Land measuring rod belonging to Kongu Chola period found in dilapidated temple near Tirupur

COIMBATORE: A team of archaeologists has discovered a land measuring rod dating back to the Kongu Chola period at the Kariyapiran Kovil in Tirupur district. According to archaeologists, the14-foot stone rod is the first evidence of a land measurement scale from the Kongu Chola period (10th to 13th centuries AD).

The team led by archaeologist V Narayanamoorthy found the “permanent land measurement scale” on the southern wall of the Kariyapiran temple (a Perumal temple) at Komaralingam during an inspection. Komaralingam is located on the western bank of the Amaravathi river. The inspection was carried out ahead of the renovation of the dilapidated temple that dates back to the 13th century AD.

The total length of the scale is 446 cm in modern measurements. According to Narayanamoorthy, the scale begins with a '+' mark inscribed on it and ends with the same mark. The mark measures 6x6 cm.

Since these measuring scales were permanently inscribed on temple walls, people amicably accepted the measurements of land, resolving boundary and area disputes.

Narayamoorthy said, "A rope was used to take measurements from this scale, and then they measured land. Inscriptions provide evidence that measuring rods such as ulagalantha kol were in use. Although land surveys were conducted during the rule of the Kongu Cholas, no record of the measuring rods used was available until now. The newly discovered measuring rod can be considered the first evidence of a land measuring scale from the Kongu Chola period.”

"For the first time in the history of Tamil Nadu, a symbol used to measure the boundary stones has been found engraved alongside this measuring rod. This circular symbol, with a diameter of 8 cm, is engraved alongside the land measuring rod," he said.

The inscription engraved alongside the measuring rod states that it was established by a person named Paalaiyapadiyan in the 20th year of the Kongu Chola king Vikrama Chola's reign (13th century AD).

He added that in ancient times, it was customary to plant boundary stones at the four corners of the land measured using such measuring rods. These boundary stones are referred to as "Pulladi Karkal" in the inscriptions.