River Vaigai @ Varushanaadu

Visited Varushanaadu recently with a group under the aegis of 'Madurai Thiruvilayadarpuranam Research Centre' interested in reviving the river Vaigai.

The originating point of Vaigai river is near Varushanaadu. ‘Varusha’ is a colloquial form of the Sanskrit word, ‘Varsham’ which means ‘down pour’. ‘Sri Rishya Sringa Maharishi Sthothram’ which was once recited by a large number of devotees during a severe drought time in Tirunelveli Nellaiappar Swamy temple for invoking the presence of the Maharishi - the sage,  prays for ‘Mahaavarsham’ meaning heavy rains. 

so Varushanaadu just denotes a rainfall region.

Vaigai unlike other rivers is not originating from any spring source as told by an informed local leader. Whenever downpour occurs, the rainwater rolls down as several streams which confluence at Varushanaadu to make out the flow of the river. So Varushanaadu is one of the prime catchment areas at the originating part of Vaigai river. 

Varusha naadu is the last significant village in the road which leads to the Megamalai Reserve forest from Kandamanur turning on the 'Madurai - Andipatti -Theni Road stretch'.

From Varushanaadu, the originating point of River Vaigai is just, some 20 -25 kms deep into the forest. The hill ranges are spectacular and cover the abutting, famed, kambam valley from the eastern side. However the forest cover appears to be not so thick enough to bring enough rainfall? It is also said that the forest cover in this area has considerably shrunk.

The awesome blue ranges of Western Ghats are beautifully running in the West and causing complete fort like cover up of the Kambam valley.

Enchanting views of Vaigai river course so beautifully stretching out from the forest background with its picturesque golden sands;

Vaigai course is so sandy in 'Kadamalai kundu -Mayiladum paarai - Varushanaadu stretch' thanks to the vigilance of the local communities against reckless mining. It was told by the locals that only some 15 days back there was a flood in this stretch which obviously should have percolated through the sand and the residual might have reached the Vaigai Dam. River sand is so vital for the stability of a river system as it keeps the subterranean dynamics of aquifer current of the river. River sand also purifies running water by serving as a natural filter.

River sand is so unique, so antique and so much a factor in an environmental balance. It is to be preserved like pebbles and myriad rock shapes that a river would make in its initial part called 'high course'.

 Bamboo thickets on the shores of Vaigai in Varusha naadu - abundant fresh water is a pre -condition for the growth of bamboo which is the highest carbon absorber;

Lovely spread of river sand at Mayilaadumpaarai near Varushanaadu! This is perhaps one of the few river course stretches in Tamilnaadu where the invaluable sand is still left as such;

So disheartening to see the (in) human littering particularly from a nearby liquor shop at Varushanaadu itself;

Even spitting into a river / water resource is pointed out as a forbidden taboo by 'Achaarakkovai', an ancient Tamil work, which codifies right conduct for the citizens. Where has gone that Tamil value system ?

Once, towering Marudham trees were said to be abundant on the banks as per Vikadan publisher's 'Varusha naattu zamin kadhai'. One of my colleagues 

hailing from this locality confirmed this. How come these Marudham trees completely vanished from the Vaigai banks? 

Now, the [commercially viable] silk cotton trees are ubiquitous along the course of the river. Commercialism at what cost? We have lost the 

majestic canopies of the Marudham trees. When a region with it's unique geo-weather features loses its naturally inhabiting flora and fauna the consequential fallout would certainly destabilize the environment. 

Wind Mills fascinatingly dotting the landscape [skies?] in Theni -Kandamanur -Andipatti course; 

It is disheartening to see Vaigai without water and deprived of its river sand and reduced to mere scattered puddles of sewage with obnoxious stench in Madurai city limits. 

Vaigai is also known as 'Siva Ganga' and 'Vegavathi' according to ParanjothiMunivar's famed 'Thiruvilayadarpuranam' one of the important Tamil Saivite literary works. Vaigai according to Thiruvilayadarpuranam came out of the blessings of God Shiva and is a part of the Ganges. 

Vegavathi means fast flowing. Thiruvilayadarpuranam says, 

".........காலிற் கடுகிவரு செய்தியாலே வேகவதி தீர்த்தம்....." 

meaning, 'Vegavathi is so called as its flow is speedier than the winds.' 

Flash floods still occur frequently in the high course of this river.

It is pertinent to note that on the eastern flank of Megamalai/ Varshanaadu lie Chathuragiri, Thanippaarai and Watrap [Wathiraairuppu],  where flash floods are common phenomena in the forest courses and streams. Interestingly 'Watrap' means 'never drying reserve'; well denoting the perennial water resource of this fertile region.

But may we ever be able to see a perennial flow in Vaigai in our present generation? 

I have heard from few local elders that they had witnessed the elegant flow of the river with her sandy river bed and lovely banks. 

Sangam literature like 'Paripaadal' and 'Madurai Kaanji' confirm the flow of the river with enchanting, dense groves adjoining the banks. There are also few ancient (now defaced) bathing ghats, like 'Royar Padithurai', 'Opula Padithurai' and 'Petchiamman Padithurai' on the Vaigai banks confirming the ancient cultural connectivity of the Madurai dwellers to the Vaigai waters. The vestiges of the check dam still at Aarappalayam which was part of the potable water supply system to the Madurai city during the British Raj, is another testimony.   

There is a network of ancient, man-made water storing system comprising some 374 and odd 'kanmaais' [irrigation purpose tanks] along the course of Vaigai river system. 

Vaigai river water conservation system of the ancient Pandya country is so elaborate, so meticulous and so ingenious as like any other ancient water systems of Tamilnaadu,  foresighted enough to withstand possible consequent droughts. The river itself does not directly fall into the sea but only drains into the 'Ramnaad Kanmaai', one of the huge ancient reservoir systems. 

Hence is that the Vaigai dam which causes storing enormous water near the originating point  rather than at the utility points the reason for collapse of the river system - particularly for the drying of Ramnaad region?

Are we witnessing the drying course of an ancient river which sustained the ancient cultural capital of Tamil country - Madurai?

Are we witness to a process of making of a Saraswathi River of the South?

Can we do anything to reverse this phenomenon?

It is a reported news that a PIL filed in the Madurai Bench of Madras High Court states that more than 7500 trees of various species have been denuded to expand estate planting area in Megamalai region. 

It has also been reported in the press that pine types of trees which are outlandish to the Western ghats range are silently spreading at the cost of a variety of indigenous species of flora and posing a serious threat to the eco-system. 

Now the genuine, question arising is, what is happening to our forests? Is there really any game plan in vogue to protect and preserve them as such at least if not improving them?

Whether reforestation in the catchment region and massive tree planting programmes of right varieties as advocated by the Guru Eesha Jaggi Vasudev and the former President Dr.Abdul Kalam will help restore the Megamalai forest with its floral diversity and pave way for restoring Vaigai?  

It is a recent reported news that near Manamadurai river stretch, river sand mining has caused 18 feet deep trenches!  Whether mindless mining of river sand in Tamilnaadu will be stopped? Whether the profiteering cement industry come forward to own this issue and supply 'manufactured sand' or come out with any other alternate technology to conserve river sand?  

The great grand guru of the Tamil lands, Thiruvalluvar, in his very second chapter just after praying the God comes to the 'rains' and mentions it as nothing less than 'Amirtham' - 'the life giving nectar' and further goes on to say that  without which even a grass head could not be found on the lands and if the rains diminish, according to him, there would be collapse of system leading to chaos and anarchy, which exactly is what rechristened as 'fresh water crisis' and 'water wars' by the futurologists! 

Are we listening to the great sage of our country in our busy schedules?

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