Compliance Engineering Journal ISSN NO: 0898-3577

HISTORY AND HERITAGE OF DISTRICT

SAM ROHAN M.Phil. History, MANONMANIAM SUNDARANAR UNIVERSITY, . [email protected]

Abstract: is found in the state of Tamilnadu. It is one of the important ancient places that deserve attention during the rule of cheras, cholas and pandyas. Various foreign traders also visited this place. The historical heritage of thoothukudi district is also an interesting one. and are two ancient significant cities found in thoothukudi district. The some of the ancient historical and heritage places are mentioned in this article. Keywords- History, Antiquity, Inscriptions, Heritage, Temples.

Introduction The history of Thoothukudi District originates from pre historic times. Microlithic culture is evident in many places. The microlithic tools were obtained from Meygnapuram, , , Kuttampuli and . Of these places, Sawyerpuram is a pronounced site for Microlithic tools. These tools are sufficient source materials to know the culture of microlithic men. However vestiges of Neolithic age are not evidenced so far in this district. Signs of megalithic age that followed Neolithic age are in plenty in several villages of the district. The burial urns and black and red ware of the age is pointer to the Megalithic culture that flourished here. Adichhannallur parambu also called Talikkadu by Archaeologists, has yielded burial urns of various hues and sizes to the world of Archaeology.

The burial urns, the iron implements and weapons indicate the coexistence of Megalithic and iron age culture in . The age of Adichchanallur dating back to 2800 years, recalls the memories of the culture and Civilization that marked the age. Similar urn burials are noted in the villages of Vasavappapuram, Vallanadu, Pasuvandanai, Korkai and . These exemplify the widespread megalithic culture of the district. Korkai has been a celebrated pandyan port in ancient times as evidenced by excavated antiquities like burial urns, broken conch pieces, pot sherds with ancient brahmi scripts and

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graffiti. The Tamil country had a flourishing trade With Rome. This has been exemplified by the occurence of rouletted wares from this region. The history and art of this District has thus been exemplified by the many Siva and temples which belong to the period from 8 A.D. to 17 A.D. these temples glorified the pages of our ancient civilization and culture too.

Kurumbur This village is situated on the Tirunelveli main road and is included in the . There is an ancient Vishnu Temple in this village. In the inscriptions the village is mentioned as Kurmbil alias Rajendra Srinallur”. The Temple contains inscriptions of the reign periods of Jatavarman Sundara Chola Pandy, Jatavarman Chola Pandya, Kulotunga I, Jatavarman, Srivallabha, Jatavarma Vira pandya etc. Uttaman Uran of and his son Uttaman Appi had constructed the Vishnu Temple in the reign of Sundra Chola Pandaya and conserceted the images of Vishnu and His Two consorts Sridevi and Bhudevi. Further they purchased land from the village and donated it to the Temple for the daily offerings. These details are revealed in the Sundara Chola Pandya’s 29 th reignal year inscription. The presiding deity of the temple is named after the king as Sundara Chola Pandya Vinnagar Emberuman. During the regime of Sundara Pandya, the name of the deity was altered as Sundara Pandya Vinnagar Alwar. Black and Red pottery dated to 2000 years of age have been collected in the Perumal Temple premises and from the small mound in front of Veerasudamani Devi Temple pointing towards its antiquity. This evidence proves that people of megalithic age inhabited here.

Kuttampuli It is located on the north of Tamraparani. Black and red ware and microlithic tools are available here. The tools are evidence for the life of middle Stone Age man’s habitation. The tools show a deep orange-brown patination. The presence of ware is an evidence for the habitation of megalithic people. The two identify the ancientness of the place. The sherds of black and red ware found here, are similar to megalithic urn-burial pottery of the district .

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Kulattur It is a place very near to Tuticorin. This place gains importance due to the presence of stone tools. Tools available here are dated to middle stone age. Here chert predominates as raw material and the tools bear yellowish brown dust over them.

Manadu It lies 1.6 K.M. to the South-East of Kudiraimoli teri. Teri means desert region. Tools obtained here, are very limited with flakes form the angle of the striking platform and use marks indicate human effort to their manufacture.

Maramangalam This village is very near to Korkai and is about 20 K.M. for Tuticorin and town bus plies between Tuticorin and Maramangalam. Two Temples one dedicated to Siva and the other to Vishnu are noteworthy pointing towards the antiquity of this place.

Meiganapuram This place is situated 31 K.M. from Tiruchendur. Vestiges of Microlithic age are found here. In the teri site of the village, middle stone age implements are available, on the surface level itself. The implements are by far quite ancient. The site is located less than a Kilo metre south east of the Kudiraimoli teri. The age site is earlier than Sawyerpuram. This is proved by absence of blades and geometric forms and points Moreover the tools are highly stained. There is also a beautiful church which attracts the visitors. It was constructed by St. Thomas during 19 th Century. The stones form pannamparai were brought to construct this church. The natural colour of the tower remains undisturbed even after 200 years. A bell connecting the wall clock situated on the tower is still automatic in its working. It shall also be operated manually.

Nazareth This is near the kuldiramoli teri to the north east of which meanders the Tambaraparani river. Tools obtained here bear testimony to its antiquity.

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Adichchanallur It lies 20 KM. from Tirunelveli on the Tirunelveli - Tiruchendur highway. The Adichchanallur Parambu of the place has a large mound and it starts ‘on the Southern bank of the Tambraparani river and extends South-north. The mound has brought a glorious name to this place. Archaeologists call this mound as Taalikkadu and it contains many urn burials. The site testifies to the existence of a big city. It also exemplifies the megalithic culture and iron- age culture, which prevailed here in unison.

Dr. Jagore excavated the site first in 1876. The excavated antiquities were taken to Berlin Museum. In 190304 Mr. Louis Lapicque from Paris conducted excavations at Adittanallur Parambu. The excavated antiquities were taken to Paris museum. Prof. A. Rae conducted excavation here from 1899 - 1906. The antiquities excavated were taken to Madras -Museum. In 1914, A. Rae has published a book listing out the antiquities of Adichanallur excavation forwarded by KR. Andarson. During excavation burial urns measuring 3’4’ to 3’9’ in height and 10" in diameter at the opening were found. There were black and red ware, pottery of various shapes, and size, and other antiquities. Iron weapons used in warfare, short swords and hatchets were also found in plenty. Skulls of the dead, besides seeds of rice and millet are found according to the excavation reports.

Bronze vessels and flower vessels and replica of buffalo, goat, cow, tiger, elephant and stag were the other items found in the urns Ornaments like bangles, rings, bracelets are also found. Bronze rice cokkers and sieves are the other excavated items. The vessels bear many Filigree works. The iron Implements of blacksmiths and fanners are also excavated. The excavated antiquities of Adichachanallur bring to light the ancient glory and culture of the place and civilization that flourished at this place 3000 years before. The mound is a protected site under the control of Archaeological survey of .

Ettayapuram The beginnings of the present Zamin dates back to the first half of 16th century. With the defeat of then Vijayanagar King Ammadeva Raja at the hands of Muslims, the ancestor of present Ettayapuram Zamin one Muttu Ettappa Nayakar sought refuge in the

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Ativira Parakrama Pandya at . The Pandya King gave the latter some villages and also the task of eradicating the kallar menace. The event took place sometime between 1423 and 1443. The Zamin ancestors later shifted their head quarters to Ettayapuram. During the time of Tirumalai Nayak, some poligars rose in revolt against King and it was ascribed to the Ettayapuram Zamindar who spearheaded the campaign. The place acquired its present name as it was the effort of Ettappa Nayak, who groomed this village. This place rose into prominence in 18th century. The palace of Ettayapuram Zamindar stands as an outstanding testimony of 18th century architecture. In one part of the palace, things used by Zamindar like ancient palanquin, fly-whisk, torch and, umbrella symbols of bye gone tradition are still preserved and kept for posterity to have-a look at. Also are kept in view the ancient palm leaf records, dealing with the palace establishment. A Durbar Mandapam is in the central hall. Poet , who was then the Zamin’s poet laureate, composed and enacted many of his poems in this hall. The house where poet Bharati was born is now maintained and preserved by the Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeologyogy.

Tiruchendur This is one of the six holy centres celebrated for the worship of Lord Muruga. Whereas the remaining five spots are top at hill, this is the only place that is on the sea shore in a picturesque setting. This is a traditional version about this place that Lord Muruga had his arm stationed here. Before finally destroying the arm of Surapadma, whose fort was located in the midst of ocean called Viramahendrapuram Festivals commemorating the Lord’s conquest of Surapadma are being celebrated annually.

This place has been praised in Thirumurukarruppadai. Saint Arunagiri in his Tiruppugal, has devoted 86 songs in praise of this place. In the 17th century kumaraguruparan has sung in praise of this place in 224 lines, in his Kandarkalivenda. Pakalikuttar, in his Tiruchendur pillai Tamil has waft ecstacy of this place. Though this place has been praised in literature ranging upto 2000 years, the present temple structure is not that much ancient. Besides literature, the inscriptions that are found in. the corner of first prakara of the temple point out, the antiquity of the place. The Vatteluthu inscription of Maranjadaiyan is 1200 years old and refers to the deity as Subramania Bhatiyar. Hence it goes without saying that during Maran Sadaiyan’s times the temple must have been in existence in the Early Pandya art idiom.

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Nevertheless, the present temple complex has within it many additions and alterations carried out till 1941. The additions have been ascribed to one Manva Sanyasi. There is a nine tier tower at the South gate which is visible upto 15 K.M. distance. The temple has several, subshrines to the parivara deities. In the central shrine Muruga is in standing pose. In the prakara there is a separate shrine for Lord Vishnu. To the north of the temple there is a place where valli was supposed to have hidden here self. It is presently called valli Olinda Valanadu. A rock is excavated into a rock cut cave. It has a central shrine and a Mukhamantapa. The entry into the cave is such that one has to enter with his body bent down. The deity in the cave is in the dark and not quite visible. A modern structural temple is in front of the cave. Kattabomman and Vadamalaiyappa Pillai have evinced great devotion to this temple. The idols worshipped by Kattabomrnan are still exhibited in the temple.

Tuticorin Tuticorin gains prominence only from 16th century A.D. The Portuguese were the first to land on Tuticorin in 1532 AD. St. Francis Xavier stepped his foot first on the Tuticorin soil in 1543. He recorded that the place had a portuguese Governor. Hence between 1552-1543 the portuguese must have had a firm foothold at the place. In the beginning Portuguese had palayakayal as their headquarters. The head-quarters changed to Tuticorin in 1580 AD. In 1544 AD, however the Nayak Kings fought against the Portuguese and set fire to the Governor’s residence and plundered his property. From 1658 onwards, tuticorin was changed hands between the Dutch and British. The Dutch captured the Tuticorin in 1568 AD. In 1782 the British conquered the place. In 1785 A.D. it was recaptured by the Dutch. The British conquered it in 1795 A.D. The Dutch recaptured it in 1818 A.D. Finally in 1825 A.D. the Dutch handed over Tuticorin to the British. In 1801 A.D. Tuticorin was attacked by Ettayapuram Zamindar and was captured by him. It was under his lordship for a short period. In the centre of Tuticorin there is a small island locally called Pandyan Island. Tuticorin has several old churches. On the beach road adjoining the Sub-Collector’s office, there is an Old Dutch church. Nearby there is a Dutch cemetary that contained a tomb of Dutch Governor with a stone inscription in Dutch. There was also an ancient Tamil tombstone Epigraph. These two are presently with the Dutch church for safety.

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Sawyerpuram Microlithic tools can be collected in plenty from the teri mound of this place pointing evidence to the life of middle stone age civilization. Robert Bruce Foots collected tools from here and mentioned this place as Teri Site. The site had yielded a various types of tools like flakes, blades and points etc. Tools obtained here and highly stained Kuttampuli.

Conclusion The places and temples mentioned above describe the age old antiquity of thoothukudi district. There are various inscriptions that tell the ancient golden history of thoothukudi. There are some ancient sites and cultures also found in this district. Adichanallur, korkai, Manadu and sawyerpuram has the evidence of microlithic tools. Now there is a need to excavate some places to elicit the historical facts buried in Thoothukudi district.

References

1. Dr. M. Senthil Selva Kumaran and Dr. Chandravanan, “Heritage of Chidambaranar District”, Thilaga Publishers, Tirunelveli, (1994). 2. Paul Bahn, “Archaeology”, Oxford university press, united kingdom, (2012). 3. Romesh Chunder Dutt, “Ancient India”, MJP publishers, , (2019). 4. K.L. Khurana, “Political & cultural History of India”, Lakshmi Narain Agarwal publishers, Agra (1992). 5. T.R. sesha Iyengar, “The Ancient Dravidians”, MJP Publishers, Chennai, (2007). 6. Dr. C. Manoranjithmani, “ History of Tamilnadu”, Dave-Berji Publications, Tirunelveli, (2012). 7. Satyajeet Roy “Culture of India”, Abhijet Publications, New Delhi, (2012). 8. H.R. Pate, “Madras District Gazeeters Tinnevelly”, Vol I, National Government Publication, Madras (1917).

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