Signatory (signing authority)

The term, ‘Signatory’ means signing authority. During the time of Aditya-II Karikala, land transactions and investigation of the affairs were signed by signatories. There are five inscriptions that revealed the names of the signatories. A lithic record referred to Airyathu Munuruvan, an officer who had signed for land transaction (i.e., sale of land) as a signatory. It has been referred to in the inscription as follows “Airyathu Munuruvan Elluthu”^[1] Another lithic record denoted the sale of land to Koyilmayilai alias Parantaka -Muvendavelan by the Assembly, which he presented as a Bhattavritti to those who expounded Prabhakaram in the temple. This land transaction was signed by a signatory named Parantaka.^[2]

Another lithic record recorded the investigation (arachchi) of the affairs of the Temple by Muvendavelar. It was signed by a signatory called Nagarasan.^[3] Yet another lithic record signified the name of signatory as Perunkavithi Elluthu. It also recorded gift of dining untensils and money in gold by a private individual from the interest on which one person was to be sumptuously fed daily.^[4] Another lithic record identified three signatories such as “Tirumandira olai Eluthu, Tiyakavinotha Muvendavella Eluthu, and Vanatharayan Eluthu”^[5]