Kumari Kandam facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kumari Kandam
A map showing the mythical continent of Kumari Kandam, believed to connect Madagascar, South India, and Australia.
Type	Mythical continent, believed to be lost
Notable locations	Indian Ocean
First appearance	Kanda Puranam (purportedly alluded to in Sangam literature, but not by this name)

Kumari Kandam (pronounced Koo-mah-ree Kun-dum) is a fascinating story about a lost continent. Many people believe this mythical land was once home to an ancient Tamil civilization. It was supposedly located south of India, deep in the Indian Ocean. You might also hear it called Kumarikkandam or Kumari Nadu.

In the 1800s, some scientists thought there might be a sunken continent called Lemuria. They noticed similar plants and animals in places like Africa, Australia, and Madagascar. This idea helped explain how these distant lands could be connected.

Later, some Tamil scholars and writers connected this Lemuria idea to their own ancient legends. These legends spoke of lands lost to the ocean long ago. They imagined Kumari Kandam as a grand Tamil civilization that disappeared in a huge flood.

Even though the scientific idea of Lemuria changed over time, the story of Kumari Kandam stayed popular. Many believed it was the birthplace of Tamil language and culture. They saw it as a "cradle of civilization," a place where everything began.

What is Kumari Kandam?

The name "Kumari Kandam" first appeared in a 15th-century Tamil book called Kanda Puranam. This book tells a story about a king named Bharatan. He divided his kingdom into nine parts. One part was ruled by his daughter, Kumari, and it became known as Kumari Kandam.

Later, in the 20th century, Tamil writers gave new meanings to the name. Some believed "Kumari" referred to a land where women had important roles. They thought women had equal rights and even owned property. This made it a special "land of maidens."

Others connected the name to the Hindu goddess Kanya Kumari. They believed the land was named after her. The famous temple at Kanyakumari is said to have been built by people who survived the great flood. For many, the word "Kumari" also represented the pure and ancient nature of Tamil culture.

Ancient Stories of Lost Lands

Long ago, many stories in Tamil and Sanskrit literature spoke of lands swallowed by the ocean. One important story tells of the ancient Pandyan kings. They were powerful rulers who supported learning and poetry. They created three special groups called Sangams (literary academies).

The first two Sangams were in cities named Tenmadurai and Kapatapuram. These cities, along with all the amazing writings created there, were lost to the sea. The third Sangam was then set up in the city of Madurai.

Later writings described this lost land as being very large. It stretched from the Pahruli River to the Kumari River. It was said to be south of Kanyakumari and covered an area of 700 kavatam. This old measurement is not fully understood today.

Other ancient tales also mention floods. For example, the city of Kaverippumpattinam was said to be destroyed by a great flood. This flood was believed to be sent by the god Indra. Many temples in South India also have legends of surviving huge floods.

It's important to know that these very old stories did not use the name "Kumari Kandam." They also didn't describe a whole continent being lost. Instead, they spoke of specific lands or cities disappearing into the sea.

The Idea of Lemuria

In 1864, a scientist named Philip Sclater had an interesting idea. He thought there might have been a land bridge connecting India, Madagascar, and Africa. He called this lost land "Lemuria." He came up with this idea to explain why similar animals, like lemurs, were found in these faraway places.

Over time, scientists learned more about how Earth's continents move. This is called the continental drift theory, or plate tectonics. This new understanding showed that Lemuria as a land bridge wasn't needed to explain animal distribution.

However, the idea of Lemuria had already reached India. Some scholars began to connect it with the ancient Tamil stories of lost lands. They wondered if Lemuria could be the original home of the Tamil people. They imagined it as a place where the first Tamil civilization thrived.

One official, Charles D. Maclean, even suggested in 1885 that Lemuria was the homeland of the early Tamil people. He thought that humans might have originated there. This theory helped inspire many Tamil writers.

Kumari Kandam in Schools

In the 20th century, the idea of Kumari Kandam became very popular. Tamil writers used it to celebrate their language and culture. They believed Kumari Kandam was the original home of the Tamil civilization. They often used parts of Western scholars' ideas to support their own claims.

Books about Kumari Kandam were even added to school and university lessons. This happened in the early 1900s at places like Madras University. Later, in the 1960s and 1970s, political parties in Tamil Nadu further spread this idea. They wanted to highlight the long and rich history of the Tamil people. The government even formed a committee to write the history of the ancient Tamil land, starting from the time of Lemuria.

What Was Kumari Kandam Like?

Writers imagined Kumari Kandam as a very old and advanced civilization. It was seen as a special, isolated place in the Indian Ocean. They believed it was the "cradle of civilization," where only Tamil speakers lived.

People thought it was a perfect society, untouched by outside influences. It was described as a place where everyone was treated equally. There were no social divisions or unfair practices. This ideal image inspired many modern Tamils.

Since Kumari Kandam was lost under the sea, it also helped explain why there wasn't much physical evidence of this ancient civilization. It was believed that all the signs of this great culture were hidden deep in the ocean. Some even thought that important Tamil knowledge was lost or not widely shared over time.

The Birthplace of Culture

Many believed that Kumari Kandam sank when the last ice age ended. As sea levels rose, the Tamil people migrated to other lands. They mixed with other groups, leading to new cultures and languages.

Some even theorized that all of humanity came from the people of Kumari Kandam. This idea suggests that Tamil culture is the source of all civilized cultures. It also implies that Tamil is the mother language of all other languages in the world. The original culture of Kumari Kandam was thought to have survived in Tamil Nadu.

The city of Kanyakumari was often seen as a part of the original Kumari Kandam. This connection helped show that modern Tamils are direct descendants of this ancient people. It also supported the idea that Tamil language and culture are among the oldest in the world.

Lost Books and Stories

Followers of the Kumari Kandam idea believed that the first two Tamil Sangams were real. They thought these academies created many important books and works of art. Sadly, these were all lost when the continent sank.

Some writers even listed the names of these lost works. They included books on music, medicine, and many other topics. They also mentioned rare musical instruments, like a thousand-stringed lute. Since these works were deep in the ocean, it was impossible to find proof of them.

One interesting story is about a book called Cenkonraraiccelavu. In 1902, someone claimed to have found this ancient manuscript. It told tales of a powerful Tamil king named Sengon. He supposedly ruled a kingdom in Peruvalanatu. However, later on, this book was found not to be from ancient times. Despite this, some still saw it as a valuable part of the Kumari Kandam story.

How Big Was Kumari Kandam?

Ancient writings said the lost land south of Kanyakumari was 700 kavatam in size. We don't know exactly how big a kavatam is today. However, many writers in the 20th century imagined Kumari Kandam as a huge continent.

Some thought it stretched thousands of miles. They believed it connected Kanyakumari in the north to the Kerguelen Islands in the south. It might have even reached Madagascar in the west and the Sunda Islands in the east. Others imagined it touching China, Africa, and Australia. Some even said it reached the South Pole!

People also drew maps to show what Kumari Kandam might have looked like. These maps showed cities like Tenmadurai and Kapatapuram. They also included mountains and rivers that were believed to be on the lost continent. Some maps even showed a land bridge connecting the Indian peninsula to Antarctica. These maps helped people visualize this amazing lost world.

See also