Four inscriptions belonging to different historical periods have been found at an ancient temple in a dilapidated condition at Alamelumangalam, a remote village off the Tiruchi-Musiri Road, by research scholars of Dr. M. Rajamanikkanar Centre for Historical Research, Tiruchi.

The inscriptions split into fragments apparently during renovations taken up in the past were found during an explorative study undertaken by R. Akila, assistant professor, Arignar Anna Government Arts College, Musiri, along with two K. Kasturi and S. Sridevi, postgraduate history students of the college.

Ms. Kasturi’s brother, K. Sarankumar, a schoolboy, had sounded out her sister on the existence of a dilapidated temple in the village. Ancient sculptures were found at the temple, referred to as Varadaraja Perumal Temple by local people, according to R. Kalaikkovan, Director, Dr. M. Rajamanikkanar Centre for Historical Research.

In a press release, Dr. Kalaikovan said large size icons of Vishnu and his consort Sridevi, which were once inside the temple, have now been kept under a thatched shed, a makeshift arrangement made by a local resident A. Ramasamy.

The dilapidated temple at present has a vimana without upper structures and two mandapas in front. The larger pillared mandapa in the front has a raised platform on its northwest housing two sculptures of Vishnu of medium size and an icon of Naga. The mukha mandapa was empty, he said.

M. Nalini, Head, Department of History, Seethalakshimi Ramasamy College, who verified the inscriptions found at the temple, said that two records of 14{+t}{+h}century split into several fragments were identified at the bases of two mandapas and the vimana and one of them reveals the gift of a fertile land to the temple towards its worship and offerings by the sabha of a certain Brahmin settlement. The inscription provides a list of signatories who were members of the sabha.

The other inscription throws light on a processional deity and the endowment of dry land towards its worship made by a group of people. Another inscription of 18{+t}{+h}century copied from the door jamb of the larger mandapa registers the gift of a land by Vedanayaka Nambi. The purpose of the gift was not known.

A later Pandya inscription copied from a pillar of the same mandapa introduces Kailayamudaian Anjataperumal who probably was behind the construction of the mandapa.

The inscriptions split into fragments were found during an explorative study