69-606: The Pothigai Hills , also known as Agasthiyar Mountain is a 1,866-metre (6,122 ft)-tall peak in the southern part of the Western Ghats or Sahyadri of South India . The peak lies in Tirunelveli District of Tamil Nadu near the border of Kerala . The area contains several important natural habitats for in-situ conservation of biological diversity , including forests containing threatened species of significant value to science and conservation. The western slope
138-507: A 2010 report, following is the distribution of faunal species in the Western Ghats apart from more than 6,000 insect species. The Western Ghats region has one of the highest tiger population, estimated at 985 in 2022. The Western Ghats ecoregion has the largest Indian elephant population in the wild, with an estimated 11,000 individuals across eight distinct populations. Other mammals include endangered and vulnerable species such as
207-408: A 2014 report, at least 227 species of reptiles are found in the Western Ghats. The major population of the snake family Uropeltidae is restricted to the region. Several endemic reptile genera and species occur here, with the region having a significant population of mugger crocodiles . The amphibians of the Western Ghats are diverse and unique, with a high proportion of species being endemic to
276-434: A Jaina monk or nun. The last canto of the epic, lines 155-178, mentions "I also went in", whose "I" scholars have assumed to be the author Adigal. The epic also mentions, among other details, the "Gajabahu synchronism". These verses state Adikal attended the animal sacrifice by king Senguttuvan in the presence of Gajabahu, someone believed to have been the king of Ceylon ( Sri Lanka ) between 171 and 193 CE. This has led to
345-520: A bit of poetic fantasy, practised perhaps by a later member of the Chera Dynasty [5th or 6th century ] recalling earlier events [2nd or 3rd century]". Iḷaṅkō Aṭikaḷ ( lit. "the venerable ascetic prince"), also spelled Ilango Adigal or Ilangovadigal, is traditionally believed to be the author of the Cilappatikaram . No direct verifiable information is available about him. He is believed to have been
414-638: A holy place also for Buddhists who gradually became dominant as a number of their hermits settled there. The local people, though, mainly remained followers of the Hindu religion. The mixed Hindu-Buddhist cult culminated in the formation of the figure of Avalokiteśvara. The southern side of the hills in Tamil Nadu includes Kanyakumari Wildlife Sanctuary a 402.4 square kilometres (155.4 sq mi) protected area in Kanyakumari district , Tamil Nadu. The eastern side of
483-463: A prince who became a Jain ascetic based on a patikam (prologue) composed and interpolated into the epic many centuries later. Ilango is considered the younger son of Chera king Nedum Cheralatan and Sonai/Nalchonai of the Chola dynasty . His elder brother is believed to be Senguttuvan , the reputed warrior-king. The young Ilango chose to forgo the royal life because a priest had told the royal court that
552-565: A river flowing on the slope of Potiyil mountain where the Buddhist monks observed meditation. The author utilized the word "Potiyil" for Buddhist pallis . In fellow Sangam work Kuṟuntokai of the Eṭṭuttokai anthology, a Buddhist vihara under a Banyan tree is described at the top of the mountain. A comment that God had disappeared from the mountain was found in Ahananuru , from whose inaccessible top
621-459: A short distance and again plummet an additional 40 feet (12 m). Near the falls are 18 caves some of which represent Indian rock-cut architecture temples of the 18th Century. This tourist and pilgrimage destination is easily reached by road 56 km (35 mi) from Theni and 10 km (6.2 mi) from Cumbum in the Theni District . Many pilgrims climb Agasthyamalai in the core of
690-464: A unique type of stunted tropical montane forest found in the valleys between the mountains. Earlier sources indicated about four to five thousand vascular plant species of which nearly one-third was endemic to the region. Later studies and publications have recorded 7,402 species of flowering plants occurring in the Western Ghats of which 5,588 were described as indigenous, 376 are naturalized exotics, and 1,438 species are cultivated or planted. Among
759-489: Is doubtful because a Sangam poem in Patiṟṟuppattu – the fifth ten – provides a biography of Ceṅkuṭṭuvan, his family and rule, but never mentions that he had a brother who became an ascetic or wrote one of the most cherished epics. This has led scholars to conclude that the legendary author Ilango Adikal myth was likely inserted later into the epic. In a 1968 note, Kamil Zvelebil suggested that, "this [Adigal claim] may be
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#1732852078453828-551: Is located in the Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala state, eastern slope of Pothigai hills is in the Tirunelveli district , southern slope is located in Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu . At 1,866 meters, it is the highest peak in the rugged Ashambu hills, which have one of the richest concentrations of biodiversity in the Western Ghats. The area is known for its extensive views, forests, waterfalls, ancient temples, and
897-924: Is located with respect to the Indian mainland. Ghat , a term used in the Indian subcontinent , depending on the context, could either refer to a range of stepped hills such as the Eastern Ghats and Western Ghats, or a series of steps leading down to a body of water or wharf . As per linguist Thomas Burrow , the word Ghat was derived from similar words used in various Dravidian languages such as kattu (mountain side, ridge, or dam) in Tamil , katte (dam), gatta (mountain), and gattu (bank or shore) in Kannada , and katta (dam), and gatte (shore or embankment) in Telugu . The ancient name for
966-424: Is popular in the area. The Pothigai hills are mentioned as Potiyil , Potiyal , Pothikai and Potalaka in historical sources largely in relation to the river Tamraparni and the ancient Sage Agastya (Akattiyan). The Egyptian Greek cartographer Ptolemy names the mountain "Bettigo", from where three rivers rise, including Solen (Tamraparni River), meaning chank - the river was famous for its pearl fishing. At
1035-516: The Gaṇḍavyūha Sūtra and Xuanzang ’s Records, is the real mountain Pothigai (or Potiyil) situated at Ambasamudram in Tirunelveli district, Tamil Nadu . Shu also says that mount Potiyil/Potalaka has been a sacred place for the people of South India from time immemorial. With the spread of Buddhism in the region beginning at the time of the great king Aśoka in the third century B.C.E., it became
1104-611: The Ramayana . Peraciriyar states that Agastiyar taught this grammar to Tolkappiyar, one of his twelve disciples, at Pothigai hills, who then wrote Tolkāppiyam , although mentions that some scholars believe Tolkappiyar based the Tamil grammar on other forms no longer extant; Agastiyar is not mentioned in Tolkāppiyam . Paripāṭal of the Eṭṭuttokai anthology speaks of "vaynta Potiyin munivan",
1173-526: The African continent. The mountains can be roughly divided into three parts: the northern section with an elevation ranging from 900–1,500 m (3,000–4,900 ft), the middle section starting from the south of Goa with a lower elevation of less than 900 m (3,000 ft), and the southern section where the altitude rises again. The Western Ghats have several peaks that rise above 2,000 m (6,600 ft), with Anamudi (2,695 m (8,842 ft)) being
1242-634: The Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve (ABR). This reserve includes 3,500.36 km (1,351.50 sq mi) out of which 1,828 square kilometres (706 sq mi) is in Kerala and 1,672.36 square kilometres (645.70 sq mi) is in Tamil Nadu. The Western Ghats , Agasthyamalai Sub-Cluster, including all of Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve , included in Man and the Biosphere(MAB) programme by
1311-558: The Arabian Sea . The Western Ghats play an important role in determining the climate and seasons in India. It blocks the rain-bearing monsoon winds flowing eastward from the Arabian Sea, resulting in rainfall along the western coast. By the time the air rises above the mountains, it becomes dry, forming a rain shadow region with very little rainfall on the leeward side towards the interior of
1380-614: The Cyprinids (72 species), hillstream loaches (34 species; including stone loaches , now regarded a separate family), Bagrid catfishes (19 species), and Sisorid catfishes (12 species). The region is home to several ornamental fishes like the Denison (or red line torpedo) barb , melon barb , several species of Dawkinsia barbs, zebra loach , Horabagrus catfish, dwarf pufferfish and dwarf Malabar pufferfish . The rivers are also home to Osteobrama bakeri , and larger species such as
1449-422: The Eastern Ghats at Nilgiris before continuing south. The Western Ghats have many peaks that rise above 2,000 m (6,600 ft), with Anamudi (2,695 m (8,842 ft)) being the highest peak. The Western Ghats form one of the major watersheds of India, feeding many perennial rivers. These major river systems drain almost 40% of the land area of the country. The major river systems originating in
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#17328520784531518-461: The Indomalayan realm , with the northern portion of the range generally drier than the southern portion. These include the following: Other types of ecosystems include dry deciduous forests on the leeward rain shadow region, scrub forests at the foothills, peat bogs , and swamps . Montane grasslands are found in high altitude locations in the south Western Ghats interspersed with sholas ,
1587-659: The Kulathupuzha and Palode Reserve forests near Courtallam . The Naraikadu forest or "grey jungle", surrounded by the Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, is privately owned by the Dhonavur Fellowship. This community has restored and protected the area so well that it is one of the best preserved forest tracts in the whole Ashambu Hills. These protected areas in the Agasthyamala Hills comprise
1656-662: The Malabar snakehead , and Malabar mahseer . A few are adapted to an underground life, including some Rakthamichthys swamp eels, and the catfish Horaglanis and Kryptoglanis . 97 freshwater fish species were considered threatened in 2011, including 12 critically endangered, 54 endangered, and 31 vulnerable. The reservoirs in the region are important for their commercial and sport fisheries of rainbow trout , mahseer , and common carp . There are more than 200 freshwater fish species including 35 also known from brackish or marine water. Several new species have been described from
1725-512: The Sahyadri , is a mountain range that stretches 1,600 km (990 mi) along the western coast of the Indian peninsula . Covering an area of 160,000 km (62,000 sq mi), it traverses the states of Gujarat , Maharashtra , Goa , Karnataka , Kerala , and Tamil Nadu . The range forms an almost continuous chain of mountains along the western edge of the Deccan Plateau , from
1794-502: The Tapti River to Swamithoppe in Kanyakumari district at the southern tip of the Indian peninsula. The Western Ghats meet with the Eastern Ghats at Nilgiris before continuing south. Geologic evidence indicates that the mountains were formed during the break-up of the supercontinent of Gondwana . The mountains came along the west coast of India somewhere in the late Jurassic and early Cretaceous periods when India separated from
1863-580: The UNESCO World Heritage Committee that concluded in Peru on 19 March 2016. There are several Hindu Temples and seasonal waterfalls which are tourist attractions in these hills. At Suruli Falls there is a 2-stage Cascading water fall The Suruli River supplying the falls originates from the Meghamalai Hills. The falls drop from a height of 150 feet (46 m) collect into a pool, flow for
1932-448: The crimson-backed sunbird . There is a higher fish species richness in the southern part of the Western Ghats. There are 13 genera entirely restricted to the Western Ghats ( Betadevario , Dayella , Haludaria , Horabagrus , Horalabiosa , Hypselobarbus , Indoreonectes , Lepidopygopsis , Longischistura , Mesonoemacheilus , Parapsilorhynchus , Rohtee , and Travancoria ). The most species-rich families are
2001-431: The lion-tailed macaque , Nilgiri tahr , leopard , Nilgiri langur , dhole , and gaur . The endemic Nilgiri tahr, which was on the brink of extinction, has recovered and had an estimated 3,122 individuals in 2015. Smaller endemic species include the Malabar large-spotted civet , Nilgiri marten , brown palm civet , stripe-necked mongoose , Indian brown mongoose , small Indian civet , and leopard cat . As per
2070-447: The tropical rainforests of India . New frog species have continued to be discovered in the 21st century. Frogs of the genera Micrixalus , Indirana , and Nyctibatrachus , toads like Pedostibes , Ghatophryne , and Xanthophryne , arboreal frogs like Ghatixalus , Mercurana , and Beddomixalus , and microhylids like Melanobatrachus are endemic to this region. There are at least 19 species of birds endemic to
2139-492: The 334 Western Ghats butterfly species, 316 species have been reported to occur in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve . The Western Ghats are home to 174 species of odonates (107 dragonflies and 67 damselflies ), including 69 endemics. Most of the endemic odonate are closely associated with rivers and streams, while the non-endemics are typically generalists . There are several species of leeches found all along
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2208-471: The Arabian Sea is known as the Western Coastal Plains . The mountains can be roughly divided into three parts: the northern section with an elevation ranging from 900–1,500 m (3,000–4,900 ft), the middle section starting from the south of Goa with a lower elevation of less than 900 m (3,000 ft), and the southern section where the altitude rises again. The Western Ghats meet with
2277-467: The Deccan plateau. The Western Ghats region is a biodiversity hotspot . It contains a large number of different species of flora and fauna, most of which are endemic to this region. At least 325 globally threatened species occur in the Western Ghats. The region was declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2012. The name Western Ghats derives from the word ghat and the cardinal direction in which it
2346-516: The Tamil epic. The author was likely not a prince, nor had anything to do with the Chera dynasty, says R Parthasarathy, and these lines may have been added to the epic to give the text a high pedigree status, gain royal support, and to "institutionalize the worship of goddess Pattini and her temples" in the Tamil regions (modern Kerala and Tamil Nadu) as is described in the epic. According to another Tamil legend, an astrologer predicted that he would become
2415-563: The Western Ghats are the Godavari , Kaveri , and Krishna . Most rivers flow eastwards towards the Bay of Bengal owing to the steeper gradient moving from east to west, and many smaller streams drain the region, often carrying a large volume of water during the monsoon months. The streams and rivers give rise to numerous waterfalls in the region. The rivers have been dammed for hydroelectric and irrigation purposes, with major reservoirs spread across
2484-510: The Western Ghats including the endangered rufous-breasted laughingthrush , the vulnerable Nilgiri wood-pigeon , white-bellied shortwing , and broad-tailed grassbird , the near threatened grey-breasted laughingthrush , black-and-rufous flycatcher , Nilgiri flycatcher , and Nilgiri pipit , and the least concern Malabar (blue-winged) parakeet , Malabar grey hornbill , white-bellied treepie , grey-headed bulbul , rufous babbler , Wayanad laughingthrush , white-bellied blue-flycatcher , and
2553-852: The Western Ghats were severely fragmented due to clear-felling for plantations. The introduction of non-native species threatened the rare endemic species and habitat specialists, which depleted faster than other species. Complex and species-rich habitats like the tropical rainforests are much more adversely affected than other habitats. The primary threats to fauna were not only from habitat loss , but also from overexploitation , illicit grazing , mining , poaching , and introduced species . The Government of India has established many protected areas , including two biosphere reserves , 13 national parks to restrict human access, several wildlife sanctuaries to protect specific endangered species, and many reserve forests . The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve , comprising 5,500 km (2,100 sq mi) of
2622-559: The Western Ghats, but the actual number is likely higher. This includes 28 endemics. Among the threatened freshwater molluscs are the mussel species Pseudomulleria dalyi , which is a Gondwanan relict, and the snail Cremnoconchus , which is restricted to the spray zone of waterfalls. According to the IUCN, four species of freshwater molluscs are considered endangered and three are vulnerable. An additional 19 species are considered data deficient. There are roughly 6,000 insect species. Of
2691-443: The Western Ghats. Historically, the Western Ghats were covered in dense forests. which formed the natural habitat for wildlife along with the native tribal people . Its inaccessibility made it difficult for people from the plains to cultivate the land and build settlements. After the establishment of British colonial rule in the region, large swathes of territory were cleared for agricultural plantations and timber. The forests in
2760-461: The collective memory in the epic he wrote. Adikal was likely a Jain who lived a few centuries later, states Zvelebil, and his epic "cannot have been composed before the 5th- or 6th-century". Gananath Obeyesekere – a scholar of Buddhism, Sri Lankan religious history and anthropology, considers the epic's claims of Gajabahu and the kinship between Ilango Adigal and Senguttuvan to be ahistorical, and that these lines are likely "a late interpolation" into
2829-667: The cosmos. A temple dedicated to him is built here, close to the Papanasam Falls, on the banks of the Thamirabarani River . Pilgrims believe Sage Agastya gives appearances to sincere aspirants and devotees. Tamil Buddhist tradition developed in Chola literature , such as in Buddamitra's Virasoliyam , states Agastya learnt Tamil from the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara ; the earlier Chinese traveler Xuanzang recorded
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2898-458: The equator receive lower annual rainfall and have rain spells lasting several months in a year. The Western Ghats region is a biodiversity hotspot . It consists of nearly 30% of all the species of flora and fauna found in India, most of which are endemic to this region. At least 325 globally threatened species occur in the Western Ghats. The Western Ghats consist of four tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf terrestrial ecoregions of
2967-590: The existence of a temple dedicated to Avalokitesvara in the South Indian hill Potala. A Buddhist text, Tarasukkam , refers to Avalokitesvara as "Potalagirinivasini". The author of the Silappatikaram , utilizing the word "Potiyil" for the hills, hails the southern breeze that emanates from the hills that blows over the kingdom of the Pandyans of Madurai and Korkai that own it. Chithalai Chathanar's Manimekhalai describes
3036-420: The famous sage of Poti". In Naccinarkiniyar 's commentaries, quoting lines of Nakkeerar , Agastiyar is associated with the Pothigai mountains and pure Tamil. In Sundarar 's Tevaram , the Pothigai mountains are mentioned. Following the establishment of Siddhar Gnana Koodam, and traveling the world to spread his knowledge, Agastya returned to Agastya Mala , the point on the Pothigai hills where he merged into
3105-638: The forests, forms the largest contiguous protected area in the Western Ghats. In August 2011, the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP), appointed by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests to assess the biodiversity and environmental issues of the Western Ghats, designated the entire region as an Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA) and assigned three levels of Ecological Sensitivity to its different regions. Subsequent committees formed have recommended various suggestions to protect
3174-577: The habitat for at least 2,000 species of medicinal plants , of which at least 50 are rare and endangered species . There are also wild relatives of jackfruit , mango , cardamom , turmeric and banana . Endangered mammals here include the Bengal tiger , Indian elephant , lion-tailed macaques , Nilgiri tahr and the vulnerable gaur , sloth bear , Malabar spiny dormouse and Nilgiri marten . There are also Jerdon's palm civet , gray slender loris , great pied hornbills and king cobras . Ecotourism
3243-436: The highest peak. The average elevation is around 1,200 m (3,900 ft). The Western Ghats form one of the major watersheds of India, feeding many perennial river systems that drain almost 40% of the land area of the country. Because of the higher elevation of the Deccan plateau on the west, most rivers flow from eastwards towards the Bay of Bengal , resulting in chiselled eastern slopes and steeper western slopes facing
3312-493: The hills in Tamil Nadu includes the Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (KMTR), a 895 square kilometres (346 sq mi) protected area . The Kerala side of the hills hosts the 128 square kilometres (49 sq mi) Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary , the 53 square kilometres (20 sq mi) Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary , the 171 square kilometres (66 sq mi) Shenduruny Wildlife Sanctuary and
3381-569: The hills to perform a puja ceremony at the Agasthya Murti on the top the Peak. Most pilgrims use the well-worn path through Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary on the Kerala side. The trekkers start from Bonaccord estate in Thiruvananthapuram district with a guide from the Forest Department. The first night is spent at a camp facility set up by the department in the middle of the forests. Trekkers reach
3450-555: The indigenous species, 2,253 species are endemic to India and of them, 1,273 species are exclusively confined to the Western Ghats. 645 tree species were recorded with a high endemic ratio of 56%. There are 850 – 1000 species of bryophytes including 682 species of mosses (28% endemic) and 280 species of liverworts (43% endemic), 277 species of pteridophytes and 949 species of lichens (26.7% endemic). The Western Ghats are home to thousands of species of fauna, including at least 325 globally threatened species . As per
3519-544: The majority of the rainfall to the plains up north. Climate in the mountains shows variations with altitude across the range. Due to its physical proximity to the equator and the Arabian Sea, the region experiences a warm and humid tropical climate throughout the year. Mean temperatures range from 20 °C (68 °F) in the south to 24 °C (75 °F) in the north. Subtropical or temperate climates, and occasional near-zero temperatures during winter are experienced in regions with higher elevations. The coldest period in
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#17328520784533588-467: The mountain range is Sahyadri , derived from Sanskrit , meaning benevolent or tolerant mountain. The Western Ghats are the mountainous faulted , and eroded edge of the Deccan Plateau . Geologic evidence indicates that they were formed during the break-up of the super-continent of Gondwana . After the break-up, the Deccan plateau was formed by basalt rocks, which caused the western side to rise at an elevation. Geophysical evidence indicates that
3657-438: The mountains came along the west coast of India somewhere in the late Jurassic and early Cretaceous periods when India separated from the African continent. Several faults triggered the formation of Western Ghats, then interspersed with valleys and river gorges. Because of the elevation of the Deccan plateau on the west, most rivers flow from west to east, resulting in chiselled eastern slopes and steeper western slopes facing
3726-508: The mountains, Tamil was created by Agastya, according to Kamban and Villiputturar, while Kancipuranam and Tiruvilaiyatarpuranam assert Lord Shiva taught Agastya Tamil just as he had taught Panini Sanskrit. Tamil Hindu tradition holds that Lord Shiva and Lord Murugan taught Agastya the Tamil language , who then constructed a Tamil grammar , at Pothigai mountains. According to the Tambraparni Mahatmyam , an ancient account of
3795-636: The peak the next day and return to the camp the same day. Only 100 pilgrims per day are allowed on this route during the January February season. Visitors must obtain an entry pass from the Trivandrum Forest Headquarters or through Online booking against payment of Rs 1000. The Chief Conservator is responsible for on-site management of the protected areas on the Kerala side of the Hills. Western Ghats The Western Ghats , also known as
3864-407: The proposals that Adikal lived in the same period. These lines also mention that he became a sannyasi in a monastery outside Vanci – the capital of the 2nd-century Chera kingdom (now parts of Kerala ). This declaration has been interpreted as renouncing and becoming a Jain monk. According to Kamil Zvelebil, all this must have been a fraudulent statement added by Ilango Adikal to remain a part of
3933-409: The region are the wettest monsoon period in the southern part of the mountain range. Annual rainfall in this region averages 100 cm (39 in) to 900 cm (350 in), with an average rainfall of 250 cm (98 in). The total amount of rain does not depend on the spread of the area; areas in northern Maharashtra receive heavy rainfall followed by long dry spells, while regions closer to
4002-428: The region since the last decade (e.g., Dario urops and S. sharavathiensis ). Seasonal rainfall patterns in the Western Ghats necessitate a period of dormancy for its land snails , resulting in their high abundance and diversity, including at least 258 species of gastropods from 57 genera and 24 families. A total of 77 species of freshwater molluscs (52 gastropods and 25 bivalves ) have been recorded from
4071-416: The region. The Western Ghats play an important role in determining the climate and seasons in India. During the dry summer months of April – May, heat builds up on the land, which draws air from the sea. The air, which picks up moisture along the way and flows eastward from the Arabian Sea, is blocked by the Western Ghats. The rising air cools and brings about orographic precipitation along
4140-572: The region. In 2006, India applied to the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB) for the Western Ghats to be listed as a protected World Heritage Site . In 2012, 39 sites divided into seven clusters across the Western Ghats, were declared as World Heritage Sites. [REDACTED] Media related to Western Ghats at Wikimedia Commons Ilango Adigal Ilango Adigal ( Tamil : இளங்கோவடிகள் , romanized: Iḷaṅkōvaṭikaḷ ,
4209-601: The river Tamirabarani , the lifeline of the region. Agastyamalai is home to the Kanikkaran people, one of the oldest surviving hunter-gatherer tribes in the world. The Agasthiyar malai include the Indian Ecoregions of South Western Ghats moist deciduous forests above 500 metres (1,600 ft), South Western Ghats montane rain forests above 1,000 metres (3,300 ft) and shola-grasslands complex on peaks above 1,600 metres (5,200 ft). These hills are noted as
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#17328520784534278-564: The river from its rise to its mouth, a string of red lotus flowers from sage Agastya at Agastya Malai , Pothigai hills, transformed itself into a damsel at the sight of Lord Siva , forming the river at the source and giving it its divine name, Tamraparni . The shrine to Agastiyar at the Pothigai hill source of the Tamraparni river is mentioned in both Ilango Adigal 's Silappatikaram and Chithalai Chathanar 's Manimekhalai epics, in relation to blessings sought by Sugriva and his army from
4347-521: The ruler of the land. To stop this, and let his elder brother be the king, the prince became a Jain monk taking the name of Ilango Adigal. The Cilappatikaram epic credited to Ilango Adigal inspired another Chera-Tamil poetic epic called Manimekalai . This poetic epic acts as a sequel to the aforementioned work. It revolves around the daughter of Kovalan (the protagonist of Cilappatikaram ) and Madhavi (who had an affair with Kovalan in Cilappatikaram ), named Manimekalai. Although Manimekalai's mother
4416-665: The sea. The Western Ghats extend from the Satpura Range south of the Tapti River in the north and runs approximately 1,600 km (990 mi) to the southern tip of the Indian peninsula, where it ends at the Marunthuvazh Malai at Swamithoppe in Kanyakumari district . It covers an area of 160,000 km (62,000 sq mi), traversing across the Indian states of Gujarat , Maharashtra , Goa , Karnataka , Kerala , and Tamil Nadu . The Western Ghats form an almost continuous chain of mountains running parallel to
4485-466: The stream of clear waters flows down with noise in torrents, and the fact that old men assembled and played dice in the dilapidated temple is described in Purananuru . The Japanese scholar Shu Hikosaka on the basis of his study of Buddhist scriptures, ancient Tamil literature, as well as field survey, proposes the hypothesis that, the ancient mount Potalaka, the residence of Avalokiteśvara described in
4554-399: The western coast of India along the Arabian Sea . The average elevation is around 1,200 m (3,900 ft). There are three gaps in the mountain range: the northernmost Goa Gap , formed 65–80 million years ago (Mya), the oldest and widest Palghat Gap , formed 500 Mya, and the southernmost, narrowest Shencottah Gap . The narrow coastal plain between the Western Ghats and
4623-503: The western coast. This signifies the onset of the monsoon season in June. By the time the air rises above the mountains, it becomes dry, resulting in a rain shadow region with very little rainfall on the leeward side towards the interior of the Deccan plateau. The monsoon winds rounding up the peninsula and moving from the east from the Bay of Bengal pass over the Eastern Ghats and bring
4692-449: The younger prince will succeed his father, and Ilango wanted to prove him wrong. However, these traditional beliefs are doubtful because the Sangam era text Patiṟṟuppattu provides a biography of king Nedum Cheralatan and of king Senguttuvan, and in neither is Ilango Adigal ever mentioned. The author was a Jaina scholar, as in several parts of the epic, the key characters of the epic meet
4761-575: Was a monk and a poet, sometimes identified as a Chera prince. He is traditionally credited as the author of Cilappatikaram , one of the Five Great Epics of Ancient Tamil literature . He is one of the greatest poets from Cheranadu (now Kerala ). In a patikam (prologue) to the epic poem, he identifies himself as the brother of a famous Chera king Ceṅkuṭṭuvan ( Senguttuvan ). This Chera king, as stated by Elizabeth Rosen, ruled over his kingdom in late 2nd or early 3rd century CE. However, this
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