The Geographical Dictionary of Ancient and Mediaeval India c5.s12.22

c5.s12.22

Tāmraparṇī—1 Ceylon of the Buddhists. It is mentioned in the Girnar inscription of Asoka (JASB, VII, p 159). 2 The river Tāmraparṇī, locally called Tāmbaravarī or the united stream of the Tāmbaravarī and the Chittar in Tinnevelly which rise in the Agastya kūṭa Mountain (Bhāgavata P, X, ch 79, Raghuvamśa, IV, v 50, Sewell’s Arch Surv of S India, I, p 303, Thornton’s Gazetteer s v Tinnevelly). It is celebrated for its pearl fishery. Rishi Agastya is said to have resided on this mountain (see Malaya-giri). The port of Kolkai which was at the mouth of this river, now 5 miles inland, is mentioned by Ptolemy (see Pāṇḍya and Kārā), it gave its name to the Kolkhie Gulf or Gulf of Manar.