thamiraparani

Thamiraparni has a large network of tributaries - Peyar, Ullar, Karaiyar, Servalar, Pampar, Manimuthar, Varahanathi, Ramanathi, Jambunathi, Gadananathi, Kallar, Karunaiyar, Pachaiyar, Chittar, Gundar, Aintharuviar, Hanumanathi, Karuppanathi and Aluthakanniar.  Only  two rivers of the Tirunelveli district -  Nambiar and the Hanumanathi of Nanguneri taluk are not linked to Tamiraparani. (There are two Hanumanathis in the district). 

There are many views on the meaning and origin of the name Thamiraparni. In his book, 'A History of Tinnevelly', the well  known  Tamil  literary  figure  and  missionary  of  nineteenth  century,  Bishop  Caldwell residing at Idayankudi, a classmate in  Britain of Lord Napier the  then  Governor  of  Madras (1866 - 1872), discusses  the various interpretations of the word ‘Tamiraparani’. The meaning of the word Tamiraparani is sufficiently clear, Tamara means, red,  parani means parana, a tree which has leaves, but why the river is named so is not known.  

Another view is the name Tamiraparani originates form Tamiram (Copper) + Varuni (stream or river). They ascribe this to the origin of the river from red soil, giving the water a copper like appearance. The Greeks of the Ptolemy’s time refer to this river as Solen.

By naming this river Thamiraparni, tree with red leaves, a simile is drawn out between this river with a large number of tributaries to a tree with innumerable branches, reaching out widely the entire region.

As is the Indian tradition to associate various physical aspects to various Gods, His various incarnations or Saints, the Tirunelveli Sthalapurana associates the origin of the river with sage Agasthiyar. It states that when Agasthiyar was  to move to the South, Parvathi Devi, the divine consort of Siva filled the sage’s kamandalu (font meant to hold water for poojas) with the water from the Ganges and on his arrival at Pothigai, he released it and the water ran as Thamiraparni.