Cool Chola-Era Writings Found in Karur District, Spill Secrets About Past Customs
KARUR, Tamil Nadu, India – August 18, 2025:A group of old Chola writings has been found in the Karur district. They give us some great info on how things were run and what life was like back then. These writings on stone, located at Sankaranmalai in the Krishnarayapuram area, were figured out by some history nerds. The most interesting thing is that the writings say the Chola kings kept detailed records of everything they owned, writing it all down on stone and copper. This find, thanks to some local history buffs, is thought to be a really helpful piece of the puzzle in understanding how the Chola empire kept track of stuff.
Where It Was Found and What They First Saw
The writings were at the bottom of Sankaranmalai hill, in the Sithalavai village area. Local historians have been curious about this spot for a while because of its past. Two history fans, Krishnakumar from Tiruppur and Thangaraj from Karur, were key in finding it all. They were checking out the area, trying to find stuff related to the local story of Ponnar-Sankar.
After spotting the writings, they got in touch with Mani Maran, a Tamil expert at the Sarasvati Mahal Library in Thanjavur. Mani Maran and a team went to the site to check out and read the old writings.
What the Writings Say
The stone writings mostly talk about donations given to a local temple called Sankaramalai Udaiyarkovil. They list the different presents and grants given to the temple by the Chola rulers. We don’t know all the specifics yet, but it seems like they gave land, cows, and other stuff.
The most important line says these details were written on stones and on copper. This shows they had a system where they kept records in two ways, which backs up what historians have long thought: important stuff was written down in different formats to make sure it lasted.
How Old Are the Writings?
Experts think the writings are from the time of Kulothunga Chola, putting them somewhere between the 12th and 18th years of his rule. They’re still figuring out which Kulothunga Chola it was, since there were a few kings with that name. But the writing style and what it says point to the Later Chola period.
The writings also have some doodles on them. These include drawings of a bull, two people, and a ‘trishul’ (a type of spear). Another crazy image is a ‘navakandam,’ showing a guy getting ready to chop off his own head with a sword over a fire.
Why This Is Important
Historians and archaeologists think this find is a big deal. We already have other writings and copper plates from the Chola time, but this one straight-up says they kept records in two ways. This suggests they were very organized and planned ahead, wanting to protect their historical records from being ruined by time and nature.
The ‘navakandam’ picture also gives us a rare look at the rituals they did back then. This type of offering was a way to honor a god or keep a promise, and seeing it in a historical record gives us real proof of these customs. It shines a light on what the Chola people believed and how they lived.
Karur District: A History Hotspot
Karur district has a long and interesting history, serving as a center for politics and trade for different groups. It used to be the capital of the early Chera kings and later was ruled by the Pandyas, Pallavas, and then the Cholas. Past digs in the area have turned up lots of old stuff, like Roman coins, which show it had old trading connections.
This new find just makes Karur even more important for understanding the history of South India. The area is still full of potential for historians and archaeologists, with lots of undiscovered sites waiting to be explored.
The Role of Local People
This find shows how important it is for local history fans to help find and protect historical records. It wasn’t the government who found it, but people who were really interested in their local history. Their hard work has added something super helpful to our understanding of the Chola period.
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and the Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology are now expected to take a closer look at the site and the surrounding areas. What they find will be written down and probably used in studies about the Chola empire.
