A Wandering Heritager: MADRAS - MADARASAPATTINAM - AN IGNORED EVIDENCE OF MADRAS AS MADARASAPATTINAM, THE INSCRIPTIONS OF PENNESWARAMADAM, KRISHNAGIRI, TAMIL NADU.

Tuesday 10 September 2019

MADRAS - MADARASAPATTINAM - AN IGNORED EVIDENCE OF MADRAS AS MADARASAPATTINAM, THE INSCRIPTIONS OF PENNESWARAMADAM, KRISHNAGIRI, TAMIL NADU.

24^th August 2019.

The metropolitan City Chennai celebrates its birth day as “Madras Day “ on August 22^nd August for the past few years. The present George fort area was sold to East India Company. An agreement was signed by Andrew Cogan & Francis Day, Dubash Beri Thimmappa and the Vijayanagara empire representative Damarla Venkadri Nayaka on 22^nd August 1639. Hope either Madras or the Chennapattinam was not mentioned in the agreement. How the British called as Madras is not known. There were many theories revolves around the Name Madras.

One such theory is.. Had been to Lazarus Church St Lazarus Chaurch during our Cooum Cultural Mapping Heritage Walk and happened to see an inscription relating to Madras. The Details are as follows. The Church was built by Fr Ribeiro. It was extended and renovated by an European named Manuel Madra in 1637. In 1928, Fr A M Texeira, laid the foundation for the new Church and completed in 1954. Henceforth the Church was called as Our Lady of Guidance ( Nossa Senhora de Guia). This Parish was first known as ‘Madre-de-Deus’ ( Mother of God). The Place was entrusted to the Jesuit Fathers for the Retreat House, Lazarus Church was made the Parish Church. This Portuguese name Madre-de-Deus in due course, gave name “Madras” to this city.

The second theory goes like this…. The 31 line long Penneswaramadam inscription inscribed during Vijayanagara Empire Kampan Udaiyar ( 1369AD) period, speaks about the consolidated Victories of Koolimarayar son of Somappa Thennayakkar. In that the places Pudupattinam, Madarasanpattinam, Neelangaraiyanpattinam, Kovalam etc, are mentioned. Some of the Historians are of the opinion that the Madarasapattinam mentioned in the inscription was corrupted to the name of MADRAS ( Before changed from Chennai ). Which means that the name Madras was existed even before 650 Years and 370 years old Madras Day celebration seems to be inappropriate.

Had been to Penneswaramadam, a part of Kaveripattinam Heritage Walk on 24^th August 2019. The Penneswaramadam inscription is inscribed on a boulder. The surrounding area was highly encroached and path leads to place has shrinked. History enthusiasts and Historians request the Government to take necessary steps to protect the 650 years old Vijayanagara period inscription, else this historical evidence will be only in paper.

LOCATION: CLICK HERE