| Kurumathur Inscription | |
|---|---|
 Kurumattur inscription (9th century AD) | |
| Material | Granite |
| Writing | Sanskrit |
| Created | 871 AD; Kerala |
| Present location | Kurumathoor Vishnu temple |
Kurumathur inscription (871 AD), also romanized as Kurumattur, is a mid-9th century inscription from Kurumathur, near Areacode in Kerala, south India. [1] The Sanskrit inscription in Pallava Grantha script is engraved on a loose granite slab from the Kurumathoor Vishnu Temple. [2] [1] [3] It is one of the rare Sanskrit inscriptions from Kerala. [2]
The inscription relates to the rule of medieval Chera king Rama Rajasekhara (9th century AD) in north-central Kerala. [2] [4] It is dated to 24 May 871 AD as a Kali Day chronogram. Composed in shardula-vikridita metre in Sanskrit, the three-stanza inscription states that the king Rajasekhara belonged to the "illustrious" Ikshvaku dynasty of lord Rama. [1] It wishes that king Rajasekhara's glory be spread across the oceans. Further, he is praised as "having ruled the country with justice and never deviated from the Laws of Manu". [1] During the "righteous rule" of Rajasekhara, twelve Brahmanas constructed a temple pond and also installed an idol of god Vishnu in the temple [the Kurumathoor Vishnu Temple]. [1] [3]
The record was excavated during a renovation of Kurumathoor Vishnu temple (south of Areacode) in February, 2011. [1] [3] The discovery of the inscription was first reported by M. R. Raghava Varier. [2] The record notably helped historians to revise the medieval Chera chronology (locating Rama Rajasekhara after king Sthanu Ravi Kulasekhara). [4]