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Sanskrit Was the Language of All of Tamil Nadu: Renowned Historian Dr. Chitra Madhavan
New Delhi :
Dr. Kapila Vatsyayan, the founding Member-Secretary of the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), was a distinguished figure in the realms of Indian art, culture, and spirituality. She was conferred with the Padma Vibhushan, the second-highest civilian award in India, by the Government of India. In her honour, IGNCA organises the ‘Dr. Kapila Vatsyayan Memorial Lecture’ annually.
This year, the Kala Nidhi Division of Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts organised this prominent lecture on the theme ‘Sanskrit Inscriptions of Tamil Nadu: Connections with Temple Architecture and Iconography.’ Renowned historian Dr. Chitra Madhavan delivered insightful observations on the topic. The welcome and introductory address was presented by Prof. (Dr.) Pratapanand Jha, Director of IGNCA’s Cultural Informatics Lab (CIL). Ms. V. Vidyavathi, Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, also addressed the gathering, accentuating the importance of preserving India’s rich heritage and educating the younger generation about it.
Dr. Chitra Madhavan opened her address by asserting that from ancient to medieval India, and even in subsequent periods, Sanskrit was widely used as a language of public discourse across Tamil Nadu. She supported this claim by referring to Sanskrit inscriptions, written in ‘Grantha script’, engraved in temples across Tamil Nadu by rulers of the Chola, Pallava, Pandya, and Vijayanagara dynasties from the 7th to the 17th century. She drew attention to temples dedicated to Lord Shiva, Vishnu, Brahma, and Devi, as well as those for Lord Ganesha and Tamil Nadu’s only known Hanuman temple from before the 17th century, highlighting the connections between South and North Indian rulers.
Her lecture began with an analysis of a Sanskrit inscription found in a rock-cut temple built by Pallava king Mahendravarman I in the 7th century. Mahendravarman (600–630 CE), who ruled the southern regions of present-day Andhra Pradesh and the northern parts of Tamil Nadu, was not only a monarch but also a scholar, painter, architect, and musician.
Dr. Madhavan observed that while the Sun Temples at Konark in Odisha, Martand in Kashmir, and Modhera in Gujarat are well-known, few are aware of the Suryanar Kovil Sun Temple near Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu. A key city for the Cholas, Kumbakonam lent its name to the nearby village due to the Chola-built temple. A Sanskrit inscription there reveals that the temple may have been constructed with contributions from the rulers of Kannauj, showcasing amicable ties between the two regions.
She also mentioned the Ayangarkulam Temple near Kanchipuram, noted for its large tank. This temple, constructed by Kotikanyadanam Lakshmikumar Tatacharya, the royal preceptor to Vijayanagara emperor Venkata Raya II (1586–1614 CE), also contains a significant Sanskrit inscription.
Further, Dr. Madhavan discussed a Tamil inscription at a temple in Ennayiram, which is interspersed with numerous Sanskrit words. This inscription outlines the functioning of a Vedic college, complete with residential facilities. It details the number of students and teachers, subjects taught, teachers’ salaries, and student scholarships, suggesting the establishment of what was possibly a university by the Cholas. She also referred to another temple whose Sanskrit inscription revealed the existence of a college, hostel, and even a hospital for students, which stocked thirty Ayurvedic medicines and employed nurses to care for ailing students. 
She also highlighted the Kailasanathar Temple, noting that the Chola rulers initiated Vedic gurukuls. She also said that the inscriptions found in the temples suggest that there were matrimonial alliances between rulers of the South and the North. Concluding her lecture, Dr. Madhavan emphasised that Sanskrit was extensively used across Tamil Nadu, from its eastern to western and northern to southern regions. Written in Grantha script, Sanskrit inscriptions provide profound insights into the development of temple architecture and sculpture.
About Dr. Kapila Vatsyayan
Dr. Kapila Vatsyayan (1928–2020) served as the founding Member-Secretary of IGNCA and was widely recognised for her contributions to various fields of art at both national and international levels. She was honoured with numerous prestigious awards, including the Padma Vibhushan and the Sahitya Kala Parishad Lifetime Achievement Award. She also held several significant positions in the Government of India. Dr. Vatsyayan donated her collection of over 14,000 books and more than 3,000 rare journals to IGNCA.
About Dr. Chitra Madhavan
Dr. Chitra Madhavan is an expert in ancient history and archaeology. She has authored several significant books on Sanskrit and temple architecture. Her research primarily focuses on South Indian temples and Sanskrit inscriptions.
