This second visit to the Thondur
Sayana Perumal carved on a boulder was a part of the Viluppuram Heritage Walk
organized by History Trails on 24th and 25th July 2021.
The first visit to this Anantha Sayana Perumal was organized by the REACH
Foundation on 15th Feb 2015.
Anantha
Sayana Perumal was chiseled on a huge rock in the midst of paddy fields.
Perumal is in Anantha sayanam on Adhiseshan (5-hooded snake), keeping his head on the left side, which is rare. In the neck, the throat is not visible; instead, the surface is smooth. The ‘Kireedam‘/ Crown is of Cambodian style; hence, this was chiseled by the Pallavas and has a connection to Cambodia ( ?). This
bas-relief was carved during the year 780 CE.
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
The Pallava King (Vijniya – Siyaparumar… ?) period inscription on the Vinnamparai
rock to the left of the image of Vinnaraja near Tondur is much damaged and cannot be read.
The Pallava King Dantivarman’s 6th reign
year, 802 CE, inscription on a boulder (in the village on the back side of the
residential houses), records an undertaking by the ūrār of Aruvägūr, (a
village) on the eastern part of Singapura-nādu,¹ as their duty to the state (?)
(dēśikappādu... manom) in respect of 16 kalañcu of gold, gifted by
Viņņakōvaraiyar to (goddess) Erruk-Kunranār-Bhattāri, for the merit of Udaradi
and Nambi... who lost their lives on behalf of Viņņakōvaraiyar, received by
them viz., that they would (supply) daily four nāli of rice as the interest
thereon. The gift-money was entrusted to Kāśyapar and...paiyar, who agreed to be
the executors of the gift and those who were born in their family and acted as
supervisors (nāyakan-ceyvar). The ūrar also agreed to pay a quarter more on the
interest to the household of Vinnakōvaraiyar for any default in the supply and
remit 4 ¼ mudal (capital) as fine for any failure.
NOTE1. The territorial division Singapura-nādu
was probably named after Singavaram in the Gingee taluk of the South Arcot
district. It included Nerkunam and Vedal in the Wandiwash taluk of the North
Arcot district and Täyanür in the Tirukköilür Taluk of the South Arcot
District.
The above inscription in ARE 1916 registers a
gift of gold by Vinnagovaraiyar to (the temple of ?) Kunranar-Battari worshipped
by Vingakovarniyar, for the nerit Udaradi and Numbi….and who fell in a
cattle-raid. The gold was received by the residents of Kilvali. Aruvägûr in
Singapura-nadu.
The Chozha king Parakesarivarman “who took the head
of Vira Pandya”, 5th year of reign, inscription on slab with bow and
arrow, registers a gift of sheep for a lamp to the temple of Kidanda-Perumal by
Sûramittirap-perumanradi, son of Irugannan residing at Kilvali-Tondür in
Singapura-nadu.
References:
1. ARE, 1916, no. 281, 282 and 283.
2. South
Indian inscriptions Volume – XII, no. 42 and plate v.3. Inscriptions of the Pallavas, by T V Mahalingam. 
HOW TO REACHThondur
Sayana Perumal is about 18 km from Gingee, 57 km from
Villupuram, 58.6 km from Thiruvannamalai, 70 km from Thirukovilur, and 155 km from Chennai.The nearest Railway Junction is Villupuram.
LOCATION OF
THE PLACE: CLICK HERE
---
OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
The Pallava King (Vijniya – Siyaparumar… ?) period inscription on the Vinnamparai
rock to the left of the image of Vinnaraja near Tondur is much damaged and cannot be read.
The Pallava King Dantivarman’s 6th reign
year, 802 CE, inscription on a boulder (in the village on the back side of the
residential houses), records an undertaking by the ūrār of Aruvägūr, (a
village) on the eastern part of Singapura-nādu,¹ as their duty to the state (?)
(dēśikappādu... manom) in respect of 16 kalañcu of gold, gifted by
Viņņakōvaraiyar to (goddess) Erruk-Kunranār-Bhattāri, for the merit of Udaradi
and Nambi... who lost their lives on behalf of Viņņakōvaraiyar, received by
them viz., that they would (supply) daily four nāli of rice as the interest
thereon. The gift-money was entrusted to Kāśyapar and...paiyar, who agreed to be
the executors of the gift and those who were born in their family and acted as
supervisors (nāyakan-ceyvar). The ūrar also agreed to pay a quarter more on the
interest to the household of Vinnakōvaraiyar for any default in the supply and
remit 4 ¼ mudal (capital) as fine for any failure.
NOTE
1. The territorial division Singapura-nādu
was probably named after Singavaram in the Gingee taluk of the South Arcot
district. It included Nerkunam and Vedal in the Wandiwash taluk of the North
Arcot district and Täyanür in the Tirukköilür Taluk of the South Arcot
District.
The above inscription in ARE 1916 registers a
gift of gold by Vinnagovaraiyar to (the temple of ?) Kunranar-Battari worshipped
by Vingakovarniyar, for the nerit Udaradi and Numbi….and who fell in a
cattle-raid. The gold was received by the residents of Kilvali. Aruvägûr in
Singapura-nadu.
The Chozha king Parakesarivarman “who took the head
of Vira Pandya”, 5th year of reign, inscription on slab with bow and
arrow, registers a gift of sheep for a lamp to the temple of Kidanda-Perumal by
Sûramittirap-perumanradi, son of Irugannan residing at Kilvali-Tondür in
Singapura-nadu.
References:
1. ARE, 1916, no. 281, 282 and 283.
2. South
Indian inscriptions Volume – XII, no. 42 and plate v.
LOCATION OF
THE PLACE: CLICK HERE
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