**Summary:**
In response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1358, the Ministry of Culture addressed inquiries regarding the inscriptions at the Nataraja Temple in Chidambaram. The Ministry, represented by the Minister of Culture and Tourism, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, confirmed that the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is aware of the numerous Chola-era inscriptions at the temple, with the earliest dating to 1036 CE, during the reign of Rajendra I. The ASI's Epigraphy Branch has documented 297 inscriptions. These inscriptions have been deciphered, transcribed, and summarized in the Annual Reports of Indian Epigraphy from 1888 to 1963. Furthermore, the texts of 157 inscriptions have been published in the South Indian Inscription volumes. All ASI publications are available for purchase at sales counters in ASI offices, protected monuments, museums, and the Epigraphy Branch. The response indicates that the government has no current plans to publish the inscriptions in a new format for free distribution but relies on existing publications for scholarly and public access.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Culture: The Indian government ministry responsible for culture.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India.
Nataraja Temple, Chidambaram: A Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Nataraja (Shiva) located in Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu, India.
Chola period: A Tamil dynasty that ruled primarily in southern India.
Aditya Chola I: A Chola ruler during whose reign the earliest inscription in the Nataraja Temple dates.
Archaeological Survey of India (ASI): An Indian government agency responsible for archaeological research and the conservation and preservation of cultural monuments in the country.
Rajendra I: A Chola emperor during whose reign an inscription in the Nataraja Temple dates.
Tamil Nadu: A state in southern India where Chidambaram is located.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CULTURE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1358
ANSWERED ON-28.07.2025
PUBLICATION OF INSCRIPTIONS OF NATARAJA TEMPLE, CHIDAMBARAM
1358. DR. D RAVI KUMAR:
Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is aware that the Nataraja Temple in Chidambaram
contains numerous inscriptions from the Chola period, with the earliest from the reign of
Aditya Chola-l in the10th century CE, which provide valuable insights into the temple's
history and patronage and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the Government has any plan to document, edit, and publish these
inscriptions in the form of a book for scholarly and public access and if so, the details
thereof;
(c) whether the Government proposes to make such a publication available free of cost
or at a subsidised rate to devotees visiting the temple and if so, the details thereof; and
(d) if not, whether the Government is likely to consider initiating a project to preserve,
publish and distribute the inscriptions, given their historical and cultural significance?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF CULTURE AND TOURISM
(SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)
(a) and (b) Yes Sir, Epigraphy Branch of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), has
copied 297 inscriptions from the Nataraja Temple in Chidambaram, the earliest dating to
the reign of Rajendra-I (1036 CE).
All these inscriptions have been deciphered, transcribed and their gist published in the
Annual Reports of Indian Epigraphy from 1888 to 1963. Out of them texts of 157
inscriptions have been published in the volumes of South Indian Inscription.
(c) and (d) All the above ASI publications are available at different sales counters in
ASI offices, protected monuments, museums and the Epigraphy Branch.
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