This is a roll of incised palm leaves issued as a receipt for temple donations. There are three pieces of rolled leaves, one enclosing the other two. On the first day of the new accounting year, the Chettiars would make token donations to Lord Murugan in the Sri Thandayuthapani Temple at Tank Road. Palm leaf receipts smeared with turmeric (an auspicious substance) would be given to the donors. The Chettiars continued using leaves in later years as a symbolic gesture. However, by the late 20th century, the temple had started to issue paper and computer-generated receipts.
