The present day place, Poompuhar is now a small fishermen hamlet. It is called as Kaveripoompattinam. It is also otherwise called as Puhar. Poompuhar is situated on the northern bank of kaveri river at her confluence with the water of the Bay of Bengal, in Sirkali Taluk of Nagappattinam District.1
Puhar is only a remnant of an extensive and famous port city of Chola Country of the Sangam age. Among the dynastic rulers of Cheras, Cholas, Pandiyas who ruled over Tamilnadu, the cholas who held a place of great esteem had this ancient town for their port capital. Puhar means the estuary of river in the sea.
The port town of Kaveripoompattinam has been mentioned in the temple inscriptions, ancient literature and travelogues by different names like Kaganthi, Sampapathi, Palpukaz Moothur, Mannagathu Vanpathi, Cholapattinam, Kaberia Emporium and Kolappatinam2.
There are frequent references to this important port town in ancient Tamil literature of the Age of the Sangam like Akananooru, Purananooru, Pattinappalai, Pathirrupattu, Mutthollayiram, Silappathikaram, Manimekalai, Devaram, Thiruthondarpuranam and Nandhikalambagam. Ancient Pali literature like Milindapan, Buddha Jathakkathaikal, Abithamma Avathar and Buthavamsagatha Travelogues of Periplus and Merris Erithroy contain the references to this ancient town and its flourishing maritime trade. Ptolemy and Pliny also mention the greatness of Poompuhar in their writings.
Somaya, a Buddha Pikkuni from Poompuhar donated one of the beautiful sculptural pillars erected by Sunga-Kings of North India during the Second Century B.C. The pillar carries the inscriptions “Kaganthia Somaya Pikkunia Thanam” (Pillar donated by Somaya Pikkuni of Poompuhar). Buddhism flourished in Poompuhar two thousands years ago.
Details of Poompuhar have been read in the Brahmi inscriptions dating back to the second century B.C in “Barkuth” of North India. The historical details of Poompuhar are also found in the inscriptions of the Siva Temple at Sayavanam which was a part of the famous city of Chola Empire during the age of Sangam3.
The ancient kings like Sembiyan, Musugundar, Manuneethicholan and Karikal cholan who carried myths with them, added to the glory of Poompuhar town. Poompuhar grew into a great city during the reign of Karikal Cholan. He conquered the territories up to the Himalayas and made a pass into China through the Himalayas. On his return, Karikal Cholan brought back the monuments and gifts presented by the Vajraking, the Magatha King and the Avanthi King who were defeated by Karikal Cholan and installed the sixteen Pillared Mandapa in this famous port city, Poompuhar4.
Indira Vizha
Indhiravizha was grandly celebrated during the period of Thodithol Chempian. Inscriptions at Thiruvengadu make a mention of grand festival of Indira, during the later cholas times also.
To the delight of the earth and the admiration of heaven, the festival of Indira was celebrated by the rulers and ruled of Puhar. One thousand and eight kings bore on their heads gold pots filled with cool and holy water rendered fragrant by floating pollen of flowers of the cauveri, taken from where it merges with the sea and performed the bathing ceremony of the Lord of Gods, Indira5.
Division
Poompuhar, the only natural harbour and the second capital city and frequented of many foreign traders was divided into three major divisions.
- Maruvurpakkam
- Pattinappakkam
- Nalangadi
1. Maruvurpakkam
In Maruvurpakkam, the lower class of artists who excelled in several minor arts and crafts had their respective localities. They led flawless lives6.
2. Pattinappakkam
Pattinappakkam in Poompuhar was celebrated by the presence of highly renowned wealthy noble great men, including the domestic and foreign merchants in patricians buildings besides palaces with high enclosures.
In an extensive open space, on the outskirts of the city, were quarters occupied by cavalrymen with swift horses, elephant warriors, charioteers with lofty chariots and infantrymen with fearsome looks.7
3. Nalangadi
The cool zephyr seeking sport in the pleasure garden offragrant flowers, entered the ever mirthful market place and pervaded the streets of puhar.8
The Nalangadi is literally a day market while the evening market was known as Allangadi. They were busy centers of business.
The Structure of ancient Poompuhar City (2000 years ago)
The structure of the ancient city Poompuhar can be traced from the fifth chapter of Silappathikaram. The city is said to have been designed on the lines of Mayans architecture. The town was divided into well marked divisions as Pattinappakkam and Maruvurpakkam by the market place in the middle known as Nalangadi in the day and Allangadi by night.9 The seashore was habituated by the fisher folk. It was also used as a warehouses, people of different occupations like weavers, silk merchants, sweetvendors, fish and meat sellers, potters, grain merchants and diamond makers, lived in Maruvurpakkam. King and nobles, rich traders and farmers, physicians and astrologers, army people of four wings of the king’s force and court dancers lived in the region of Pattinappakkam. The five Mandrams called Vellidal Mandram, Elanchi Mandram, Nedunkal Mandram, Poothachathukkam, and Pavaimandram were located in Pattinappakkam.10
Garderns like Elavanthikaicholai, Uyyanam, Chanpathivanam, Uvavanam and Kaveravanam added beauty to the town. Temples dedicated to various Gods and Goddesses such as Siva, Indra with his elephant Iravatham and his Vajrautham, Balaraman, Suriyan, Machathan, Chandran, Arugan, Thirumal and Sambapathi Amman, the Guardian deity of Puhar have evidences to have existence in the city.
The temple for Sambapathi Amman with Brick idols and an Ulaga Aravi Mandram existed in Poompuhar.11 Most of the parts of this famous and flourishing, extensive and resourceful, politically and commercially significant port city which was evidently praised into all luxuries, way of life of its inhabitants for its domestic especially for its maritime trade with many foreign countries of the past are said to have been engulfed by the water of the ocean, Bay of Bengal. The extensive extant of this ancient city at the time of the sangam Cholas and the disappearance of most of its parts by a sea errosion are also well confirmed by the existence of number of buildings, Houses and Temples beneath the water of the sea; corroborated by the marine Archeaological excavation of India. The historical significance of this area is flourishing Chola Emporium and a natural harbour city.
Silappathikara – Art Gallery (Present Structure)
A beautiful seven storied building “Ezhunilaimadam” of great sculptural value has been built as Silappathikara Art Gallery. The first story is 12` high and each story above is raised to a height of 5`. The top most part surmounted by “Kalasams” raises to a height of 8`. The total height of Art Gallery is 50`.
The “Magara Thorana Vayil” at the entrance of the art gallery imparts an imposing and beautiful look to the whole structure. Its height is 22½`. It has been designed on the model of Magara Thorana Vayil, found in Suruli Malai Mangala Devi Koil. There is also anklet shaped tank in the centre of the art gallery. On the sides of this tank are erected the statues of Kannagi(9½) and Madhavi (8½) sculptured as depicted by the author of the Silappathikaram. They are noted for their rich attractive and alluring beauty. In contrast with that of Kannagi which reveal the attributes of a Tamil family woman, the statue of Madhavi is more fleshy and beautiful. The standing poisture, ornament details, mode of dress, body as well as hand poistures of Madhavi and all the other attributes of a famous dancer are to be noted for their reality and liveliness.12
Various Scenes relating to the life history of Kovalan, Kannagi and Madhavi as depicted in Silappathikaram, the Epic of the land have been given as bas relief sculptured Pannels of small size lively shapes in stones on the inner walls of the gallery. The sculptures carved by the sculptors of Mamallapuram art college remain the treasure house of Tamil Culture.13
Pavai Manram
The tamil classic, Silappathikaram mention that in the ancient Poompuhar, there was a Pavai Manram with a figure of a Damsel, it is said that would never open its mouth, but shed tears in grief whenever there was a deviation from the part of justice either by the king or by the court of justice. This pavaimanram is octagonal Pillared Mandapa in shape with eight female statues in different modes and poses as described in some couples in the section on love in “Thirukural”
Cool and shady river banks with dense trees, sacred passages from temples to the river for Gods to come and take bath, and the ring wells on the fringes of the town were salient features of the town planning. The town had a compound wall and its gates were engraved with tiger emblems.14
The town also had different marked places and living areas for foreigners like Yavanas. Apart from this, ‘Elanchi Madram’ and ‘Nedunkal Mandram’ are also existed in Poompuhar.
Excavation of Poompuhar.
Excavation work on Poompuhar city has been in progress since 1910. The excavation conducted by Indian Archaeological Department has revealed the existence of several ring wells (Urai Kinaru) near the sea shore. The sangam literature Pattinappalai tells of these wells.15
The excavation has also been taken up near Champapathi Amman and Pallavaneswara temples. The remains of the various buildings and a boat jetty were discovered at Keezhaiyur area in Poompuhar. A water reservoir and the remains of several buildings were found. Relics of a sixty feet long Buddha vihar with rectangular rooms were discovered at Pallavaneswaram.16 The feet of Lord Buddha (Buddha Patha) in marble (Limestone Slab) was unearthed. The Buddha Padam in limestone resembles, the marble feets got from Amaravathi and Nagarjunakonda Buddhist sites in Andhrapradesh. The Buddhapadam of the size 3 ½ ‘ x 2 ½ ‘ has two feets and holy symbols like the lotus flower, Poorna Kumbam and Swastikam. Several kinds of brick figures and copper coins were also found. These coins were of both rectangular and circular shapes. The chola emblems of the tiger with upright tail and the sun were engraved on them. These coins are considered to be those of Karikal Cholan.17
A coin with Karpagatharu (Heavenly tree capable of giving anything) engraving was unearthed. In Velliyan Irruppu area, an ancient Roman Copper Coin was dug out. Copper coins with the inscription of Rajarajan were also found during the excavation. Copper idol of Buddha in meditation and green beeds, shells and glass bangles were the other items excavated. A gold coated copper statue of Buddha in meditation (Bothi Sathuva Mythreya) was found at Melaiyur in 1927. It belongs to the 8th Century.18
The most beautiful statue of Lord Muruga was unearthed from the Bay of Bengal by the local fisherman and housed and worshiped in the Siva Temple of Sayavanam – is a noteworthy artifact. Recently, Tamilnadu Archaeological Department has discovered the remains of several buildings. The National Institute of Oceanography, Goa and the Archaeological Department of Tamilnadu Government have undertaken off shore exploration at Poompuhar.
Jeyabalakrishnan, Assistant Professor in History, Thiru Kolanjiappar Govt.Arts College, Vridhachalam
Raja, Ph.D Research Scholar in History, SDCE, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore.
References
- District Hand Book Nagapattinam, Department of Tourism, Government of Tamilnadu, 1998, p.12
- Ibid., p.18.
- K. A. Nilakanta Sastri, The Colas, Madras, p.238
- Ibid., p.263
- Hand Book, Nagapattinam of Tourism, Government of Tamil Nadu, Chennai, 1997, p.31.
- Ibid., p.49.
- www.nagaidistrict.com.pdf.
- Ibid., p.84.
- Charles Farro, A Religious and Cultural History of India, Madras, 1995, p.84.
- Chandara Sekaran, The Name of the villages of Tanjore District (T), Madras, 1983, p. 28.
- Ibid., p.168.
- M. Devadoss Anbrose, Shrine History of Vailankanni, Tanjore, 2005, p.83.
- Ibid., p.90.
- Ibid., p.108.
- District Hand Book, Op.Cit, p. 37.
- Ibid., p.59.
- Ram Gopal, Tamilnadu Tourist Place (T), Chennai, 1995, p. 69.
- T. Subramaniam, Tarangampadi Excavation and conservations, Chennai, 1998, p.128.