Context:

• Members of the Archaeological Research Foundation of Pudukkottai have discovered a stone temple belonging to the great grandfather of Rajaraja Chola at Nandanpatti village near Killukkottai in Pudukkottai district.

Other Findings:

• A stone temple was found in a dilapidated state. The stone pillars of this temple match with the early Chola era’s style. The broken pillars, the decapitated guardian angels and a monkey statue, might have been a part of a stone temple found at the site.
• The stone inscription found near the temple gives clues that this temple might have been be installed by the conqueror of Mathirai, Kopparakesari Paranthaman, whose reign lasted between 907 AD and 950 AD.
• The statues of Muruga and Gowmari might be older than the temple itself.
• These statues are in early Chola style. A Jain Tirthankara statue in meditating pose was also found there, he said, indicating that Jainism might have co-existed with Saivism.
• This temple was built by Miyanoorklaya, MallaMutharaiya, and conqueror of Muthiraiyar.

Source:Deccanchronicle