117.201.16.145 at 05:48, 29 August 2021

2021-08-29T05:48:45Z

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{{Short description|River in Tamil Nadu, India}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2018}}
{{more citations needed|date=April 2012}}
{{Infobox river
| name = Thamirabarani
| name_native =
| name_native_lang =
| name_other = Tamraparni, Porunai
| name_etymology =

| image = Thamirabarani.jpg
| image_size =
| image_caption = River Thamirabarani from Authoor Bridge
| map =
| map_size =
| map_caption =
| pushpin_map =
| pushpin_map_size =
| pushpin_map_caption=

| subdivision_type1 = Country
| subdivision_name1 = [[India]]
| subdivision_type2 = State
| subdivision_name2 = [[Tamil Nadu]]
| subdivision_type3 =
| subdivision_name3 =
| subdivision_type4 = District
| subdivision_name4 = [[Tirunelveli district|Tirunelveli]], [[Thoothukudi district|Thoothukudi]]
| subdivision_type5 = Cities
| subdivision_name5 = [[Tirunelveli]], [[Ambasamudram]] , [[vikramasingapuram]],[[Palayamkottai]]

| length = {{convert|128|km|mi|abbr=on}}
| width_min =
| width_avg =
| width_max =
| depth_min =
| depth_avg =
| depth_max =
| discharge1_location= [[Srivaikundam]]<ref>{{cite web| title = Gauging Station - Data Summary| publisher = ORNL| url = http://daac.ornl.gov/rivdis/STATIONS/TEXT/INDIA/1274/SUMMARY.HTML| access-date = 1 October 2013| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131004215204/http://daac.ornl.gov/rivdis/STATIONS/TEXT/INDIA/1274/SUMMARY.HTML| archive-date = 4 October 2013}}</ref>
| discharge1_min =
| discharge1_avg = {{convert|32|m3/s|cuft/s|abbr=on}}
| discharge1_max =

| source1 = [[Pothigai hills]]
| source1_location =
| source1_coordinates= {{coord|8.601962|N|77.264131|E|display=inline}}
| source1_elevation =
| mouth =
| mouth_location = [[Gulf of Mannar]]
| mouth_coordinates = {{coord|8.641316|N|78.127298|E|display=inline,title}}
| mouth_elevation =
| progression =
| river_system =
| basin_size =
| tributaries_left = [[Karaiyar River|Karaiyar]], Servalar, [[Gadananathi]], [[Chittar River]]
| tributaries_right = [[Manimutharu]], [[Pachaiyar]]
| custom_label =
| custom_data =
| extra =
}}

The '''Thamirabarani''' or '''Tamraparni''' or '''Porunai''' is a [[perennial river]] that originates from the Agastyarkoodam peak of [[Pothigai]] hills of the [[Western Ghats]], above [[Papanasam, Tirunelveli|Papanasam]] in the [[Ambasamudram]] taluk.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://isha.sadhguru.org/rally-for-rivers/ourdyingrivers/thamirabarani/|title=Thamirabarani|website=isha.sadhguru.org|access-date=2019-10-14}}</ref> It flows through [[Tirunelveli district|Tirunelveli]] and [[Thoothukudi district|Thoothukudi]] districts of the [[Tamil Nadu]] state of southern [[India]] into the [[Gulf of Mannar]]. It was called the [[Tamraparni]] River in the pre-classical period, a name it lent to the island of [[Sri Lanka]]. The old Tamil name of the river is '''Porunai'''. From the source to sea, the river is about {{convert|128|km|mi}} long and is the only [[perennial river]] in [[Tamil Nadu]]. This river flows towards north direction initially. However, it changes to east direction later.

==Etymology==
[[File:தாமிரபரணி நதி 2.jpg|thumb|left|Thamirabarani river]]
From the Tamilakam era, the area of the Tamraparni river, in [[Tirunelveli]], Tamil Nadu, has had changes in its name,<ref>Leelananda Prematilleka, Sudharshan Seneviatne - 1990: Perspectives in archaeology: "The names Tambapanni and Tamra- parni are in fact the Prakrit and Sanskrit rendering of Tamil Tan porunai"</ref> from the original ''Tan Porunai'' river to ''Tamira Porunai'', from ''Tamraparni'' to ''Tambraparni'' and now called "Thamirabarani River".<ref>Leelananda Prematilleka, Sudharshan Seneviatne - 1990: Perspectives in archaeology: "The names Tambapanni and Tamra- parni are in fact the Prakrit and Sanskrit rendering of Tamil Tan porunai"</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=Ravana The Great : King of Lanka|last=Pillai|first=M. S. Purnalingam|date=1 November 2010|publisher=Sundeep Prakashan Publishing|isbn=9788175741898|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zjTneAGmatsC|title=History of Tinnevelly|last=Caldwell|first=Bishop R.|date=1 January 1881|publisher=Asian Educational Services|isbn=9788120601611|language=en}}</ref> A meaning for the term following its derivation became "copper-colored leaf", from the words ''Thamiram'' ([[copper]]/red) in Tamil/Sanskrit and ''parani'' meaning leaf/tree, translating to "river of red leaves".<ref>K. Sivasubramaniam - 2009. Fisheries in Sri Lanka: anthropological and biological aspects, Volume 1. "It is considered most probable that the name was borrowed by the Greeks, from the Tamil 'Tamraparni' for which the Pali...to Ceylon, by the Tamil immigrants from Tinnelvely district through which ran the river called to this date, Tamaravarani"</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zjTneAGmatsC|title=History of Tinnevelly|last=Caldwell|first=Bishop R.|date=1 January 1881|publisher=Asian Educational Services|isbn=9788120601611|language=en}}</ref> According to the ''Tamraparni Mahatmyam'', an ancient account of the river from its rise to its mouth, a string of red lotus flowers from sage [[Agastya]] at [[Pothigai|Pothigai hills]] transformed itself into a damsel at the sight of Lord [[Shiva|Siva]], forming the river and giving it its divine name.<ref>The Indian Geographical Journal, Volume 15, 1940 p345</ref> Other name derivations include the Pali term "Tambapanni", "Tamradvipa" of Sanskrit speakers and "Taprobana" of ancient Greek cartographers.<ref>K. Sivasubramaniam - 2009. Fisheries in Sri Lanka: anthropological and biological aspects, Volume 1. "It is considered most probable that the name was borrowed by the Greeks, from the Tamil 'Tamraparni' for which the Pali...to Ceylon, by the Tamil immigrants from Tinnelvely district through which ran the river called to this date, Tamaravarani"</ref><ref>Leelananda Prematilleka, Sudharshan Seneviatne - 1990: Perspectives in archaeology: "The names Tambapanni and Tamra- parni are in fact the Prakrit and Sanskrit rendering of Tamil Tan porunai"</ref><ref>Mendis, G.C. (2006). "The ancient period". Early History of Ceylon (Reprint ed.). Asian Educational Services. p. 33. {{ISBN|81-206-0209-9}}. Retrieved 6 November 2009</ref> [[Robert Knox (sailor)|Robert Knox]] reported from his 20 years of captivity on the island in the hills that "Tombrane is a name of the [[Sri Lankan Tamil people]] for God in Tamil, which they often repeated as they lifted up their hands and faces towards Heaven".<ref>Robert Knox. 1651. An Historical Relation of the Island Ceylon in the East-Indies. - London. p167</ref>

==History==
[[File:தாமிரபரணி நதி.jpg|left|thumb|Thamirabarani river in dawn]]
Its many name derivations of Tan Porunai include Tampraparani, Tamirabarni, Tamiravaruni. Tan Porunai nathi finds mention by classical Tamil poets in ancient [[Sangam literature|Sangam]] [[Tamil language|Tamil]] literature ''[[Purananuru]]''. Recognised as a holy river in [[Sanskrit]] literature ''[[Puranas]]'', ''[[Mahabharata]]'' and ''[[Ramayana]]'', the river was famed in the [[Early Pandyan Kingdom]] for its pearl and conch fisheries and trade.<ref name="ces">{{cite web |url=http://ces.iisc.ernet.in/biodiversity/documents/rivers.htm|title=Rivers of Western Ghats - Origin of Tamiraparani |work=Centre for Ecological Sciences |publisher=Indian Institute of Science |access-date=8 March 2012}}</ref> The movement of people, including the faithful, trade merchants and toddy tapers from Tamraparni river to northwestern Sri Lanka led to the shared appellation of the name for the closely connected region. One important historical document on the river is the treatise ''Tamraparni Mahatmyam''. It has many ancient temples along its banks. A hamlet known as [[Appankoil]] is located on the northern side of the river.

In the [[Mahābhārata]] (3:88) the river is mentioned as "Listen, O son of Kunti, I shall now describe Tamraparni. In that asylum the gods had undergone penances impelled by the desire of obtaining salvation".<ref name="Mahabharata">{{cite book | title = Mahabharata Online | url=http://ancientvoice.wikidot.com/source:mahabharata}}</ref>

==Hydrology==
[[File:Vanatheertham falls on Thamraparni River.jpg|thumb|Paanatheertham waterfalls]]

===Origin===
The Thamirabarani River originates from the peak of the [[Pothigai hills]] on the eastern slopes of the [[Western Ghats]] at an elevation of {{convert|1725|m|ft}} above sea-level. The river is joined by its headwater tributaries Peyar, Ullar, Pambar before it flows into the Karaiyar Dam reservoir, where it meets Karaiyar. The river forms the Paanatheertham waterfalls, {{convert|40|m|ft}} high, as it enters the Kariyar reservoir.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ambasamudram - Tourism |url=http://www.ambasamudram.net/ambasamudram_tourism.html |work=ambasamudram.net |access-date=8 March 2012}}</ref> Servalar joins the Thamirabarani before it enters into the [[Papanasam Dam|Papanasam lower reservoir]], which was built for the Papanasam Hydroelectric station.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ambasamudram - Rivers |url=http://www.ambasamudram.net/ambasamudram_rivers.html |work=ambasamudram.net |access-date=8 March 2012}}</ref> The river descends down the mountains near Papanasam, where it forms the Kalyanatheertham falls and Agasthiar falls.<ref>{{cite web |title=Rivers of Tamil Nadu |url=http://www.discovertamilnadu.net/TAMILNADU%20RIVERS.html |work=discovertamilnadu.net |access-date=8 March 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Tirunelveli - Places |url=http://www.tamilnadutourism.org/places/CitiesTowns/Tirunelveli1.aspx?catid=010111P02 |work=Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation |publisher=Govt. of Tamil Nadu |access-date=8 March 2012}}</ref>

===Course and tributaries===
The river flows on the plains eastwards from [[Papanasam, Tirunelveli|Papanasam]]. The first tributary to join Thamirabarani in the plains is the [[Manimuthar River (tributary of Thamirabarani)|Manimuthar River]], which originating from Manjolai hills and joins Thamirabarani near Aladiyoor village. The towns [[Ambasamudram]] and [[Kallidaikurichi]] are located respectively on the left and right banks of Thamiraparani, after which the river meets the tributary [[Gadananathi River]] at Tiruppudaimaruthur. Before the Gadananathi's entry into the Thamirabarani, the [[Gadananathi River]] is joined by the rivers Kallar, Karunaiyar and Veeranathi or Varahanathi which joins the river Gadananathi about {{convert|1.5|km|mi|1}} north-east of Kila Ambur. The Gadananathi is fed by the [[Jambunathi River|Jambunathi]] and [[Ramanathi River]]s. The [[Pachaiyar River]] which originates from the Kalakkadu reserve forests at about {{convert|1300|m|ft}} above sea level joins the Thamirabarani near Tharuvai village in Palayamkottai Taluk. The river bisects the twin cities [[Tirunelveli]] and [[Palayamkottai]] before meeting its major and affluent tributary Chithar (Chitranathi) which arises in the Kutralam hills and receives supply from the rivers Gundar, Hanumanathi and Karuppanathi(vairavangkulam kadayanallur) .The [[Chittar River]] runs almost parallel to Thamirabarani till it joins the main river near Sivalaperi. Thamirabarani passes through the taluks of Tirunelveli and Palayamkottai of Tirunelveli district and [[Srivaikundam]] and [[Tiruchendur]] taluks of [[Thoothukkudi district]].

;List of major tributaries

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Tributaries
! Length
! Origin
! Joins at
! Length of course of Thamirabarani
!Dams on the River
|-
| [[Koraiyar]]
|
| Mundanthurai reserve forests
| Karaiyar Dam
| {{convert|6|km|mi|0}}
|Karaiyar Dam
|-
| Servalar River
|
| Mundanthurai reserve forests
| Papanasam Reservoir
| {{convert|22|km|mi}}
|-
| [[Manimuthar River (tributary of Thamirabarani)|Manimuthar River]]
| {{convert|9|km|mi|0}}
| Manjolai hills
| Aladiyoor
| {{convert|36|km|mi}}
|Manimuthar Dam
|-
| [[Gadananathi River]]
|
| [[Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve]]
| Tiruppudaimaruthur
| {{convert|43|km|mi}}
|[[Gadananathi River]] Dam
|-
| [[Pachaiyar River]]
| {{convert|32|km|mi}}
| [[Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve|Kalakkadu reserve forests]]
| Tharuvai
| {{convert|61|km|mi}}
|-
| [[Chittar River]]
| {{convert|80|km|mi}}
| Kutralam Hills
| Sivalaperi
| {{convert|73|km|mi}}
|
|-
| [[Ramanathi River]]
|
| [[Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve]]
| [[Kizha ambur]]
| {{convert|22|km|mi}}
|[[Ramanathi River]] Dam
|-
|}

===Drain===
[[File:Tamil Nadu topo deutsch mit Gebirgen.png|thumb|Map showing the river]]
The river drains into [[Gulf of Mannar]] near Punnaikayal in Tiruchendur taluk of [[Thoothukudi district|Tuticorin]] district. The river drains with its tributaries an area of about {{convert|4400|km2|mi2}}. As most of its extensive [[Catchment area (hydrology)|catchment areas]] lie in the Western Ghats, the river enjoys the full benefit of both the monsoons, which make the river perennial. Since all its tributaries are arising from the Western ghats, the river is prone to heavy floods especially during the [[northeast monsoon]]. In 1992, there was an unexpected flood in Thamirabarani, which claimed hundreds of lives as the dam water was let out so massively and suddenly that the river and its channels could not bear the excess water inflow. It flooded again in 2015<ref>http://www.dailythanthi.com/News/State/2015/12/08125537/Flood-in-Thamirabarani-River-people-evacuated-from.vpf</ref> with water entering the Kurukuthurai Murugan Temple.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://kollyzone.org/2015/11/flood-in-thamirabarani-river-devotees-banned-to-visit-kurukkuthurai-murugan-temple/ |title=Archived copy |access-date=10 December 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151211065531/http://kollyzone.org/2015/11/flood-in-thamirabarani-river-devotees-banned-to-visit-kurukkuthurai-murugan-temple/ |archive-date=11 December 2015 }}</ref>

==Irrigation==
The many [[anicut]]s, [[dam]]s and [[reservoirs]] on the Thamirabarani river, along with those on the [[Manimuthar River (tributary of Thamirabarani)|Manimuthar River]], provide a large proportion of the water for irrigation and power generation for Tirunelveli district. It is fed by both the monsoons – the south west and the north-eastern and is seen in full spate twice a year if the monsoons do not fail. The [[Gadananathi River]] has 6 anicuts and a reservoir of {{convert|9970000|m3|acre-ft}}, and irrigates {{convert|38.87|km2|mi2}} of wetlands. The Ramanadhi has 7 anicuts, a reservoir of {{convert|4300000|m3|acre-ft}}, and irrigates {{convert|20.23|km2|mi2}} of wetlands. Pachaiyar River has 12 anicuts and irrigates {{convert|61.51|km2|mi2}} of wet and dry lands.

The important irrigation channels branching off from both the banks of the river Thamirabarani are, South Kodaimelalagian channel, North Kodaimelalagian channel (Kodaimelalagian anicut), Nathiyunni channel (Nathiyunni anicut), Kannadian channel (Kannadian anicut), Kodagan channel (Ariyanayagipuram anicut), Palayam (Palavur anicut) channel, Tirunelveli channel ([[Suthamalli, Tirunelveli|Suthamalli]] anicut), Marudur Melakkal, Marudur Keelakkal (Marudur anicut), South Main Channel and North Main Channel (Srivaikundam anicut). Of these the first seven anicuts were constructed during the period of ancient and medieval rulers and the last anicut namely the Srivaikundam anaicut was constructed and completed by the British in 1869.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nellai.tn.nic.in/irrigation.html|title=Tirunelveli District Irrigation|work=Tirunelveli District Administration|publisher=Govt. of Tamil Nadu|access-date=8 March 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060908173034/http://www.nellai.tn.nic.in/irrigation.html|archive-date=8 September 2006}}</ref>

'''List of dams across Thamirabarani river:'''

# Kodaimelaalagain anicut, {{convert|1281.67|ha|acre}}
# Nathiyunni anicut, {{convert|1049.37|ha|acre}}
# Kannadian anicut, {{convert|2266.69|ha|acre}}
# Ariyanayagipuram anicut, {{convert|4767.30|ha|acre}}
# Palavur anicut, {{convert|3557.26|ha|acre}}
# Suthamalli anicut, {{convert|2559.69|ha|acre}}
# Marudur anicut, {{convert|7175.64|ha|acre}}

'''List of channels:'''

# South Kodaimelalagain channel
# North Kodaimelalagain channel
# Nathiyunni channel
# Kannadian channel
# Kodagan channel
# Palayam channel
# Tirunelveli channel
# Marudur Melakkal

==Pollution and exploitation==

*Mixing of sewage, paper mill and industrial effluents, dumping etc. into the river is a worrying aspect.
*Sand mining in this river was banned in 2010 but it still continues illegally.
*Illegal encroachments of its banks is also a growing concern.
*Pepsi and other Cola companies bottling facility plants were thought to be exploiting the river water, however a court ruling in April 2018 dismissed the allegations and allowed the companies to extract excess water as per the original agreements they have signed.
*Many industries have come in the banks of the river in and around [[Srivaikuntam]] that injudicially use the river water and discharge untreated sewer.
*Untreated sewer of towns like [[Ambasamudram|Ambasamuthiram]], [[Tirunelveli]], [[Papanasam]] etc. also reduce the water quality downstream.
* Religious practices like letting your clothes along the river at [[Papanasam]] as an act to wash sins after a bath has also clogged up the river..
*After the Sorimuthu Aiyanar Temple yearly festival upstream in the forests near [[Papanasam Dam|Karayar dam]] the bacteria level in the river increases as thousands and thousands of people bathe at one go..

== Fishes ==
{{unreferenced section|date=December 2020}}
Thamirabarani River is full of fishes and it is one of the [[perennial river]]s in [[Tamil Nadu]]. Locals not involved in fishing resulting in the vast diversity of fishes in the river.

As water flows non-stop throughout the year, it is one of the most fish-rich river in the world where the river is dominated by more than 16 native [[Snakehead (fish)|Snakehead]] species. It is estimated that nearly 669 fish species found in the river.

=== Snakehead ===
Various types of snakehead fish species like [[Channa diplogramma]], [[Channa bleheri]], [[Channa striata]], [[Blotched snakehead|Channa maculata]], [[Channa punctata]], [[Channa harcourtbutleri]], [[Small snakehead|Channa asiatica]], [[Channa marulius]] found throughout the river. Snakeheads are considered as top level predators in Thamirabarani River. [[Northern snakehead|Northern Snakehead]] also found in small numbers on the starting part of river where top level predators like other snakeheads are missing. Thamirabarani River is the largest reservoir of [[Snakehead (fish)|Snakehead]] in the world with 17 types of Snakeheads present in this river. Snakehead fishes are locally called as ''Viraal'' in [[Tamil language|Tamil]] and all the species are consumed as food around the regions of Thamirabarani when they enter paddy fields.

=== Catfish ===
Following [[Snakehead (fish)|Snakehead]], Catfish are also abundant in the river. [[Clarias gariepinus|African Catfish]] are an invasive species first caught in 2009 in the [[Arugankulam|Aruvankulam]] area of [[Tirunelveli district]]. The most common catfish species found are [[Blue catfish|Blue Catfish]], [[Channel catfish|Channel Catfish]], [[Flathead catfish|Flathead Catfish]], [[Mystus gulio|Mystus guli]] Catfish, [[Pangasius pangasius|Pangas Catfish]], ''[[Parachiloglanis hodgarti|P. hodgarti]],'' Goonch catfish, ''[[Pseudolaguvia]]''.

13 species of Catfish species found throughout this river.

=== Alligator Gar ===
Alligator Gar is not native to the river but caught sometimes. this was the result of releasing aquarium fish into the wild. on 2015, over 100 Juvenile alligator gar fishes caught and handed over to local authority. Because of the presence of huge number of native [[Snakehead (fish)|Snakehead]] fishes, the Alligator Gar invasion is not spreading and under control.

=== Eels ===
Eels found in this river mainly belongs to [[Anguillidae]] and [[Synbranchiformes]] family and most common one is [[Indian mottled eel]] (Anguilla b. bengalensis). 90 species of eel found in this river. the fish ''[[Macrognathus]]'' found in this river is mistakenly thought as eel because of its eel-like structure''.''

=== Carp ===
Carp fishes found in large numbers throughout the river. Three type of carp fishes are [[silver carp]], [[grass carp]], [[common carp]]. These three species of carp form 75% of carp fish population in Thamirabarani River.

=== Loaches ===
Large number of species of sucker fishes found throughout the river. the most common one is [[Paracanthocobitis botia|Acanthocobitis botia]] ''and'' [[Horseface loach]]''.''

[[Pangio]] loach, [[Schistura]] loach also common in this river and [[Schistura]] is mistakenly treated as snake or eel because of its snake-like appearance.

=== Others ===
Other fishes belong to genus ''[[Puntius]]'', ''[[Devario]]'', ''[[Etroplus]], [[Mystus]], [[Aplocheilus]], [[Dawkinsia]], [[Garra]], [[Glossogobius]], [[Macrognathus]], [[Batasio]], [[Barilius]], [[Badidae]]'', ''[[Clupisoma]], [[Nemacheilus]], [[Oreichthys]], [[Oryzias]], [[Osteobrama]], [[Raiamas]], [[Salmophasia]], Tor ([[Mahseer|Masheer]]), [[Xenentodon]],'' are commonly found in this river''.''

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}

{{Hydrography of Tamil Nadu}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Rivers of Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Geography of Tirunelveli district]]
[[Category:Thoothukudi district]]
[[Category:Tirunelveli]]
[[Category:Rivers in Buddhism]]
[[Category:Rivers of India]]

Thamirabarani River - Revision history

117.201.16.145 at 05:48, 29 August 2021