ÿþ<html> <style> .head1 {font-family:Times New Roman,tscu_inaimathi,tscarial,tsc_thunaivan,tscsaisai; font-size:14pt; color:green;font-weight:bold;text-align:center;} .text {font-family:Times New Roman,tscu_inaimathi,tscarial,tsc_thunaivan,tscsaisai; font-size:12pt; margin-left:3%; margin-right:2%;color="black"; margin-bottom:3%} .ptitle {font-family:Times New Roman,tscu_inaimathi,tscarial,tsc_thunaivan,tscsaisai; font-size:11pt; font-weight:bold; margin-left:3%; margin-right:2%;color="black"; margin-bottom:3%} .verse {font-family:Times New Roman,tscu_inaimathi,tscarial,tsc_thunaivan,tscsaisai; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; margin-left:5%; margin-right:2%;color="blue"; font-weight:normal; margin-bottom:1%} .auth {font-family:Times New Roman,tscu_inaimathi,tscarial,tsc_thunaivan,tscsaisai; font-size:10pt;color="brown"} .title {font-family:Times New Roman,tscu_inaimathi,tscarial,tsc_thunaivan,tscsaisai; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; color="blue"} .contents {font-family:Times New Roman,tscu_inaimathi,tscarial,tsc_thunaivan,tscsaisai; font-size:10pt;color="black"; margin-left:5%; line-height:1.5;} .selected {font-family:Times New Roman,tscu_inaimathi,tscarial,tsc_thunaivan,tscsaisai; font-size:10pt;color="red"; margin-left:5%; line-height:1.5;} .image{margin-left:3%;margin-right:4%;} .reference {font-family:Times New Roman,tscu_inaimathi,tscarial,tsc_thunaivan,tscsaisai; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; margin-left:5%; margin-right:2%;color="black"; margin-bottom:2%; font-weight:normal; line-height:1.2} </style><script> function show_image(img_file) { newwin = window.open("imgwin","","height=550,width=600"); newwin.document.write('<html><body bgcolor="gray"><br><br><br><center><img border="1" src="' + img_file + '" height="350"></center><br>' + '<br><br><a style="cursor:hand;color:white;width:90%;text-align:right" onclick="window.close()">close</a></body></html>'); } </script><basefont face="Times New Roman,tscu_inaimathi,tscarial,tsc_thunaivan,tscsaisai" size="7"> <body bgcolor="white"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tr> <td width="25%" align="left" valign="top" bgcolor="lightgrey"><a name="begining"><br><center><img src="images/cover.jpg" height="175"></center><br><div class="title"><center>Roman Karur</center></div> <div class="auth"><center>R. Nagaswamy</center></div><br></a><a href="preface.html"><div class="contents">Preface....</div></a><a href="foreword.html"><div class="contents">Foreword....</div></a><a href="introduction.html"><div class="selected">Introduction....</div></a><a href="chapter01.html"><div class="contents">Numismatic finds, Inscrib....</div></a><a href="chapter02.html"><div class="contents">Roman Coins....</div></a><a href="chapter03.html"><div class="contents">Punch Marked Coins From K....</div></a><a href="chapter04.html"><div class="contents">Satavahana Coins....</div></a><a href="chapter05.html"><div class="contents">Square Chera Coins....</div></a><a href="chapter06.html"><div class="contents">Square Chola Coins From K....</div></a><a href="chapter07.html"><div class="contents">Pallava Coins....</div></a><a href="chapter08.html"><div class="contents">Coin Moulds....</div></a><a href="chapter09.html"><div class="contents">Karur Archaeological Exca....</div></a><a href="chapter10.html"><div class="contents">Karur Antiquities....</div></a><a href="chapter11.html"><div class="contents">Alagankulam, An Indo Roma....</div></a><a href="chapter12.html"><div class="contents">Epigraphical Evidence....</div></a><a href="chapter13.html"><div class="contents">Satyaputra Inscription....</div></a><a href="chapter14.html"><div class="contents">Literary Evidence....</div></a><a href="chapter15.html"><div class="contents">Romans In Tamilnad....</div></a><a href="chapter16.html"><div class="contents">Impact Of Roman Art....</div></a><a href="chapter17.html"><div class="contents">Chera Karur....</div></a><a href="chapter18.html"><div class="contents">Epic Age: Silappadhikaram....</div></a><a href="chapter19.html"><div class="contents">Pallava Age....</div></a><a href="chapter20.html"><div class="contents">Chola Age....</div></a><a href="chapter21.html"><div class="contents">Sekkilar....</div></a><a href="chapter22.html"><div class="contents">Arunagirinathar....</div></a><a href="chapter23.html"><div class="contents">Karuvur Puranam....</div></a><a href="chapter24.html"><div class="contents">Karur: Modern....</div></a><a href="chapter25.html"><div class="contents">Poetic Karur....</div></a><a href="bibliography.html"><div class="contents">Select Bibliography....</div></a></td> <td width="70%" bgcolor="" valign="top"> <div class="head1"> <font size="+2">Introduction</font><br></div><br><div class="text"> <font size="+1"> Karur now in Trichy district of Tamilnad, is a town of great significance for the history and culture of the Tamils. It has played an important role in the Tamil region for over two thousand years. For the past one hundred years it has been turning out important artifacts and historical relics, that has invited the attention of scholars all over the world. </font> </div> <div class="text"> <font size="+1"> Karur's emergence as a centre of archaeological interest could be dated back to 1806, when several Roman coins were accidentally dug up as treasure trove. Considerable quantity of these coins disappeared immediately, but the ones that came to the Museum, pointed out that maritime trade of South India with Rome was considerable and deserved attention. This was followed by two more Roman hoards found at Karat, and also a number of treasures of Roman coins and jewels found around Karur. Immediately Karur reemerged on the International map after nearly two thousand years in all together a new context. </font> </div> <div class="text"> <font size="+1"> This led modem researchers to enquire into one aspect of Tamil Civilization, namely the capital of the ancient Chera Kingdom. The early Tamil literature refer to Karur as the capital of the Chera rulers. But they also refer to it as Vanci. The early mediaeval commentators mention Vanci as the other name of Karur. </font> </div> <div class="text"> <font size="+1"> From around 7th century or even earlier, the Cheras are seen ruling from the West Coast, of what is now called Kerala (Travancore - Cochin region). Late mediaeval literature locates Vanci, in the west coast. Recent memory is thus strongly attached to the west coast - the modem Kerala. </font> </div> <div class="text"> <font size="+1"> The opinion among the modem research scholars, vacillated from Karur in Trichy district to Thiru Vancikkalam in west coast. Two scholars, namely Prof. Krishnaswami Iyengar and K.G. Sesha Iyer, almost vehemently argued in favour of Thiru Vancikkalam and throughout their work they argue from a committed notion. As against their view, Pandit R. Raghava Iyengar, marshalled all available Tamil literary references, and presented in a disciphned, consistent and cogent manner. Karur as the capital of the Cheras of the Sangam age. R. Raghava Iyengar's work was a brilliant exposition. Prof. K.A.Nilakanta. Sastri, the great historian accepted the view of Raghava Iyengar and located the Sangam age Cheras at Karur. </font> </div> <div class="text"> <font size="+1"> And yet most of the Tamil scholars and scholars of Kerala were emotionally in favour of locating Cheras only in the west coast. </font> </div> <div class="text"> <font size="+1"> Then came the brilliant reading of the Pukalur inscription by Sri Iravatam Mahadevan, who showed that three generations of Sangam age Cheras, being mentioned in the record, near Karur. In fact Mahadevan pointed out that the name Karur mentioned in the record is within ten kilometers from Pukalur and he held that the ancient Chera capital was Karur. </font> </div> <div class="text"> <font size="+1"> In the year 1974 I conducted an archaeological excavation at Karur, which yielded Roman potsherds besides other important antiquities. 1 also wrote in 1974, on the identification of Karur, on the basis of archaeological, numismatics, epigraphical and literary sources. </font> </div> <div class="text"> <font size="+1"> The most historic find was the Chera coin inscribed, Kolirumpurai, found at Karur and identified and published by me for the first time. It is the most important turning point in the history of Karur studies. Subsequently two more inscribed coins one of Makkotai, and the other of Kuttuvan Kotai have been reported by R.Krishnamurthi of Dinamalar. </font> </div> <div class="text"> <font size="+1"> But this was not the end. One of the most outstanding golden rings found at the Amaravati bed at Karur, was brought to my notice by Sri Iravatam Mahadevan, who was kind enough to request me to publish it. My publication of the ring has almost sensationalised Karur studies. </font> </div> <div class="text"> <font size="+1"> Recently several other antiquities including late Roman coins have come to light from Karur. This is sufficient enough to re-evaluate the importance of Karur, the Chera kingdom, the date of Sangam classics and ancient Tamil civilization, which is attempted in this work. These evidences have now clinched the issue of ancient Chera civilization once and for all. </font> </div> <div class="text"> <font size="+1"> The Tamil literature and also Sanskrit works, written in Tamilnad refer to Yavanas, their life and work in Tamil land. They were overseas westerners who came in ships, bringing gold, wine, and horses and exchanged them for precious gems, crystals and pepper. They also settled in separate colonies called Yavanap padi. Yavanar irukkai or Yavanac ceri in the capitals and port towns of the Tamil kings. They had dreadful weapons and were fierce fighters and were employed as guards to protect the gates of the royal forts. They spoke in violent tongue and were often quarrelsome. Roman wine was in demand in Tamilnad and the Tamil kings were fond of drinking daily Roman wine poured by beautiful women. Roman lamps used in several places were also liked by the people. The Yavanas were great and skilful architects designing and constructing attractive structures like pavilions. Some of the royal palaces of the Tamil kings were designed and built by them. They were called Yavanat taccar i.e. Roman sculptor-architects. They constructed impressive chariots and decorated them with gold and precious gems. They worked in Tamilnad by the side of other skilful artisans who were known for their excellence and came from different well known centres of India. The sculptures modelled by the Yavanas were known for their beauty and workmanship. Above al!, Roman jewel boxes made of gold and crystals were the treasured possessions of the Indian princesses and were used for storing jewels, gems, diamonds etc. </font> </div> <div class="text"> <font size="+1"> Thus in the field of architecture, sculpture, manufacture of vehicles, working in gems and gold, m weapons and warfare, and in wine, the Romans excelled the locals. The above points culled from literature need not be considered poetic conventions or exaggerations but refiecteJ the very presence of the Romans and their avocation in Tamilnad is astonishingly proved by finds. </font> </div> <div class="text"> <font size="+1"> Roman skill and thoughts influenced the Tamils who did not hesitate to benefit by these incoming ideas and techniques. The best illustration being the local coins issued modelled after the Roman coins, incidentally pointing to the system of Roman economic managements of the Tamil country in the early centuries of the Christian era. Roman impact on Tamil life was far more closer than hitherto appreciated. </font> </div> <div class="text"> <font size="+1"> The later history and the literary and religious development centered around Karur are equally fascinating. </font> </div> <div class="text"> <font size="+1"> A vast body of literature and epigraphical sources are available, almost through the centuries, throwing light on Karur. It is seen that the Cheras were ruling with Karur as their capital, the country extending upto the west coast through the Palghat gap and were originally ruling the northern part of present day Kerala, upto 7th century a.d. Their activities in the south in Travancore region are not seen perceptibly. By the turn of 7th century they seem to have established themselves in the south of Kerala as well, which reached as far as Travancore. This is evidenced by the Tamil work Pandikkovai - an early 7th cent. work. The Chera hold on Karur was weakening. </font> </div> <div class="text"> <font size="+1"> The Divyaprabandam of the Vaishnavite saint Thirumangai Alvar, (in the 8th cent.), the hero stones found at Karur (9th cent.), Aditya Chola's activities in the Kongu country in the 9th cent., Karuvur Devar's Thiru Visaippa in the 11th cent., Sekkilar's Periyapuranam in the 12th cent. and the royal grants of Kulottunga Chola III in the 13th cent. are the important sources that give us the history of Karur in the hey day of Tamil rulers. </font> </div> <div class="text"> <font size="+1"> Subsequent history of Karur, is seen from the Thiruppuhal of Arunagirinathar - 14th cent., Kongu mandala satakam (16th- 17th cent.), and Karuvur puranam of 17th. In the 18th cent. it played an important and strategic role in the Carnatic wars. Around 1800, after the fall of Tippu Sultan of Mysore, it was taken over by the British. Some information is forthcoming also from Palayappattu Vamsavali, collected by Col. Mackenzie. In the later half of the 19th cent. Karur was in the Coimbatore district, the ancient Kongu country, but in the year 1910, the British added it to the Trichy district. </font> </div> <div class="text"> <font size="+1"> This book is essentially the history of Karur, with special reference to its early history when it was under the Cheras. It is studied in this volume under two parts. Part I details the recent numismatic, epigraphical and archaeological finds and evaluate Karur's place in history and Part II is the history of Karur through the centuries. Karur was never under the Romans. The title 'Roman Karur' would at first sound misleading. Throughout the history it was associated with the Cheras. So it would be appropriate to call this book Chera Vanci. I have given the title Roman Karur to focus attention on the enormous amount of Roman antiquities - coins, potsherds, seals etc. found in and around Karur, and also the singular impact Roman contact left on the coinage, art and civilization of the Tamils, which have come to light by the recent discoveries. Perhaps no part of India has yielded such a large quantity of Roman artifacts. One would miss the importance of the recent finds to Tamil history, but for this title. </font> </div> <div class="text"> <font size="+1"> Two of my articles on Alagankulam and the Satyaputra record published elsewhere which have a close bearing on the subject have been incorporated as they might have been missed by scholars interested in this particular subject. </font> </div> </td> <td width="5%" valign="top" bgcolor="lightgrey"></td></tr> </table> <table align="right"><tr width="100%"> <td align="right"><a href="../../page1.html">Home</a></td> <td><a href="#begining">Top</a></td></tr> </table> </body> </html>