In Tamil Nadu, 386-year-old Sethupathi Dynasty Inscription Found On Washing Stone – News18

Last Updated:November 14, 2024, 17:16 IST

A 386-year-old inscription of King Thalavayan Sethupathi found on a stone used for washing clothes at Kulathur village.

A 386-year-old inscription of the Sethupathi dynasty was found on a stone used for washing clothes at Kulathur in Paramakudi taluk of Ramanathapuram district.

Teachers of Government High School, Kulathur, S Pauldurai, and S Ramamoorthi informed V Rajaguru, President of the Ramanathapuram Archaeological Research Foundation, that Farjith, an alumnus of the school, had told them that there was a stone inscription near his house.

The inscription reads “Nayan Thalavayan Sethupathi Katha Devar Puniyam of Kulathur Kumilamamatai in the land of Chevvirukai in the year 1560 of the era of Wekudaniya Varusham Avani 5 in 12 lines. The present year is 1638 AD. Thalavayan Sethupathi II, named Sadikath Devar, belongs to the era. “

Kumizhi Matai consists of two pillars standing high inside the Kanmai in this area and a structure like a kalpetti below it. At the top of the culvert and the ground level, the excess water and mud are drained out through the existing drain and mud holes and are arranged in such a way that they join the irrigation canal. When the water is opened for irrigation, the stone covering the hole is removed.

The inscription says that King Thalavayan Sethupathi built such a bubble temple at Kolathur Kanmai.

When Thalavayan Sethupathi came to power, it can be assumed that he was in power from 1632 AD by donating two towns to Rameswaram Ramanathaswamy temple.

In Mudalur, near this town, there is an inscription in AD 1637 that the pond and Kalingu Math were established.

So far, only two inscriptions and three sepedas belonging to his time have been discovered, but this new inscription is a source of strength to the history of this king, and it can be known that he paid great attention to irrigation.

Sasikumar, a resident of the area, said in a recent media interaction that many stones were lying in the Kanmai Kalingup area of this town, and this stone with an inscription was brought 7 years ago and used for washing clothes.

Now, on behalf of the antiquities conservation forum of the school, the archaeology department is requesting that this inscription, which shows that King Thalavayan Sethupathi paid great attention to irrigation, should be preserved.