Devipattinam
| Author:Laxman Burdak, IFS (R) |
Devipattinam (देवीपत्तन) is a coastal village and port located in Ramanathapuram district in Tamil Nadu, India.
Variants
- Mulasetu मूलसेतु, मद्रास, (AS, p.754)
- Devipattana देवीपत्तन दे. Mulasetu मूलसेतु (AS, p.452)
History
Devipattinam was a flourishing sea port and a gateway to places as far as Madurai until the early 20th century. The famous pearl belt known as the Gulf of Mannar in the Bay of Bengal is dotted with small islands; Appa Tivu, Nallathanni Theevu, Shuli Tivu, Uppu Tanni Tivu, Talari Tivu and Musal Tivu. The coastal line of Devipattinam is formed by series of small bays and finest coral reefs in Thiruppaalaikudi.
The prime occupations of the people were pearl, conch, sea trade and transport. The mid-20th century saw a decline in the occupations of the people of Devipattinam. With the advent of the surface transport the Merchant Navies faded away and Devipattinam ceased to be a harbour and port. The cultured pearl industry and the mindless dragnet fishing that destroyed the coral reefs, choked the once robust pearl trade or Muthu Salabam. The conch and coral industries declined due to new regulations and restrictions.
The majority of the population here is Muslim with people of other faith Hindu, Christians living together. Devipattinam has 7 Masjids. They are Periya pallivasal, Mela pallivasal, Thaqua pallivasal, Bukhariya pallivasal, Masjid Al Aqsa, Towheed Pallivasal and Darul Uloom Haqqaniyya pallivasal.
Arab Traders during the sea trade era settled here and adopted the local language. They developed a dialect called ‘Arwi’ which is a combination of Arabic and Tamil. Arab food and traditions are still followed. Islam is the dominant religion and they mostly practice the ‘Shaafi school of thought. The Arab descendants are called Maraikayars and are found all over the coastal regions of India and Sri Lanka.
The migration of the people after the decline of the marine trade and industry resulted in people exploring the other parts of the globe. Devipattinam has a large expatriate population and a very high literary rate.This enabled the people of Devipattinam to span the globe and Found new riches in the Gulf, far east, Americas and Europe.[1]
मूलसेतु
विजयेन्द्र कुमार माथुर[2] ने लेख किया है ...Mulasetu मूलसेतु, मद्रास, (AS, p.754) रामनाथपुर से 12 मील दूर देवीपत्तनको ही मूलसेतु कहां जाता है. किवदंती है कि इस स्थान से श्रीराम ने लंका जाने के लिए समुद्र पर पुल बांधना शुरू किया था. स्कंद पुराण की कथा है कि इस स्थान पर धर्मपुष्करिणी नामक झील थी जहां महिषमर्दिनी देवी ने महिषासुर का वध किया था.
देवीपत्तन
देवीपत्तन रामनाथपुर से यह 12 मील दूर है। श्रीराम ने यहाँ नवग्रह स्थापन किया था। सेतुबंध यहीं से प्रारंभ हुआ, अतः यह मूलसेतु है। यहीं देवी ने महिषासुर का वध किया था। यहाँ धर्म ने तप करके शिव-वाहनत्व प्राप्त किया है। उनके द्वारा निर्मित धर्मपुष्करिणी है। महर्षि गालव की यह तपोभूमि है। यहाँ समुद्र के समीप धर्म पुष्करिणी सरोवर है। समुद्र उथला है। उसमें नौ पत्थर के छोटे स्तम्भ हैं। ये नवग्रह के प्रतीक हैं। सरोवर में स्नान करके तब समुद्र में इनकी परिक्रमा की जाती है। यहाँ कुछ दूरी पर महिष मर्दिनी देवी का मंदिर तथा बाज़ार में शिव मंदिर है। [3]