Historic copper plate unveils 1762 origins of Pettai Vishweshwar temple in Coimbatore

The origin of Pettai Vishweshwar temple in Coimbatore dates back to 1762, a copper plate discovered by the Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments Department reveals. The plate, which was found in an old storage room within the temple premises, shows that the construction was carried out during the reign of the ninth Chamaraja Wadiyar of Mysore, also known as Raja Wadiyar, when Coimbatore was part of the Kingdom of Mysore. Inscriptions on both sides of the plate detail the monetary contributions made towards the temple during a grand ceremony.It also describes the administrative functions of Allithalam Thimmagounder, a representative of the Wadiyar dynasty, who authorised the temple’s construction and managed the dynasty’s affairs in Coimbatore. “The plate not only holds cultural significance but also provides insights into the economic benefits that the temple provided to individuals who made a living around it during the Wadiyar period,” the official remarked.