இராமாயணம் கிசுகிந்தா காண்டத்தில் மணவூர் பற்றிய குறிப்புகள்

இது கீழடி அல்ல,

மணலூர் என்று மகாபாரதத்தில் குறிப்பிடப்பெறும் ஆலவாய் என்ற மதுரை.

கிஸ்கிந்தா காண்டத்தில் பாண்டியர், திராமிட, மணலூர் பற்றிய குறிப்புகள்.

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Kumari was a great Thirtha resorted to by all.  Sri Hanuman crossed over to Lanka form this Kumarikkodu main land and the partially submerged Mahendra Mountains, for the Mahendra Mountains were not like the other ranges high and lofty but were low and surrounded by the ocean Cf.

..... .... .....

..... .... .....

                        Kishkinda Kanda Ch.41 St.21

This was the Second Sangam Age.  The events mentioned in the Ramayana occurred during this age. Cf. the reference to Kavatapuram in sri Valmike Ramayana (supra).

The Second Deluge.

            Then there was yet another deluge. In this great deluge the famous Kavatapuram with its gates of gold and pearls and rubies got submerged in the ocean.  Once more the Pandyas had to go further north and found a new capital.  This time it was at Manalure.  This was the city so constantly referred to in the Mahabaratha.

References in the Mahabharata.

            The references to "Pandya" "Dramind", "Manalur" etc.  in the following excerpts from the Mahabaratha are interesting.

..... .... .....

                        Adhi.235-st.20

..... .... .....

..... .... .....

                        Subha 33-St.20

..... .... .....

..... .... .....

                        Subha 33-St.29

..... .... .....

..... .... ..... 

                         Subha 32-St.75

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..... .... .....

..... .... .....

                        Subha 33-St.31

The Maritime Greatness of the Pandyas.

            It should be noted that at this time of the Mahabharata period, the River Kanya Thirtham was resorted to by 'Madhreya' and the river was crossed by him. Note these words "........" in the above excerpt; and then he goes and conquers the country further south also - ....... ......etc., going further south after crossing the Kumari.  This was the Third Sangam age.  How long was their capital situate in Manalure it is difficult to say/  But from the inscriptions so far deciphered it appears that the capital might have been changed from the re-changed to this place more than once.  or it may be quite possible there might have been more than one city of that name.  There is now a place called Manalure a few miles east of Madura, which is reputed to have been a Pandyan Capital.  There is another Manalure near Tinnevelly,and which Sri. P.V.Jagadeesa Iyer states was the Pandyan Capital.  But the references to Arjuna have reached Manalure "........." make us doubt if there might not have been a sea-coast city by the name of Manalure. Moreover there are constant references to the city of "Alaivai" being the Pandyas'Capital.  Or could Manalure and "Alaivai" be one and the same city?  Scholars think that the Pandyas had their capital sometimes at Uragapura the maritime city of Negapatam a flourishing city even during the time of the Mahabharata.  The Pandyas were a maritime nation and there are many references quoted by scholars as to the maritime greatness of the Tamils..

            i. In Sangam Literature they are often referred to as பெருந்ரோச்சுணர்

            ii. Their conveyances for trade or war in the seas were called நாவாய் (Navy)

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