Kulasekarapattinam

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Kulasekharapatnam
Kulasekarapatnam, Kulasekarapattinam
Town
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Kulasekharapatnam
Location in Tamil Nadu, India
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Kulasekharapatnam
Kulasekharapatnam (India)
Coordinates: 8°24′0″N78°3′0″E / 8.40000°N 78.05000°E / 8.40000; 78.05000
CountryFlag of India.svg  India
State Tamil Nadu
District Thoothukudi
Government
 • BodyKulasekharapatnam Panchayat
Area
 • Total
12.5 km2 (4.8 sq mi)
Population
 (2001)
 • Total
12,010
 • Density960/km2 (2,500/sq mi)
Languages
 • Official Tamil
Time zone UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN
628206
Telephone code4639
Vehicle registration TN 92
Nearest city Thoothukudi
Sex ratio 1000:1177 ♂/♀
Literacy85.91%
Lok Sabha constituency Thoothukudi
Formerly with Tiruchendur
Vidhan Sabha constituency Tiruchendur
Civic agencyKulasekharapatnam Panchayat Board
Climate Humid (Köppen)
Website www.kulasaikukieaks.com

Kulasekharapatnam is a town in the Thoothukudi district of Tamil Nadu, India. The town is one of several ports on the Coromandel Coast, including Kaveripumpattinam (Poompuhar) and Arikamedu (near Pondicherry).

Contents

Since at least the 1st century CE, the town was recorded as a port alongside other ancient cities like Kollam, Cheran, and Pandyan. Kollam served the Pandya polity on the west coast while Kulasekharapatnam served them on the east coast connecting it to Ceylon and the pearl fisheries in the Gulf of Mannar facing the Tirunelveli Coast. Together with its sister ports, it ranks among the ancient costal settlements of Peninsular India, with Kodungallur and Barugachha (Broach) in Gujarat serving the west coast. [1] In modern times, Kulasekharapatnam's significance has diminished with the rise of Tuticorin in the Colonial Era. [2]

The name Kulasekharapatnam is derived from the Pandyan ruler Maravarman Kulasekara Pandyan I. Kulasekharapatnam has been referred to in Marco Polo's travel diaries dating to 1250.[ citation needed ]

Muslim settlements have been located here since ancient times.[ citation needed ]

The famous Mutharamman Temple, over 300 years old, is located in this place. At the north of the village, an ancient temple of Dharmasamvardhini is situated. Kulasekharapatnam is world famous for the festivities relating to Dussehra.

A sugar factory was running profitably till the end of the British rule. Since British rule, Kulasekharapatnam has had a customs office. A British Railway Line was established and it was called Kulasekharapatnam Light Railway and, as of 1933, the stations were Kulasekharapatnam Central, Kulasekharapatnam Port, and KPM Sugar Factory.

ISRO has announced that a new space launch pad will be set up at Kulasekharapatnam. [3]

Rowthers & Marakkars settlement

During the reign of the Pandyas, Kulasekharapatnam was also known as the Rowthers Palayam , a section of Muslims that had military cavalry, followed traditional customs and were horse traders. Kulasekharapatnam was an important trade center even before the arrival of Islam. The current Muslim population of Kulasekharapatnam is known as the Marakkar or Marakkayars who engaged in maritime trade. They had come from Kerala, and it is said that Kunjali Marakkar's family members came from Kerala. Here, until 1965, the small ship Dhoni was operated. Typical of most port towns, Kulasekharapatnam has a lighthouse, located near Manapad. The city has been inhabited by Hindus since the 8th century CE.

Kulasekarapatnam Perumal Temple Kulasekarapatinam Perumal Temple.preview.jpg
Kulasekarapatnam Perumal Temple

Origin of Marakkars

Marakkar are distinctive Tamil and Malayalam-speaking Muslim people of the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala in India. The name Marakkar is different from Marakkayar (Marikkar & Maricar are other spellings used in history books). According to numerous historians, Moppila or Moplah is Maha Pillai (great son) and Marakkar means (Marakkalam is a wooden boat) 'boatmen'. Thurston, in his work 'Tribes of South India', states the following - The word Marakkar is usually derived from the Tamil marakalam, meaning 'boat'. [4]

It was also a titular name for maritime traders. Marakkar was a prized title given by the Zamorin of Calicut. Derived from Marakka Rayar, it signifies the captain of a ship ('Rayar' meaning 'king' or, here, 'captain' and 'Marakkalam' meaning 'ship'). [4] They are also called marakala rayars, from marakalam ('wooden boat') and rayar ('king') in the Tamil language. The captains of the vessels are called malimars, coming from the Tamil words malumi ('captain') and yar, and crew members are called sherangs.

Traditionally, the Marakkars engaged in mercantile commerce. They can be found along the coasts of the southernmost states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu in India. [4]

The Marakala, also known as the Mogela or Mogaveera, community is an influential fishing community in coastal Karnataka. They are traditionally fishermen and their caste profession is fishing in rivers and the sea. The Barkoor Bennekudru Kulamahasthry temple, Uchila Mahalaxmi temple, Bagvadi Mahishamardini temples are major Mogaveera kuladevata (relating ancestral tutelary deities) temples in coastal Karnataka.

References

  1. ↑ K. A. Nilakanta Sastri, History of South India, 2nd ed., Oxford University Press, 1958
  2. ↑ "Picnic on the beach". The Hindu . Chennai, India. 15 October 2005. Archived from the original on 29 October 2005.
  3. ↑ "New launch pad in Tamil Nadu to help Isro". Times of India. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  4. 1 2 3 Maddy. "Search Results Web results The Marakkar's and their origins".
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