Thursday, September 15, 2016

Madras - Localities

There is a lot of information in the internet on the reason behind names of localities in Madras. My attempt to consolidate them and have it in one place:

Adambakkam - Aa than paakkam
Adayar - Banks of river Adayar
Alandur - Banyan tree forest
Ambattur - Aimbathonraam oor. 51st town.
Aminjikarai - Amaindhakarai. Banks of river Koovam
Anakaputtur - Aanaikaapuththur
Avadi - Cow's foot
Ayanavaram - Ayan puram. Temple worshipped by Brahma
Beach - Proximity to the Beach adjacent to the Fort St. George, which was later converted as a harbour for the city
Chepauk - Chey bagh. Six gardens of the Nawab of Arcot
Chetput -  Land owned by Diwan Bahadur Thatikonda Namperumal Chettiar
Chromepet - Chrome and leather factories
Egmore - Ezhumur. Lord Siva worshipped by Saptarishis. Chola kingdom/ Puzhal kottam/ Ezhumbur naadu
Ekkattuthangal - Eera kaattu thaangal*
Fort - Fort St. George
Guindy - Place where Bhringi munivar kept is kandi to do penance
Kellys - Killiyur.
Kilpauk - Keezhpakkam.
Kodambakkam - 1. Goda Bagh. Horse stable of the Nawab of Arcot. 2. Karkodaganpakkam
Kosapet - Kuyavar pettai. Area of potters
Koyambedu - Ko ambu eidha idam. Place of fight between Rama and his sons
Kundrathur - Hillock of Murugar temple
Madhavaram -  Mahathavapuram
Mambalam - Maa Bilvam - Bel tree forest
Mandaiveli - Grazing ground for cows
Mount/ Parangimalai - 1. Firangi malai - hillock of foreigner. 2. Bhringi malai - related to sage Bhringi
Mylapore - Goddess Karpagambal took the form of a peahen and worshipped Lord Kapaaleeswarar. Mayilaappoor.
Nandanam - Named by Rajaji. Garden area.
Nanganallur - Nangai Nallur, named by H.H. Mahaperiyavaa swamy after Goddess Rajarajeshwari
Nungambakkam - Palm tree forest
Padi - Thiruvalithaayam
Pallavaram - Pallavapuram
Park - The area which was once the zoological park of the city before it was shifted to Vandalur
Pazhavanthangal - Pallavan thaangal (like Ekkatu thaangal and Iyyappan thaangal)
Perambur - Piramboor. Rattan Palm tree forest
Poonamallee - Poondhamallee. Jasmine garden
Pozhichalur - Pugazhcholanallur
Puliyur - Temple worshipped by Vyagrapaadha munivar. Chola kingdom/ Puliyur kottam
Purasawalkam - Purasai tree forest
Saidapet - Saiyyad Khan Pet
Tambaram - Taamapuram as per Chola inscriptions
Teynampet - Thennampettai. Coconut tree groves
Tiruvanmiyur - Thiru Valmikiyur. Worshipped by Valmiki munivar.
Tiruvotriyur - Otreeswarar temple. Name from days of Thevaaram
Tondiarpet - 'Tondiyaar' Kunangudi Masthan Sahib (Settler from the town of Tondi)
Triplicane - Thiruvallikkeni. Temple tank with lily flowers
Vadapalani - Murugan temple
Valasaravakkam - Valli saer paakkam
Vandalur - Vandal soil
Velacheri - Vedasreni
Vepery - Lake surrounded by Neem trees
Villivakkam - Vilvapakkam. Bel tree forest
Washermanpet - Vannaarapettai, self explanatory

Yet to identify:

Korukkupet
Meenambakkam
Vyasarpadi
Ernavoor
Ennore
Puzhal
Pammal
Korattur

* Water management in olden days: Aaru, Eri, Kanmaai, Kaaranai, Thaangal, Endhal, Ooruni, Kulam, Kuttai.

Aaru - Adayaaru
Eri - Retteri, Potheri
Kanmaai -
Kaaranai - Pallikaranai, Karanai
Thaangal - Ekkattuthangal, Ayyappan thangal, Palavanthangal
Endhal -
Ooruni -
Kulam - Sunnambu Kulathur, Perungalathur
Kuttai -

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