Inscriptions on rocks and bronze plates were written in ancient scripts namely Brahmi, Tamil Grantha, Vattezhuthu and Kolezhuthu, Sanskrit and ancient Malayalam. These inscriptions document the major information related to Kerala history.

Aranattarmalai Inscription

The inscription was discovered from the Aranattarmalai, near Pukazhur, in the Karur taluk near Tiruchirappalli in Tamil Nadu in 1965. The language of the Sangha-era inscription is a mix of Tamil and Brahmi. It has references to three Chera kings - Athan Cheral Irumborai, his son Perumkadumko and the latter's son Elamkadumko. It supports the Chera dynasty based on the Sangha era works.

Avittathur Inscription

Avittathur is a small village in Thrissur district of Kerala state, India. It was one of the 64 original Brahmin settlements in the Kerala state. It is famous for an ancient Shiva temple, where 4 very old inscriptions have been discovered. According to legend, the temple was consecrated by Sage Agastya and the name of the village was originally Agastyaputtur but it seems to be just the Sanskritization of the word. Legendary Chakyar Koothu and Koodiyattam maestro Padma Shri Mani Madhava Chakyar used to perform here for decades.

Chenthalai Inscription

The Chenthalai inscription is found on the pillar of the Lord Siva temple at Chenthalai village near Tiruchirappalli. The inscription is on the lineage of "perum pidaku mootharayanmar". The last mootharayan, Suvaranmaran, is described in different names - Kalvarakalvar, kalabharakavalan, kalvakalvan - which mean that he was the leader of the Kalabhras. The Kalvars (Kalabhras in Sanskrit) had established their supremacy over the Chera, Chola and Pandya kingdoms.

Chinnamanur Inscription

Chinnamanur is a town and a municipality in Theni district in the state of Tamil Nadu. Copper inscriptions, which are all taken from Chinnamanur in the British period, are available in London museum. Chinnamanur, stands back to a very historic period when the king of Madurai, Thiru. Rajasimar came to this land. The tenth century Chinnamanur inscription is a proof for the good relations between the Chera and Pandya dynasties during the reign of Ravivarma Kulasekharan (AD 890-917).

Chitharal Inscription

Chitharal is about 9 KM from Marthandam, between Thiruvananthapuram Nagarcoil route There are 17 inscriptions found in this temple and 12 are directly related to Jainism. The latest one belongs to Sri Moolam Thirunal, the King of erstwhile Travancore. It is believed that this was built during Aay Kings and 9th Century Aay King Vikramaditya Varaguna’s inscription is the oldest one. The inscription records the gift of ornaments to Goddess Bhatari (may be Goddess Bhagavathy or Yakshi). Later during 13th Century this temple was converted in to Hindu Temple, but the three sanctums houses the images of Bhagavathy, Mahavir and Parshvanath. It was learnt that this temple was renovated a Jain Nun called Muttavalai Narayana Kurathiyar, who also offered Lamp and golden flower. The male and female monks/ nuns are referred as Kuravar and Kurathiyar. This is very much similar to the inscription found in Kalugumalai and also they belongs to Kottar (a place in Kanyakumari District).

Chokkur Inscription

The Chokkur stone inscription is at the Sree Rama temple, Chokkur in Kozhikode. The inscription dates back to AD 932, the fifteenth anniversary of the reign of Kulasekhara king Kotha Ravivarma (917-947). Some historians are of the view that the inscriptions date back to AD 898. It has the earliest reference to the Devadasi system in Kerala and a temple dancer named Nanga. It stands proof for the prevalence of Devadasi system during the reign of the Kulasekhara dynasty. Historians believe that some inscriptions in the temple were destroyed in the attack of the Mysore kings. The inscriptions also mention a 36-acre land donated to the temple. Some historians are of the view that the inscriptions date back to AD 898.

Chola Inscriptions

The inscriptions issued by the Chola kings are found from various parts of the old Madras state. They give evidences for the Cholas' attack on Kerala. Attacks on south Kerala regions are mentioned in the inscriptions discovered from the temples at Cholapuram, Kanyakumari, Darsanam Koppu, Thirunanthikarai and Sucheendram. The Thirallaisthanam inscription reveals the friendship between Aditya Cholan and Sthanuravi. Rajendra Chola's (AD 1012-1044) Thiruvalangad inscription has mentioned about the Chola attack on Vizhinjam. The Cholapuram inscription is about the retreat of Kulothunga Cholan to Kottattu.

Hajjur Inscription

The Hajjur inscription was issued by Ay king Karunandadakan (AD 857-83) in AD 866 (Kollavarsham 41). It documents the purchase of a land at Uzhakudivila from Munchira Sabha in exchange of another land. A Lord Vishnu temple and a Veda padasala (residential Veda learning centre) were built in the new land. The Veda padasala, had the facility to accommodate 95 Veda students. The inscription says that "anekayiram kalampadu nilam" (one kalam = ten para, a measuring vessel) were provided for the expenses of the temple and the Veda padasala. The functioning of the vidyapeedams (educational institutions) during that time can be learnt from these inscriptions. Karunandadakan, who had the titles "Sree Vallabhan" and "Parthivasekharan" named this place as Parthivasekharapuram. Later a corrupt version of the name "Parthivapuram" became popular. The inscription is the first of its kind in South India in which Kalivarsham is recorded with the number of days. It says that the inscription was made when 14,49,087 days passed since the birth of Kalivarsham. The inscription is estimated to be dated back to July 7, 866

Jewish Inscriptions

The Jewish inscriptions discovered from Mattancherry, Chendamangalam, and Paravur are examples for the communal harmony promoted by the Kerala kings. An important inscription among them was issued by Kulasekhara king Bhaskara Ravivarman (962-1021) in the thirty-eighth year (AD 1000) of his rule at his capital Mahodayapuram. This copper plate kept at the Jewish Synagogue, Mattancherry, is called "Judapattayam" (the title of Jews) in local parlance. It describes the rights and benefits accorded to Jewish leader Joseph Rabban. Historians assume that the rights were given by the king to garner the support of the Jews against a possible attack of the Cholas. The 72 rights and benefits included the right to collect tax and to travel on a palanquin. With these rights the Jewish leader secured the title "Anchuvannasthanam".

Kadamattom inscription

The Kadamattom inscription is at the Saint George Orthodox Church, Kadamattom. It is carved in the model of the cross at St. Thomas Mount on a plaque measuring 20 inches in length and 13 inches in width. It is in the name of a Marsapur. Some scholars say that the Marsapur is the Maruvan Speer Iso mentioned in the Tharisapalli plates.

Kandiyur inscription

The Kandiyoor temple is the earliest temple about which there is an epigraph about its origin in A.D 823 during the reign of Rajasekhara Varman. There was an era name 'Kandiyoorabdam' from the formation of the temple that was in widespread use until the introduction of Kollavarsham. It is also believed that the temple was once Hinayana Buddhist temple. The Kandiyoor inscription (K. E. 393) dated 1218 say that Kandiyoor temple was reconstructed by Rama Kotha Varma of Odanad. Kandiyoor was annexed to Kayamkulam by Kayamkulam Rajah and later to Travancore by Marthanda Varma. It is believed that during the war between Odanadu and Kayamkulam the defeated Kayamkulam Raja surrendered his sword in the temple and escaped through the rear door which still remains closed. The temple is mentioned in Unnuneeli Sandesam written around the 14th century.

Kaviyoor inscription

The Kaviyoor inscriptions are two rock inscriptions on the floor of the sanctum sanctorum of the Sree Mahadeva Temple, Kaviyoor. They date back to AD 950 and AD 951. The inscription of AD 951 says that Narayanan Kesavan and Mangalathu Narayanan Kirittan donated some land at Ettikkara and other places to meet the expenses for lighting lamp at the temple. It warns the "sthanathar" and "ooralanmar" against spending the money for other purposes forfeiting which they would be penalised as per the Moozhikkulam Kacham. The inscription of AD 950 is about the land donation to the temple by Makilancherry Thevan Chennan.

Kazhukumala inscription

The Kazhukumala inscription refers to the attack of Pandya king Jadilavarman Paranthakan aka Maranchadayan (765-815) on south Kerala. It says that the king, on the twenty-third year of his rule, successfully attacked Malanadu king and set the Ariviyoor fort ablaze. The Malanadu king referred in the inscription is believed to be Ay king Karunandan.

Madayipalli inscriptionn

The Madayipalli inscription is a memorial of establishing the Pazhayangadi Palli, a mosque, at Madayi near Kozhikode. It was inscribed in Hijra 580 (AD 1124). Legend says that the mosque was built following a request by Cheraman Perumal to Kolathiri sent through Sheikh Ibn Dinar. There is another belief that the mosque was built by Malik Ibn Habeeb. Sheikh Paiser who arrived from Arabia renovated the mosque. The khabar of Payambayi (Paikhasar) Sheikh is situated near the mosque.

Manalikkara Inscription

Manalikkara is a small village located in the southern part of ancient Travancore state, presently under Kanyakumari district. Presently this place is known as Vazhikkalampadu in the revenue records. The Malayalam name Manalikkara was very popular during the Travancore state rule and after the formation of Indian states in 1956, this place is more known as Vazhikkalampadu and it became the part of Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu. The Padmanabhapuram palace is located a few kilometers away from Manalikkara. The Inscription is about taxation written in a pillar in front of the Manalikkara Alwar Temple in year 410 ME during the rule of Venad ruler King Veera Ravi Kerala Varma.

Nedumpuram Tali Inscriptions

The Nedumpuram Tali inscriptions were discovered near the Vathil Madam (gateway) of Nedumpuram Tali temple in Thrissur. One of the inscriptions was issued on the seventeenth year of the reign of Kulasekhara Perumal Kotharavi. There are difference of opinion that the inscription date back to AD 900 or AD 934. The temple is referred as "nithyavichareswaram tali". The topic of the inscription is a meeting of taliyar (administration committee) of the temple and adhikari (also called taliyathiri meaning authority) presided over by Venpolinad king that decided to give the income of Ugramangalam and Eesanamangalam villages to meet the expenses of the temple. This is the first inscription which uses the word "paattam" (lease). The penalty for defaulting paattam is to be paid in gold. It also has reference to nangamar. The nangamar are the dancers. The remuneration (aniyam) to the nangamar is mentioned among the remunerations for nattuvanmar (dance teachers) and kantharpikal (actors). The remuneration are given in three categories - uthamam (excellent), madhyamam (medium) and adhamam (condemnable) -which shows that the nangamar were categorised. Another inscription says about a land donation to the temple and the Kulasekhara Perumal mentioned in it is king Indukotha. Yet another inscription issued in the eleventh year (AD 973) of the reign of Bhaskara Ravivarma says about the amount of paddy to be given to the temple annually by Thribhuvana Mahadevi Chiritharanangachi.

Perunna inscriptions

The Perunna inscriptions are stone inscriptions at the Lord Subramanya temple, Perunna, Changanassery. They were carved during the reign of Kulasekhara Perumal Bhaskara Ravivarma. The inscription under the sanctum sanctorum refers Perunna as "peruneythalur" while the other one refers Perunna as "peruneythal". It is believed that the area was "neythal oor" (meaning coastal area) during the Sangam period. The "thiruperunthura" nearby is believed to have been a port then. The first inscription has references to nantuzhainadu ruler and keezhkulangara sabha. The second inscription is believed to have been carved in April or May, AD 1016. The inscription, as directed by the king, was carved by his representatives Eravikannan and Kumaranarayanan of Soravelloor. The edict says that paattakkar (tenants) need not pay any money other than 80 kalam (a measuring unit) of paddy. The edict followed a request by the Peruneykal villagers, Poduval and Paradiyar.

Rameswaram inscription

The Rameswaram inscription is found at the Rameswaram temple in Kollam. It says that Ramathiruvadi started residing at the Panangavil palace in the Chingam month of Kollavarsham 278 (AD 1102). It says about a penalty imposed on the king for committing some sin towards the Brahmins associated with the temple. A meeting of the four Thalis and Arya Brahmins directed the king to donate land to the temple which would be sufficient for the temple to get one para (a measuring vessel) of paddy every day. This inscription shows the growth of Brahmin supremacy which even empowered them to impose a fine on the rulers. The Ramathiruvadi mentioned in the inscription is believed to be Ramavarma, the last Kulasekhara Perumal.

Thazekad inscription

The Thazekad inscription at the Thazekad church near Irinjalakuda was carved in the Vattezhuthu alphabet during the third year of rule of Kulasekhara Perumal Rajasimhan (1021-1043). As the Cheramanar Rajasimhan mentioned in the Mannarkovil inscriptions (1034, 1036) is the Rajasimhar mentioned in the Thazekad inscription, the period of the carving is believed to be AD 1024. The inscription is about conferring some rights to two Christian traders named Chathan Vadukan and Eravi Chathan of Manigramam. They were also given the right to build a shop and church at Thazekad. The trade organisations at that time centred on main institutions in the area. Hence some historians believe that the Thazhekad church was an institution of Chathan Vadukan and Eravi Chathan. Another inscription in the church is the Avittathur inscription issued by Kotharavi in AD 917.

Thirunanthikarai inscription

The Thirunanthikarai inscription is found on the wall of the Thirunanthikarai cave temple situated about 18 km away from Kuzhithurai in Kanyakumari. The Thirunanthikarai Lord Siva temple was a Jain temple in the past. The inscription dating back to AD 906 was carved in the eighth year of the rule of Ay king Vikramaditya Varaguna. It is also known as "Hajjur office cheppedu". It is a proof for the existence of Devadasi system in Kerala. It also refers to the Moozhikkulam Kacham. The inscription says that a paddy field where 32 kalam seeds could be sowed was given for the "thiruvadi charthal" of Aykula Mahadevi Murugan Chenthi. Some scholars say that "thiruvadi charthal" means marriage, while some others claim it means "to offer to the God". It may be assumed from the inscription that the Ay dynasty followed the makkathayam system in which the descent and succession of property were through the males.

Vellayani Inscription

The inscription issued by the Venad king Veera Ravivarma (AD 1195-1205) throws light on the activities of Arunoottavar. Veera Ravivarma, a successor of Udaya Marthandavarma, had another name - Manikanda Ramavarma.