Author: Virarajendra
Poompuhaar & Naagapattinam are regions of Tamil Historical & Archaeological Antiquity
The region of Poompuhaar was the ancient famed seaport city of Kaviripoompattinam of the Sangam period Chola Country of then Tamil Nadu, from where the great Chola king the Karikaat Cholan ruled.
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-irjzV_SNnQ...131_084948.jpg A statue in granite stone of Karikaat Cholan at Ekambareswarer Temple in Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu - Courtesy Avinash - YouTube
It was to this flourishing seaport city of Kaviripoompattinam of Tamil Nadu - during the period of 'Emperor Augustus Caesar' (B.C.63-A.D.14) of the Roman empire - many Roman and Greek Traders cameforth from the Imperial Rome (in present Italy) and from Greece, mingled and traded in local and imported products with the Tamil & Foreign Traders for gold (coins). Many of them also resided in sky-high mansions in the city of Poompuhar (Kaviripoompattinam). It was during this period the great Karikaat Cholan built the Kallanai (Anicut of granite stone) over Kaveri River (at present Thiruchiraappalli in Tamil Nadu).
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The present day bronze statue of the great Tamil king "Karikaat Cholan" of the third Sangam period on elephant cast and ready to be placed at the "Karikaat Cholan Manimandapam" built and executed under the great efforts of the "present" Chief Minister Selvi J.Jeyalalitha of Tamil Nadu
Kaviripoompattinam was also one of the cradles of the Sangam Period - Tamils and the Chola dynasty. The Muth-Thamil being the Tamil Poetical Works, Music, Dance and Drametic forms flourished in this region. The Buddhism and Jainism too flourished along with Saivaism, Vaishnavaism and Vedism in this great capital city of Kaviripoompattinam. It was here the famed "Inthira Vilaa" was held, and Kovalan & Kannaki (daughter of a very rich Tamil Merchant) of Kaviripoompattinam of "Silappathikaaram" fame lived in a seven floor height Mansion after their marriage. The statue of "Kannaki" also known as "Paththini" could be seen today in the present Marina Beach of Chennai in Tamil Nadu. She was later deified due to her "great spiritual miracles" (around A.D.110) and was worshipped for years and even today as the Goddess of Tamil Nadu, with imense number of Kannaki (or Bagawathi) Amman temples in Kerala, Maariamman temples in Tamil Nadu, and Paththini Amman or Kannakai Amman temples in Sri Lanka both in the predominantly Sinhalese and Tamil areas.
She also became venerated as the presiding deity of the Bagawathi Amman Temple in Attukaal in Thiruvananthapuram region of Kerala, which was one of the "Muth Thamil Naadukal" of then Tamil Nadu, where the "Attukaalaa Pongala" is celebrated in the name of Kannaki by 30 laks of Women annually in the month of February, and now this event has also entered into the Guiness Book of World Records
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...of_Kannagi.jpg http://www.indianetzone.com/photos_g...m-AG_12825.jpg
The present day bronze statue of the great "Kannaki" of Silappathikarem fame of the third Sangam period cast and placed on a pedestal at the "Marina Beach" in Chennai Tamil Nadu, built and executed under the great efforts of the "former" Chief Minister Kalaignar Karunanidhi of Tamil Nadu.
For more Information on Chola - also refer the Webpage with following URL
http://www.factbites.com/topics/Poompuhar
The great Cholas of Tamil Nadu of the Medieval Period who ruled from Thanjavur and later from Gangaikonda Cholapuram, became very powerful and conquered almost three quarter area of then Indian mainland up to River Ganges in the North. Then they conquered countries overseas both in the South & South-East Asia.
The region of Naagapattinam was the great seaport city of the Medieval period Imperial Cholas, from where they sent large war expeditions overseas and captured many South & South-East Asian countries - the Malaysia (including famed Kadaarem), Sumatra (including famed Sri Vijaya) of Indonesia, part of Miyanmar (former Burma), part of Thailand, whole of Sri Lanka, Maldive Islands, and Andaman & Nicobar Islands "and formed a great Chola Overseas Empire in the year A.D.1025" under the greatest Chola Emperor of Tamil Nadu the Rajendra Chola - 1 (A.D.1012-1044). It was in this seaport city the Traders from eighteen different countries met and did their trading in local and foreign goods. It was through this seaport many Chola Embassies were sent to Imperial Court of the Sung dynasty of Chinese empire and the Sri Vijaya empire of Indonesia of this period by Chola Emperors, and many Buddhist Monks from China and Sumatra (the then Sri Vijaya) too visited Naagapattinam and Kanchipuram the two Buddhist centres of Tamil Nadu.
The king of Sri Vijaya (in Sumatra of Indonesia), and the king of Kadarem (the Kedah of Malaysia) gave donations to the "Karonaswami temple" at Naagapattinam during the period Tamil Emperors the Rajaraja Chola - 1 (A.D.985-1014) and Rajendra Chola - 1 (A.D.1012-1044) and Kulothunga Chola - 1 (A.D.1070-1020). The deity God Siva at this temple has been adorned by the sacred poetic praise poems (Tamil Thevara Thirupathikams) of the foremost three Tamil Saiva Saints Thirunaavukkarasu Naayanaar (A.D.568-649), Thirugnanasampantha Naayanaar ,(A.D.641-657) and Suntharamoorthy Naayanaar of Tamil Nadu (A.D.826-864)
It was during this time these two kings granted approval and gave lands and donations to build the two Buddhist temples at Nagapattinam named "Rajaraja Perumpalli" (also known as "Chulamanipanma vihare"), and the "Rajendra Chola Perumpalli" on the request of the Sri Vijaya kings "Chulamanivarman" and his son "Mara Vijayotungavarman". Further the Chinese emperor Tai Tsung (A.D.976-997) of the Northern Sung Dynasty ruling southern China during this period, too built a Chinese Buddhist temple named "Padikrama Vihare" at Naagapattinam during this time.
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The Karonaswami Siva Temple at Naagapattinam
We now hear these two regions of great Tamil Historical Significance, are to be developed as two big "Fishing Ports" of Tamil Nadu. These two regions of great significance in the Tamilian History, and of much Archaeological Interest and Historical value when converted into two big "Fishing Ports", will it not be a "great loss to the historical Pride of the Tamils of Tamil Nadu," and pave way to their disappearence - as the great Tamilian regions of much 'Antiquity and Historical Importance' to Tamil Nadu.
It will be much preferred if these two 'Fishing Ports" be built in some other coastel areas of Tamil Nadu found more suitable, leaving behind the already existing Modern Shipping Companies in these two regions, and they be declared as the "great and famed Sea Port Cities of Tamil Nadu" with much "Historical and Cultural background" of the Tamil Sangam (first century A.D) and Medieval Chola (eleventh century A.D) - periods, and be brought under the purview of Tamil Nadu Archaeological Department for the preservation and retention of their historical antiquity, with the advice and assistance also from the Tamil - Historical & Cultural - Institutions & Organisations of Tamil Nadu.
Preserve Poompuhaar and Naagapattinam regions for the posterity and pride of the future Tamil generations.
