The temple walls have numerous inscriptions written in Tamil and Grantha scripts. The latter was a script that used to write Sanskrit in the Tamil language. Of the more than 150 inscriptions, 120 belong to the Chola kings. Many of these begin with a customary historical introduction of the king who is supposed to be the author of the inscription. The content is mainly about gifts and donations made to the temple or the temple functionaries. The Chola inscriptions belong to King Rajaraja Chola I, and his successors namely, Rajendra Chola I, Vikrama Chola, Kulottunga I and Rajendradeva (Rajendra Chola II). The other inscriptions are those of a Pandyan king, Vijayanagara and Maratha rulers namely, Achyutappa Nayaka and Mallapa Nayaka.

The most famous inscriptions is the one of King Rajaraja I. It runs in to 107 paragraphs, and describes how the king, seated in the royal bathing hall on the eastern side of his palace, ordered that it be inscribed on the base of the temple's Vimana, how he followed through ... More

The temple walls have numerous inscriptions written in Tamil and Grantha scripts. The latter was a script that used to write Sanskrit in the Tamil language. Of the more than 150 inscriptions, 120 belong to the Chola kings. Many of these begin with a customary historical introduction of the king who is supposed to be the author of the inscription. The content is mainly about gifts and donations made to the temple or the temple functionaries. The Chola inscriptions belong to King Rajaraja Chola I, and his successors namely, Rajendra Chola I, Vikrama Chola, Kulottunga I and Rajendradeva (Rajendra Chola II). The other inscriptions are those of a Pandyan king, Vijayanagara and Maratha rulers namely, Achyutappa Nayaka and Mallapa Nayaka.

The most famous inscriptions is the one of King Rajaraja I. It runs in to 107 paragraphs, and describes how the king, seated in the royal bathing hall on the eastern side of his palace, ordered that it be inscribed on the base of the temple's Vimana, how he followed through with his temple plan, a list of the gifts that he, his sister, Kundavai, his queens, relatives, noblemen and also the commoners gave to the temple. The inscription also talks about the temple's construction, its various parts, the daily rituals to be performed for the Linga, the details of the offerings such as jewellery, flowers and clothes, special worships and the days on which they should be performed, the monthly and annual festivals, etc.

Inscriptions in the temple name Kunjara Mallan Raja Raja Perunthachan as the chief architect of the temple. They also speak of ‘Perunkani' who was an astronomer appointed by Raja Raja Chola for announcing the auspicious dates for celebrating the temple festivals. The inscriptions also record a list of 66 bronze idols which were installed in the temple by King Raja Raja Chola, Kundavai, his queens and other noblemen. The dimensions of each of these idols, the number of arms they had, the symbols held by them and the details of the gold jewellery, inlaid with precious stones such as diamonds, emeralds, sapphires, rubies, corals, pearls, worn by each of these bronzes are also mentioned. The inscriptions also mention the temple workers such as the cleaners, sweepers, flag and parasol carriers, torch-bearers for processions and festivals, cooks, dancers, musicians and singers of devotional verses.