written Bharathar, which may be a corrupted form of the Tamil word padavar meaning "boat men". Another etymological theory propose the community had adopted the name of the Bharatas clan from the Hindu epic Mahabharata, who were the ancestor of the heroes in the epic, following their origin myth from Ayodhya. History Pandyan dynasty The Parathavars of ancient Korkai in the Neithal (coastal) lands, near the present-day city of Tuticorin, may have been the first Pandya kings. Some researchers also believe that the Paravars were blood-related to the Maravars, in ancient times. The Pandya kings, eventually, moved their capital to Madurai. Pandyas were rulers with fish on their flag. There is also a theory that the etymology of the name Meenakshi, for whom the great Meenakshi Temple, Madurai was built, is derived from the Tamil words meen (fish) and aatchi (rule). Thus, some researchers point to the fact that the Pandyans may have been from the Neithal lands of ancient Tamil country, which were then mostly occupied by the Bharathars. Also, in the ancient Tamil epic Silappatikaram, the Pandyan king is referred to as Korkai Pandyan by Kannagi, which gives credence to the theory that the Pandyas were originally from Korkai, where the Bharathars lived. Also silapathikaram mentions about Bharathavar as follows, பெருங்கடல் பரதவர், பழந்திமில் கொன்ற பரதவர், வலம்புரி மூழ்கிய வான்திமில் பரதவர், ’உரைசால் சிறப்பின் அரசுவிழை திருவின் பரதவர் மலிந்தபயங்கொழு மாநகர்” (மனையறம் படுத்த காதை) ’’அரச குமாரரும் பரவ குமாரரும்”(இந்திர விழா ஊர் எடுத்த காதை) It Praises Bharathavars as One who sails high seas, Killed huge Sea fishes (whales), one who did Pearl and valamburi shell diving, One who runs world’s famous kingdom and city. Silapathikaram calls Bharathavars as Kings : “அரசர் முறையோ பரதர் முறையோ” Pearls were major exports from the Pandya Kingdom by the first century AD, and was a major source of revenue for the kingdom. (The pearl diving season usually lasted 20 – 30 days, around March). The Paravas were skilled in diving and in the harvesting of pearls, which were done scientifically. Thus, the control of the Paravas and the Pearls trade led to many skirmishes in the region, right from the ancient Pandyas to the friction between the Muslims, the Portuguese and the Dutch, in later centuries. The Pandyan kings allowed the Paravars to manage and operate the pearl fisheries because of their already ancient skills in that activity, which required specialist seamanship abilities, knowledge of how to tend the oysterbeds