13th-Century Land Grant Inscription Discovered in Pudukottai District
Discovery of a Chola-period Inscribed Trident Stone at Aadhanpatti
An inscribed four-sided trident stone (Nānmugha Choolakkal) dating back to the 13th century Chola period has been discovered in the agricultural fields of Aadhanpatti, under Marudampatti Panchayat, Iluppur Taluk, Pudukottai District.
Following information provided by Kiranur P. Murugaprasad, a member of the Pudukottai Archaeological Research Forum, a field study was carried out by A. Manikandan, founder of the Pudukottai Archaeological Research Forum and researcher in the Department of Ancient science, Tamil University, Thanjavur.
Historical Context
According to researcher A. Manikandan, in the past, land grants (Devadana / Thirunamathukkanis) given to temples and religious institutions were marked using symbolic stones:
Conch and Chakra for Vaishnavite shrines
Triple umbrella for Jain monasteries
Dharma Chakra for Buddhist sites
Tridents (Choolakkal) for Saivite temples
Such grants were exempt from taxation, and their revenues were intended for daily temple rituals.
Features of the Stone
The Aadhanpatti trident stone was found lying tilted in the field, with trident engravings on all four sides. One side also depicts a bull figure along with a sun and moon symbol above. This indicates the land was donated as Thirunamathukkanis (perpetual tax-free gift in the name of the deity) during the Chola period.
The Inscription :
The inscription, spread across three sides with 23 lines, is partly damaged. The legible portion reads:
“Swasti Sri. To the Lord Azhagiya Somanisvaramudaiya Nayanar of Keezhakkurichi, I (Chola Kadambar Veeran) have granted the lands including the Aadhanur tank, fields, groves, crops, wells, and all associated features as Thirunamathukkani (perpetual tax-free gift in the name of the deity).”
This confirms that Aadhanur lake and surrounding lands were donated to the Keezhakkurichi Azhagiya Somanisvara temple as a sacred endowment.
Continuity of Place Names
Remarkably, the names Aadhanur tank and Aadhan fields mentioned in the 700-year-old inscription are still in use today, highlighting the continuity of cultural memory and land identity.
Field Study Team
The discovery was witnessed by P. Murugaprasad, K. Nagarajan (former Panchayat President of Marudampatti), archaeology enthusiast Sahul Hameed, and local residents Murugesan, Perumal, Ravi, and Singaram
