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POOMPUHAR TO KODUNGALOOR -1

Dear friends,

                   when I was in grade 8, I learned the most famous Tamil epic - Silappathikaaram. This literature was written in 2nd century A.D by a poet called Elango Adigal. This is the only literature in Tamil which can give you details of ancient history, geography, culture and tradition of Tamil country. The leterature is based on the history of 3 characters- Kovalan, Kannagi and Madhavi.

When I asked my Tamil teacher that we must go to the famous  city called Poompuhar, which was the ancient port town and capital of early Cholas, he just laughed and said  that I must dive into the sea and see. I was very upset. Yes the entire city got washed away tsunami waves in 2nd century A.D.

The in formations recorded by the great poet made me to dream every day and night to see the city. But just time passed away. But the city made me to sumit 100 pages research about the literature to my school principal . But it was put into the dustbin, because my Math teacher said that I am very weak in his subject and study only arts and language.

But the eager for knowing more about the literature, history based on that literature just burned like a fire. Slowly years passed away. I came to college. In my B.Sc Silappathikaaram was taught. Often I go to the Tamil department just to see and enjoy the beautiful paintings of this literature. Slowly I decided to choose Tamil for my future .But I cannot explain the tough times faced by me when I resigned my job and chose Tamil literature.

Slowly my age, experience and professor's guidelines shaped put my emotional attachment with this literature. Because still today our life, culture and tradition are based on this literature. I started exploring many aspects of this literature. My thirst was to visit the three great cities mentioned in this literature and to see Kannagi temples all over Tamil nadu and Kerala states.

When I was in third year, I met with an accident and my left leg got operated. At that time Dr. Pradheep Kumar who was my tutor in college came to see me and said that he has worshipped a goddess in his native place in Kerala for my requiry.

Then my life in Madurai city with him made more changes in my life and studies. I was so happy to do Tamil master degree in Madurai Kamarajar University. My teachers were so humble and great to tell me so many things about Silappathikaaram.

Madurai is one of the city where the story makes its main turning point nad climax. So every day and night I was just in research and dreams with books and Pradheep added the '' ghee to the fire''.

Today I have no words to express how we enjoyed the days in Madurai. Apart from his science research he made all arrangements for my research. One day suddenly he said, '' Madesh, I remember my grandparents call the goddess in my native place as Kannagi's incarnation''. His native place is the modern Kondungalloor in Kerala . It was the ancient most capital of chera empire. The literature ends in that place. We were not aware about this. In olden days this town was named as Vanji.

I just jumbed, I said that immediately we need to leave to Kodungalloor. But apart from this many things happened. It was so exicting to know about the place where we studied....

Let us go to Madurai Kamarajar University in Nagamalai Pudhu kottai , 18 KM  west to Madurai city.       

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