World Classical Tamil Conference Coimbatore-2010. Archaeological and literary sources of Kongu Region
During the classical period (i.e. Sangam Age) Kongu was under the rule of the Chera kings and many verir chieftains. The society of those times is well represented in the Patirruppattu and other akam and puram anthologies. During that period this region was technologically well advanced and was visited by the tradersof the East and West. Evidence suggests that this region was occupied right from Iron Age (1000 BC).
*The Potiri hill (Palani), the abode of the Tamil God Muruka?,is in this region.
*Ayirai, another famous hill of the Cheras mentioned in Pati??uppattu(30,79) as the “Ayirai where dwells the fearful deity” is located in Kongu region.
*Kumaran who donated his head for the cause of benevolence and P?ka?, one among the seven great philanthropists of Sangam Age who ruled over the Poti?i hills of the Kongu region were eulogised by famous Sangam poets Perun?cittira??r and Peruntalai-c-Ca?tta?a?r.
*K?m?r (present Kangayam) ruled by Ka?uvu? is mentioned in Akan????u and Pati??uppattu. It is situated in Kongu region.
*The Kutiraimalai region ruled by Pitta?ko??a? alluded in Pu?anan??u(168-172) is situated in Kongu region.
*Poruntil I?a?k?ra?a?r , a famous Sangam poet is located near Pa?ani in Kongu region. Recent excavation conducted by Pondicherry Central University brought out many evidences to attest the flourishing activities of this region in those days. During the excavation, about 2 kgs., of paddy of Sangam Age has been recovered. Large quantities of beads of precious and semi precious stones and glass beads, have been brought out from the excavation, besides evidence for glass bead industry in the habitation mound.
*The Industrial and Trade centre of Ko?uma?am (present Kodumanal in Erode District), recorded in the Pati??uppattu belongs to the Kongu region. This place was excavated byTamil University during 1980s. The megalithic burials have yielded many semi precious stone beads, iron implements, brass objects, and potteries with graffiti marks. The excavations in the habitation area yielded evidences for the existence of metal furnaces. Besides, many pottery inscriptions of old Tamil characters (Tamil-Brahmi) dated from the third century B.C. have been obtained.
*Pava?anti A?ika? who wrote the grammar work Na???l, lived in present S??a?napuram (Jainapuram) in Kongu region and A?iy?rkunalla?r the famous commentatorof the Cilappatika?ram lived in Nirambai which is also situated in Kongu region. The famous Jain work Peru?katai was written by the poet Ko?guv?? who hailed from Kongu region. The Jain temple of Vijayamangalam indicates the spread of Jainism in Kongu region also.
*In Kongu region there are many megalithic burials of Iron Age found in the form of stone circles and stone heaps. This region was a nodal region for the trade between the East coast ports and West coast ports of Ancient Tami?akam. A large number of Roman coins were recovered around Ve??al?r, Ch?va?ipp??aiym, and Pollachi region. In fact, only Kongu region yielded the bulk of Roman coins found in the whole of India. This attests to the fact that Kongu region played an important role in Maritime Trade with Roman world through Palghat Pass in the Sangam Age.
*The famous Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions found at Puka??r, near Kar?r, corroborate the Sangam evidence relating to the Ch?ra dynasty. A third century inscription on musical notes is found at A?achal?r, which is in Kongu region.
*The excavations in the sites near Coimbatore namely P?r?r and Poluv?mpa??i have brought to light many stone, glass, and shell beads, iron implements, terracotta objects, ear rings, the potteries with the graffiti marks and so on.
*A Punch-marked coin found in S?l?r near Coimbatore attests to the trade connection between North India and Tamilnadu during the Sangam Age. Distinguished scholar Iravatham Mahadevan isof the view that a symbol found on an old pot at S?l?r is similar to an Indus Script symbol.
*More than 250 Iron Age and Sangam Age sites have been so far identified in the Kongu region (Old Coimbatore District) by various scholars during their field work.
*It is generally agreed that Kar?r Van?ci (Kar?r), the capital of Ch?ras was situated on the bank of ??porunai (present Amar?vati River), which is in the Kongu area.
*The famous port Musi?i, alluded to in Sangam Literature situated on the West coast of Ancient Tami?akam, belonged to the Ch?ra Kings. Only recently, this port has been discovered and excavated by the Kerala Council for Historical Research. The findings would go to prove the maritime activity of Music, as noted in Akananuru (149), which mentions that the ships (from Rome) laden with gold visited the port and returned with pepper. In this excavation, Roman potsherds, gold objects, Chira coins, Brick structures, Boat wharf and wooden boat of 2200 years old have been unearthed. It may be remembered that this port was the important emporium for exporting thesemi precious stone beads of the Kongu area.
*The above evidence suggests the importance of hosting World Classical Tamil Conference at Coimbatore the seat of Kongu region.
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