History
Main article: Kongu Nadu
Map released by the Corporation of Erode showing clearly the municipalities that come under the corporation,Cauvery (blue at right) or the Perumpallam stream(blue at bottom) thereby nullifying the hypothesis of Dravidian racist historians.
Erode was under the regime of local Gangakulam kings forming indegenous Chera kings and Western Ganga Dynasty. After a short rule of Cholas with Dharapuram as their Headquarters, Muslims (Modeen Sulthans) took over the rule after which Nayaks of Madurai ruled. Then Hyder Ali and Tippu Sultan with occasionally rebelling polygar Dheeran Chinnamalai Gounder had their sway. In 1799, when Tippu fell to the British, British East India Company took over the administration after hanging Chinnamalai by deceit.
During Hyder Ali's regime, Erode flourished with 300 houses and A population of 1500. A mud fort, with a garrison of 4000 soldiers surrounded by coconut groves and fertile lands formed the boundary with river Kaveri on the north and Kalingarayan channel as the eastward boundary (By Bucchanan 7th and 8 November 1800).
Erode has upgraded into City corporation by Tamilnadu Government with effect from 01.01.2008.
Owing to the successive wars of Marathas, Mysore and British invasions, Erode become almost deserted and ruined. However, as peace was restored by the British, people returned and settled here. Within a year it began to grow with 400 houses, and a population of 2000. The garrison withdrew in 1807, and the ruined fort was leveled as a relief work during the famine in 1877. The place enclosed within the rampart was occupied by the houses. About a mile and half east of the city, there is an old bridge which spans the river Kaveri. The wall at "Pechiparai" situated at the present V.O.C.Park was once celebrated for its "wholesome and milky water". There are two old temples - one dedicated to Lord Siva and the other to Lord Vishnu.
Erode District was a part of Coimbatore and has its history intervened with Coimbatore district. It is difficult to separately deal with the history of Erode region. Together with Coimbatore district, Erode formed part of the ancient Kongu country known as "Kongu Nadu", whose history dates back to the Sangam era. It is found that in the early days, this area was occupied by tribes, most prominent among them being the "Kosars" reportedly having their headquarters at 'Kosamputhur' which is believed to have in due course become Coimbatore. These tribes were overpowered by the Rashtrakutas from whom the region fell into the hands of the Cholas who ruled supreme during the time of Raja Raja Chola. On the decline of Cholas, the Kongunadu came to be occupied by the Chalukyas and later by the Pandyas and Hoysalas.
Due to internal dissension in the Pandian Kingdom, the Muslim rulers from Delhi interfered and thus the area fell into the hands of Madurai Sultanate. This region was later wrested by Vijaya Nagar rulers after over throwing the Madurai Sultanate. For a few years, the area remained under Vijaya Nagar rule and later under the independent control of Madurai Nayakas. The rule of Muttu Virappa Nayak and later that of Thirumalai Nayak were marked by internal strife and intermittent wars which ruined the Kingdom. As a result of this, the Kongu region in which the present Erode District is situated, fell into the hands of the Mysore rulers from whom Hyder Ali took over the area. Later, consequent of the fall of Tippu Sultan of Mysore in 1799, the Kongu region came to be ceded to the East India Company by the Maharaja of Mysore who was restored to power by the company after defeating Tippu Sulltan. From then, till 1947 when India attained independence, the area remained under British control who initiated systematic revenue administration in the area.
Puranam says that Erode derives its name from Tamil Eera Odu meaning wet skull. According to the legends, Dakshaprajapathi, father-in-law of Shiva, conducted a yaga for which Shiva was not invited. However, his wife, Dakshayini came against the wishes of her husband. However, Dakshayini was heart-broken as she was not welcomed by her parents. She threw herself to the fire in the Yaga kundam and burnt to ashes. On hearing this, Shiva got enraged and severed the fifth head of Brahma. Due to the Brahmahatyadosham, the skull remained stuck to Siva's palm. He roamed throughout India and only when he arrived at Erode, the skull crashed and formed the Kapala Tirtham. The holy water of Kapala Tirtham can be found today at Arudra Kapaleeswarar Koil temple (to the left of the presiding deity in the form of a well) in Erode. This is also attested by the Bhairava Puranam. This is ratified by the presence of the place names where the other bits of skull shattered around, Vellodu (lit. white skull), Perodu (lit. big skull) and Chittodu (lit. small skull) which are located around Erode. Vaishnavite theory states it is related to the shell of the Kurma Vishnu which fell at the spot.
Periyar
Mordern historians including Periyar contend that Erode has its origin in Tamil Eru Odai meaning two rivers. This claim is based on the existence of two water courses, Perumpallam in Surampatti and Kalingarayan in Brahmana Periya Agraharam and Kasipalayam, themselves different neighboring villages (municipalities now) distinct outside the border of the old Erode village's boundaries.
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