Bhoomeeshwarar Temple, Marakkanam – Inscriptions

Bhoomeeshwarar Temple, Marakkanam – Inscriptions

There are 47 inscriptions available in the temple. Majority of the inscriptions belongs to Chola Emperors. Most of the inscriptions can be found around the main shrine. Rajaraja Chola I inscription talks about the gift of perpetual lamp to the Bhoomeeshwarar temple at Rajaraja Peralam (Marakkanam) in Pattina Naadu. There are 2 inscriptions in the period of Parakesari Rajendra Chola I. One inscription talks about the gift made of taxes due to a salt pan for 2 perpetual lamps to be burnt in the temple. The second inscription is about the gift which was made of Sheep for a perpetual lamp.

King Rajakesari Vijaya Rajendran Rajadhi Raja Chola I inscription talks about the sale of Land for the Nandavanam (garden) of the Bhoomeeshwarar temple by a Sabha of Eyir Pattinam (Marakkanam). There are also inscriptions talks about the gift of land in the period of Rajakesari Varman Kulothunga Chola II.  The inscriptions of Kulothunga Chola III is also found in the Temple. A Chola inscription states that the name of the place was called Manarkaanam since the place was full of mud (sea shore). The same inscription states that Marakkalam has changed to Marakkanam.

The inscriptions found in the temple mentions a variety of names of this sea port (Marakkanam) like Rajaraja Peralam, Pattinam, Eyir Pattinam, Vikrama Chola Chaturvedi Mangalam, Kandarathithan Nallur, Vijaya Rajendra Chola Valanaadu. The inscriptions of the Vijayanagara Kings state the name of Marakkanam as Kandarathithan Nallur in Pattina Naadu and Vijaya Rajendra Chola Valanaadu in Jayamkonda Chola Mandalam.