KAVERIPOOMPATTINAM

Books like the Akananooru, Purananooru, Pattinappalai,

Pathirruppathu, Mutthollayiram, Silappathikaram, Manimekalai, Devaram,
Thirutthondarpuranam and Nandhikkalampagamrefer to this town. Ancient Pali
literature like Milindapan, Buuttha Jathakakathaikal Abithamma Avathar and
Buddhavamsakatha and the travelogues of Periplus, and Merris Erithroy contain
the references to Kaveripoompattinam. Ptolemy and Pliny also mention Poompuhar
in their writings.

This port town of Kaveripoompattinam has been mentioned and cited on the temple
inscriptions, in ancient literature and travelogues, different names and it has
been referred to as Kaganthi, Sampapathi, Palarpukar Moothur, Mannagathu
Vanpathi, Cholapattinam, Kaberia

Emporium, and Kolapattinam.

The Structure Of Poompuhar City 2000 years ago
The structure of Poompuhar town can be traced from the fifth chapter of the
Silappathikaram, Pattinappalai. Manimegalai also describes the same. The city is
said to have been designed on the lines of Mayan's architecture. The town had
well-marked divisions known as Pattinappakkam and Maruvurppakkam. The market
place in the middle known as Nalangadi during the day and as Allangadi by night.
The seashore was inhabited by the fisher folk. The town had several warehouses.
Weavers, silk merchants, vendors, fish and meat sellers, potters, grain
merchants’ jewellers and diamond makers lived in Maruvurppakkam. The kings
and
nobles, rich traders and farmers, physicians, astrologers, members of the king’s
army, court dancers occupied Pattinappakkam. The five Manrams - Vellidai Manram,
Elanchi Manram, Nedankal manram, Poothachathukkam and Pavaimanram were located
in Pattinappakkam. Gardens like Elavanthikaicholai, Uyyanam., Chanpathivanam,
Uvavanam, and Kaveravanam added beauty to the town.
During excavations, temples for Lord Shiva, and Chathukkappootham the last of
the deities were found in the city. There are temples for Shiva, Indra, his
elephant Iravatham, and his Vajrayutham, Balaraman, Suriyan, Machatham,
Chandran, Arugan and Thirumal. Buddha sthupas or pillars and seven Buddha
viharas were also found. Apart from these, a temple for Champapathi Amman, brick
idols, and UlagaAravi Manram existed in Poompuhar.

Cool and shady river banks with trees and dense foliage, sacred passages from
temples to the river for Gods to come and bathe, and the ringed wells on the
fringes of the town were salient features of the town planning that have been
noted during excavations. The town had a compound wall engraved with tiger
emblem.


The town also had different market places and living areas for foreigners like
Yavanas.

Excavations at Poompuhar

Excavation work on the lost Poompuhar city has been in progress since 1910. The
excavations conducted by Indian Archaeological Department have revealed the
existence of several ringed-wells called Urai Kinaru near the seashore.
Pattinappalai a book Sangam period speaks of these wells.

The excavation has also been taken up near Champapathi Amman and
Pallavaneswaram
temples. The remains of the various buildings have been found during the
excavation in 1960-1961. Remains of a brick building and a boat-jetty were
discovered at the Keezhaiyur area in Poompuhar. A water reservoir and the
remains of several buildings were also found. Relics of a sixty feet long Buddha
vihar with rectangular rooms were discovered at Pallavaneswaram. The Buddhapada
or the feet of Lord Buddha in limestone was unearthed. This Buddhapada in
limestone resembles the marble feet that was dug up from Amaravathi and
Nagarjunakonda the Buddhist sites in Andhra Pradesh. The size of this Buddhapada
3 1/2' x 2 1/2' and it has two feet and holy symbols like lotus flowers, the
poornakumbam and the swastikam. Several other brick figures and copper coins
were also found. These coins were both rectangular and circular in shape. The
Chola emblems of the tiger with the upright tail and the sun were engraved on
them. These coins are considered to be those of Karikala Cholan.
Recently the Archaeological Department of Tamil Nadu has discovered the remains
of several buildings of this period. The National Institute of Oceanography, Goa
and the Archaeological Department of Tamil Nadu have undertaken the offshore
exploration of Poompuhar. The ancient Pricelen remains are exhibited in the
Marine Archaeological Museum at Poompuhar.