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A sacred tank

Ezhukadal tank, a historical and legendary landmark

PHOTO: G. MOORTHY

GLORIFIED Tank turned into a shopping complex

A trip down the streets around the Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple will get you closer to an understanding of the historicity of the ancient city. Just a whisper to a shopkeeper there can bring out startling revelations about the landmarks. Some of them have historical evidences while some have legendary stories.

The `Ezhukadal' is one such place, which has legendary as well as historical significance. It stands as a testimony to the existence of an effective underground drainage system during the 16th century, besides being a good rain water harvesting structure.

The legend

People believe that Lord Siva performed three of his 64 `Tiruvilayadals' (divine sports) at `Ezhukadal.' According to one of the legends, Kanchanamalai, the widowed mother of Thadathagai Pirattiyar (Goddess Meenakshi), wanted a life without rebirth, for which sages asked her to take bath in a sea. When she reported this to her daughter, the all-powerful Goddess Meenakshi expressed her mother's wish to Lord Sundareswarar, who in turn said, "Why one sea, I will bring seven seas (Ezhukadal) to this place," and immediately ordered for it. Before Kanchanamalai could take bath she was reminded of the guidelines to be followed. She could enter the sea either with her husband or son. As an alternative she could also enter by holding to a cow's tail. When Lord Sundareswarar heard about this, he brought King Malayathuvajan (Kanchanamalai's husband) back to life, thereby fulfilling Kanchanamalai's wish.

"People glorify the sanctity of water here and compare it with the waters of the Ganges," says N. Sulaiman, former Assistant Director, Regional Centre for Art and Culture.

"In earlier days, when pilgrims visited the Temple City they will not leave the place without taking bath in `Ezhukadal.' I still remember my childhood days when I, along with my friends, have played around the banks of the tank," says G. Murugaboopathy, who owns a textiles showroom on the Ezhukadal Street. His family has been there for more than three generations.

Historical evidence

According to C. Santhalingam, Assistant Director, Department of Archaeology, `Samuthiram' is a term popularly used only during the Nayak rule. Hence, the `Ezhukadal Samuthiram' should have been dug during the Nayak period. The Nayak Kings were well known for digging tanks for irrigation purposes. `Ezhukadal' would have come into existence only at that time. Besides, excess water from the Golden Lotus tank reached Ezhukadal through a well laid underground drainage system. But years of ill maintenance saw the end of an effective drainage system and as a result Ezhukadal was dry for most part of the year, which propelled the Government to close down the tank and build a shopping complex on it.

Reminiscing the past, Mr. Murugaboopathy says with nostalgia, "It was such a beautiful sight to see the tank in the heart of the town. If the tank had been maintained well, it would have stood as a historical landmark of the city."

The whole street is buzzing with textile business leaving no imprint of Ezhukadal tank. But what stands now, as the only evidence of `Ezhukadal,' is the temple of Kanchanamalai on the western side of the tank and statues of `Saptha Kannigais', `Lord Vinayagar', `Lord Siva and Parvathi' at the centre of the shopping complex.

T. SARAVANAN

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