Bhoomeeshwarar Temple, Marakkanam – History

Bhoomeeshwarar Temple, Marakkanam – History

It is believed that the Temple was built by Rajaraja Chola ever before Tanjore Big Temple. There is also another belief among the researchers that there exists an older temple got completely submersed in sea due to tsunami. Rajaraja Chola I excavated and built the new Temple in the same place where the older temple exists. Pallavas, Cholas and Pandyas have renovated the temple in their periods. Bhoomeshwarar was called by different names during the reign of different kings.

During Rajaraja Chola I period, the Temple was called as Bhumeeswara Devar, Bhumeeswarath Azhwar. During Rajendra Chola I period, the Temple was called as Thirubhumeeswaramudaiyar, Bhumeeswaramudaiya Mahadevar. During Kulothunga Chola III period, the Temple was called as Bhumeeswaramudaiya Nayanar. During Vijayanagara Kings, the temple was called as Bhumeeswaramudaiya Thambiran, Thirubhumiyappa Thambiranar.

The inscriptions found in the Shiva temple (Bhoomeeshwarar temple) of Marakkanam mentions a variety of names of this sea port (Marakkanam) like Rajaraja Peralam, Pattinam, Eyir Pattinam, Vikrama Chola Chaturvedi Mangalam, Kandarathithan Nallur, Vijaya Rajendra Chola Valanaadu. Excavation was conducted here in the year 2005-2006 to explore the antiquity of this place; as this place has been referred in Sangam literatures of 'Sirupanarrupadai' and 'Perumpanarrupadai'. Exploration near Bhoomeshwarar temple yielded terracotta pipes and coarse red ware potsherds.

On account of this, trenches were laid in and around Bhoomeshwarar temple and antiquities pertaining to medieval period were collected. The unearthed antiquities include copper coins, gold coin, terracotta spouts, smoking pipes, terracotta utensils, iron objects, porcelain sherds and copper rings. Present excavation at Marakkanam has revealed two cultural periods namely Medieval and Modern periods, which has been arrived from the findings.

In the Sangam age, a lot of trade was being carried out with the Greek and Roman kingdoms. Among the major ports around this time that Ptolemy mentions are Mylarphan (Mylapore), Poduke (Arikamedu), Soptana (Marakanam), and even Comari (Kanyakumari). This port even features in Tamil works such as Sirupanatrupadai and Perumpaanaattruppadai as Eyirpattinam. In Sirupanatrupadai, the place was mentioned as Eyir Pattinam (Marakkanam) is one of the fortified cities of Oyma Naadu.

The region between Tindivanam and Marakkanam was ruled by Nalliyakodan who was praised by Nallur Nathanaar (Nallur of Kanchipuram). The 'Periplus of the Erythraean Sea' (now Bay of Bengal) is a book by Alexandrian Merchant in the first century AD. He mentions that on the east coast of India there were 3 market towns and harbours namely Canara (Poompuhar), Poduke (Arikamedu, Puducherry) and Soptana (Marakkanam).

After many invasions the importance of this place has been reduced. This place was mostly occupied by Fishermen after the advent of the Christians in this area. The earlier names found in records have vanished. The sea port has become a place where Fishermen landed their wooden boats used for fishing. They did not know the name of this place, but this place was full of wooden boats of Fishermen. This place was identified as a place where wooden boats stood. Therefore, the place came to be known as 'Marakkalam'  (meaning wooden boat) which have been changed to Marakkanam in common usage.