An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v2.c47.157

v2.c47.157

**Uraiyur** (10°45′; 78°40′), Dt Tiruchchirappalli, a suburb of Tiruchchirappalli town, one of the famous cities of ancient Tamil Nadu situated on the s. bank of the Kaveri. It was the capital of the early Coḷas of the Sangam period, known by many names such as Uraiyur, Urandai, Koḻi or Koliyūr, Uragapura, etc. The *Periplus* of the 1st century A.D. refers to the place as Argaru and calls it the capital of an inland district. Ptolemy’s Orthura regia Sornati has been identified with the Uraiyur region of the Coḷas. Sangam works like the *Ahanānūṟu* and the *Puṟanānūṟu* contain copious references to this city and its political, commercial and religious importance, wherefrom we learn that it was a fortified city having a prosperous urban life. From ancient times Uraiyur has been a centre of spinning and weaving of cotton and also perhaps of silk. The *Periplus* mentions it as a great centre of trade in fine cotton stuff. One of the poems in the *Ahanānūṟu* vividly describes the famous Urandai festival whereas another poem mentions it as a place of the functioning of a famous assembly (*sabhā*) known for its justice. In the 7th and 8th centuries the city was the bone of contention between the Pallavas and the Pāṇḍyas. From about the beginning of the 10th century it was part of the later Coḷa empire. In the 13th century the city fell into the hands of the Pāṇḍyas. Māravarman Sundara Pāṇḍya I (1216-39) invaded the Coḷa territory and caused extensive destruction to the city. After the decline of the Coḷas Uraiyur practically lost its political importance and later on got merged with the larger town of Tiruchchirappalli.