Plea to protect ancient brick temple, granary of Pananchayal

 

    The Ramanathapuram Archaeological Research Foundation has requested the preservation of the ancient brick temple and paddy granary at Pananchayal near Thondi in Ramanathapuram district. Regarding this, V. Rajaguru, the Founder of Ramanathapuram Archaeological Research Foundation, said,

          There is a very small temple in Pananchayal, built entirely of bricks. It is in the Pandya period architectural style and has a very small sanctum,  Arthamandapa. There is a dome above the sanctum. There are 3 lamp niches. Three devakottas and 14 semi-pillars are built on its outer wall. The pillars have elements such as the Bodhika, Veerakanda, Paala, and Kudam, which are made of bricks. The Bodhika of the semi-pillars is cut Bodhika. A small standing sculpture may have been in the sanctum. It may have been built in the 12th-13th century AD.

          Black and red potsherds, iron slags, hopscotch, and grinding stones are scattered around a pond in the south kudiyiruppu of the village. These are broken shards of black and red vases, tumblers, and small pots that are 2,000 years old.

          A paddy granary from the Sethupathi period is hidden in the Karuvai trees to the south of this pond. It is built entirely of bricks and has a lime coating on top. The rectangular granary is divided into three rooms by walls in the middle. It faces east and has three gates. There are five small windows on the top of the walls, 3 in the west, 3 in the east, and one each in the south and north. The roof has collapsed. A floor made of black stones was built two feet above the ground and paddy was poured on it. There is a void between the ground and the black stone floor. Due to this, the moisture of the ground does not affect the paddy. Retaining walls have been built to prevent cracks from forming in the walls due to the paddy being placed in it. It has been damaged due to garbage being dumped in front of the granary and the dense Karuvai trees. It may be about 300 years old.

          A platform has been set up near the bus stand and a linga and Vinayaga sculptures are being worshipped as a temple. There may have been a Shiva temple here during the later Chola rule, he said.

NEWS