ISBN: - 978-93-88936-09-5 2.3 PROFILE OF THE STUDY AREA 2.3 (A) TAMILNADU Tamil Nadu is situated on the south eastern side of the Indian peninsula It lies between 8.5° South 13.35° north 76.15° east and 80.20° west. It is bounded by the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea in the south, in the west by the state of Kerala and Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. Tamil Nadu has an area of 1, 30,058 square kilometres and its capital is Chennai. Tamil Nadu is divided in to 32 districts. 2.3 (B) PROFILE OF KANYAKUMARI DISTRICT 2.3 (B) 1.. INTRODUCTION OF KANYAKUMARI DISTRICT: Kanyakumari district came into existence in the year 1950 as a result of the reorganization of states on the basis of vernacular and was added to the map of the Tamil Nadu. It was known as the granary of Travancore due to its vast stretches of paddy fields, rich forests and abundant mineral sands. This district has a pleasant climate and has the advantage of both the South-West as well as the North-East monsoons. It has many charming tourist spots the best being the capeComorin, the meeting place of the Bay of Bengal, the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea. The meeting point of the seas is the place where the “Continent ends in a swan-song of broken rocks and mingling oceans”. Kanyakumari district has been named after the Goddess Amman, who is the favourite deity of large number of people of this district. The legend is that the Goddess Parvathi has taken incarnation as Devi Kanya and did penance on one of the rocks of this land’s end to obtain the hand of Lord Siva. 2.3 (B) 2. Ancient History Kanyakumari district consists of two parts locally known as Nanjil Nadu and Idai Nadu. The names of the villages of the district such as Azhagiapaandipuram,, Bhootha Pandy, Cholapuram and Kulasekaram reveal that these places were governed by several rulers at different periods of time. It is learnt that Nanjilnadu was under the rule of the Padiyas till the early 10th century and then under the Cheras. The Idai Nadu which includes Kalkulam and Vilavancode taluks, was under the rule of the Cheras. When the power of the Cholas declined due to the rise of Hoysalas and Western Chalukyas, the Vennad (Travancore) Chief-taint took advantages of the situation and gradually established their hold on considerable areas in Nanjilnadu. Veera Kerela Varma was one such chief-taint who styled himself as Nanjil Kuravan. 49
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