The Genesis on the Vaigai: Tracing the Origins of the Pandyan Capital and Early Sangam Era Tourism

Abstract

The Vaigai River, originating in the Varusanadu Hills of the Western Ghats, served as the geographical and cultural artery of the ancient Pandyan civilization . This article examines the symbiotic relationship between the Vaigai's genesis, the establishment of Madurai as the Pandyan capital, and the subsequent emergence of what may be termed "early Sangam era tourism"the movement of poets, pilgrims, merchants, and travelers along the river valley. Drawing upon Sangam literature, archaeological evidence from Keeladi, and historical records, this study argues that the Vaigai was not merely a water source but a foundational element in the political, literary, and cultural identity of the Pandyan kingdom. The river's sanctity, celebrated in the Paripadal as "the river that brings water when one touches it," transformed Madurai into a cosmopolitan center that attracted diverse peoples, creating an early form of cultural and literary tourism . The archaeological findings at Keeladi, dating to 600 BCE, corroborate the literary accounts of an urban civilization flourishing along the Vaigai's banks, challenging previous assumptions about the antiquity of Tamil civilization