Acknowledgement

The Thesis entitled, “Temples in and Around Madurantakam Taluk, is the outcome of my research work during the period from 2010 to 2016 in the Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology, Chennai, Chennai-600 008.

I express my sincere gratitude to my Supervisor, Dr. S. Vasanthi M.A., M.Phil., Ph.D., Deputy Superintending Archaeologist, Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology, Chennai, Chennai-600 008. without whose learned guidance, scholarly discussions and suggestions and involvement at every stage of my study, I could not have completed the work in time and in the manner in which it has been presented.

I remain thankful to all staff members of the Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology, Chennai, Chennai-600 008 for their academic help and encouragement in various ways throughout the course of my research.

I thank members of the Doctoral Committee formed for this thesis for her valuable suggestions and encouragement and timely advice.

I am indebted to faculty members of the Department of History, Queen Mary’s College, Chennai for their warm co-operation in their thoughts on the research work I was engaged.

I extend my sincere thanks to My Husband, My Children, my Parents and Family Members Relatives and Friends for their moral support and encouragement in all possible ways in pursuing my higher studies.

I am most indebted to Dr. K. Apple Rajan, Assistant Professor in History, Presidency College, Chennai -05 for his inspiration in the completion of the work.

My special thanks are to Dr. T. Jadayan, M.A. M.Phil., B.Ed., Ph.D., for his timely help in proof reading and support to accomplish my task.

I extend my thanks to the librarians and staff members of Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology, Connemara Public Library, Madras University Library, Tamil Nadu State Archives, Madras Institute of Development Studies, Chennai and Government Central Library, Chennai and local libraries in Chennai District for permitting me to do research in these places.

B. MEKALA