Amoor through the Ages

                      Amoor through the Ages

Amoor the Village

Location

Amoor a village is located  in Tiruporurtaluk,Kanchipuram District ,Tamil nadu,45 km away from Chennai .Which place Latitude is 13.0938995°& Longitude 80.292356° South-East of Chennai.

Terminology of Amoor

Amoor (Aa+Ur) the word  “Aa”denotes meaning as Cow and suffix word “Moor” derived from “Ur”.regarding the place name was changed as Amoor.many Pastoral communities were lived in this region.

Geological aspects of Amoor

Amoor, which village situated  Tiruporurtaluk  a few KM distance from  Coastal  Area.(Bay of Bengal).this Amoor village surrounded by hilly ranges and reserve forest.

 Flora & Fauna of the village

1)    Cashew nut tree

2)    Babool tree

3)    Mango tree

4)    Eucalyptus tree

5)    Banyan tree

6)    Blue berry tree

Blue berry trees are very common in  the forest of village

Faunas of village

1)    Cow

2)    Buffalo

3)    Dog

4)    Cat

5)    Parrots

 We could see a plenty number of  small wild animals& reptiles in the forest of the Amoor village.

Environmental conditions of Amoor

Reserve forest  which a major environmental factor of  the village, there are two kinds of lands in the amoor.

1)    Low rain

2)    Hot temperature

Seasonal variations through out the village. River Palar is main water source of Tiruporurtaluk. A number of small ponds,lakes are occupied the village which  help to growth the Agriculture of the village.

 

Cultural Sequences of the Amoor

The Cultural Sequences of Amoor has been divided in four important periods.

1)    Pre history

2)    Proto history

3)    Early historical

4)    Historical

Prehistory

A few prehistory sites were discovered in the region of AmoorKayar which is prehistoric site of Amoorkottam. “Echangadu” (Eucalyptus forest) the exact location of the site. The lower Palaeolithic &middle Palaeolithic tools collected here.such as Hand axes,Scrapers,Cleavers and raw materials of tools.

Proto history

The proto history starts with  Megalithic period in the region and a number of megalithic  burials were discovered in Tiruporurtaluk. These burials could be dated from 1000BC to 700 BC.

Kinds of burials

The Dolmens cists& Cairn circle burials  mostly discovered here,those are made on huge granite rocks. Some of Urns found along with circles.

1   Dolmens cist

2   Cairn circles

3     Urns

 Amoor megalithic burial

A plenty number of  Dolmenscists&Cairn circles were found with  fragments of  Urns.

Dolmens cists

Two or three huge stone boulders formed as burial which is similar to small stone structure.

Cairn circle

Cairn circle, that is another kind of burial in this place. A small &medium size stones formed as a circle with fragments of stones.

Pot sherds

 I collected some pot shreds & fragments of potteries in the megalithic burial site.

1)    Pot shreds

2)    Ring portion of pottery

3)    Small fragments of pottery

Remarks of ring portion

Thumb impression on the ring portion of the Urns it denotes the characters of hand made pottery.

Other Megalithic sites around the AmoorKottam

1)    Agaram

2)    Amur

3)    Kumili

4)    Manamai

5)    Padur

6)    Porandhavakkam

7)    Sirudhavur

8)    Tiruporur

Historical period

the  historical period of Amoor has began with Pallava swho ruled many years  in the region.

The village Amoor changed as Kottam in their administration and after the rule of pallavasamoor  was came  under the control of  Cholas,Pandyas,TelunguChodas ,Vijayanagaras.

Definition of  Kottam

“Kottam”is one of the  administrative division of  Pallavas,which system was introduced by the imperial Pallavas in 7^th century AD. A  Kottam is equal with  presentTaluk. This kottam is also called as “Vishayangalas”(Sanskrit).

Administrative divisions of Pallavas&Cholas

The Pallava empire has been classified into many “Rashtras” and “Kottams” “Nadus”.those were an important territorial divisions of Pallavas and their administrative units called as “ ThondaiMandalam”.the word “Rashtra” described meaning as “Mandalams”that  compare with a district. The pallavan empire was divided into 24 kottams

24 Kottams

·        PuzhalKottam

·        EkkattuKottam

·        ManayirKottam

·        SengattuKottam

·        PaiyurKottam

·        EyirKottam

·        ThamalKottam

·        UttrukattuKottam

·        KalathurKottam

·        SemburKottam

·        AmburKottam

·        VenkuraKottam

·        PalkundraKottam

·        IlangattuKottam

·        SengakaraiKottam

·        PaduvurKottam

·        KadikurKottam

·        SendhiukkaiKottam

·        KundravattanaKottam

·        VenkataKottam

·        VeloreKottam

·        SethurKottam

·        PuliyurKottam

·        KaliyurKottam

·        AmoorKottam

Some kottams made in the Later Pallavaperiod  amoorkottam which is one of  in this.

Sub-divisions AmoorKottam

Kumilinadu

Padurnadu

Taiyurnadu

Kayarnadu

The important villages of AmoorKottam

·        Kayar

·        Kumizhi

·        Padur

·        Agaram

·        Kunnathur

·        Manamai

·        Mamallapuram

·        Paiyanur

·        Sirudhavur

·        Senganmal

·        Taiyur

·        Tiruvidandhai

·        Porandhavakkam

·        Manamathy

 

The historical templesof  under the AmoorKottam

Kayar –Sri Adaleeswara temple

Padur-Sri Manikandeeswar

Kunnathur- Sri Nadanadeshwarar temple

Manamai- ThiruAgathiseewaramudaiyar temple

Mamallpuram-Historical monuments

Paiyanur- Sri Etteeswara  temple

Sirudhavur –Shivantemple,Buddha temple

Senganmal-senganmalishwara temple

Taiyur-Historical temple

Tiruvidandhai-Sri NithyaKalyanaPerumal temple

Saluvankuppam-Early historical temple

Agaram-Sri Kailasanathar temple

Karumbur-Shiva temple

 

Descriptions of some important temples  inAmoorKottam

The Chola Rulers have been constructed some temples in Tiruporurregion,especially temples around AmoorKottam.

Amoor

Eswaratemple&Vishnu temple

Those temple belongs to  Pallava or Chola period-? But not accurate,inscriptions are absent,according to  architectural features the could be  dated back to later Chola.locally,the temple is known as “Yerikaraikoil”intamil.

Sculptures of the temple

1   Jeshtadevi

2   Bhairavar

3    Surya

4    Brahma

5  Chandikeswara

 

Lord shiva , who is main deity of the temple, small subshrines were constructed by local people of the village.

Other feature ofAmoorKottam

1)    Inscription stone

2)    Devotee figures

3)    Nagas figures

4)    Astrology symbol stone

 

Jeshtadevi  (a) Thavaithai

A beautiful Jeshtadevi sculpture in outside of the temple,who face completely damaged.belonged to later Cholaperiod.Mandhan&Mandhialong side of Jeshtadevi.

Bhairavar

Bhairava  who are belong to Later Chola period. he has four arms,upper right hand holding Damaru& left hand holding Pasa.rest of hands holding Sula &Kapala. Bhairava  standing onSamapathasthanaka( both legs in same position) and flame hair style on the head of him known as “Theechuder” in tamil.dog is on behind of god,

Brahma

Brahma who are belonged to later cholaperiod,his face not clear fully damaged.

Surya

Later Chola period, standing on Samapatha posture & he has four arms holding two lotus flowers.

Chandikeshwara

Later Cholaperiod,sitting in Sukhasana posture and holding Axe in the hand.

Kayar

Kayar  a small village located in tiruporurtaluk ,some kilo meters distance from Tambaram.as we know  Kayar history is beginning with prehistory and continue upto Historical period. Some megalithic burials such as Dolmens were found in the forest of Kayar.

Sri Adaleeswara temple

Sri  Adaleeswara temple  which has been constructed  in  Chola King Adhithya-I at 9^th century AD. The lord Shiva who is main god of the temple which is small temple of the village. A few sculptures engraved on the wall of the shrine.

The Chola king Adhithya-I  has built the temple and donated many lands to the temple.theChola&Pandya inscriptions  engraved on the pillars of temple.the empty niches on the wall.

Sculptures of the temple

1)    Murugan

2)    Chandikeshwara

3)    Jeshtadevi

4)    Vinayakan

 

Remains  ofPerumal temple

We find another  historical temple in the village which is known as “UrudaiPerumal” in the inscriptions many Chola rulers have been donated lands to the temple.

Worshipping of the inscription stone

One inscription  stone  is worshipping by local peoples of the village.it might be belongs to  Chola period.

Paiyanur

Paiyanur  which is a small village just few km away from Mahabalipuram ( tiruporur-mahabalipuram road). Some megalithic site& early historical sites were discovered in this place.Pandidhamedu,Karunguzhipallamas important sites in this region.

Sri Eteeswara temple

The temple was built by Pallavas are not only religious importance but of  historical and heritage importance speaking volumes of reputation of temple architecture.

Paiyanur was noted for it is harmony among the saivities and vaishnavites with Etteswara&Arulalaperumal temple.

As per the Pallavainscriptions,the temple might have been built in the year 773 by VijayanandhiVikramapallava,EtteeswaraUdaiyanayanar which is name of the god.

Architectural features of the temple

This temple has  great architectural features  which temple is ‘Gajapishta’ (back side) type of temple.generally,Gajapishta temples very much popular in ThondaiMandalam introduced by Pallavas. A beautiful niches engraved on the wall temples.

The temple consist Arthamandapa,Mahamandapa, and subshrines.the niches having modern sculptures.

KarunakaraPerumal temple

Karunakaraperumal temple is dedicated to lord Vishnu it is almost pallavaperiod.later,the temple was developed byCholas.the lords sculpture belongs to pre pallava period.

Agaram

Agaram , a village is located in Tiruporur , a Few kilometres away from Amoor. this village history divided into two periods.

1)    Megalithic culture

2)    Historical period

Sri Kailasanathar temple

The kailasanathar temple which is unknown temple in Agaram village worshipping by local  people.the temple was constructed  in Chola period by Rajendrachola-I 11 century AD and Later it was renovated by Pandya  rulers.

Architectural features of the temple.

The temple consists Arthamandapa,Mahamandapa&Mukhamandapa.and top of the Vimana holding a VesaraSikhara which vimanaia a one storey(tier) vimana.

The  Niches (or) Devakoshtas on the wall of temple and empty niches on the wall of Mukhamandapa.a couple of fish symbols are depicted on in front wall.

Sculptures of the temple.

North  side-Brahma

South side-Dhakshinamurthy

East side-Durga

West side- Vishnu

Inscriptions on basement of the temple. The Chola king Rajendra-I  donated the lands of the village to 4000 Brahmanas.the inscription refers.that temple was constructed by Rajendra-I and name of god is “Adhiraivithakar”and the village was called as “VanavanMahadeviChadurvedhiMangalam”.

Later the temple was renovated by KulothungaChola-I and contributed lands to the temple by the assembly of the village.

Brahmadeya&and Devadhana villages in AmoorKottam

Agaram

Agarama village near by Amoor,as per the Cholainsciptions that villge lands endowed to 4000 Brahmanas  regarding the village was called as ‘VanavanMahadeviChadurvedhimangalam on the name of queen of Rajaraja-I.

Kayar

The village lands were sold by the assembly of Kayaru( original name of the village refers in the Chola inscriptions) in Kumizhi Nadu. The lands  all were exempted from taxes by the village sabha,some lands were donated to the temples  Adaleeswara&UrudaiPerumalkoil *and made as devadhana. Kamala NarayanaChadurvedhimangalam”a  name of kayar.

Paiyanur

According to Seashore temple inscriptions of Mamallapuram, refers  about Paiyanur , which village was made as  RajakesariChadurVedhiMangalamin AmoorKottam during the reign of KulothungaChola-I

Tiruvilichur

Thiruvilichur a brahmadeyadevadhana village in AmoorKottam in the administration of Cholas.here rising one question that is Tiruvlichur called which place in tiruporur region? It may be Saluvankuppam or Tiruporur.as per the inscription  theChola ruler Kulothunga-III who made endowed lands to Aubramanya temple.

Sirudhavur

Sirudhavur which a brahma deya village in Tiruporurtaluk named as Narasingamangalam. This village lands  donated to Brahmanas and that income  contributed for expenditure of the temple.

The Agricultural &Temple activities in the inscription of  villages under the AmoorKottam

The most of temples having the account of Agricultural and Temple services in the temples of AmoorKottam.the village lands were donated to the temples &brahmanas on the name of kings.therefore,villages were known as”Rajakesarinallur” “Parakesarinallur”those tittle names by the Chola kings.

Agriculture and water management services have been  made in the period of Cholas.the inscription no-6 refers the detail about the repair work of large tank in Amoor.

The most of endowments made by Kings and their officials,common peoples donated Paddy,Sheeps,cows to the temples.many Pastoral communities lived were around the amoor.

Main occupations of people

1)    Agriculture

2)    Pastoral communities

Above statements describes the Economic conditions of AmoorKottam,that economy commonly depends on Agricultural and Pastoral .the village people who having paddy fields in the villages of Amoor.

KanchipuramVaradharajaPerumal  Temple inscriptions refers the Endowment of  villages in the AmoorKottam

Inscription-1

This inscription issued on the 10^th regional year of VikramaChola in 1128 AD,which inscription describes the  Donations of  the Salt field in Rajakesarinallur (a) Taiyur. This donations made for Lord Varadharajaperumal .

Inscription-2

400 Kuzhi  Salt Field lands in Taiyur Nadu(Naduvirpattu).those lands donated to the Varadha raja perumal  Temple. It is confimed in the inscriptions of Kulothunga-III.

Inscriptions-3

The lands of Paiyanur(a) RajakesariChadurVedhiMangalama,sub division of Amoor donated to Kanda gopalan shrine in Varadharajaperumal temple for the monthly festival of the temple.the Donations was made by MadhurantakaPothappiCholaManumaChitharaisanTirukalathidevan (a) Kandagopalan.

Inscription-4

The donations of Amadhinallur( a small village near byAmoor) (a) AnuvaradhaSundaraChadurVedhiMangalam,Akkamerpakkam those villages are donated to VaradharajaPerumal temple shrine. This donations for the monthly festival of temple made in 18^th regional year of Rajaraja-III Chola by MadhurantakapottapiCholanManumaChithhraiyanTirukalathiDevan (a) Kanda Gopalan.

Inscriptions-5

This inscriptions refer about the Trust of Amoor in PaiyurKottam. Amoorvillage  assembly received 17 “AndroduNadakkan Kanda GopalanMadai” and set up a Trust in the village. The interest of 17 Madai  which was used to get 80 Kalam Paddy for the food offerings to God.

Inscriptions-6

It refers the detailes about the Nandhavanamof the temple that was set up by PuviAlapirandhanPerumalAmoorNilagangan. Who bought lands from  VanduvaraPerumal (a) ParimelAzhagiyaPerumal Nathan and given 30 PazhamPulliMadai to him. He received 500 Kuzhi lands from ParimelAzhagiyaPerumal and made “Tirunandhavanam” in the temple.

     SOURCES

The inscriptions are major sources to discover the history of villages in AmoorKottam. A plenty number of  Chola inscriptions gives the  detailes of temples.

Conclusion

    The history of the small village of Amur dates back to the Neolithic period. Various inscriptions indicate that this village was one of the 24 districts during the Pallava and Chola periods.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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