Kaveri: Giver of bountiful wealth and a destroyer
when in fury
“That you were present at the birth of
time when Shiva as a golden peacock roamed the ocean of the void” Adi
Shankaracharya, 800 C.E about
the antiquity of Kaveri.
Origin of Kaveri : Legends
An Apsara was sent to Mohini ( the female
avatar of the Hindu Goddess Vishnu) to help her in
a battle between the Devas and the Asuras.
After Mohini won the battle, the apsara
was adopted by sage Kavera, and hence she became Kaveri. (
Kavresaya apatyam stri Kaveri). Kaveri prayed
to Brahma, to transform her into a river so that she could run through her
father’s lands and make them fertile. When her request had just been granted, sage
Agastya spotted her and asked for her hand. Kaveri agreed to his proposal on a condition
that he was never to leave her alone. The sage accidentally left her alone for too
long and she leapt out turned into a
river as originally given as boon by Brahma.
Manimekalai, the first epic in Tamil
literature, written about 1,800 years ago, opens with a beautiful legend. When
the Chola king Kanthaman wanted to improve the water sources of his country, he
prayed to sage Agasthya and the sage Agasthya tilted his water pot and the Kaveri
streamed out. As per another legend, Lord Ganapathi listening to the prayers of
people to make the lands downstream fertile, took the form of a crow and tilted the Kamandalam where Sage Agasthya had
kept Kaveri confined. Kaveri flowed out of it!
From Kodagu in Karnataka to Puhar
(Kaverippoompattinam) in Tamil Nadu, the Kaveri flows along 765 km. Shimsha,
Hemavati, Arkavati, Honnuhole, Lakshmana Tirtha, Kabini,
Bhavani. Lokapavani, Noyyal and Amaravati River are it s major tributaries
before enters the Chozhamandalam. With huge catchment areas comprising the
hilly regions of the Western Ghats lashed by monsoon rains Kaveri roars through
the delta region of Tamil Nadu bringing both immense prosperity and at times
untold misery as well. She is referred as Ponni meaning a golden girl in Tamil!
Staring with Karikalan Chozhan all the kings
of Chozha dynasty wanted to ensure that maximum utilization of the waters of Kaveri
by building dams, barrages, creating temple ponds and enormous lakes. The water channeling and
diversions were so effective that the water bodies got filled up from the
western end to eastern end. They ensured that even if the monsoon failed, there
was enough water for the people and cattle to survive. The bountiful crops
during normal years were greatly managed to have enough buffer stock to feed
the people during drought years.
The raising of the banks of the river Kaveri by Karikalan is mentioned
by the Malepadu plates (seventh century CE)] of the Telugu Chola sovereign of
Renadu Erigal-Mutturaju Punyakumara, who claims descent from Karikalan. Quote “
karuna – saroruha vihita – vilochana – pallava – trilochana pramukha
kilapritvisvara karita kaveri tira (he who caused the banks of the Kaveri to be
constructed by all the subordinate kings led by the Pallava Trilochana whose
third eye was blinded by his lotus foot)“ Unquote. .
The Grand Anicut, also known as the
Kallanai was built by Karikalan and is considered as one of the oldest water-diversion
or water-regulator structures in the world still in use. The Kallanai is a
massive dam of undressed stone, 329
metres (1,080 ft) long and 20 metres (60 ft) wide, across the main stream of
the Kaveri. A later Chola record from Tiruvaduturai refers to this event that
is raising the banks of the Kaveri by Parakesari Karikala Chola.
The dam was re-modeled by the British
during the 19th century. In 1804, Captain Caldwell, a military engineer,
proposed a solution by raising the dam and hence raised the dam stones to a
height of 69 centimeters (27 in), thus increasing the capacity of the dam.
Following this, Major Sim proposed the idea of under sluices across the river
with outlets leading to the Kollidam River (thus preventing formation of silt.
The dam is in excellent condition even today , and supplied a model to later
engineers, including Sir Arthur Cotton's 19th-century dam across the Kollidam. This
proves beyond doubt the foresight Karikalan’s engineers more than a thousand
years before!
There is even an ancient barrage
across Vennar near Mahadevapuram (about five miles from Kallanai) called old
Kallanai. There are more than a dozen tributaries branching off from Kaveri in the Chozhamandalam. Kollidaam in those days
was called Vada Kaveri (North Kaveri) and was equally auspicious. Many temples
were built on the banks of Vada Kaveri too and festivals like Thula Snanam were
also conducted like in original Kaveri. Tributeries
of Kaveri enriching the delta region include, Vada Kaveri ( modern day
Kollidam), Vennar, Vettar, Kudamurutti, Arasalar, Koriyar, Vanjiyar, Nattar,
Nandalar, Agniyar, Manikarnigai,
Maniaar. While all these tributeries branch of to the south of kaveri
only Maniyar flows north and is between kaveri and Kollidam!
Near present day Puducherry was once a village
called Tirubhuvana Mahadevi Caturvedi
Mangalam. During the reign of Parantaka Chola (AD 920), a great lake, named
after his queen Tribuvana Mahadevi was created. Veeranam Lake was built by
Rajaditya Chola. He named it after his father Parantaka I Chola, who had the
title "Veeranarayanan". Veeranarayanapuram was a residential
town created by him. It got modified into Veeranam over time.
Veeranam Lake gets water from Kollidam via Vadavaru River. Originally the lake
when built was one and half Kaadha Dooram
long and half Kaadha Dooram wide ( 25 km
X 8.5 km). But its length shrunk to 16
km.
In 1023CE, Rajendra Chola-I built a
new city 'Gangaikonda Cholapuram' to commemorate
his victorious march to Ganges. For 250 years this city remained as the Capital
of Chola empire which extended from Tungabhadra in the North to SriLanka in the
South and was celebrated in the literature of 'Moovar Ula' of Ottakutthar and 'Kalingattuparani' of Jayankondar. From
his triumphant journey, he brought back holy waters of the sacred river to
sanctify Chola land and poured the Ganges water into the newly commissioned Chola
Gangam lake (now called 'Ponneri' and in
a neglected state) for drinking and irrigation purposes. This lake spreads over
a periphery of 22 km and is considered one of the largest man-made lakes still
in use in India.
Madhurantaka Vadavaru, now called the
Vadavaru, running about six kilometers east of the ruined capital is named
after one of the titles of Rajendra I, was a source of irrigation to a vast
stretch of land bordering the capital. An irrigation channel called
Anaivettuvan is also mentioned. "Anaivettuvan" - Anai means
irrigation (step irrigation) vettuvan means labour or engineer.
In all their endevour starting from
building of Kallani from the time of Karikalan till the end of their dynasty
and even beyond, the contribution of Palamarneri Brahacharnam clan had been invaluable.
For their service in the selection of location, design of embankments, design of water courses for
irrigation and filling up of lakes and
ponds from Kaveri and its tributaries, they were regarded as great assets to
the Chozha empire. It was during this time, proper land records were created
and maintained for collection of revenue from the land owners and chieftains.
It was left to this community for maintenance of land records, accounting and
book keeping of revenue and its deposits into royal treasury. The accountants
were made as hereditary holders of this job and it was passed on from
generation to generation. Even when the Chozha kingdom fell and others like
Nayakars, Marathas and British ruled over the region, the land revenue records
continued to be maintained by these hereditary holders who knew every inch of
land and its ownership. People may be wondering as to how they would recognise
the land holding in the absence of maps! Each piece of land was recognized by a
name! I have some of the old stamp papers dealing in sale of our ancestral
lands which gives the survey number, the ownership in four cardinal directions,
the extent and even the name of that piece of land. Giving name to the land
ensured that the farmers who work in the fields could recognise them in the
vast landscape without confusion!
During the reign of Chola Empire, the Brahmmarayars
were granted extensive acreage of lands for their services. The copper plates
unearthed at Anbil tells about grant of Ten Velis of land ( more than 60 acres
of land) to Aniruddha Brahmmarayar. Likewise almost a thousand acres of land
were held by Neman family in Mahadevapuram ( Kachchamangalam) just a hundred
years ago. Similarly when the
irrigations were improved , many of the clan took up jobs for maintaining not
only land records but also other royal duties over the entire length and
breadth of the Chola empire. Though they were granted lands, they had to depend
on others to do physical farming as Brahmins are expressly prohibited from farm
labour.
While the clerical, spiritual and
administrative, jobs were entrusted to Brahmmarayar clans may of whom were
natives of Northern areas of the empire like Teluga, Kodagu, Malaya and even Kalinga
Desam, the other jobs were entrusted sa
per Varnasrama. They all had their clan
names and titles like Velalar, Varaiyar,
Pazhuvettriyar, Muthhthariyar, Kalaththil Venrar, Kilakku Udayar, Kaikkola Padayar, Mazhavaryar
etc. Some of them are so high in social status and had the privilege to give
their sons or daughters in marriage to the royalty. Some of the minor Chieftains were permitted to fly
their own flags too! All of them are give huge villages for agriculture production
as well as provide trained soldiers in times
of war. While the empire has its own
standing Army of Chariot force , Elephant force , Cavalry and Foot soldiers,
the bulk of the force would be gleamed from these Chieftains for any campaign
or defence. Almost every Brahmmarayar who owned the gifted land would give away
on lease to one of the farming families of the other clans and claim part of
the produce for their sustenance. On their part, they were advisors for
everyone for the start of various agricultural operations based on astrology,
astronomy and experience. Everyone would consult them for start of ploughing,
watering, sowing and reaping of not only paddy or sugarcane but also short term
crops and vegetables!
Though the water management by the
Chozha kings was superb, Kaveri used to change its course during heavy monsoon
years as there were no dams upstream of Kallanai across Kaveri or any of its
major tributaries like Bhavani or Amaravati. Sometimes the floods used to leave
a vast track of water body almost like a mini lake. These areas will take a
name of Eri. There is one Maraneri near the present day Kachchamangalam
(Actually Chaturvedi Mangalam denoting that the village was a grant from the kingdom to the practitioners
of the four Vedas namely the Brahmins)!
Pazhamaraneri of which Mummudi Brahmmarayar belonged might have been ravaged by
floods a long long time ago!
Apart from Pazhamarneri Brahacharnams,
there were many Vadama Brahachrnams in
the service of the empire. The term Vadama may have originated from the Tamil
term 'Vadakku' meaning North, indicating their Northern origin. This claim is
supported by the fact that, unlike other sub sects of Iyers, some Vadama pay
oblations in their daily Sandhyavandanam to the river Narmada. However, what is
not certain is whether 'North' refers to northern Tamil Nadu or regions farther
north. Some scholars are of the opinion
that rather than the superficial indication of a northern origin for the
people, the term "Vadama" might rather refer to their proficiency in Sanskrit
and Vedic ritual, generally associated with the North. Like other Iyer communities,
they follow the Advaita philosophy propounded by Adi Shankara. A significant
proportion of the Vadama community adopted Vaishnavism, and are thus believed
to have given rise to the Vadagalai Iyengar community. The oldest historical
references to Vadamas date from the first millennium AD. Vadamas have a martial
tradition unlike most other Iyer communities. They are believed to have been
the protectors of Brahmin villages or agraharam and served as administrators
and advisors to Tamil and Telugu kings during the medieval and early modern
period.
It is to be appreciated that the
administrative jobs were not exclusive to Brahmmarayar clans alone, but Vadmas also
occupied good positions in the village and higher administrative echelons of
the empire. Also in the empire there were migrants from as far as Kashmir,
Kalingam and Vengi. The discendants of
Palamarneri Brahmmarayar clan also took up job all over the empire where they
were greatly sought after for their proficiency in administrative jobs. Mummadi
Brahmmarayar’s son Maraiyan Arulmoli,
also known as Uttamachola Brahmarayan, served as Senapathi in the Chola army
of King Rajendra Chozhan! .
The great flood of Irawatheswaram
Around later half of the Eighteenth
Century Muthu Iyer, belonging to the clan of Brahmmarayar migrated from
Kumbakonam to Anbil where he exchanged his lands of around a thousand acres and
got them on the southern side of Kaveri. Thanjavur was becoming a prosperous
town with English education and it was becoming increasingly difficult to
oversee the agricultural operations from far way Kumbakonam. In Anbil, he built
the Satyavakeeswara Vinayakar temple which was to become the Kuladeivatam of a
sect of Nemam clan. He established his family at Irawatheswaram, the present
day old Nemam. The agraharam was on the southern side of the Irawatheswarar
temple extending from West to East. There was only street and all the houses were
facing North. Here the Kaveri takes a
right turn around the temple briefly North West to South East as a mirror image
of the crest moon on the Jadamudi of Easan. Unlike these days, there was no
embankment for roadway and the road level was the same as the level of the bank
of the river. Kaveri was flowing just about fifty yards from the temple and a
hundred yards from the agraharam. Kollidam was still known as Vada Kaveri and
it was still sixty odd years away from
Caldwell raising the height of Kallanai
and another hundred years before Arthur Cotton was to build a barrage at Mukkombu
to regulate the flow to the newly named Kollidam!
Around 1800 or so Kaveri was in great
fury and breached the banks behind the Irawatheswarar temple, changed its course
through it and the agraharam demolishing almost the entire agraharam leaving only
a few houses. Sensing danger, the people had let off their cattle the previous
evening itself moved farther west into open areas. Because many of them kept watch keeping awake,
many lives were saved though their houses and possessions were washed away. The
when the flood waters receded and the Kaveri water level went down, it was
found the temple was also greatly damaged and the idol of Alankari Amman
was also washed away in the flood waters. Greatly disappointed, the
people collected and plugged the breech and cleared the debris of the fallen
temple. The Irawatheswarar and Nandi were however intact. A frantic search
around the area to locate the Amman did not yield any result.
Rattled by the fury of the floods and having lost their dwellings, they inhabitants
decided to move to a much safer places to rebuild their houses . The agraharam
residents comprising both Vadamas and Brahacharnam decided to relocate themselves
at the present day Nemam which is about three furlongs west of the temple. They also decided to construct their agraharam
at least four furlongs from the river bank West to East. They also constructed
a Venugoplaswamy temple on the Western end facing East overlooking the
agraharam as the agraharam otherwise would be bereft of any temple. A Pillayar
kovil was constructed close to the bank of Kaveri as a protector from future
floods ravishing their new dwellings. Another batch of the residents of the Agraharam
decided to move two furlongs further east and almost a mile from the river bank where the present day Mullakkudi village is located. Later they shifted to present day
Palamarneri after getting a grant of land from Raja Sarfoji. That is another
story. To my mind even Mullaikkudi may
be a corruption of Munnorkudi! (Residents of our elders!)
That is why the present day Nemam village is
far away from the Sivan Kovil. The Nemam village Ccremation ground as well as
of Palamarneri village is further west to the Irawatheswarar temple on the
right side of the road leading to Ilangadu. This reinforces the theory that the
ancestors of both the inhabitants of present day Nemam and present day
Palamarneri were residents of Irawatheswaram located south of the Sivan Kovil.
The crematoriums are more than four furlongs away from both villages as they
did not construct new ones close to their respective villages after their
exodus.
Regarding the inhabitants of Irawatheswaram
belonging to Velalars and others, a few stay put braving the uncertainty of
future floods while many of them shifted to Ilangadu further south west and
away from the river. It is to be noted that while the settlement in New Nemam
had no quarters for Velalars, the settlement in Ilangadu has no Agraharam. The
temples in these two villages and the Sundareswarar and Venugoplaswamy temples
in Palamarneri are later day additions.
In due
course of time, the Irawatheswarar temple was reconstructed and a new idol of
Alankari Amman was consecrated. After a few decades,
Alankarai Amman appeared in a dream of some person directing him to locate Her statue
buried in the sands of Kaveri. It was traced and reinstalled in the Artha
mantapam of the temple. So there are two idols of Alankarai Amman in the temple
today!
Muthu Iyer’s descendants
He had three sons namely
Narayanaswamy, Suryanarayanaswamy and Subba Iyer. Subba Iyer had no issues. Narayanaswamy had two
sons one named after his grandfather as Muthu and the other Vaidhyanathan. Suryanarayanaswamy
had one son Rangu Iyer and three daughters. We will concentrate on the
descendants of Vaidhyanathan and Rangu Iyer whom are first cousins.
Vaidhyanathan had two sons and a daughter. The
eldest was Narayana Iyer (2), named after his grandfather, the second Subbier
and the third Kalyani. Kalyani was married to Sir PS Sivaswamy Iyer and they
had no issues. Narayana Iyer had five sons and two daughters the eldest being N
N Vaidhyanathan Iyer taking the name of his grandfather.
Rangu Iyer had three daughters and a
son named Ramaswamy Iyer. Ramaswamy Iyer had five sons including a twin, the
eldest being Ranganatha Iyer, taking the name of his grandfather.
Subbier had three sons and three daughters,
the eldest being Kalyanasundaram and the youngest Natesan. The detailed family Tree of Muthu Iyer is
given elsewhere in the blog.
Vaidhyanathan built a huge mansion of
almost 3000 sft of floor space in the newly established Agraharam in Nemam
after the deluge on the Western side facing south. (It is still well,
maintained and a Veda Patashala is being run by Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam
presently. His great grandson
NV Narayanaswamy is the custodian of that
property. It is now referred as NVN mansion). At that time it was the residence of the joint
family of his great grandfather !
Rangu Iyer also built a huge mansion
on the eastern side of the village of more or less the same dimensions. It was
built on a high plinth of almost six feet from the street level to ensure no
flood water could ever enter the house! Ramaswamy Iyer, being his only son
acquired the property. But thois mansion is in a dilapidated condition now.
When the property was partitioned
among the two sons of Vaidhyanathan, the mansion was willed to the elder son
Narayanan. A slightly diagonally opposite house facing North of about 2000 Sqft
was given to Subbier.
The descendants of Muthu also built
houses for themselves in the new Agraharam to the right of Rangu Iyers’s
mansion of huge size but less in grandeur on the eastern side. Side by side the construction of
Venugoplaswamy Temple on the western end of the Agraharam and the Pillayar
Kovil at the entrance to the village on the eastern side were consecrated. The
clan used to visit the Irawatheswarar Kovil trekking almost five furlongs every
day!
They still had their agricultural
fields in Mahadevapuram but the individual family holdings had come down to one tenth of
original undivided holding of the patriarch Muthu Iyer due to partitions over the four generations,
building constructions, conduct of lavish marriages and other ceremonies, education of children in
towns and cities.
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