Writer Muthalankurichi Kamarasu went to Tirunelveli district, to study and write more about the intersection of the Pachaiyar and Thamirabani River.
Thamirabarani River flows through Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi districts of Tamil Nadu to immerse into the Gulf of Mannar. It is recognised as a holy river in Sanskrit literature, the river was famed during the early Pandyan era for its pearl and conch fisheries and trade. Impressed by its history, a man named Mutthalangurichi Kamarasu has written more than 60 books on the Thamirabarani River.
For the past 25 years, he has been walking along the banks of the Thamirabarani River to write about the history of the riverside in his book. In an attempt to find out more about the river, the man reportedly discovered a 424-year-old inscription on its riverbank.
Writer Muthalankurichi Kamarasu went to Tirunelveli district, to study and write more about the intersection of the Pachaiyar and Thamirabani River. At that time, there was no road leading into the Thamirabarani River. He walked about three kilometres through the fields and went to the confluence of the Pacchiyar and Thamirabarani Rivers.
At the bank, he reportedly found an ancient stone tablet. This stone wall was found buried in river sand during last year’s flood. When they entered through the passage, they saw a statue of Pillaiyar, two fish symbols in the upper part of the tablet, and an inscription in the middle.
In this inscription, it was written that the mandapam was built by Venkatesa Ayyan, the son of Surappa Ayyan, in the month of Vaikasi in 1600. The first letter in it looks a bit obscure. However, when you read it, it looks like Sangam literature. The stone hall has two fish symbols. It is known from this inscription that it has been 424 years since the construction of this stone mandapam.
This stone tablet was covered with sand due to rain after it was discovered. Muthalangurichi Kamarasu has requested that this sand-covered stone hall be repaired.
