47 o Voyage of the Novara. 



them translated by three Tamil scholars. One of these 

 translators was the learned Tandavaraya Mudaliar, of Chin- 

 gleput. The inscription contains the history of two donations, 

 on the enlargement and laying the foundation-stone of the 

 temple, accomplished by the " Kanattan " of the village, 

 and, lastly, a gift of 90 goats by the Siva Brahmin Para- 

 mesvara-Mahavara, on the stipulation that a lamp should 

 be kept constantly burning in the temple : the whole dating 

 from the year 1073. It results from this interpretation that 

 the inscription was put up towards the end of the 11th 

 century, thus supplying some clue to the age of this rock 

 temple, which, according to Mr. Elliot's researches, does 

 not exceed a thousand years. 



To this Vahara Swami, which seems to contain their whole 

 history, the natives wander regularly every morning, and 



