History of Kollam: Difference between revisions
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Quilon (Malayalam: ക്വയ്ലോണ്), officially Kollam (Malayalam: കൊല്ലം) is one of the ancient civilizations in India. Kollam is the oldest port city in the Malabar Coast and was the capital city of historic Venad Kingdom and Travancore Kingdom.[1] It was also known as Desinganadu. Kollam is world famous for it's historic importance and business culture. It is now known as the "Cashew Capital of the World".[2] From ancient times, city of Kollam(Quilon) has played a vital role in the business, economical, cultural, religious and political history of Asia and Indian sub continent. Even the Malayalam calendar(Kollavarsham) is also known so with the name of the city Kollam. Desinganadu, old name of Kollam, had a sustained commercial reputation from the days of the Phoenicians, Chinese, Arabs, Dutch and the Romans. It is closely related with the ancient and modern life of Keralites through Kollavarsham, Tharisapalli plates, arrival of Christianity in Kerala etc. The history of the district of Kollam as an administrative unit can be traced back to 1835, when the Travancore state consisted of two revenue divisions with headquarters at Kollam and Kottayam. During the integrating of Travancore and Cochin states in Kerala in 1949, Kollam was one among the three revenue divisions in the state. Later, those revenue divisions were converted as the first districts in the state.[3]
Etymology
The city name Kollam is believed to have been derived from the Sanskrit word Kollam (Sanskrit: कोल्लं), which means Pepper. During the ancient times, Kollam was world famous for it's trade culture, especially for the availability and export of fine quality Pepper. The sole motive of all the Portuguese, Dutch and British who have arrived the Port of Kollam that time was Pepper and other spices available at Kollam[4]
Pre-history of Kollam
Kollam is the most historic and ancient settlement in Kerala, probably in South India. Ingots excavated from Kollam city, Port, Umayanallur, Mayyanad, Sasthamcotta, Kulathupuzha and Kadakkal proved that the whole district and city must have been the site of human settlement since Stone Age. Teams of archaeologists and anthropologist have conducted visits to Kollam city and Port many times for treasure hunts and researches.[5][6]
Kollam Era
Kollam Era (also known as Malayalam Era or Kollavarsham or Malayalam Calendar or Malabar Era) is a solar and sidereal Hindu calendar used in Kerala, India. The origin of the calendar has been dated as 825 CE (Pothu Varsham) at Kollam(Quilon).[7][8][9] It replaced the traditional Hindu calendar used widely else where in India and is now prominently used in Kerala. All temple events, festivals and agricultural events in the state are still decided according to the dates in the Malayalam calendar.[10]
Regarding the Origin of the Malayalam calendar - the Kolla Varsham is having many theories. Some of the major theories are as follows.
- According to Herman Gundert Kolla Varsham started as part of erecting a new Shiva Temple in Kollam and because of the strictly local and religious background, the other regions did not follow this system at first. Then once the Kollam port emerged as an important trade center the other countries were also started to follow the new system of calendar. This theory backs the remarks of Ibn Battuta as well.[11][12]
References
- ^ "History of Swathi Thirunal's Lineage". Retrieved 24 October 2015.
- ^ "Kollam, Ashtamudi Lake - great alternatives to Kochi, Vembanad Lake". Economic Times. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
- ^ "Kollam District". District Authority of Quilon. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
- ^ "The Asiatic Journal and Monthly Register for British India". Retrieved 24 October 2015.
- ^ "Ingots found in Kollam throws light on life of Megalithic people". Malayala Manorama - On Manorama. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
- ^ "Emergence of antiques triggers treasure hunt in Kollam". The Hindu. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
- ^ "Kollam Era" (PDF). Indian Journal History of Science. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
- ^ Broughton Richmond (1956), Time measurement and calendar construction, p. 218
- ^ R. Leela Devi (1986). History of Kerala. Vidyarthi Mithram Press & Book Depot. p. 408.
- ^ http://www.vaikhari.org/kollavarsham.html
- ^ "Kollam - Short History". Statistical Data. kerala.gov.in. Archived from the original (Short History) on 21 November 2007. Retrieved 8 October 2014.
- ^ A. Sreedhara Menon (2007) [1967]. "CHAPTER VIII - THE KOLLAM ERA". A Survey Of Kerala History. DC Books, Kottayam. pp. 104–110. ISBN 81-264-1578-9. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
