01-03-2009, 05:35 AM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Â Adi Sankara- An Archaeologistâs Research-IV
                  The Story of change of Periyar River Course
                                By
                           T.Satyamurthy **                                                                                  Â
In recent past Archaeological excavations and explorations were conducted in Kerala, the birth place of Adi Sankara,to unearth the ancient remains of Tamil Sankamage.The early historical period of Tamil country (300 BCE to CE500) witnessed the conceivable growth of Tamil Language and Literature. The Anthology of Sankamage Tamil literature record about the Society and the rulers of that period. The Country was broadly divided into three Major Domains and ruled by Chera Cola and Pandyas with probably some small princely rulers under them. The land was divided into five categories known as hilly tracks, pastoral region, littoral, coastal and Dry land. The people of the Age worshipped five presiding Deities, viz, Murukan, (Subrahmanya), Vishnu, Indra, Varuna and Durga (Kottravai), in those area respectively. This division of land and accommodating many deities with different Characteristics as per the need of the people formed a base for Adi Sankara to formulate and to bring to one Umbrella all such sects. Infact this early faith of Tamil society of Sankamage gave an impetus to Adi Sankara to systematise a Shanmatha for the welfare of the entire Society in entire India.
Nevertheless, the search of Archaeological materials in Sankamage ports had yielded some tangible results. Pumpuhar the Sankamage port of Chola country had yielded very good results to establish it as a busy trading Centre shrouded with export commercial activities. Ancient Remains of Buddhist Viharas, Warp etc were excavated by Prof.K.V.Raman; similarly archaeological excavations at Korkkai and Algakulam by Dr.Nagasamy, the early Pandyas Ports have also yielded good results to establish them as Pandya country ports. Similar Excavations at Kodunkallur, the ancient Muzuries in Thrissur District, Kerala had not yielded required materials to establish it as Chera country port. In the Archaeological excavations in Muzuries and in Mahodayaouram the ancient capital of Chera country materials of CE 9th were only encountered. This anomaly had become a great problem for Archaeologists to locate the ancient port of Chera country in which Adi Sankara was born and brought up.
The present Author, as Director of Archaeology, Kerala Government had taken up this mission as problem oriented survey. Preliminary study had shown that hoary evidences were available to establish the role of Kerala Coast in building marine trade during the early historical period. (3 BCE). Numerous Silver and Gold Roman coin hoards were discovered in Kerala indicating the brisk foreign trade during that period. The Tamil Sakam literature also record the see faring business where the Yauvanas brought their materials like linen, wine, gold coins etc and exchanged them with pepper, sandalwood and other products of Kerala coast.
In a resolution the Parliament of Rome during the middle of the first CE*** had condemned this draining of Gold of their country to the Kerala coast for the purchase of pepper and other spices, the luxury items of rich community of Rome.
The location of Muzuries, as named in Tamil and Roman literature was identified as the present Kodunkallur of Thrissur District, Kerala. It is located at the mouth of Periyar River (also known as Purni River). The onshore excavations here had not yielded required clue and hence the possibility of the port being submerged could not be ruled out. Hence the explorations in the offshore of Kudunkallur were taken up during 1991.
The entire mouth of Periyar River (Purni) where it was draining into sea was scanned with side sonar scanner and the result showed that here was a tectonic movement in the area due to earth quake during 3rd BCE and the Periyar River was emptying into that area retrieved during the earthquake. It was not draining onto the sea directly, but to the estuarine lake.
As a follow up action the entire Periyar (Purani) valley was taken up for scanning and electromagnetic survey of the area was conducted by the Geological Survey of India, Hyderabad. The results were really significant as it had recorded the paleo channel of the Purni River. This feature indicates that the present Periyar River had taken a new course nearly about 3 km south of the present Kaladi, the birth place of Adi Sankara. We can recollect here the incident of Adi Sankaraâs life where he brought the Purni River to the foot steps of his house for the benefit of his mother. As she could not walk long distance to take bath in the river, on his prayer the river took a new course and run in front of his house.
The present birth place of Adi Sankara at Kaladi was identified by Narasimhabharati, the saint pontiff of Sringeri Mutt during the first quarter of last century and the reported old river (Paleo channel) Course is located about few KM from it. Thus the Archaeological âGeological survey had proved that the stories mentioned in Sankara Vijayas are not fables but real incidents in the life of Adi Sankara.
No doubt that the Archaeological researches in Kerala had yielded good results to establish Adi Sankara as living in Kaladi and a Guru of great Supper Powers. However further excavations of Paleo channel by Drilling and collection of Organic materials for scientific dating will help us fix the exact period of Adi Sankara. This is a task before Archaeologists and Geologists for future research.
Let us probe into Linguistsâ approach of the problem in the next Issue.
  Â
**Former Director of Archaeology, Kerala Government
***Beginning of Christian Era is named as CE (Common Era)
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
..... to be continued.
                  The Story of change of Periyar River Course
                                By
                           T.Satyamurthy **                                                                                  Â
In recent past Archaeological excavations and explorations were conducted in Kerala, the birth place of Adi Sankara,to unearth the ancient remains of Tamil Sankamage.The early historical period of Tamil country (300 BCE to CE500) witnessed the conceivable growth of Tamil Language and Literature. The Anthology of Sankamage Tamil literature record about the Society and the rulers of that period. The Country was broadly divided into three Major Domains and ruled by Chera Cola and Pandyas with probably some small princely rulers under them. The land was divided into five categories known as hilly tracks, pastoral region, littoral, coastal and Dry land. The people of the Age worshipped five presiding Deities, viz, Murukan, (Subrahmanya), Vishnu, Indra, Varuna and Durga (Kottravai), in those area respectively. This division of land and accommodating many deities with different Characteristics as per the need of the people formed a base for Adi Sankara to formulate and to bring to one Umbrella all such sects. Infact this early faith of Tamil society of Sankamage gave an impetus to Adi Sankara to systematise a Shanmatha for the welfare of the entire Society in entire India.
Nevertheless, the search of Archaeological materials in Sankamage ports had yielded some tangible results. Pumpuhar the Sankamage port of Chola country had yielded very good results to establish it as a busy trading Centre shrouded with export commercial activities. Ancient Remains of Buddhist Viharas, Warp etc were excavated by Prof.K.V.Raman; similarly archaeological excavations at Korkkai and Algakulam by Dr.Nagasamy, the early Pandyas Ports have also yielded good results to establish them as Pandya country ports. Similar Excavations at Kodunkallur, the ancient Muzuries in Thrissur District, Kerala had not yielded required materials to establish it as Chera country port. In the Archaeological excavations in Muzuries and in Mahodayaouram the ancient capital of Chera country materials of CE 9th were only encountered. This anomaly had become a great problem for Archaeologists to locate the ancient port of Chera country in which Adi Sankara was born and brought up.
The present Author, as Director of Archaeology, Kerala Government had taken up this mission as problem oriented survey. Preliminary study had shown that hoary evidences were available to establish the role of Kerala Coast in building marine trade during the early historical period. (3 BCE). Numerous Silver and Gold Roman coin hoards were discovered in Kerala indicating the brisk foreign trade during that period. The Tamil Sakam literature also record the see faring business where the Yauvanas brought their materials like linen, wine, gold coins etc and exchanged them with pepper, sandalwood and other products of Kerala coast.
In a resolution the Parliament of Rome during the middle of the first CE*** had condemned this draining of Gold of their country to the Kerala coast for the purchase of pepper and other spices, the luxury items of rich community of Rome.
The location of Muzuries, as named in Tamil and Roman literature was identified as the present Kodunkallur of Thrissur District, Kerala. It is located at the mouth of Periyar River (also known as Purni River). The onshore excavations here had not yielded required clue and hence the possibility of the port being submerged could not be ruled out. Hence the explorations in the offshore of Kudunkallur were taken up during 1991.
The entire mouth of Periyar River (Purni) where it was draining into sea was scanned with side sonar scanner and the result showed that here was a tectonic movement in the area due to earth quake during 3rd BCE and the Periyar River was emptying into that area retrieved during the earthquake. It was not draining onto the sea directly, but to the estuarine lake.
As a follow up action the entire Periyar (Purani) valley was taken up for scanning and electromagnetic survey of the area was conducted by the Geological Survey of India, Hyderabad. The results were really significant as it had recorded the paleo channel of the Purni River. This feature indicates that the present Periyar River had taken a new course nearly about 3 km south of the present Kaladi, the birth place of Adi Sankara. We can recollect here the incident of Adi Sankaraâs life where he brought the Purni River to the foot steps of his house for the benefit of his mother. As she could not walk long distance to take bath in the river, on his prayer the river took a new course and run in front of his house.
The present birth place of Adi Sankara at Kaladi was identified by Narasimhabharati, the saint pontiff of Sringeri Mutt during the first quarter of last century and the reported old river (Paleo channel) Course is located about few KM from it. Thus the Archaeological âGeological survey had proved that the stories mentioned in Sankara Vijayas are not fables but real incidents in the life of Adi Sankara.
No doubt that the Archaeological researches in Kerala had yielded good results to establish Adi Sankara as living in Kaladi and a Guru of great Supper Powers. However further excavations of Paleo channel by Drilling and collection of Organic materials for scientific dating will help us fix the exact period of Adi Sankara. This is a task before Archaeologists and Geologists for future research.
Let us probe into Linguistsâ approach of the problem in the next Issue.
  Â
**Former Director of Archaeology, Kerala Government
***Beginning of Christian Era is named as CE (Common Era)
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
..... to be continued.