Glimpses Of Nanguneri From The Light Of Epigraphical Sources

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to describe the early history of Nanguneri from the light of inscriptions of Early Pandyas and later Cholas.  Nanguneri is one of the earliest settlements of TamilNadu.  Nanguneri is situated in the grid of 8⁰ 48⁰ north latitude and 77⁰ 67⁰ east longitude.[i]  It is nestling beneath the western ghats which is 462 feet above the sea level.[ii]  Nanguneri is located twenty nine kilometers south of Tirunelveli, the headquarters of the Tirunelveli District of TamilNadu lying on the Tirunelveli – Kanyakumari road.[iii]  It is also in between the Tirunelveli and Nagercoil railwayline.  It is on the northern bank of river Nambiyaru and also in the lower valley of Nambiyaru.[iv]  Nanguneri has 17.28 square kilometers of land.[v]  The name Nanguneri is derived from Nangu-Eri.[vi]  Nanguneri is surrounded by four lakes Nanguneri is also known as SrivaramangaiNagar Sripurusamangai, Srivaramangalam and Thothathri shetra.  This place was ruled by the Pandya King NedumChadiyaparanthagan (765 – 796 C.E.) who was also known as Srivaran.  Hence the name of the town was called by the Srivaramangai.[vii]