Nanjil Nadu or Nanji Nadu (Nanjil means plough in Tamil) is an ancient land sandwiched between the lands of the Cherans (present day Kerala) and the Pandians. It was under the influence of one of these great powers at various times. The area was ruled by a dynasty called the Ay (ஆய்) from Sangam times till the 10th century. They were one of the original Velir kings of the Sangam era. They were originally herders (ஆயர் means herdsmen in Tamil). Their symbol was the elephant and their capital was at Vizhinjam near present day Trivandrum. Although they seem to have disappeared after the Chola conquest of this region in the 10th century, later rulers of this area like the Cheraman Perumals and the Travancore kings also claimed descent from them.
The area is lush and green. Even in the heat of summer when we visited, it was beautifully verdant with lots of water and greenery. It is a veritable birder's paradise. Rubber plantations abound and many exotic spices grow here. To the north lie the tail-end of the Western Ghats with the ocean to the south. The Pothigai Hills where legend says that the first grammar of the Tamil language was written by the sage Agastya are among the hills that you see to the north.
The people looked prosperous and happy. 70% of the population speaks Tamil while the other 30% speak Malayalam. Three great religions, Hinduism, Christianity and Islam that have been here for centuries co-exist very amicably and peacefully. It was refreshing to see that. Temples, Churches and Mosques dot the landscape. In the next post we will see evidence of another great religion that disappeared.
You see the Kurinchi and the Marutham here.
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