I am also interested to know about the Sangam period. Especially about the Madurai (Mudal Sangam), Kapaadapuram ( Irendaam Sangam) and present Madurai (Moondraam Sangam), the kings who ruled TN in these periods, tamilians culture, lifestyle etc.
Recently, I read a book called "Kapadapuram" written by Na.Parthasarathy. It is really a good book which talks about a period of Pandya king "Venther Chezhiyan".
The book starts the story when this king is around his age of 80s. The story goes like a love affair of his grandson with a Paadini (Paanan /Paadini - those who move in groups to several places).
Apart from these, it says about many things. To begin with, this Kapaadapuram is placed in the seashore where Porunai Nadhi (Tamiraparani) joins its hands with Sea. And it is this VentherChezhiyan who constructed the city after the former Madurai was swallowed by the Indian Ocean.
He is called so, b'cos he had many chariots which has pearls embedded on them... Yes, in the nights if the chariot comes it will be like the moon going on the roads...Seems he had had hundreds of such chariots. So far, I have read that Illanjchetchenni- Father of Karikala chola had many chariots and he is an expert in riding them. But, there had been many ancestors before him.
Infact "Kapaadam" means "Muthu"(pearl). The larger size pearls (ie, more than the size of plates) are called so. There had been a hill called "Mahendra Parvatham" which was a mine for Rathinams..Seems lot of wealth had been exported from South India. I have heard of only Korkai pearls which will more than the size of big gooseberries...but pearls more than the size of plates and Kedayams...Just cant imagine! Where is that wealth now ?
Also, the book says that there were many islands in Indian Ocean. There used to be cannibals and savages who were used by him for building ships and such hard tasks. So, when others of just cannibals we have lived in a civilised manner...
I am so proud to be a descendant of such a Great Community !!
I want to know more about those ages... Pls start throwing light from it.
Hi Suganya, There is still this Mahendra Parvatham existing and is now called as Mahendra Giri. It is about some 55 Kms from Tirunelveli enroute to Kanyakumari. There is a huge ISRO complex here called as Liquid Propulsion Systems center. The fuel for the Cryogenic Engine rockets was made here only.
I just had a look at the name of places which r near to kanyakumari. They r quite interesting. For ex. some names r as follows, Erukkandurai, Kootankuzhi, kundal, puttantaruvai, Aramboli, Azagiyapaandipuram, panaikkudi, Thirukkurungudi, Naanguneri. I love these kind of pure tamizh names. If someone knows the story or reason for the above names, please can u please explain?
There is an interesting article in the following website abt gangai konda cholapuram.It says abt gangai konda cholapuram and the neighborhood places . If u ppeople already know this, please neglect this....sorry for wasting ur time:-) http://www.intamm.com/history/kangai.htm