Tamil Nadu - Erode   

Historic inscription lies uncared for at temple

Karthik Madhavan

NEEDS ATTENTION: The damaged stone inscription of Immudi Katti Mudali period. — Photo: M. GOVARTHAN

ERODE: Immudi Katti Mudali, a chieftain of Katti Mudali dynasty ruled over parts of Erode and Namakkal during the seventeenth century. He cared for his subjects' welfare, built tanks and renovated temples.

Today, as if nullifying his fame, inscriptions of his on stone remain uncared for at the Bhavani Sangameswarar Temple, where it has been placed along the sides of a wall, on a cement structure, unidentified.

The inscriptions talk of his wife's and his contributions to the temple, among others. It also has a lotus on the centre of a lengthy rectangular slab, on the four sides of which are woman dancing. Towards the edges of the stone are tigers. The stone next to it, also rectangular, bears engravings of solar and lunar eclipse and peacocks, besides floral designs.

Though long enough, the stones are not prominent. As if veiling their presence is a stall, where devotees can have themselves photographed on the corridors of the temple. There is no signboard. Inside the goddess' sanctum complex is a plaque with a brief history of the temple, which also includes Katti Mudali's contribution. The details, however, cannot be had because books and photographs of a stall block the view.

Pointing to the historic importance of Immudi Katti Mudali, Curator of Government Museum, Erode, C. Maheswaran, says the Katti Mudali dynasty claimed to represent Cheras, Chozhas and Pandias and to that effect carried the symbols of the three kings - bow and arrow, tigers and fish. He adds that the dynasty was so famous that even today people remember them by a tank on Anthiyur Road, Kattisamudram, and the village, Kattiseviyur. Asked about the scant regard for historic inscriptions, the temple authorities assure that they will ensure that the stones get the prominence they deserve.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Historic inscription lies uncared for at temple
Plea against move to shift railway parcel office
Garbage dump troubles residents
Solar fencing to save animals
BPL list displayed at offices

Copyright © 2007, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu