Tamil Nadu: 18th century memorial found in Palani foothills

MADURAI: An 18th-century memorial was discovered recently by a group of archaeologists in the foothills of Palani hills.


Archaeologist V Narayanamoorthy said that his team, comprising professor Asokan and sthapathi Karthi had gone to Kannakkanpatti near Palani on information that an ancient structure was found in a dilapidated condition there.

On inspecting the place, the team found that it was a structure like memorials constructed for chieftains during the Naicker era. It is called a ‘maalai koil’ in Tamil.

It has a smaller elevated roof portion called ‘Vimanam’ and constructed with burnt bricks, measuring 22x 12 x 3 cm, which is another characteristic of Naicker period structures. The bricks have been cemented using slake lime and the front portion is buried underground. The sculpture in this structure which is buried as statues of a man and four women, with their hands folded as if in prayer, is also a characteristic of 18th century iconography. The dome is rounded on top and has a four-sided structure below.

The tower or ‘vimanam’ is a four-sided structure like that seen in Mamallapuram temples. Since there were no stone inscriptions no details could be gathered as to whom it was built for. Some families from Udumalpet are said to be visiting this temple and making offerings once a year, he said.