Chennai, Sept 14( BPNS)

A team of students and professors of Mannar Thirumalai College in Madurai recently discovered a 400-year-old Naick-era stone inscription at a temple in Theni.

The 400-year-old stone inscription was found at a temple in Andipatti taluk in Theni. The archaeologically precious material was discovered by Assistant professors of the Department of History of the college, R.Praiya and S. Rajagopal along with a few students. A social activist, S.Aswath was also in the team.

The stone inscription was found at the Vinayahar temple in Andipatti taluk but actually the stone inscription was originally found at Pandya Meenakshi Sundareswar Temple but the temple turned into a dilapidated condition. Local people then installed the stone inscription at a Vinayagar temple nearby unknown about the archeological and historical significance of the stone inscription.

The stone has a Vaishnava symbol , the sun , the moon and a lotus flower with blurred letters.

Retired Archeologist Dr C. Santhalingam while speaking to media persons said “ The inscriptions on the stone talk about Veerakandama Naicker having received a donation from Muthu Veerappa Naick who was the 6th ruler of the Madurai Naick Kingdom  “.

 According to the local people further exploration could provide more information on the Kandamanaykkanur local administration.