Pathu Thoon (Madurai)
இந்தப் பக்கத்தை தமிழில் வாசிக்க: பத்துத் தூண் (மதுரை)
Pathu Thoon (Ten Pillars) 1636 AD are ten big stones located in Madurai. These belong to the Thirumalai Nayakkar period. Archeologists consider these pillars to be the frontage of Muthiyaalu Nayakkar's palace. He is the younger brother of Thirumalai Nayakkar.
Location
Pathu Thoon lane is located amidst the Navabath Kana street and Mahal Vadampookki street, situated north of the Thirumalai Nayakkar's palace in Madurai. The Pathu Thoon is engulfed by houses present in the lane. Madurai Meenakshi Amman temple and Thirumalai Nayakkar Mahal are located near the Pathu Thoon . It can be reached via a congested lane called Vilakku Thoon (lamp pillar).
History
Swarga Vilasam palace built by Thirumalai Nayakkar in Madurai is called as Thirumalai Nayakkar Mahal in recent times. As part of this palace, Ranga Vilasam palace was constructed in 1636 AD as a residence for Thirumalai Nayakkar's younger brother Muthiyaalu Nayakkar. Pathu Thoon or the Ten Pillars is said to be the frontage of that palace, Ranga Vilasam. Other sections of that palace are not present anymore.
R. Venkataraman, historian specializing in Madurai history says, 'after the life of Thirumalai Nayakkar, Head-quarters of Nayakkar Kingdom changed from Madurai to Trichy. During this time, the valuable segments of the Ranga Vilasam were transported and rest were abandoned'. Later, the forts at the north side were damaged during the Madurai invasion of Chanda Sahib and in the course of time vanished. Presently, only the Pathu Thoon remain.
Pathu Thoon (Ten Pillars) were declared as archeological monuments of Tamil Nadu on July 20, 1973 and are protected by the Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology.
Breakage of Wall
An entrance is said to have been at the east of Pathu Thoon, to the north of Thirumalai Nayakkar mahal. Its wall was 274 meter long, 183 meter wide and 12 meters high. The wall was demolished in 1837 as it was in danger of collapsing.
Pathu Thoon Lane
During the Nayakkar rule, silk weavers from Saurashtra were made to settle in Madurai along the palace. As silk was a precious product, the weavers lived in guarded streets. When the Palace complex was abandoned, they built houses and settled around the Ten Pillars (Pathu Thoon). The lane which was famous for silk threads, was later filled with small textile shops.
Structure
These pillars were formed by stacking round granite stones. Upon these, lime plaster and bricks were applied to smoothen and make it similar to pillars in the palace. All the ten pillars are of the same height and do not have any sculptures. Each pillar is 12 meter high and has a circumference of 1.20 meter. As per the engineers, these pillars were erected to bear the full weight of the Rangamahal palace constructed out of bricks and plaster. The weight of these pillars stabilized the palace. In one of these ten pillars (Pathu Thoon) a shivalingam sculpture is embossed.
Nearby Archeological Sites
Sites like Raaya Gopuram, Thirumalai Nayakkar Mahal are present near the Pathu Thoon.
Current State
Pathu Thoon is under the control of Tamil Nadu State Department of Archeology. But the whole area is encroached, is full of shops and wooden planks are nailed to the pillars. Visitors are unable to see the Pathu Thoon due to narrow lanes and the stockpile of textiles.
Reference
- Madurai Nayakar's history, A. K. Paranthamanar
Links
- Pathu Thoongal, Tamil Digital Library
- Pathu Thoon, Tamil Nadu State Department of Archeology(TNARCH)
- History woven into this silk lane
- Video of Pathu Thoon Lane
- Paathu thoon, Document by TNARCH
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