Musiri of Tamil Nadu and The Musiris of Our Dream
Updated 24/04/24
Another Musri is in Andhra Pradesh: Visakhapatnam District, Dimbruguda Taluk, Arma Grama Panchayat.
Again, Musri is a locality in Vellore town. Musri may be a corruption of the word misri by which the Arabs called the Egyptian agents in Alexandria who were the intermediaries in the Greco Roman spice trade spanning a period from 2nd century BCE to 5th century CE. The diary written by an unknown merchant 'Periplus of Erythrian Sea' is the record where Musiris is mentioned. Number of Musris dispersed over a wide area indicates the existence of exchange centres created by late comers of Alexandrian origin who were not able to get a slot near the harbour Town on the northern bank of river Cauvery. The diary was written in Koinee Greek, a pidgin used by Mediterranean traders. Historians dream port of Musiris is woven around this reference. In their ecstasy to establish Musiris in Kodungallur the historians had overlooked what Pliny the elder said about the vast changes that had been taking shape in the geography of the east and west coasts of Indian peninsula during his life time. Pliny had his information from the merchants.
Later Philip Lake, the British geologist, who had been here in India for a short span (about three years), was of the opinion that around 2300 BCE the Arabian sea reached upto the base of Western Ghats. So the major portion of the land, that we now call Kerala was under sea about 4300 years ago. The only places in high ranges must have been above the water. As such, human habitation was possible only in Wayanad, parts of Nilagiri hills, Attappadi, Munnar, Devikulam etc. How much of these places constitute to the total area of 38863 square kilometres of the entire state?
Musiri town is 40 K.M.North of Tiruchirapalli and 45 K.M. west of Namakkal. It was a major trading centre for spices and silk as well as centre of learning and a home to poets and scholars. It declined with a change in the course of river Cauvery in the tenth century because of cyclones and floods. Even before its natural death the port town vanished out of any reference because of the fall of Roman Empire and the fall in demand for the spices.
The so called second Cera empire had no connection with Roman trade. Their trading partners were Chinese and Arabs; but in this trade their influence was nominal where local chieftains ( desavazhi, Naduvazhi) occupied prominent position. Historians also did not take into account what Pliny the elder had said about the West coast of Malabar. According to him people places and ports were subject to changes along the coast. Wayanad was on hills and it must have been there at that time. Two places in Waynad, Yavanarkulam (Thavinhal Grama Panchayat) and Makkiyad (Thondarnad Grama Panchayat) can claim connection to Roman trade, by their toponym. The word Yavanar was widely used to denote merchants from Mediterranean, and Makki means 'about Mecca'. Makkiyad may be a settlement of Arab traders. Makkiyad may be a trading hub of Arab merchants. Yavanarkulam may be an ancient settlement of Mediterranean traders.
The Musri region comprises Musri, Thuraiyur and Thottiyam. Most of the villages of the region are located on the northern side of river Cauvery. Musiri is just opposite of Kulithalai of Karur District. Karur was also known as Vanci, and Karur was the headquarters of Cera kings.
There are no archeological evidence of human habitation in the paleolithic period in Kerala. But the drawings and engravings of Edakkal caves in Wayanad is cited as evidence of human habitation in Neolithic Kerala. Edakkal caves lie 1200 metres above sea level. It is also in the ancient trade route connecting Mysore to the Eastern coast through river Cauvery on the northern bank of which lies Musiris, a satellite port of Poompuhar.
What the excavations in Pattanam brought up
The following is the list.
1. Human bone fragments and teeth.
2. Immovable streacture like brick architecture, burnt clay floors.
3. Wharf with bollards and a canoe parallel to it.
4. Toilet features, ring wells, storage jars, potsherds including non-Indian, and a large volume of artefacts.
5. A seal containing the picture of Sphinx which belongs to the ancient Greek city of Thebes.
6. Botanical remains including rice, pepper, cardamom, frankincense, peat, bark, charcoal, leaves, roots, seeds and pulses.
Still opinions of historians are divided on confirming Pattanam as Musiris.
Historians have guessed the period of Perumals around CE 800 to 1124. Musiris was nowhere in this period, except Musiris on the northern bank of Cauvery. No reference of any Musiris by any merchants during this period. The connection between the Chera kings of Karur (also known as Vanchi) and the Perumals of Kerala has still been not established. Enough Roman coins and other artefacts had been excavated in Karur and nearby places.
The identity of Pattanam with the ancient port of Perumals is to be established. Till then the claim of Kerala historians connecting Musiris with Pattanam would remain a dream.
Some historians are of the view that Musiris is derived from the Sanskrit word maricha/ maricham, meaning black pepper. But this may not be true. Sanskrit never was the spoken language of common man, and merchant communities always used pidgin around ports for easy communication. The presence of Musiris in Tamilnadu does not close the discussion of Musiris in Malabar. But the wishful location of it as suggested by historians does not match the changing geographical contour of those days.
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