6 B. E. Branfill — Descripfion of /lie Qreat Siva Temple. [No. 1, 



The grdm-munsif said tbat tliis " kovil" or chapel was held in great 

 respect by the country-folk and was originally there before the present 

 fortifications were built. Sacrifices are still made in times of drought and 

 dearth and are supposed to be very efficacious. 



The temples at the base of Chenji and some of the sculptures and 

 remains are very interesting, extensive and well wrought, but apparently 

 modern, though quite deserted and going to ruin. The monkey god 

 TIanuman is to be seen in several places sculptured on the rocks. 



Since the road was made which passes through part of the Chenji 

 fortress, it has been frequently visited and despoiled of its sculptured 

 treasures. I was informed that the fine columns which adorn the " PZcece" 

 at Pondicherry were removed hence by stealth, by an enterpriziug 

 Frenchman. But we need not grudge them, for they are appreciated 

 highly where they are, instead of being neglected and lost sight of in the 

 spot where they formerly lay. 



Some very handsome sculptures have been removed and set up at 

 Cliittamur, a few miles distant to tlie eastward, near a new temple built 

 by a neighbouring chief. 



The traditional founder of the fortress is said to be one Supalaka (or 

 perhaps rather TupdJcala) Nayak. 



I may here mention that the Stalapurana of Senji-Kottai was stated 

 to have been taken away by the Collector of the District (S. Arcot), a few 

 years ago, and never returned. 



At Mailam (^Ilayurastalam) near Tindivanam, the Tainburan (or 

 abbot) informed me that his temple was founded by King Jayamba or 

 Jayambaga Maharaja, from the north, who also founded or built Senji- 

 Kottai. This old fellow is a very fine specimen of a man who never 

 touches flesh or any cooked food, but lives on fruit and milk only. He has 

 repaired and restored his temple and is now building a fine stone gopuram on 

 which I was shown a sculpture of himself in the style of an old bearded 

 Eishi. He reminded me of the Tamburan (or abbot) of Tiru(p)pan- 

 andal near Kumbakonam. 



Another very interesting place I visited near Tindivanam is Peru- 

 mukkal (" Perwiffcoi'Z" of Orme and of the Indian Atlas, sheet No. 78). 

 Perumukkal is the common pronunciation in the district. At the place 

 itself it is called, and written also, Perumukkul. 



Like Senji-Kottai it has been a fortified stronghold for some centuries. 

 It has a fine large stone maudap on the summit and some small temples or 

 shrines, but the ruins of some larger ones strew the summit, sides and base. 



The rock is an isolated one of dark granitic boulders, very precipitous 

 in most places. It is the last to the S. S. Eastward of the rocky masses 

 that stud the plain of the Karnatik to the south-west of Madras. 



