Madras / Madharasapattinam - An ignored Evidence of Madras, as Madharasapattinam , Inscriptions of Penneswaramadam, Krishnagiri District, Tamil Nadu.

24^th August 2019.

The metropolitan City Chennai has celebrated its birthday as “Madras Day “ on August 22^nd August for the past few years. The present George Fort area was sold to the East India Company. An agreement was signed by Andrew Cogan & Francis Day, Dubash Beri Thimmappa,  and the Vijayanagara Empire representative Damarla Venkadri Nayaka on 22^nd August 1639. Hope either Madras or the Chennapattinam was not mentioned in the agreement. How the British called Madras is not known. Many theories revolved around the Name Madras.

One such theory is... Had been to Lazarus Church St Lazarus Church during our Cooum Cultural Mapping Heritage Walk and happened to see an inscription relating to Madras. The Details are as follows. The Church was built by Fr Ribeiro. It was extended and renovated by a European named Manuel Madra in 1637 CE.  In 1928, Fr A M Texeira laid the foundation for the new Church and completed it in 1954. Henceforth the Church was called Our Lady of Guidance ( Nossa Senhora de Guia). This Parish was first known as ‘Madre-de-Deus’ ( Mother of God). The Place was entrusted to the Jesuit Fathers for the Retreat House, and Lazarus Church was made the Parish Church. This Portuguese name Madre-de-Deus in due course, gave the name “Madras” to this city.

The second theory goes like this…. The 31-line-long Penneswaramadam inscription inscribed during the Vijayanagara Empire  Kampana Udaiyar (1369 CE) period, speaks about the consolidated Victories of Koolimarayar son of Somappa Thennayakkar. In that, the places Pudupattinam, Madharasapattinam, Neelangaraiyanpattinam, Kovalam, etc, are mentioned. Some of the Historians think that the Madharasapattinam mentioned in the inscription  was corrupted to the name of MADRAS ( Before changed from Chennai ). This means that the name Madras existed even before 650 Years and the 370-year-old Madras Day celebration seems to be inappropriate.

Had went to Penneswaramadam, a part of the Kaveripattinam Heritage Walk on 24^th August 2019. The Penneswaramadam inscription is inscribed on a boulder. The surrounding area is highly encroached and the path leading to the place has shrunk. History enthusiasts and Historians request the Government to take necessary steps to protect the 650-year-old Vijayanagara period inscription, or else this historical evidence will be only on paper.    

LOCATION: CLICK HERE

 Faintly visible letters

 St, Lazarus Church inscription

 Penneswaramadam inscription

 Penneswaramadam inscription

Penneswaramadam inscription

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---