During the reign of the Pandyas, Kulasekharapatnam was also known as the
Rowthers Palayam, a section of Muslims that had
military cavalry, followed traditional customs, and were horse traders. Kulasekharapatnam was an important trade center before the arrival of Islam. The current Muslim population of Kulasekharapatnam is known as the
Marakkar or
Marakkayars, who engaged in maritime trade. They had come from
Kerala, and it is said that '''
Kunjali Marakkar's''' family members came from Kerala. Typical of most port towns, Kulasekharapatnam has a lighthouse, located near
Manapad. The city has been inhabited by
Hindus since the
8th century CE.
Origin of Marakkars Marakkar are distinctive
Tamil and
Malayalam-speaking
Muslim people of the states of
Tamil Nadu and
Kerala in India. The name Marakkar is different from Marakkayar (Marikkar & Maricar are other spellings used in history books). According to numerous historians, Moppila or Moplah is Maha Pillai (great son) and Marakkar means (Marakkalam is a wooden boat) 'boatmen'. Thurston, in his work 'Tribes of South India', states the following - The word Marakkar is usually derived from the Tamil
marakalam, meaning 'boat'. It was also a titular name for maritime traders. Marakkar was a prized title given by the Zamorin of Calicut. Derived from Marakka Rayar, it signifies the captain of a ship ('Rayar' meaning 'king' or, here, 'captain' and 'Marakkalam' meaning 'ship'). They are also called
marakala rayars, from
marakalam ('wooden boat') and
rayar ('king') in the Tamil language. The captains of the vessels are called
malimars, coming from the Tamil words
malumi ('captain') and
yar, and crew members are called
sherangs. Traditionally, the Marakkars engaged in mercantile
commerce. They are primarily located along the coasts of the southernmost states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu in India. The Marakala, also known as the Mogela or Mogaveera, community is an influential fishing community in coastal Karnataka. They are traditionally fishermen, and their caste profession is fishing in rivers and the sea. The Barkoor Bennekudru Kulamahasthry temple, Uchila Mahalaxmi temple, and Bagvadi Mahishamardini temples are major Mogaveera
kuladevata (relating to ancestral tutelary deities) temples in coastal Karnataka. == Old Harbour mentioned by Marco Polo ==