Cranganore (modern day Kodungallur) and known in ancient times as Shinkli, Muchiri (anglicised to Muziris), Muyirikkodu, Muchiripattinam was a famous and prosperous sea-port at the mouth of the Periyar (also known as Choorni Nadi) river in the southern Indian state of Kerala. It is located about 38 km from the present day city of Kochi at 10°13′ N 76°13′ E. Periyar is a common name and can be used in many ways Periyar is the popular name of E.V.Ramasami a political leader and rationalist from Tamil Nadu Periyar River is a river in the Indian state of Kerala This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists... South India is a geographic and linguistic-cultural region of India. ... ... Cochin can refer to: Cochin China Kingdom of Kochi, a former state of India, merged with Travancore to form the State of Kerala Cochin city, the former name of the city of Kochi, in Kerala Hôpital Cochin, a famous hospital in Paris, France This is a disambiguation page — a navigational...

The name Muchiri (Malayalam for broken lips) denotes the three branches of the Periyar river that open into the Arabian Sea at the town. Malayalam (മലയാളം) is the major language of the state of Kerala, in southern India. ... Map of the Arabian Sea. ...

Ancient fame

Kodungallur was a critical trade link in Indian Ancient Maritime History. It was known as Muziris to Pliny the Elder (N.H. 6.26) who describes it as primum emporium Indiae. India has had a maritime history dating back almost 2,500 years. ... Á Gaius Plinius Secundus, (23–79) better known as Pliny the Elder, was an ancient author and Natural philosopher of some importance who wrote Naturalis Historia. ...

The port was familiar to the author of the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea which described it as being situated on river Pseudostomos (Greek for "false mouth" - a precise translation of the Malayalam description of the mouth of the Periyar, Alimukam) two miles from its mouth ^[1]. The Periplus of the Erythraean Sea (Periplus Maris Erythraei ) is a Greek periplus, describing navigation and trading opportunities from Roman Egyptian ports like Berenice along the coast of the Red Sea, and others along East Africa and India. ...

The ancient Greek explorer, Hippalus landed at this port after discovering the patterns of the Indian monsoon trade winds on his way from the East coast of Africa. The evidence of the Peutinger Table suggests that there was a temple to the Roman emperor Augustus. Hippalus was a Greek navigator who probably lived in the 1st century BCE. He is sometimes conjectured to have been the captain of the Greek explorer Eudoxus of Cyzicus ship. ... Monsoon in the Vindhya, a mountain chain in central India A monsoon is a periodic wind, especially in the Indian Ocean and southern Asia. ... The Tabula Peutingeriana (Peutinger table) is a map showing the road network in the Roman Empire. ... The Roman Empire is the term conventionally used to describe the Ancient Roman polity in the centuries following its reorganization under the leadership of cesarus vaginius (better known as Caesar Augustus). ... Augustus (plural Augusti) is Latin for majestic or venerable. The greek equivalent is sebastos, or a mere grecization (by changing of the ending) augustos. ...

The Greeks, the Romans (known locally as the Yavanas), and the Jews all have come to this place at different times in its ancient history. Ancient Rome was a civilization that existed in Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East between 753 BC and its downfall in AD 476. ...

Roman gold and silver coins bearing impressions of Roman Emperors Tiberius and Nero were discovered in the village of Parur near the town during 2000. A bust of younger Emperor Tiberius For the city in Israel, see Tiberias. ... Nero Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus (December 15, 37–June 9, 68), born Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus, also called (50–54) Nero Claudius Drusus Germanicus, was the fifth and last Roman Emperor of the Julio-Claudian dynasty. ... This article is about the year 2000. ...

Thomas the Apostle of Jesus with his followers landed in Cranganore in the year AD 52 and preached the gospel. It thus became the earliest Nasrani Syrian Christian centre of Malabar with monuments built in the memory of Thomas still existing. The existence of a thriving Christian Community here attracted the attention of others and the Bishops who came from Persia chose this place for their residence. The bones of the right hand of St Thomas were placed in 1953 as a memento. The Incredulity of Saint Thomas by Caravaggio. ... // Jesus, or Jesus of Nazareth, also known as Jesus Christ, is Christianitys central figure, both as Messiah and, for most Christians, as God incarnate. ... For other uses, see number 52. ... For the genre of Christian-themed music, see gospel music. ... A Nasrani (also called as a Syrian - Malabar Christian) is a type of Christian from Kerala, South India who follows the earliest form of Christian-Jewish tradition of the early Christians. ... Bekal Fort Beach Malabar is a region along the southwest coast of the Indian peninsula, which forms the northern part of present-day Kerala state. ... As a noun, Christian is an appellation and moniker deriving from the appellation Christ, which many people associate exclusively with Jesus of Nazareth. ... ... 1953 is a common year starting on Thursday. ...

Malik Ibin Dinar and 20 others who were the followers of Prophet Muhammad, the founder of Islam, first landed here when they came to India. Islam received royal patronage in some states here, and later spread to other parts of India. Muhammad is a common Muslim male name. ...   Islam? (Arabic: الإسلام al-islām) the submission to God is a monotheistic faith, one of the Abrahamic religions, and the worlds second largest religion. ...

Kodungallur was also the capital of Cheraman Perumal, the last Chera ruler, in the 7th century AD. The Cheras were one of the three ancient Tamil dynasties who ruled the southern peninsula of India at the beginning of its recorded history. ...

Flood of 1341AD

The flood of the river in 1341 AD resulted in the splitting of the river into two tributaries at Thottummukham. That silted up the natural harbour at the mouth of the river, and resulted in the creation of a new harbour at Kochi. That development also led to the rise of the Samoothiri Rajas of Kozhikode. A local era called the Putu Vaipu era was commenced in commemoration of this event. Events Petrarch becomes famous Beginning of the Breton War of Succession over the control of the Duchy of Brittany Margarete Maultasch, Countess of Tyrol, expells her husband John Henry of Bohemia, to whom she had been married as a child. ... Zamorin (also Samoothiri) is a title of the kings of Kozhikode (Calicut), India. ... Kozhikode, also known as Calicut, is the third largest city (pop. ...

The town was nearly completely destroyed by the Portuguese (Suarez de Menezes) on September 1, 1504 in retaliation for the Samoothiri Raja's actions against them^[2]. September 1 is the 244th day of the year (245th in leap years). ... Events January 1 - French troops surrender Gaeta to the Spanish under Cordoba. ... Zamorin (also Samoothiri) is a title of the kings of Kozhikode (Calicut), India. ...

The present day natural beauty of the place is enchanting, and it is a popular tourist destination today.

Sights

The present day town has some very interesting monuments for the tourist to view:

• Kodungallur Bagavathy temple - believed to have been constructed during the reign of Chera King, Cheran Senkuttuvan, is famous for its Bharani festival. The temple requires the pilgrim to carry pepper as one of the offerings to the deity.

• Kali temple - has an interesting history since it portrays the Hindu goddess, Kali with only one breast. It was believed to have been built to immortalise a woman called Kannagi who was led through the wilderness by a Jain monk, and who in turn led the local people. The temple is famous for its annual festival where alcohol is drunk and lewd songs are sung by untouchables. The pattern ofalternation makes it possible for a single female figure to contain polar opposite qualities; thisfemale is both chaste and vulgar, socially proper and socially unacceptable, clean and unclean.

• Cheraman Jama Masjid - built around 629 AD in the Indo-Saracenic style of architecture and the bodies of some of the original followers is said to have been buried here. This is said to be first mosque constructed in India. A block of white marble in the mosque is believed to have been brought from Mecca.

The Cheras were one of the three ancient Tamil dynasties who ruled the southern peninsula of India at the beginning of its recorded history. ... This article is about the Hindu goddess. ... A Hindu is an adherent of Hinduism, the predominant religious, philosophical and cultural system of India (Bharat). ... This article is about the Hindu goddess. ... The hand with a wheel on the palm symbolizes the Jain Vow of Ahinsa, meaning non-injury and nonviolence. ... Untouchable may refer to any of the following: Formerly or derogatively, to the large Dalit (outcaste) populations of India and Nepal. ... Events Jerusalem reconquered by Byzantine Empire from the Persian Empire (September). ... Tulip Mosque in Ufa, Russia. ... This article is about the holy city in Saudi Arabia. ...

Various names

Kodungallur has enjoyed various names over the past millenia. In addition to those mentioned previously these are Jangli, Gingaleh, Cyngilin, Shinkali, Chinkli/Jinkali, Shenkala, Cynkali, Columguria.

References

• ^  Logan, William. Malabar Manual, Delhi, Asian Educational Services, 2000, 1186 pgs. pp 312, ISBN 8120604466 (Originally published in Madras, 1887).
• ^  Menachery, Professor George. Kodungallur - The Cradle of Christianity In India, Thrissur: Marthoma Pontifical Shrine, 2000, Ch.I

See Also

• Cochin Jews
• Knanaya
• Kerala
• Saint Thomas Christians
• Trichur