*During the classical period (i.e. Sangam Age) Kongu was under the rule of the Chēra kings and many vēļir chieftains. The society of those times is well represented in the Patiṟṟuppattu and other akam and puṟam anthologies. During that period this region was technologically well advanced and was visited by the traders of the East and West. Evidence suggests that this region was occupied right from Iron Age (1000 BC).
*The Potiṉi hill (Paḻaṉi), the abode of the Tamil God Murukaṉ,is in this region.
*Ayirai, another famous hill of the Chēras mentioned in Patiṟṟuppattu(30,79) as the “Ayirai where dwells the fearful deity” is located in Kongu region.
*Kumaṇaṉ who donated his head for the cause of benevolence and Pēkaṉ, one among the seven great philanthropists of Sangam Age who ruled over the Potiṉi hills of the Kongu region were eulogised by famous Sangam poets Perun͂cittiraṉār and Peruntalai-c-Ca̅ttaṉa̅r.
*Kāmūr (present Kangayam) ruled by Kaḻuvuḷ is mentioned in Akanāṉūṟu and Patiṟṟuppattu. It is situated in Kongu region.
*The Kutiraimalai region ruled by Pittaṅkoṟṟaṉ alluded in Puṟananūṟu(168-172) is situated in Kongu region.
*Poruntil Iḷaṅkīraṉa̅r , a famous Sangam poet is located near Paḻani in Kongu region. Recent excavation conducted by Pondicherry Central University brought out many evidences to attest the flourishing activities of this region in those days. During the excavation, about 2 kgs., of paddy of Sangam Age has been recovered. Large quantities of beads of precious and semi precious stones and glass beads, have been brought out from the excavation, besides evidence for glass bead industry in the habitation mound.
*The Industrial and Trade centre of Koṭumaṇam (present Kodumanal in Erode District), recorded in the Patiṟṟuppattu belongs to the Kongu region. This place was excavated by Tamil University during 1980s. The megalithic burials have yielded many semi precious stone beads, iron implements, brass objects, and potteries with graffiti marks. The excavations in the habitation area yielded evidences for the existence of metal furnaces. Besides, many pottery inscriptions of old Tamil characters (Tamil-Brahmi) dated from the third century B.C. have been obtained.
*Pavaṇanti Aṭikaḷ who wrote the grammar work Naṉṉūl, lived in present Sīṉa̅napuram (Jainapuram) in Kongu region and Aṭiyārkunalla̅r the famous commentator of the Cilappatika̅ram lived in Nirambai which is also situated in Kongu region. The famous Jain work Peruṅkatai was written by the poet Koṅguvēḷ who hailed from Kongu region. The Jain temple of Vijayamangalam indicates the spread of Jainism in Kongu region also.
*In Kongu region there are many megalithic burials of Iron Age found in the form of stone circles and stone heaps. This region was a nodal region for the trade between the East coast ports and West coast ports of Ancient Tamiḻakam. A large number of Roman coins were recovered around Veḷḷalūr, Chāvaṭippāḷaiym, and Pollachi region. In fact, only Kongu region yielded the bulk of Roman coins found in the whole of India. This attests to the fact that Kongu region played an important role in Maritime Trade with Roman world through Palghat Pass in the Sangam Age.
*The famous Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions found at Pukaļūr, near Karūr, corroborate the Sangam evidence relating to the Chēra dynasty. A third century inscription on musical notes is found at Aṟachalūr, which is in Kongu region.
*The excavations in the sites near Coimbatore namely Pērūr and Poluvāmpaṭṭi have brought to light many stone, glass, and shell beads, iron implements, terracotta objects, ear rings, the potteries with the graffiti marks and so on.
*A Punch-marked coin found in Sūlūr near Coimbatore attests to the trade connection between North India and Tamilnadu during the Sangam Age. Distinguished scholar Iravatham Mahadevan is of the view that a symbol found on an old pot at Sūlūr is similar to an Indus Script symbol.
*More than 250 Iron Age and Sangam Age sites have been so far identified in the Kongu region (Old Coimbatore District) by various scholars during their field work.
*It is generally agreed that Karūr Van͂ci (Karūr), the capital of Chēras was situated on the bank of Āṉporunai (present Amarāvati River), which is in the Kongu area.
*The famous port Musiṟi, alluded to in Sangam Literature situated on the West coast of Ancient Tamiḻakam, belonged to the Chēra Kings. Only recently, this port has been discovered and excavated by the Kerala Council for Historical Research. The findings would go to prove the maritime activity of Musiṟi, as noted in Akana̅ṉūṟu (149), which mentions that the ships (from Rome) laden with gold visited the port and returned with pepper. In this excavation, Roman potsherds, gold objects, Chēra coins, Brick structures, Boat wharf and wooden boat of 2200 years old have been unearthed. It may be remembered that this port was the important emporium for exporting the semi precious stone beads of the Kongu area.
*The above evidence suggests the importance of hosting World Classical Tamil Conference at Coimbatore the seat of Kongu region.
Courtesy: Naveen Kumar
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