The ongoing restoration of a 12th-century Later-Pandya era Shiva temple on the coast of Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu, has yielded a remarkable maritime hoard. Workers clearing a blocked drainage duct near the Garbhagriha discovered a cache of four copper ritual vessels, each intricately pearl-embedded around the rim, signifying the region’s historical dominance in the pearl trade.
Historical records in the temple suggest these vessels were used for "Abhisheka" (ritual bathing) using seawater during specific celestial alignments. This discovery confirms the symbiotic relationship between the Pandyan monarchy and the powerful maritime merchant guilds that once controlled the Gulf of Mannar's lucrative pearl fisheries.