VATTEZHUTHU
: ART & CULTURE
NEWS: Members of the
Virarajendran Archaeological and Historical Research Centre have discovered a
Vattezhuthu (ancient Tamil script) and eight Tamil inscriptions from the
1,00-year-old Thalikiswarar temple at Kovilpalayam near Koduvai in Tirupur
district.
WHAT’S IN THE NEWS?
Discovery
at Thalikiswarar Temple
Recent
Findings:
- Discoverers: Members of the
Virarajendran Archaeological and Historical Research Centre.
- Location: Thalikiswarar temple at
Kovilpalayam near Koduvai in Tirupur district.
- Inscriptions:
Vattezhuthu and eight Tamil inscriptions.
About
Thalikiswarar Temple:
- Deity: Dedicated to Lord Shiva.
- Significance:
Historical, architectural, and spiritual importance.
- Architecture:
Dravidian style with intricate carvings, towering gopurams, and a
decorated sanctum.
- Construction: One
of the ancient granite stone temples in the Kongu region.
- Historical Inscription: 12
lines of Vattezhuthu on the Arthamandapam, indicating the temple was built
by Chera ruler Kokkandan Viranarayanan in the 9th century AD.
- Preservation Warning:
Inscription warns that damaging the temple will lead to severe suffering
for the perpetrator's hereditary lineage.
Vattezhuthu
Script:
- Meaning: "Rounded script."
- Origin: Evolved from Tamil-Brahmi,
known for its rounded characters.
- Historical Development:
- Early Development:
Around the 4th or 5th century CE.
- Prominence: By the 6th century CE,
especially in Tamil Nadu and parts of Sri Lanka.
- Distinct Script: By
the 7th to 8th centuries CE.
Geographical
Spread and Usage:
- Regions: Southern Tamil Nadu and
northern Kerala.
- Alternate Names:
"Tekkan Malayalam" or "Nanamona."
- Media: Found on pottery, memorial
stones, and donative inscriptions.
Evolution
and Decline:
- Replacement:
- Tamil Nadu: Replaced by
Pallava-Grantha script by the 11th century.
- Kerala: Continued until the 17th
century, then replaced by Koleluttu and Malayanma.
- Modern Malayalam Script:
Derived from Pallava-Grantha script.
Notable
Inscriptions:
- Examples:
- 7th-century inscriptions in the Vaigai river
bed.
- 8th-century inscriptions in Tiruttangal.
- Jain sculptures with Vattezhuthu inscriptions
in Thirupparankunram.
Significance:
- Insights: Provide valuable
information on the history, culture, and languages of ancient Tamil and
Kerala regions.
Source : https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/coimbatore/ancient-vattezhuthu-script-discovered-in-1000-year-old-temple-in-tirupur/articleshow/112151041.cms