EARTHQUAKE IN NAGAPATTINAM

Earthquakes are powerful manifestations

of sudden releases of strain energy
accumulated within the crust and
propagated as seismic waves. The need
to understand and study the phenomenon
of earthquake is for a simple reason, that
it is the most disastrous natural calamity
for mankind. The Himalayan Frontal arc in
India is amongst the most seismically
active regions of the world. Even the
Peninsular
Stretch
is
extremely
susceptible to Earthquakes. The Runn of
Kutch Earthquake of 1918 is one of the
largest interpolate events in the world.
The first Seismological observatory in
India was established in the year 1898 in
the city of Calcutta. Over the years the
department has been exponentially
expanded
by
the
Meteorological
Department of India. Tamil Nadu is not as
seismically active as states in the
northern and western parts of the
country, small to moderate earthquakes
have occurred in the state of Tamil Nadu.
The frequency of earthquakes is low i.e.
the gap between moderate sized events is
fairly long. Seismic activity in the recent
past has occurred in clusters (Dasgupta et
al., 2000) along the borders with Andhra
Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala. Several
faults have been identified in this region
out of which many show evidence of
movement (Dasgupta et al., 2000) during
the Holocene period. The east-west
trending Cauvery Fault, Tirukkavilur
Puducherry Fault and Vaigai River Fault
and the north-south trending ComorinPoint
Calimere Fault and RajapatnamDevipatnam Fault are some of them and
run close to major urban Centres like
Coimbatore,
Madurai,
Nagapattinam,
Thanjavur and Puducherry.
TSUNAMI IN NAGAPATTINAM
As India and the world recover from the
catastrophic loss of humanity due to the
tsunami on 26th December 2004,
Nagapattinam which was the worst
affected district in India with 6065
confirmed deaths has witnessed non-stop
activity in the past one year.
During this period what stood out was the
constant resolve shown by the people to

learn from natures lessons and the

resilience of the people and the
Government to develop communities
which are not only resilient but also which
strive for a safer world.
Simultaneously the focus has been on not
only restoring what was lost but also
aiming to change lives for the better as
the rehabilitation process moves forward.
FLOOD IN NAGAPATTINAM
Seven persons have died in the rain and
flash floods in Nagapattinam district in the
past week and about 5,000 hectares of
standing samba paddy crops submerged
in Sirkazhi and Kollidam blocks, said
Collector J. Radhakrishnan here on
Sunday.
Talking to media persons, he said
living in low-lying areas such as
Mahendrapalli,
Mudalaimedu
Nagalpadugai,
Achalpuram
Poompuhar had been told to move
places in case of heavy rain.

people
Kattur,
Thittu,
and
to safe

He said about 1,500 houses were either

fully or partially damaged in Sirkazhi and
Kollidam blocks owing to flood in Coleroon
River and all the families provided relief.
Fifteen relief Centres were opened in
Nagapattinam and Mayiladuturai revenue
divisions for providing shelter and food to
the people affected by the rain.
Mr. Radhakrishnan, who inspected the
temporary shelters of tsunami victims at
Pazhayar,
Thoduvai,
Thirumullaivasal,
Tharangampadi,
Thazhampettai
and
Thethi on Sunday, instructed the officials
to drain the rainwater there.
He
also
inspected
the
work
of
strengthening of the bunds on Coleroon
River in Sirkazhi and Kollidam areas.
SIGNIFICANCE OF NAGAPATTINAM
IN THE HISTORY OF TAMIL NADU
"Nagapattinam" on the east coast of Tamil
Nadu, India takes a very important place
in the - medieval and subsequent period history of Tamil Nadu, and was well known
in all South-East Asian Countries. It finds
mention in the Historical Chronicles and

Inscriptions of the medieval & later period

- Malaysia, Indonesia (Java & Sumatra),
China, Miyanmar (former Burma), Sri
Lanka and Tamil Nadu as a great Seaport
City of Cholas the - "Nagapattinam".

The ancient 'Thiru Nagaikaaronam Siva

temple' at Nagapattinam has been
adorned by the Thevara Thiruppathikams
of the great Tamil Saiva Saints of Tamil
Nadu. The Sri Vijaya kings of Indonesia
It was from here Emperor Rajendra Chola too have given many grants through their
- 1, and Emperor Virarajendra Chola under envoys to this temple recorded in this
the command of Kulothunga Chola - 1 temple inscriptions.
(who was the heir apparent to the Chola
throne at that time) sent Cholas forces in The earliest reference to Nagapattinam is
many ships, and captured many near and found in Burmese Chronicle of the 3rd
far lying countries in South and South- century B.C. which mentions of the
East Asia.
'existance' of a Buddhist temple at
Nagapattinam known as Asokavihar
It was from this seaport city many Chola (Asoka Vihare) which was built by the
trade embassies were sent to China, Emperor Asoka of Magadha kingdom of
Miyanmar, Malaysia & Indonesia, and North India.
during this perod many traders from
eighteen different countries including Sri The 'seventh century' Chinese Buddhist
Vijaya, Kadarem, Rammanadsa, China, Monks named Wou-Hing (who actually
and Arab countries were trading at this visited Nagapattinam) and Tche-hong who
seaport city of Nagapattinam, and some visited India have mentioned in their
even settled down in this region.
travel writings the 'Nagapattinam' Port of
Tamil Nadu. The other well-known Chinese
The Copper Plates issued by Emperor Buddhist Monk of this same period who
Rajaraja Chola - 1, Emperor Rajendra has referred to this great seaport city as
Chola - 1 and Emperor Kulothunga Chola - Nagapattinam in his travel writings was I1 too refers to the grant of the village tsing.
Aanaimangalam of Nagapattinam by
Rajaraja Chola - 1 to build a Buddhist 'Bodhidharma' - "most possibily" the
temple named the 'Chulaamanipanma (third)
son
of
the
Pallava
king
Vihare' alias Rajarajaperumpalli and Buddhavarman
(A.D.470-532)
of
another built by Rajendra Chola - 1 known Kanchipuram also travelled from the
as Rajendra Cholaperumpalli at the Nagapattinam seaport to the Chinese
request of the two Sri Vijaya Emperors of seaport city of Canton, and then traveled
Indonesia
namely
the overland to visit the Chinese Emperor Wu
'Chulaamanivarman'
and
'Mara (A.D.464-549) of the Liang dynasty of
Vijayotungavaman'.
China
of
that
period.
(Note:
Maamallapuram became an important
The Chinese Emperor 'Ta-Sung' of a little seaport city of Pallavas only from the time
later period built a Buddhist Vihare named of Mahendravarma Pallava (A.D.610-630).
the Padikrama Vihare at Nagapattinam,
which was also known as the Chinese The Pallava king of little later periond the
Pagoda.
Rajasimhan (A.D.690-728) permitted the
delegation sent by the ruling Chinese king
The foremost three of the 63 - Tamil Saiva to
build
a
Buddhist
Vihare
at
Saints
namely
Thirunaavukkarasar, Nagappattinam.
Thirugnanasampanthar, and Sunthatharar
have referred to Nagapattinam as a The Nagapattinam continued to be of
seaport city in their Tamil Thevara great historical importance also during
Pathikams, and it is also referred to in the the rule of the Paandiya kings who ruled
Tamil
Saivite
literature
the Tamil Nadu after the fall of Cholas.
Periyapuraanam of this period.

The Archaeological Department of Tamil Statues of various sizes from this region
Nadu has unearthed around 300 - Buddha and now kept in Chennai Museum.