GeorgiannaN07 at 02:50, 12 December 2025

2025-12-12T02:50:45Z

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{{Infobox artifact
| name = Kinalur Inscription
| native_name_lang = Malayalam
| material = Granite
| writing = Early Malayalam
| created = c. 1083 AD; [[Kerala]]
| location = Kinalur Maha Shiva Temple
| image = Kinalur Inscription.jpg
| image_size =
| image_caption = Kinalur Inscription
}}
'''Kinalur inscription''' (c. 1083 AD) is a [[Jainism|Jain]] record from [[Kinalur]] near [[Balussery]] town, around 30 km north-east of [[Kozhikode|Calicut]], in north [[Kerala]].<ref name=":5">{{Cite book |last=Narayanan |first=M. G. S. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0YDCngEACAAJ |title=Perumals of Kerala |publisher=CosmoBooks |year=2013 |isbn= |location=Thrissur (Kerala) |pages=484–85 |chapter=Index to Cera Inscriptions |orig-year=1972}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last=Selvakumar |first=V. |date=2020 |title=Report of the Salvage Digging at Kinalur, 2016-17 |url=https://farookcollege.ac.in/imgserver/uploads/attachments/social-orbit-2020_8eeb2f65-311e-4178-a0e4-2fae8a7aa901_0.pdf |journal=Social Orbit |volume=6 |pages=171-180}}</ref> The inscription describes the donations made by Arappan Kunchi, the chieftain of Kurumpurai Nadu, to "Kunavaynallur Vijayaragishwaram Jain Temple".<ref name=":5" />

The old [[Malayalam]] record, in [[Vatteluttu script|Vattezhuthu (script)]] with necessary [[Grantha script|Grantha]] characters, reveals the ancient name of the Kinalur village as "Kunavaynallur".<ref name=":5" /> It seems that Kunavaynallur was named after Thirukkunavay Shrine, a lost Jain temple near [[Kodungallur]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Narayanan |first=M. G. S. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0YDCngEACAAJ |title=Perumals of Kerala |publisher=CosmoBooks |year=2013 |isbn= |location=Thrissur (Kerala) |pages=341 |chapter= |orig-year=1972}}</ref> The inscription is engraved on both sides of a single granite slab (it was discovered from the Puvembayi Shiva Temple compound in Kinalur).<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":0" /> The estampage of the record can be found in Government Epigraphist's Office, [[Mysore]].<ref name=":5" />

* The record is dated in "Thiru Kaliya Padara's Consecration/Installation Year 189" (temple era, 189 years from the establishment of the Kunavaynallur Vijayaragishwaram Jain Temple) [with Jupiter in Makaram, month of Medam, Wednesday and Avittam star (=1083 AD)].<ref name=":5" />
*Arappan Kunchi the Kurumpurai (the chieftain of Kurumpurai Nadu) donated lands to Kunavaynallur Jain Temple and leased them out to Chathan Arukkadi of [[Tiruvanchikkalam]], Kuntan Chiru Nanga and Chathan Chirukanthan (for the below provisions).<ref name=":5" />
* Provisions are made for Thiruppali Shanthi (routine worship), Kudai (umbrella), Chanthanam, Pallithamam (garland of the deity), Nanda-villakku (permanent temple lamp), Akkiram ([[Brahmin]] feeding) and Koothu (temple dance) by Arappan Kunchi the Kurumpurai.<ref name=":5" />
* Another shrine called "Manukulasekharanallur Jain Temple" is mentioned.<ref name=":5" />
* Munnuttuvar, the leader of Three Hundred Nairs Warriors of Kurumpurai Nadu, and certain "Muvayiravar" (the Three Thousand) are mentioned.<ref name=":5" /> Both officers are required to "guarantee regular payment [to the temple] after removing obstacles".<ref>{{Cite book |last=Narayanan |first=M. G. S. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0YDCngEACAAJ |title=Perumals of Kerala |publisher=CosmoBooks |year=2013 |isbn= |location=Thrissur (Kerala) |pages=252 |chapter= |orig-year=1972}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:11th-century inscriptions]]
[[Category:Vatteluttu]]
[[Category:Malayalam inscriptions]]
[[Category:Kerala history inscriptions]]

Kinalur inscription - Revision history

GeorgiannaN07 at 02:50, 12 December 2025