2015 covering around 20 heritage monuments in 5 days. Traveling through 'Tirunelveli Seemai' is a fulfilling experience if you are a lover of culture, heritage and history. 'Tirunelveli Seemai' is the heritage land of the south and the cradle of ancient Thamirabharani river line civilization. The Thamirabharani river valley on either side of the river is fertile and there are large acres of lush green paddy fields, coconut groves and banana plantations. The lofty temple towers and the tall and imposing temple walls in the backdrop of majestic and picturesque Western ghats invited us  It gives me inspiration and satisfaction to bring you a travelogue of Pandyan Yatra 2015.


I would like to profusely thank Prof.S.Swaminathan, S/shri Badri Seshadri, R.Gopu, Ashok Krishnaswami, Siva Thiagarajan, Kishore Mahadevan, guest speakers, Kizhakku Pathippagam staff, Temple staff and Priests, ASI staff, participants and all others for contributing to the success of Pandyan Yatra 2015.

Tamil Brahmi Unicode Font: Adinatha

Adinatha Font Picture Courtesy: Virtual Vinod

History of Tamil Script Wikipedia

Brahmi Unicode and digitization

'Unicode Character Standard provides (encoding) a unique number for every character, no matter what the platform, no matter what the program, no matter what the language.' This computer industry encoding standard encodes scripts rather than language. To be precise, 'more than one language shares a set of symbols that have historically related derivation, the union of the set of symbols of each such language is unified into a single collection identified in a single script.' The Unicode (the "Universal Alphabet") Consortium, a non-profit, charitable organization which develops, maintains and promotes the software internationalization standards and data, particularly the Unicode Standard.  The Consortium works closely with W3C and ISO. The latest electronic version of the Unicode Standard is Version 7.0. This standard specifies the representation of texts in modern software products and standards.

There are the collection of symbols (i.e., scripts serving as inventories of symbols) drawn to write Brahmi. Brahmi was added to the Unicode standard in October 2010 with the release of version 6.0. There is an Unicode Block U+11000–U+1107F specifically developed for Brahmi which lies within Supplementary Multilingual plane. Since from August 2014 two free licence (the Open Font Licence) fonts that support Brahmi are made available: 1. Noto Sans Brahmi from Google which covers all characters; 2. Adinatha which only covers Tamil Brahmi  (dialect of Brahmi)

Adinatha Tamil Brahmi Font

Three Tamil epigraphy enthusiasts namely S/shri Shriramana Sharma Vinod Rajan and Udhaya Sankar have undertaken and brought out the free license Tamil Brahmi font to encourage its utilization among academicians, researchers and professionals as well as to promote its use and (computer) application in epigraphy and digitization. The team of researchers have worked out Adinatha within the Unicode Block U+11000–U+1107F specifically developed for Brahmi. They have imbibed from Early Tamil Epigraphy, the classic work by Iravatham Mahadevan for the shapes of glyphs.

The font is named after Adinatha, the first of the twenty-four tirthankaras who founded the Jainism philosophies and teachings. Only Jain Munis are credited for ushering Brahmi in ancient Tamilakam and applied Brahmi script to document and communicate with the rest of the world. Hence the Jain Munis are bestowed with honor and respect. Since the Unicode font includes both OpenType & Graphite table, they will promote digitization of the inscriptions in Tamil Brahmi in a wide variety of systems . The font package also includes an AAT version for compatibility with OS X applications that do not support OpenType. NHM Writer 2.0 renders software support to Tamil Brahmi.

Tamil Brahmi epigraph

Digitized version of the epigraph using Adinatha Tamil Brahmi font

If interested the font package may be downloaded  here. Also download the font manual or can be read from here.

History of Brahmi and Tamil Brahmi Scripts

The earliest script used in India was Brahmi. The best known inscriptions in Brahmi script are the lithic inscriptions of Ashoka (269 - 232 B.C. ruled over 37 years) discovered in the north central India dated to 3rd - 4th century B.C. The script was used to inscribe edicts in Prakrit language by the Mauryan ruler. As viewed by Iravatham Mahadevan, the Brahmi script was used in Andhra and Karnataka regions as well as in Tamilakam during 3rd century B.C. when Jain and Buddhist monks migrated to the Southern parts of India. Tamil Brahmi is the script variant (dialect) of the Brahmi script (Southern Brahmic alphabet) used in South India to write in Tamil, the language of administration in Tamilakam. Tamils have adopted the Brahmi script to suit the phonetic system of Tamil language and proscribed the imposition of Prakrit language.  

Inscriptions in rock shelters and caves near Madurai were the earliest breakthrough. 'Dates for Tamil-Brahmi as early as the 6th century have been claimed, but all dates before the 3rd century are uncertain or controversial.' Scholars like Iravatham Mahadevan and Y. Subbarayalu hold the view that Tamil-Brahmi was introduced in Tamil Nadu after 3rd century B.C. Few others like K.V. Ramesh, retired Director of Epigraphy, Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)  deliberate the period as Pre-Asokan.

The term `Tamil-Brahmi' is used when the script is in Brahmi but the language is Tamil. The Brahmi script was predominantly used for Prakrit from the Mauryan (Asokan) period. The Brahmi script was brought to the Tamil country in the third century B.C. by the Jain and Buddhist monks during the post-Asokan period.

The three more recent excavations in different places of Tamil Nadu have reignited debate on the date of Brahmi : 1. Urn with human skeleton in it along with miniature pots and Tamil-Brahmi in a rudimentary form inside an urn were discovered  at the Iron Age burial site at Adichanallur in 2005; 2. A cist-burial excavated in 2009 at Porunthal village, 12 km from Palani in Tamil Nadu 3. Kodumanal excavation, near Erode more than 20 pot-sherds with Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions were found in 2012. There are contentious views regarding the origin of Tamil Brahmi. Dr. Satyamurthy claims the Tamil Brahmi script discovered inside the urn at Adichanallur to 5th century B.C. Dr.Rajan considers the Porunthal Tamil script to 490 B.C. based on the paddy grain dating. The 20 pot-sherds with Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions excavated at Kodumanal also the team of three scholars including Dr.Rajan arrive at similar views.

Reference

1.  2200- year-old Tamil-Brahmi inscription found on Samanamalai T.S.Subramanian. The Hindu March 24, 2012 
2. Adinatha Tamil Brahmi Font in Virtual Vinod. http://www.virtualvinodh.com/wp/tamil-brahmi-font/
3. Brahmi (Unicode Consortium) http://www.unicode.org/charts/PDF/U11000.pdf
4. Brahmi Script (Wikipedia)
5. Is Tamil-Brahmi pre-Asokan? http://varnam.nationalinterest.in/2011/08/is-tamil-brahmi-pre-asokan/
6. NHM Writer 2.0 http://software.nhm.in/products/writer
7. Palani excavation triggers fresh debate TS Subramanian August 29, 2011 http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/article2408091.ece  
8. Porunthal excavations prove existence of Indian scripts in 5th century BC: expert. Kavita Kishore. The Hindu. October 15, 2011. http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/porunthal-excavations-prove-existence-of-indian-scripts-in-5th-century-bc-expert/article2538550.ece
9. Rudimentary Tamil-Brahmi script' unearthed at Adichanallur T.S.Subramanian. The Hindu February 17, 2005.  http://www.thehindu.com/2005/02/17/stories/2005021704471300.htm
10. Tamil Brahmi in Virtual Vinod. http://www.virtualvinodh.com/wp/tamil-brahmi-lipi/
11. Tamil Brahmi (Wikipedia)  
12. Tamil-Brahmi script found in village. T..Subramanian. June 28, 2009. ww.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tamilbrahmi-script-found-in-village/article271194.ece 
13. Tissamaharama Tamil Brahmi inscription (Wikipedia) 
14. Unicode (Wikipedia)

Gatti Mudali Dynasty of Salem Region Part I: History

Attur Fort held by Gatti Mudalis

Taramangalam Temple near Salem (Facade)

Taramangalam Temple Insignia Gatti Mudali

Taramangalam Thousand Pillared Hall - Pillar seen before temple. The Hindu

The Gatti (Getty) Mudali aka Katti (Ketti) Mudali dynasty ruled parts of Salem, Karur and Erode districts in the 17th century as chieftains underneath the Madurai Nayak dynasty. The word 'gatti (katti)' or 'getti (ketti)'   meant firm determination or resolution or solidness or unshakeable and the other word 'Mudali' meant 'primary.'    Edgar Thurstan construes the origin of the word 'Mudaliars' from the root word 'muthal' in a literal sense 'the first', the first in Society. The term may also denote money invested or working capital in business. Mudali appears to be the title. The Gatti rulers were known for their univocal statement, reliability and resoluteness.

The Nayak kingdom of Madurai (1530 A.D to 1736 A.D.) was divided into 72 palayams during the reign of Viswanatha Nayak by his minister Dalavoy Ariyanatha Mudaliar. The Palayakars were allowed to collect land tax and pay a portion of it as tribute. They were assigned to train the army and to offer military support to Madurai Nayak ruler to counter enemies. The domination of Gatti Mudali rulers extended as far as Thalaivasal (Salem district) to the east, Dharapuram (Erode district) to the west and Karur district to the south. Gatti Mudali reigned land was considered as the most dangerously exposed region of the Madurai Nayak kingdom. They held two important strategic forts to guard against invasion from Mysore kingdom: one at Omalur (near Salem) and the other at Attur (near Salem). The Gatti Mudali chieftains coined the unique insignia by combining the green mat, garland of flowers and tiger and this representation finds a definite place in all the temples originally built, extended and renovated by them.

Akananuru (அகநானுறு), a classical Tamil poetic work and the seventh book in the secular anthology of Sangam literature (600 BCE - 300 CE), namely Ettuthokai (eight anthologies) lists these people as one of the chieftains i.e,  Konganar, Kalingar, Karunadar, Gangar and Gatti.

அகநானுறு: 44. முல்லை
Akananuru 44, Kudavoyil Keerathanar, Mullai Thinai - What the hero told his charioteer (வினை முற்றி மீளும் தலைமகன் தேர்ப்பாகற்குச் சொல்லியது.- குடவாயிற் கீரத்தனார்)

... ... ... ... ஒரு வினை, கழிய
நன்னன், ஏற்றை, நறும் பூண் அத்தி,
துன் அருங் கடுந் திறற் கங்கன், கட்டி,
பொன் அணி வல்வில் புன்றுறை, என்று ஆங்கு
அன்று அவர் குழீஇய அளப்பு அருங் கட்டூர்,
பருந்து படப் பண்ணி, பழையன் பட்டென,
கண்டது நோனானாகித் திண் தேர்க்
கணையன் அகப்படக் கழுமலம் தந்த
பிணையல் அம் கண்ணிப் பெரும் பூண் சென்னி
அழும்பில் அன்ன அறாஅ யாணர்
பழம் பல் நெல்லின் பல் குடிப் பரவை
பொங்கடி படி கயம் மண்டிய பசு மிளை
தண் குட வாயில் அன்னோள்
பண்புடை ஆகத்து இன் துயில் பெறவே.
  

Meaning: Ride your chariot faster to get ahead of other chariots, my charioteer! Let me receive sweet sleep on the chest of the one with character, who is like Alumpil town with abundant prosperity, many lands with paddy fields, ponds where elephants bathe, surrounded by protective forests, belonging to Perumpootchenni wearing a victory garland, who attacked his enemies and won a battle in Kalumalam where Chōla commander Palaiyan died, and as kites soared above the battlefield, he defeated the Chēra supporters, Nannan, Ētrai, Athi wearing fine jewels, able and fierce Kankan who enemies fear, Katti, and Pundrurai wearing gold jewels, who had great talents and bowmanship. (Source: Learn Sangam Tamil) http://learnsangamtamil.com/akananuru/

Akananuru 226, Paranar, Marutham Thinai – What the heroine’s friend said to the unfaithful hero
    

தொடி அணி முன்கை நீ வெய்யோளொடு
முன் நாள் ஆடிய கவ்வை, இந் நாள்,
வலி மிகும் முன்பின் பாணனொடு, மலி தார்த்
தித்தன் வெளியன் உறந்தை நாள் அவைப்
பாடு இன் தெண் கிணைப் பாடு கேட்டு அஞ்சி,
போர் அடு தானைக் கட்டி
பொராஅது ஓடிய ஆர்ப்பினும் பெரிதே.
தலைமகற்குத் தோழி வாயில் மறுத்தது. - பரணர்

Meaning: The gossip risen is larger than the uproar in the day assembly of Thithan Veliyan wearing large garlands, in Uraiyur, when Katti with a large army came to fight along with the brave and strong Pānan, and on hearing the sweet roars of the panai drums, ran away. (Source: Learn Sangam Tamil) http://learnsangamtamil.com/akananuru/

The 7th century A.D. hero stone (நடுகல்) evidence speaks about 'Kunra Gatti (குன்ற கட்டி).'  

The Ilameekaramutaiya Nayanar temple inscription of Viraramanathan inscribed in the year 1274 A.D. observes about the Devadanam made to Ilameekaramutaiya Nayanar (temple) by six Mudalis of Taramangalam including 'Niruni Periya Ilaman'. Another inscription at the same temple by Sadaiyavarman Sundara Pandyan II inscribed in the year 1281 A.D. reports about 'Niruni Ilaiyan Nalla Udaiyappan', one of the Mudalis of Taramangalam, whose ancestors developed Latchumana Saturvedimangalam after winning the battle. Yet another inscription at the same temple by Sadaiyavarman Sundara Pandyan II mentions about Niruni Ilaiyan Nalla Udaiyappan, one of the eight Mudalis of Taramangalam, who made gift of tax free land (karaikalam) to priests of Latchumana Saturvedimangalam. One more inscription at the same temple points out about the same chieftain, one of the nine Mudalis of Taramangalam, who made gift of tax free villages from Amarakunthi to Vellaraipalli bound by and irrigated through Perumal Lake to priests of Latchumana Saturvedimangalam. The inscription retrieved from Taramangalam mentions about the 'Niruniar' clan of Kongu Vellala Goundar: 'Mudalikalil Niruni Periya Ilaman'; 'Mudalikalil suvatan seyyan kunra kamundan'; Mudalikalil sakatan Ilaman Perumal kamundan'.  One more inscription from the Taramangalam records that during the reign of Sadasiva (1542-1552 A.D) a village was given as a gift to the temple of 'Ramakudal' by one of the Mudalis of the same place. 'From this time onwards the names of these Mudaliars occur every frequently in inscriptions records of Amarakundi, Sankaridurg. Triuchengodu, Mecheri, Idangasalai and Pallampatti places in and around the Taramangalam region.'

Mackenzie collection of manuscripts refer about 13 Gatti Mudalis and provides the list comprising six in the order of succession: 1. Siyazhi Gatti; 2. Ragunatha Gatti; 3. Immudi Gatti; 4. Punkkan Gatti;  5. Vangamudi Gatti and 6. Kumara Gatti. Few scholars viewed the descendants of Gatti Mudali are the Kongu Vellala clan of Athiyan, Kanavalar, Marhavar, Narmudiyar, Vadakaraiyar.

Mackenzie manuscript also records the service rendered by the founder of Gatti Mudali dynasty as personal attendant to Tirumalai Nayak, the most notable of the thirteen Madurai Nayak rulers in the 17th century. Due to some petty misdeed, he left the Imperial service and settled in a village called Amarakunthi and learned indigenous medicine (as barber) and attended the ailment of Kunni Vettuvan, the local Vettuvan chieftain and also cured it. For this act of medical attendance, the Ketti Mudali was honored as chieftain. In the initial stages this region was under Vijayanagar empire. Later in 1623 this region became one of the Palayams (Madurai Nayak's Palayam divisions). Taramangalam, the temple town near Salem became the capital of the Palayam of Gatti Mudali and Amarakundhi (Omalur Taluk, Salem district, Tamil Nadu) also served as the alternate capital. Kaveripuram (Kolathur Taluk, Salem District, Tamil Nadu State) became another strategic centre at the border of Mysore.

• Mummudi Gatti Mudali: Taramangalam Kailasanathar temple,  the most beautiful of its kind in Salem District, features exquisite stone carvings. During 13th Century reconstruction and elaboration of this temple commenced by Mummudi Gatti Mudali.
• Siyazhi Gatti: Reconstruction and elaboration of Taramangalam Kailasanathar temple was continued during Siyazhi Gatti's reign.
• Immudi Gatti: He ruled over parts of Erode and Namakkal. He made an endowment in 1564 A.D for the upkeep of the temples of Kailasanathar and Hamisvaram Udaiya Nayanar in Taramangalam. At Bhavani Sangameswarar Temple, one of his inscriptions was retrieved and placed along the wall of the temple. It speaks about his wife's contribution to the temple.
• Vangamudi Gatti: Vanangamudi Gatti completed the reconstruction and elaboration of Taramangalam Kailasanathar temple in the 17th century. He also had plan to construct a Thousand Pillared Hall and for this purposes his sculptors chiseled several gigantic monolithic pillars of pink granite carved, polished, and ready for erection. Since he was killed in a war in Omalur in 1667 A.D., this hall could not be completed. About 20 pillars lie around the temple and some more are believed to have got buried. However in 1975, the Salem district collector initiated a project to retrieve the pillars and complete the Pillared hall with the available pillars and this project discontinued due to declaration of emergency. Vanagamudi Gatti  also built a Pillaiyar temple and a matam in Chidambaram. He has granted the village of Ilavampatti to the Kailasanathar temple in Taramangalam.

Reference:

1. Attur Fort in Aragalur blog http://aragalur.blogspot.in/2005/08/attur-fort.html
2. Call to restore 374-year-old exquisitely carved pillars SP.Saravanan. The Hindu. July 01, 2014 http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/call-to-restore-374yearold-exquisitely-carved-pillars/article6166597.ece
3. Gatti Mudali http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gatti_Mudalis
4. Gatti Mudhali Dynasty http://attur.in/town/mudhali.html
5. Historic inscription lies uncared for at temple.  Karthik Madhavan. The Hindu. January 28, 2007 http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/historic-inscription-lies-uncared-for-at-temple/article1788604.ece
6. Mackenzie manuscripts; summaries of the historical manuscripts in the Mackenzie collection, Volume 1,Colin Mackenzie,University of Madras, 1972
7. Talk: Gatti Mudalis http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk%3AGatti_Mudalis
8. Taramangalam Growth. http://tharamangalaminfo.blogspot.in/p/history.html

Virinchipuram Temple Inscription: Say No to Dowry by Brahmins of Padaividu kingdom

Marriage Ceremony

Virinchipuram Maragathambihai samedha Margabandheeswarar temple near Vellore, Tamil Nadu

Beautifully sculpted Mandapam at Virinchipuram Maragathambihai samedha Margabandheeswarar temple

 A Tamil Inscription from Margabandeswarar Temple in Virinchipuram offers some respite for DOWRY, THE SOCIAL CURSE that has vexed Brahman community during the reign Devaraya II (reigned 1432–46), Vijayanagara emperor.

Agreement against Dowry by Brahmanas of the kingdom of Padaividu

This inscription refers to the Brahmana Dharma (Sacred Law of Brahmans) and specific reference to the Brahmanas of the kingdom of Padaividu (town of  Padavedu - previously known as Padaividu - now in the Polur Taluk, Thiruvannamalai district) including Karnataka, Tamil, Telugu and Lata (the old name of Gujarat) Brahmanas. An agreement, signed by the representatives of Brahmanas of the kingdom of Padaividu , vouch to conduct marriages in their families as mere 'Kanyadhana.' - the part of the marriage ceremony where the bride's father only gives away the bride to the bridegroom. Both fathers of bride and bridegrooms who accepted money and the who paid the money, should be subject to punishment by the king and to excommunication for their caste. The canonical works  on sacred law discourages the practice of paying money as dowry. The marriage thus concluded is termed as 'Asura Vivaha' and the sacred law condemns such practices.

What is dowry? Dowry is a transaction between two parties involving cash, or other valuable articles such as precious metals, gems, clothing, appliances, real estate, or goods for entertainment, made as a condition for entering a marriage contract. 

Although dowry was illegalized in 1961 (The Dowry Prohibition Act of 1961 in India), people from almost all castes are demanding dowry to different extents. Youngsters and parents view dowry as a 'way of accumulating economic capital.'

Newspapers and other media report daily about dowry harassment ranging from a lifetime of verbal abuse to extreme physical and sexual abuse. It is also closely interlinked to  female infanticide, neglect of the girl child, denial of educational and career opportunities to daughters, domestic violence, rape, extortion, homicide and other kinds of discrimination against women.

In Tamil society dowry and prestige are the two closely related social issues. Those who are in their demanding side never wants to give up and those who are in the accepting side always yielding to the demand in spite of great deal of difficulties.

Present day consumerism wants to say no to dowry. Women’s rights organisations are turning  the miseries of dowry victims.

Inscription inside the front gopura of the Virinchipuram Temple

(No.56 Inside the front gopura of the Virinchipuram temple, second inscription to the right: III - Inscriptions at and near Virinchipuram. Tamil and Grantha Inscriptions. South Indian Inscriptions)

Tamil Text

சுபமஸ்து. ஸ்வஸ்தி ஸ்ரீ . ஸ்ரீமன் மகா ராஜாதிராஜ பரமேசுவரரான ஸ்ரீ வீரபிர
தாப தேவராய மகாராஜர் ப்ரித்விராஜ்யம் பண்ணி அருளானின்ற சகாப்தம்
1347ழின் மேல் செல்லானின்ற விஸ்வாசு வருஷம் பங்குனி மாதம் 3க்கு
சஷ்டியும் புதன்கிழமையும்பெற்ற ஆநுசத்து நாள், படைவீட்டு இராஜ்யத்து
அஸேஷவித்யமஹாஜநங்களும் அகர்கபுஷ்கரணி கோபிநாத ஸன்னதியிலே
தர்ம ஸ்தாபந மையபத்ரம் பண்ணி குடுத்தபடி

இற்றைய நாள்முதலாக இந்த படைவீட்டு ராஜ் யத்து பிராமணரில்
கன்ன(டி)கர் தமிழர் தெலுங்கர் இலாளர் முதலான ஆஸேஷ கோத்திரத்து
அஸேஷசூத்தரத்தில் அஸேஷகையிலவர்களும் விவாஹம் பண்ணுமிடத்து,
கன்னியாதானமாக விவாஹம் பண்ணக் கடவராகவும் கன்னியாதானம்
பண்ணாமல் பொன் வாங்கி பெண் கொடுத்தால், பொன் கொடுத்து விவாஹம்
பண்ணினால், ராஜ தண்டத்துக்கும் உட்பட்டு பிராமண்யத்துக்கும்
புறம்பாகக் கடவரென்று பண்ணின தர்ம ஸ்தாபன மைய பத்ரம்; இப்படிக்கு
அஸேஷ வித்ய மகாஜனங்கள் எழுத்து

Translation

Let there be Prosperity! Hail! On the day of (the nakshatra) Anusham (Anuradha Star constellation) which corresponds to Wednesday, the sixth lunar day, the 3rd (solar day) of the month of Panguni (Tamil Calendar month) of the Visvavasu (Tamil Calendar year) year, which was current after the Saka (Shalivahana calendar) year 1347 (had passed),  while the illustrious maharajadhiraja-parameswara, the illustrious Virapratpa-Devaraya-maharaja was pleased to rule the earth,-the great men of all branches of sacred studies of the kingdom (rajyam) of Padaividu drew up, in the presence of (the god) Gopinatha (of) Arkapushkkarini, a document (which contains) an agreement fixing the sacred law. According  to (this document), if the Brahmanas of this kingdom (rajyam) of Padaividu, viz., Kannadigas, Tamilas, Telungas, Ilalas, etc.,of all gotras, sutras,  and  sakhas conclude a marriage, they shall, from this day forward, do it by kanyadana. Those who do no adopt kanyadana, i.e., both those who give away after having received gold, and those who conclude a marriage after having given gold, shall be liable to punishment by the king and shall be excluded from the community of Brahmanas. These are the contents of the document which was drawn up.

The following are the signatures of the great men of all branches of sacred studies:-

Virinchipuram Maragathambihai samedha Margabandheeswarar temple

Virinchipuram Maragathambihai samedha Margabandheeswarar temple is located near Vellore town in the Chennai-Bangalore Highway. The east facing temple is around 1300 years old and is very rich in extraordinary sculptures and artistic pillars. The legend is found in  Arunachala Puranam, Siva Rahasiyam, Kanchi puranam and many other holy books . Aadhi Shankaracharyar did the Beejakshara Pradhishtai to the Simha theertham of the temple. The temple was venerated by Thirumoolar, Pattinathar, Thirugnana Sambhandhar, Appar, Arunagirinadhar, Appayya Dikshithar and few others. The holy tree is palm and the holy water tanks include Simha Theertham, Sooli Theertham and Brahma Theertham.

Reference

No.56 Inside the front gopura of the Virinchipuram temple, second inscription to the right: III - Inscriptions at and near Virinchipuram. Tamil and Grantha Inscriptions. South Indian Inscriptions http://www.whatiindia.com/inscriptions/south_indian_inscriptions/volume_1/virinchipuram.htm.

Tamil Numeration System: Learn Tamil Numbers to decipher Inscriptions

Tamil Inscription from Darasuram showing Tamil Numerals

Early civilization have understood the importance of numbers and the ways to handle them and every society had their own representation of numbers in their age and every civilization had different glyphs to represent number.

The Hindu-Arabic numeration system also called the decimal numeration system (Latin word decem, meaning "ten."), is the most popular numeration system used by people today. Positional numeration or decimal place-value numeration is the system of representing or encoding numbers. This numeration system uses Arabic numerals. 

Aryabhata I or Aryabhata the Elder  (476–550 CE), an astronomer and the earliest Indian mathematician from either Ashmaka or Kusumapura, India developed the place-value notation.  Brahmagupta (598 –.670 CE) from Bhinmal, Rajasthan another Indian mathematician and astronomer introduced the symbol for zero as well as rules to compute with zero in his work Brahmasphutasiddhanta (The Opening of the Universe), in 628 CE.

This numeration system and its glyph notations developed from Indian Brahmi numerals and the full numeration system was first developed in India (around A.D. 800). The numeration system was first reported in Al-Khwarizmi's On the Calculation with Hindu Numerals and in Al-Kindi's four volume work On the Use of the Indian Numerals. At later stage it was refined by Arabs.

1. Hindu-Arabic numeration system uses 10 digits or symbols that can be used in combination to represent all possible numbers. The numeration system digits or symbols are: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

2. Numeration system groups by tens: Ten ones are replaced by one ten, ten tens are replaced by one hundred, ten hundreds are replaced by one thousand, 10 one thousand are replaced by 10 thousands, and so forth...

3. Numeration system uses a place value - starting from right to left;

1. the first number represents how many ones there are
2. the second number represents how many tens there are
3. the third number represents how many hundreds there are
4. the fourth number represents how many thousands there are

    and so on...

Tamil numeration system (தமிழ் எண்கள், தமிழ் இலக்கங்கள்) is the forgotten numeration system by the Tamil speaking people today. The numeration system employs Vattezhuttu

glyph notations to represent numerals from "ONE" to "NINE." It is interesting to find that the numeration system doesn't contain a Tamil glyph notation to represent zero. People wondering why the Tamil numeration system does not have any glyph for "ZERO". Absence "Zero' makes it as the non-decimal numeration system.

1. Tamil numeration system uses the simple additive systems (sign-value notation). This single value notation and numeration system was adopted before positional notation became standard. In sign-value notation only digits or symbols can be used in combination to represent all possible numbers. The numeration system digits or symbols are:

Thus digits ONE to TEN represented as shown below: 

௧= 1 ௨= 2 ௩=3 ௪= 4 ௫= 5 ௬= 6 ௭= 7 ௮=8 ௯=9 ௰= 10

Thus digits ELEVEN to TWENTY represented as shown below:

௰௧ = 11 ௰௨ = 12 ௰௩ = 13 ௰௪ = 14 ௰௫ = 15

௰௬ = 16 ௰௭ = 17 ௰௮ = 18 ௰௯ = 19 ௨௰ = 20

The digits TWENTY ONE to TWENTY NINE represented below

௨௰௧ = 21 ௨௰௨  = 22 ௨௰௩ = 23 ௨௰௪ = 24  ௨௰௫ = 25

௨௰௬ = 26 ௨௰௭ = 27 ௨௰௮ = 28 ௨௰௯ = 29

The digits THIRTY to NINETY represented below

௩௰ = 30 ௪௰ = 40 ௫௰ = 50 ௬௰ = 60 ௭௰ = 70 ௮௰ = 80 ௯௰ = 90

The digits 101, 110, 111, and 156

௱௧ = 101 ௱௰ = 110 ௱௰௧ = 111 ௱௫௰௬= 156

The digits 201, 210, 211, and 256

௨௱௧ = 201 ௨௱௰ = 210 ௨௱௰௧ = 211 ௨௱௫௰௬ = 256

The digits 900 , 910, 911, 990, 999

௯௱ = 900 ௯௱௰ = 910 ௯௱௰௧ = 911 ௯௱௫௰௬ = 956 ௯௱௯௰ = 990 ௯௱௯௰௯ = 999

The digits 1000, 1001, 1010, 1056, 1111, 1156

௲ =1000 ௲௧ = 1001 ௲௱௰ = 1010 ௲௫௰௬ = 1056 ௲௱௰௧ = 1111 ௲௱௫௰௬ = 1156

2. Numeration system groups by nine: It had separate glyph for numbers TEN ௰  HUNDRED ௱

and THOUSAND ௲

3. Tamil Numeration system does not have a place value: 

Multiples of ten (பதின்பெருக்கம்)

10 (10 to the power of 1) Ten Patthu பத்து ௰
100 (10 to the power of 2) Hundred  Nooru நூறு ௱
1,000 (10 to the power of 3) Thousand Aayiram ஆயிரம்  ௲
10,000  (10 to the power of 4) Ten Thousand Patthayiram பத்தாயிரம் ௰௲
1,00,000  (10 to the power of 5) Hundred Thousand (One Lakh) Noorayiaram நூறாயிரம் ௱௲
1,000,000  (10 to the power of 6) Million  (Ten Lakh) meiyyiram மெய்யிரம் ௲௲
10,000,000 (10 to the power of 7) Ten Million (One Crore or One Hundred Lakh) ௰௲௲
1,00,000,000 (10 to the power of 8) One Billion (Ten Crore) ௱௲௲
1,000,000,000  (10 to the power of 9) Ten Billion (One Hundred Crore) tollun தொள்ளுண் ௲௲௲
1,000,000,000,000 (10 to the power of 12) One Trillion igiyam ஈகியம்
௲௲௲௲
1,000,000,000,000,000 (10 to the power of 15) Quadrillion neļai நெளை ௲௲௲௲௲
1,000,000,000,000,000,000 (10 to the power of 18) Quintillion ilanchi இளஞ்சி ௲௲௲௲௲௲
100,000,000,000,000,000,000 (10 to the power of 20) vellam வெள்ளம்  ௱௲௲௲௲௲௲
1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 (10 to the power of 21) Sextillion ambal ஆம்பல் ௲௲௲௲௲௲௲

Currently unicode encodes Tamil numerals 1 to 9, 10, 100 and 1000. The proposed position in the Tamil Unicode range (U+BE06) is reserved and has the comment as equivalent digit zero  (U+0030). It is proposed that Tamil zero be encoded at this position:

Hindu-Arabic numeration system	Tamil  Numeartion System	Unicode
1	௧	&#3047
2	௨	&#3048
3	௩	&#3049
4	௪	&#3050
5	௫	&#3051
6	௬	&#3052
7	௭	&#3053
8	௮	&#3054
9	௯	&#3055
10	௰	&#3056
100	௱	&#3057
1000	௲	&#3058

Mr.Raman has developed an online software converter utility for converting the given Hindu Arabic numeration to Tamil numeration: Click here for Tamil Numeration Converter

Source: Tamil Epigraphy – Tamil numbers Raman's Kirukkalkal (wordpress) https://ramanchennai.wordpress.com/2012/01/

Reference:

1. Hindu–Arabic numeral system (Wikipedia) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_Arabic_numeral_system
2. Numeral system (Wikipedia) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Numeral_system
3. Positional notation (Wikipedia) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Positional_notation
4. Single Value Notation (Wikipedia) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sign-value_notation
5. Tamil numerals (Wikipedia) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamil_numerals