add site
services
publishers
database
health videos
toolbar
stats
live show
health store
more stuff
JOIN/LOGIN
| advertise add site services publishers database health videos
| | about toolbar stats live show health store more stuff JOIN/LOGIN |
[edit] City layout
The general plan of the city of Puhar is described in considerable detail in the fifth book of Silapathikaram (c. fifth century CE). The town was built on the north banks of the river Kaveri near its mouth. The town had two distinct districts: Maruvurpakkam near the sea and Pattinappakkam to its west. These two districts were separated by a stretch of gardens and orchards where daily markets were held under the shades of the trees. The market place was known as NALangADi during the day and as allangADi by night.   [edit] MaruvurpakkamThe district of Maruvurpakkam was near the beach and had several terraced mansions and warehoused with windows shaped like the eyes of the deer. Maruvurpakkam being close to the shore and hence to the shipyard was naturally preferred by the many overseas travellers, merchants and 'yavanas (foreigner) whose pleasant features arrested the eyes of the spectators living close to each other. Maruvurpakkam was inhabited by the fisher folk. The town had several warehouses. Weavers, silk merchants, vendors, fish and meat sellers, potters, grain merchants, jewellers and diamond makers lived in Maruvurppakkam. [edit] PattinappakkamThe kings and nobles, rich traders and farmers, physicians, astrologers, members of the king’s army, court dancers occupied Pattinappakkam. The five Manrams - Vellidai Manram, Elanchi Manram, Nedankal manram, Poothachathukkam and Pavaimanram were located in Pattinappakkam. Gardens like Elavanthikaicholai, Uyyanam, Chanpathivanam, Uvavanam, and Kaveravanam added beauty to the town. [edit] In culture[edit] EtymologyAncient Puhar was known by several names such as Poompuhar, Kaveripumpattinam or Kaveripattinam and was one of the few great cities of the ancient Chola period. The city was extolled and heralded in a number of temple inscriptions and in ancient literature by many names such as Kaganthi, Sampapathi, Palarpukar Moothur, Mannagathu Vanpathi, Cholapattinam, and Kolapattinam. Puhar in the Tamil language means "the estuary of a river in the sea". Being on the seacoast, it was also a great trading centre for the Chola kingdom. The city, its port and the trade are fully described in Sangam literature, particularly focused on in the epics Silapathikaram and Manimekalai. [edit] In ancient sourcesMain article: Sources of ancient Tamil history The greatness of the city is brought out in the Sangam epics Silapathikaram and Manimekalai. The life and time of the Tamil classic Silapathikaram has been recreated at Poompuhar. There are frequent references to this important port town in ancient Tamil literature of the third century BC onwards. Akananuru, Purananuru, Pattinappaalai, Pathirruppaththu, Mutthollayiram, Silapathikaram, Manimekalai all refer to this town. Ancient Pali literature like Milindapan, Buttha Jathakakathaikal, Abithamma Avathar and Buddhavamsakatha and the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea (Periplus Maris Erythraei) contain references to Kaveripoompattinam. The Buddhist Jataka tale Akiti Jataka refers to the "Damila-rattha" (Tamil country) including the region of Kaveripattinam. Ptolemy and Pliny also mention Poompuhar in their writings. Somaya a Buddhist Pikkuni from Poompuhar donated one of the beautifully sculptured pillars that were erected by the Sunga-Kings of North-India during the second century B.C. The pillars carry the inscription Kaganthia Somaya Pikkunia Thanam ("This Pillar was donated by Somaya Pikkuni of Poompuhar"). [edit] Thriving ancient cityA Purananuru poem (poem 30) says that big ships entered the post of Puhar without slacking sail, and poured out on the beach, precious merchandise brought from overseas. In the extensive markets of Puhar there were many tall mansions surrounded by platforms reached by high ladders. These mansions had many apartments and were provided with doorways, great and small, and with wide hallways and corridors (Pattinappaalai – II –142-158). In all parts of the town there were flags of various kinds and shapes flying in the air. Pattinappaalai, a poem that describes the ancient Puhar very vividly, was written by the poet Kadiyalur Uruthirangannanaar is part of the Ten Idylls anthology and was sung in praise of Karikala Chola, a second century Chola king. [edit] Merchants of PuharPattinappaalai also gives an idealised description of the merchants plying their trade in Puhar (Pattinappaalai – II –199-212):
[edit] City's destructionThe ancient city of Puhar was destroyed by the sea around 1500 years ago. Scientists speculate that this could have been the effects of a Tsunami possibly caused by Krakatoa 416 AD event. [edit] GeographyKaveripattanam is located at 11°08′N 79°51′E / 11.13°N 79.85°E[1]. It has an average elevation of 1 m (3 ft). [edit] PoliticsPoompuhar assembly constituency is part of Mayiladuturai (Lok Sabha constituency).[2] [edit] TourismThe major tourists attractions in Poompuhar : Silappathikara Art Gallery A beautiful building of great sculptural value has been built as Sillappathikara Art Gallery.Scenes from Sillappathikaram, the Epic of the land have been given lively shapes in stones on the walls of the Gallery. These sculptures carved by the sculptors of Mamallapuram Art College remain the treasure house of Tamil Culture. Masilamani Nathar Koil Though heavily eroded by the sea in a number of places, this temple built in 1305 by Maravarma Kulasekara Pandiyan, still manages to impress all the tourists to Poompuhar with its architectural richness. [edit] Gallery
[edit] Notes
[edit] References
[edit] External links
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ↑ top of page ↑ | about thumbshots |
