Conservationists working on the Sri Kaviya Mahadev Temple in the Tuticorin district of Tamil Nadu have uncovered a series of previously unknown inscriptions dating back to the 12th century. These epigraphs provide a detailed account of the temple's direct patronage by a powerful maritime guild specializing in the pearl trade. The text describes how a percentage of every harvest from the Gulf of Mannar was dedicated to the temple's maintenance and the construction of its unique granite sanctum.
Archaeologists state that the findings are critical for understanding the socio-economic ties between religious institutions and medieval Indian trade guilds. The inscriptions also mention specific rituals performed by the Paravar community to ensure safe voyages for divers. During the structural reinforcement of the Maha Mandapa, the team also identified rare stone carvings depicting maritime navigation tools and stylized pearl-oyster motifs, which are seldom seen in interior Pandyan architecture.