Kudavayil Balasubramanian
Kudavayil Balasubramanian (born Kudavayil, Tiruvarur district) is an archaeologist from Tamil Nadu, India. He is former curator and publication manager at Saraswathi Mahal Library located at Thanjavur. He is credited with discovering more than 100 inscriptions, coins, copper plates, sculptures, and paintings now in museums and temples in that state. Balasubramanian received a bachelor's in zoology, and studied history as a post-graduate. For his contribution to temple art and Tamil language he received (Doctor of Letters (honoris causa)) in February 2016. Twenty seven books all magnum opuses, twenty booklets, fifty three seminar papers and four hundred  and fifty articles have been brought out in the fields of History, Archaeology, Numismatics, Epigraphy, Temple Architecture, Saiva Agamas, Sculptures, Paintings, Music and Dance by Dr. Kudavayil Balasubramanian. His discovery of Nandipuram near Kandiyur and its shrine housing 1000 Siva Lingas, is hailed as the greatest of his achievements. The earlier writings about Nandipuram by a few scholars stand disproved. He did excavations at Agara Ohai and dug out five Chola period bronzes and handed them over to the Tamil Nadu Government. Through his lucubrations, he brought to light the hoary greatness of Kudavayil Kottam of Sangam Age, and added  a new and authentic chapter to the South Indian history. His highly commended work entitled “Thanjai Nayakkar Varalaru” marks a milestone in the field of historic exploration. His work entitled Karunakara Thondaiman, the celebrated General of Kulothunga I, lived in Vandalancheri, the history of which was involved in total darkness. By his strenuous research, its historic greatness was brought to light. He has discovered more than a hundred inscriptions and a few valuable copper plates, thanks to which useful further research can be pursued. He is well versed in the science of Numismatics. His discovery of the commemorative gold coin  issued by Rajaraja pat upon his victory over Sri Lanka and the coins of Koneri Raya and Sundara Pandiya reveal him as a worthy Numismatist. His discourse on the Musical instruments of Tamil Nadu delivered in the MusicAcademy, Chennai, won the recognition of musicians as well as those that play on musical instruments. His book on Panchamukha Vadya (Kudamuzha) is a classic. He is an acknowledged resource person for operas. He studied in depth the 94 dance karana sculptures etched in the Rajagopuram of Sarngapani Temple at Kumbakonam. Thanks to his in depth knowledge of Gukesa Bharata Lakshana, he identified  the dancer as Muruka. The earlier interpretations in this connection stand rectified. His comprehensive works namely, “Thanjai Rajarajecharam, Darasuram Temple, Tiruvarur Thirukkoil and Gopurakalai Marabu” speak to his multi foliate knowledge and his indepth studies of polymathic works. His work “Udayarkudi Inscriptions – a re–view” has indubitably established the truth of the inscriptions of Udayarkudi. This is proof–positive of the right method of hermeneutics, pursued by him. He has rightly interpreted the vocables’ of Sangam literature as well as the corpus of Thevaram and thereby earned the admiration of scholars. He is a lover of ancient manuscripts; by his  hard work he was able to acquire in all thirty manuscripts in Tamil and Sanskrit. He is commended for his gift of these manuscripts to Saraswati Mahal Library, and Tamil University. On purpose he travelled to Cambodia, Malaysia, Java, Sumatra, Borneo and Pali. In all these places he has performed useful and scientific documentation. He is an expert on the water - management that prevailed during the Chola period. In this connection, his knowledge is at once wide and minute and is welcomed by knowledgeable persons. In the light of inscriptions and wide research, he has now established the hyleg (Arudra ) and the month (Aadi), relating to the birth of Rajendra Chola. In fine, his services for the understanding and upliftment of our history, culture, fine arts and literature, etc., are proof against the tooth of time and erasure of oblivion. Books. He has written a number of books in Tamil about history, archaeology, temple study and so on. His noted works include the following: