திருநெல்வேலி மற்றும் தென்காசி மாவட்டத்தின் சில கோயில் கல்வெட்டு ஆதாரங்களின் அடிப்படையில் மறைந்த தமிழ் பெயர்கள் - ஒரு வரலாற்றுப் பார்வை

Obscure Tamil Names Based on Temple Inscription Evidences from Tirunelveli and Tenkasi Districts: A Historical Perspective

Abstract

In keeping with the Nannool verse that states, "Discarding the old and embracing the new is appropriate as times change," Tamil society has been undergoing various transformations in its way of life. It has lost some of its distinctiveness due to shifts in governance, cultural changes, and the intermingling of other languages. The advancement of Civilization ought to enhance an ethnic group's identity; however, the current development of Tamil society is resulting in the loss of the uniqueness and intrinsic meaning of Tamil-its mother language. In this context, this study explores the original names of towns and temples established with specific purpose and significance by the ancient Tamil communities in the present-day districts of Tirunelveli and Tenkasi, as well as how they have currently lost their original identity. The Tamil language has been a global pioneer across all spheres-including politics, art, literature, religion, governance, and rural. For administrative convenience, the kingdom was divided into various tiers-such as village assemblies, temple assemblies, regional assemblies, and the royal assembly-each with its own identify; the villages and temples falling under these bodies were referred to by names that incorporated the king's name or other identifying markers. Over time, however, these names faded from our knowledge due to the influence of other languages and a waning attachment to the mother language. By recovering the original names of the various villages and temples in these districts-which once formed part of the Pandya kingdom-from inscriptions and bringing them back to public memory, we can rediscover their grandeur and the heritage we had lost.