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Marco Polo's writings about South India.
Marco polo who visits Southern India during his travels visits the court of Pandyan kings, Rudramadevi and other South Indian kingdoms.
He travels through Southern India and describes about the culture and people.
Marco polo who visits Southern India during his travels visits the court of Pandyan kings, Rudramadevi and other South Indian kingdoms.
He travels through Southern India and describes about the culture and people.
His sayings about the regions of TN are:
On returning home from China in 1292 CE , He reached Kayal Harbor of Kayalpattinam which is a Municipality in today’s Thoothukudi.
Sundara Pandian and Kulasekara Pandian are the Kings who were ruling south india at that time of his visit
On returning home from China in 1292 CE , He reached Kayal Harbor of Kayalpattinam which is a Municipality in today’s Thoothukudi.
Sundara Pandian and Kulasekara Pandian are the Kings who were ruling south india at that time of his visit
He says that the rulers of TN sit down on ground and on asking the reason- “Sitting on ground is pride.We were born on this land and our body also returns to nature after death”.
The Climate is so hot , that all men and women wear nothing but a loin cloth including the king,
The Climate is so hot , that all men and women wear nothing but a loin cloth including the king,
except he is studded with Rubies , Sapphires , Emeralds and other gems as mentioned by him.
Merchants and traders abound, the king takes pride in not holding himself above the law of the land, and people travel the highways safely with their valuables in the cool of the night.
Merchants and traders abound, the king takes pride in not holding himself above the law of the land, and people travel the highways safely with their valuables in the cool of the night.
Marco Polo calls this ‘the richest and most splendid province in the world’.
The sole local grain produced here is rice. People use only their right hand for eating, saving the left for sundry ‘unclean’ tasks. Most do not consume any alcohol, and drink fluids ‘out of flasks,
The sole local grain produced here is rice. People use only their right hand for eating, saving the left for sundry ‘unclean’ tasks. Most do not consume any alcohol, and drink fluids ‘out of flasks,
each from his own; for no one would drink out of another’s flask.’ Nor do they set the flask to their lips, preferring to ‘hold it above and pour the fluid into their mouths.’
The People are Idolaters and they worship Ox , do not eat beef.
They Daub their houses with Cow Dung.
The People are Idolaters and they worship Ox , do not eat beef.
They Daub their houses with Cow Dung.
People do not consider any form of Sexual indulgence as sin.
Their temple monasteries have both male and female deities, prone of being cross with each other, they offer tasty food to their Deity and sing and dance in front of them which is considered a merry sport of them.
Their temple monasteries have both male and female deities, prone of being cross with each other, they offer tasty food to their Deity and sing and dance in front of them which is considered a merry sport of them.
After the spirits of the idol had eaten the substance of the food , they all eat together the food which they offered to their deity.
A group of their holy men, the Yogis, eat frugally and live longer than most, some as much as 200 years.
A group of their holy men, the Yogis, eat frugally and live longer than most, some as much as 200 years.
As soon as every child is born they note down nativity, hour, Month, and the Moon’s age, the custom they observe for every single thing they do with reference to Astrology.
He says rain falls only for three months in June, July and in August.
He says rain falls only for three months in June, July and in August.
Marco Polo had recorded and have said that both People of China and India use burning black stones to heat objects.
People eat a fruit from a tree that is big enough to occupy both the hands.
People eat a fruit from a tree that is big enough to occupy both the hands.
Those were some of the observations of Marco Polo on Pandyan Kingdom of South India.
Source : The Travels of Marco Polo, Shunya and Quora
Source : The Travels of Marco Polo, Shunya and Quora
