A major restoration project led by the Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology at a 12th-century temple in the Vellore district has led to the discovery of unprecedented epigraphical evidence. While cleaning the outer walls of the garbhagriha (sanctum), restorers uncovered a series of lapis-lazuli inlaid inscriptions that had been covered by centuries of lime plaster. The inscriptions detail a comprehensive set of maritime trade laws and taxation codes governed by the Chola administration.
These records provide a rare glimpse into the legal frameworks that supported the Chola Empire's naval dominance, specifically outlining the rights of foreign merchant guilds and the penalties for piracy in the Bay of Bengal. Experts suggest that the use of lapis lazuli for the lettering indicates the high level of patronage the temple received from wealthy overseas merchants. The discovery is expected to reshape the study of medieval maritime history and international relations in South Asia.