407-year-old Kulasekara Pandian copper plate found near Paramakudi

             Ramanathapuram Archaeological Research Foundation has found a copper plate gifted by Kulasekara Pandian to the Kamuthakudi Sundaravalli Amman temple near Paramakudi in Ramanathapuram district in 1618 AD.

Subramanian from Kamuthakudi, informed to V. Rajaguru, the President of Ramanathapuram Archaeological Research Foundation, that Thangavelu, the priest of Sundaravalli Amman Temple, has an oldest copper plate. It was studied and examined by V.Rajaguru.

V. Rajaguru said, 

The copper plate is small in size, measuring 17 cm long, 9.5 cm wide, and weighing 400 grams with handle. It consists of 37 lines, starting with ‘Swasti Sriman’ and ends with ‘Sundarespar Sagayam’.

This is the year 2810 of the Kali Yuga and the 20th day of the month of Masi in the Pingala Tamil year. The Kali Yuga year is incorrect. Based on the Tamil year and writing system, the date can be said to be 1618 AD.

The copper plate mentioned that the king Kulasekara Pandyan, created a new village named as Sundanendal from the lands in Kulakumelpatti village, on the auspicious day of Uttarayanam, Purvapaksha, Chaturdashi and Thiruvonam stars, inVanar Veeravagai Valanadu, Madurai Mandalam. The king donated One kalam, 4 marakkals and one maa (measurements of capacity) quantity of grain cultivated from 70 Viraiyadi  land (A measure of land) flowed water by Sundanendal tank and Keethumadai, along with 30 kurukkams (A measure of land) of land for daily pooja at the Sundaravalli Parasakthi temple.

Sundanendal is to the south of Vaigai River, to the west of Thelichathanallur and to the north of Poduvakkudi. Daily pooja of the temple should be performed by Nambian Sunda Pandaram till the Sun and the Moon are present. The end stated that no one should destroy this charity. One kalam, 4 marakkals and one maa (measurements of capacity) are symbolized as ‘க௱, த, ப’ .

This area, which was known as Vanaveera valanadu and Manaveera valanadu in the 10th-11th centuries AD, was renamed as Vanar viravagai valanadu in 1618 AD. Kulasekara Pandyan may have been a descendant of the Pandyan dynasty that ruled the Vanar viravagai Valanadu region.

According to an inscription dated 1674 AD found on the Melaperungarai temple near this village, it can be said that the Pandyas ruled this region until before the time of Tirumalai Sethupathi. Thus, he said.