The land of the Ancient Tamilagam was divided into five geographical divisions, namely Kurinchi, Mullai, Marudam, Neydal and Palai, based on occupations that had close relations with the geographical divisions of the land.
The Kurinchi was the hilly and mountainous region where hunting was the main occupation. Murugan was the distinctive deity of the Kurinchi region. The Mullai was the forest tract.
Tirumal was the distinctive deity of this region. The domestication of animals was their occupation. Marudam was the region suitable for cultivation. Indran was the deity of Marudam region. Agriculture was their occupation.Neydal was the coastal region. Fishing was their occupation. The God of the Neydal region was Varunan. Palai was the dry land. Whenever any one of the other four regions lost its natural facilities owing to any freak of nature, it declined into Palai, the sandy region. Kotravai or Kali was their deity.
