Tamilakam or Ancient Tamil country refers to the classical era territory of old South Indian royalties spanning across the modern Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Tamileelam and southern parts of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. Tamilakam, in the context of academics, is used to denote to these areas as a single cultural territories, where Tamil was the natural language and culture of all people. Also it is used, in a less correct sense, to refer to the modern condition of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The word Tamilakam, which is a word from Tamil Language, is actually a portmanteau of two given words namely; Tamil and akam. Roughly it can also be translated as the Homeland of Tamil. Legend has it that term Tamilakam is most ancient term used to designate the Tamil territory. The limit of Tamilakam, as per Tolkappiyam, was between Cape Comorin in the south and hills of Venkatam in the north.
Other Names of Tamilakam
In Tolkappiyam, there are several references to "Centami Nilam" (land of refined Tamil).
Nadus of Tamilakam
Tamizhagam was divided into various provinces named nadu, meaning `country`. These provinces changed throughout history, so the following list is not exhaustive.
The land of the Three Crowned Kings
Chera Nadu, modern Kerala
Chola Nadu
Pandya Nadu
Others
Naga or Illa Nadu
Kongu Nadu
Tulu Nadu
Puzhinadu
Venadu or Vezha Nadu
Tondai Nadu
Idai Nadu
Nanjil Nadu
Kuttanadu
Kudanadu
Karkanadu
Palnadu or Pallava Nadu
Vengi Nadu, modern Andhra Pradesh
Ay Nadu
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