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15th Century Boundary Stone Found Near Palani
18 Jan
Summary
- A 15th-century 'vamana kal' boundary stone was discovered.
- The stone features symbols related to Vishnu's Vamana incarnation.
- It marks land belonging to a Vishnu temple priest from the past.
An independent team of archaeologists has discovered a significant 15th-century 'vamana kal', a boundary stone, in the Dindigul district of Tamil Nadu. The Vaishnavite stone, measuring 30x60cm, was found partially buried in a farmland west of Palani.
Carved with symbols representing Vamana, the fifth incarnation of Lord Vishnu, the slab includes depictions of the sun, moon, a hand stick, and a water jug. These symbols are referenced in ancient Sanskrit literature as gifts from various gods to Vishnu during his Vamana avatar, according to archaeologist Narayanamoorthy.
The 'vamana kal' was historically erected on donated lands to signify ownership. The inscription on this particular stone states the land belonged to 'Matha Bhattar', a priest of a local Vishnu temple. Paleographic analysis suggests the inscription dates to the 15th century, a period when lands named 'Amarapujanga Chaturvedi Mangalam' were often gifted to Brahmin priests.
