Kulasekarapattinam

Kulasekharapattinam, also spelled Kulasekharapatnam, is a town in the Thoothukudi district of Tamil Nadu, India. Historically, it was an important port on the Coromandel Coast, alongside Kaveripumpattinam (Poompuhar) and Arikamedu (near Pondicherry).

Kulasekharapatnam Kulasekarapatnam, Kulasekarapattinam
Town
Kulasekharapatnam Location in Tamil Nadu, India Show map of Tamil Nadu Kulasekharapatnam Kulasekharapatnam (India) Show map of India
Coordinates: 8°24′0″N 78°3′0″E
Country	India
State	Tamil Nadu
District	Thoothukudi
Government
• Body	Kulasekharapatnam Panchayat
Area
• Total	12.5 km2 (4.8 sq mi)
Population  (2001)
• Total	12,010
• Density	960/km2 (2,500/sq mi)
Languages
• Official	Tamil
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN	628206
Telephone code	4639
Vehicle registration	TN 92
Nearest city	Thoothukudi
Sex ratio	1000:1177 ♂/♀
Literacy	85.91%
Lok Sabha constituency	Thoothukudi Formerly with Tiruchendur
Vidhan Sabha constituency	Tiruchendur
Civic agency	Kulasekharapatnam Panchayat Board
Climate	Humid (Köppen)
Website	www.kulasaikukieaks.com

From at least the 1st century CE, Kulasekharapatnam functioned as a trading hub for Pandya Dynasty. While Kollam served as a major port on the west coast, Kulasekharapatnam connected the Pandyas to Ceylon and the pearl fisheries of the Gulf of Mannar. It was part of a network of ancient coastal settlements that included Kodungallur in Kerala and Barugachha (Broach) in Gujarat.^[1]

During the Colonial Era, as Tuticorin emerged as a dominant port, the prominence of Kulasekharapatnam declined.^[2]

The town's name is derived from the Pandyan ruler Maravarman Kulasekara Pandyan I.^{[citation needed]}

Kulasekharapatnam is home to the 300-year-old Mutharamman Temple and the Dharmasamvardhini Temple, which lies north of the village. The town is particularly known for its Dussehra celebrations.^[3]

During British rule, a sugar factory operated in the town. The British also introduced the Kulasekharapatnam Light Railway, which, as of 1933, had stations including Kulasekharapatnam Central, Kulasekharapatnam Port, and KPM Sugar Factory.^[4]

In recent years, ISRO announced plans to establish a space launch pad at Kulasekharapatnam, positioning it as a key location for India's space missions.^[5]

History

During the reign of the Pandyas, Kulasekharapatnam was also known as the Rowthers Palayam, a section of Muslims that had military cavalry, followed traditional customs, and were horse traders. Kulasekharapatnam was an important trade center even before the arrival of Islam. The current Muslim population of Kulasekharapatnam is known as the Marakkar or Marakkayars, who engaged in maritime trade. They had come from Kerala, and it is said that Kunjali Marakkar's family members came from Kerala. Typical of most port towns, Kulasekharapatnam has a lighthouse, located near Manapad. The city has been inhabited by Hindus since the 8th century CE.

Kulasekarapatnam Perumal Temple

Origin of Marakkars

Marakkar are distinctive Tamil and Malayalam-speaking Muslim people of the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala in India. The name Marakkar is different from Marakkayar (Marikkar & Maricar are other spellings used in history books). According to numerous historians, Moppila or Moplah is Maha Pillai (great son) and Marakkar means (Marakkalam is a wooden boat) 'boatmen'. Thurston, in his work 'Tribes of South India', states the following - The word Marakkar is usually derived from the Tamil marakalam, meaning 'boat'.^[6]

It was also a titular name for maritime traders. Marakkar was a prized title given by the Zamorin of Calicut. Derived from Marakka Rayar, it signifies the captain of a ship ('Rayar' meaning 'king' or, here, 'captain' and 'Marakkalam' meaning 'ship').^[6] They are also called marakala rayars, from marakalam ('wooden boat') and rayar ('king') in the Tamil language. The captains of the vessels are called malimars, coming from the Tamil words malumi ('captain') and yar, and crew members are called sherangs.

Traditionally, the Marakkars engaged in mercantile commerce. They are primarily located along the coasts of the southernmost states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu in India.^[6]

The Marakala, also known as the Mogela or Mogaveera, community is an influential fishing community in coastal Karnataka. They are traditionally fishermen, and their caste profession is fishing in rivers and the sea. The Barkoor Bennekudru Kulamahasthry temple, Uchila Mahalaxmi temple, and Bagvadi Mahishamardini temples are major Mogaveera kuladevata (relating to ancestral tutelary deities) temples in coastal Karnataka.