chap15
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Mirror of Tamiḻ and Sanskrit
R. Nagaswamy
15. VEḶḶALŪR
15.1. Veḷḷalūr Hoard of Roman coins
Tamiḻnāṭu has yielded a large number of treasure trove finds over the last two hundred years. The most famous of these are the Veḷḷalūr hoards, which have produced a very large number of Roman coins in gold, silver, and bronze. In addition to these coins, remarkable gold jewelry has been found, some of which are undoubtedly of Mediterranean origin. Veḷḷalūr is a part of the modern town of Coimbatore. The first hoard of Roman coins was found as far back as 1841. Subsequently, coins were found in the same village in 1843, 1891, 1931, and 1939. Over 650 gold coins of Augustus (14 CE) and 500 silver coins and other jewelry were found.
Among the jewelry found, the most striking one is a golden ring showing a composite figure of a dwarf with a clown-like cap that has an opened mouth on top. When it is turned on the side the same figure appears like a Sea monster with a tail. When the same is again turned upside down it shows the head of a warrior with an elaborate headgear. Several rings like the Veḷḷalūr ring were found in the Mediterranean region and are now preserved in the Royal Cabinet collection of Belgium. The find of this type of Gold ring at Veḷḷalūr as a treasure found buried near Coimbatore proves beyond doubt that the Koṅgu country was in active trade with the Roman Empire. The finds are dateable to the 1st, and 2nd century CE. In addition, the hoard also consisted of several other gold rings one of which shows a fish emblem incised on it.
Another one shows a lion standing with its front paw raised and the tail curved and standing as found in later Viṣṇukuṇḍin coins. There is a lovely gold necklace chain included among the finds which shows intricate workmanship. Also included in the group are two gold pendants with a tri-ratna motif over a circular disc. There is a carnelian ring that carries a beautiful horse standing obviously used in a ring.
These finds show the works of two classes of artisans found in this collection: the Yavanas who are known for their excellent sculptural skill and the other is that of native artists who have also perfected their art. The Tamiḻ epic Maṇimēkhalai speaks of four classes of artists working with the Tamiḻ artists in Tamiḻnāṭu: they were artists from Magadha, Maratta, Avanti (Modern Ujjaini), and Yavanas jointly working with Tamiḻ vinaijñar. This mutual borrowing was a high mark of the period.
This find proves that right in the heart of the Koṅgu country there were International traders at Coimbatore.
15.2. Veḷḷalūr Temple
Two inscriptions have been copied from the Śiva temple of this village. The records were said to be on stones lying buried in the temple and were found during renovation. (They are published in the Coimbatore District Inscriptions Vol I, Inscription number 124 and 125 of 2004, Published by the Tamiḻandu State Archaeology Department in 2006). The earliest record is dated to the 9th century. The king’s name is lost but the regnal year is given as the 12th year. The village is called “Velialūr Tennūr” in the inscription and the Śiva temple is called tennūr nakkan koil. A certain Nakkaṉ Marudaṉ endowed ten kaḻañcu of gold, in the hand of the village assembly for burning a lamp in the temple. The land donated to the temple remained fallow for nearly 40 years. The brother-in-law of the donor named Ūraṉ Murugaṉ doubled that endowment increasing it to twenty kaḻañcu and entrusted the same with the village sabha. It was stipulated that from the proceeds of the interest nine day’s annual festival was to be conducted and the perpetual lamp was to be burnt regularly. Evidently, the temple was in existence before the 9th century.
The second inscription was a record of the Koṅgu king, Kōkkandaṉ Virānārāyaṇaṉ, recording the endowment of twelve and a half kaḻañcu of gold, for burning a day lamp in the temple. The endowment was made by one Kaṭṭi Ariyaṉ from Velpurai nāḍu. The lamp was to be burnt by the village sabha from the interest accruing from the gold deposit.
15.3. Śiva Liṅga
The present temple has undergone renovation recently. There are two sculptures in the temple that could be attributed to pre 9th century and they are the main Liṅga in the sanctum and the other a Gaṇeśa image. The main ŚivaLiṅga is made of white granite stone. Its pedestal square in form is also made of the same stone with well-pronounced moldings pointing to its early character. The Liṅga is the original one of the temples mentioned in the 9th-century inscription as Tennūr Nakkaṉ.
15.4. Gaṇeśa
The Gaṇeśa sculpture is also a very fine early sculpture, with four hands, seated with the rear upper right hand holding the broken tusk, and the left holding a bunch of corns. The front right hand holds a laḍḍuka, generally shown on the left front hand, and the left is placed on the thigh. There is a broad upavita going over the right arm. Gaṇeśa’s head is adorned with a short mukuṭa. Rudrakṣa mālā is seen on his neck, and arms. The head and the trunk are proportionate and realistic. Gaṇeśa has a pleasing belly that is not bulging as in later sculptures. There are certain peculiarities in the portrayal of this Gaṇeśa. Gaṇeśa is said to have broken the right tusk to write the Mahābhārata epic on the slopes of the Himalayas and Gaṇeśa held the broken tusk in his front right hand, whereas in the present one, the tusk is held in the rear right hand. The front left hand is shown hanging by the side as if placed on the left knee. However one may see a sharp pointed tusk end on the right side of the trunk. The end tip is not the original but was added recently to give a full form. It is also made of white granite, though the oil application gives slightly a blackish color. The presence of the main Liṅga and the Gaṇeśa show that the present temple is the original temple complex though the structures have undergone some redoing. The Liṅga and the Gaṇeśa may be assigned to the 8th or even the late 7th century.
The temple has a compound and other new additions. An entrance structure has been added in recent times.
As both the inscriptional records mention the Village assembly as sabha to look after the temple endowments, it is clear that the village had a colony of Brahmins who supervised the same.