Page "Madurai" Paragraph 3

The city is referred by various names like " Madurai ", " Koodal ", " Naanmadakoodal " and " Thirualavai ".

The word Madurai is derived from Madhura ( sweetness ) arising out of the divine nectar showered on the city by the Hindu god Shiva from his matted hair.

Another theory is that Madurai is the derivative of the word Marutham, which refers to the type of landscape of the Sangam age.

According to legend, the original city of Madurai, called Then Madurai ( Madurai of South ), was destroyed by a tsunami in ancient Kumari Kandam, after which the city moved inland to its present location.

According to Hindu scriptures, the birthplace of the Hindu god Krishna, Mathura, was referred as Vadamadura and the city of Madurai was referred as Thenmadura ( southern Madura ).

There is a town in the neighbouring Dindigul district called Vada Madurai ( North Madurai ) and another in Sivagangai district called Manamadurai.

The different names by which the city has been referred to historically are listed in the 7th century poem Thiruvilayaadal puraanam written by Paranjothi Munivar.