Written by London Swaminathan

Post No. 15,064

Date uploaded in London –  7 October 2025

Contact – swami_48@yahoo.com

Pictures are taken from various sources for spreading knowledge.

this is a non- commercial blog. Thanks for your great pictures.

tamilandvedas.com, swamiindology.blogspot.com

xxxx  

116.

Guide to Decipher Harappan Script! Strange names in Tamil Sangam Literature! (Post No.15,064)

Names of Sangam Tamil poets reveal many secrets to us. For some strange reason they used EYE in 64 names out of 470++ names.

We may use it in deciphering Indus Script. Many scholars said Fish symbol in Harappan script represent Star. But I would like to apply it for EYE. In the same way if we identify the prefixes mentioned below, we may decipher Indus Script one day.

We have got Tamil names of at least 470 poets from Sangam Literature My research shows some similarities with Sanskrit and some peculiarities as well.

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117.

EYE names

The strangest thing about Tamil names in Sangam period is an obsession with EYE!

Over 60 poets have EYE in their names. It is KAN in Tamil.

In Sanskrit we have several words for EYE used in naming children :

Visaalaakshi

Kaamaakshi

Meenaakshi

Neelaayathaakshi

Nayanatara

Trayambaka

Sulochana

Pundareekaakshan

Meena lochani

Nayana, Nethra, Lochana, Akshi etc are words for eye in Sanskrit.

In Tamil KAN only used for Eye in 64 names

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118.

PREFIX like Sanskrit

In Sanskrit names, we have more prefix in names; SU means Good; in Tamil Nal, Nar, Nap (=Su) are used in 32 names.

In the same way Senior (Jyeshta=Muuththa or Muthu) and Junior (Kanishta= Ilam) are fixed as prefix. This is also in Sanskrit

Jeshta = senior, Elder; Kanishta – Junior.

In Western countries they use it at the end; George Bush Sr

George Bush Jr.

In Tamil,and Sanskrit iit s always prefix!

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119.

Colours also used in both languages as Prefix.

Rudra Aksha – Red Eyed in Skt.

Seng Kannan – Red Eyed in Tam.

In short Tamil and Sanskrit follow the same pattern. But Tamil has more EYEs in their names in Sangam period.

Now Kannan means Lord Krishna; but in Sangam period it meant Eye man; Kanni means Eye woman.

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120.

சங்கப்புலவர் பெயர்கள் Names of Sangam Tamil Poets

மதுரை – Madurai city used as prefix for 44 poets; City name.

உறையூர் – Uraiyur used for 9 poets ;City name.

கரு – Karur in 12 names ; it was called Vanji ;City name. .

நல்- Nal, Nap, Nak, Nar all Su in Sanskrit- Good in Tamil; Su in Skt.

In Sanskrit we have Su/mathi, Su/lochana, Su/gandhi, Su/keerti, Su/kanya etc

If one reads Vande Mataram of Bankim Chandra Chatterji or Lalita Sahsranama , one can find more SU/good in them

Tamils also followed Sanskrit speakers by using it in 32 names!

நற்  -Nar-good

நப்  -Nap- Good

கண் – Kan EYE used in 64 names

செங் – Seng Red; only for names have Red colour

தலை – Thalai- Head in at least Nine names

இள – Junior, Young in 34names

கீர – Keera 27 names

பூத –Bhuuta or Pootha 25 names ; it is in Tamil and Sanskrit.

காரி = Kaari- black 2cplaces

முட – Muda – lame- few places.

தத்த- Dutt or Datta – 10 times

in short Tamil and Sanskrit speakers used Young and Old, Colours, Town names , Good  etc as Prefix. This may help us to decipher Harappan script!

More  research is needed. Tamil list must be compared with 450  names of Rig Vedic seers and over 100 names in Prakrit work Gatha Sapta Sati1

Gundukal Paliyathan has written poems in both Prakrit and Tamil.

–Subham—

Sangam Tamil Poets, names, prefix, Sanskrit, Harappan Script, colours Ancient Tamil Encyclopaedia- Part 18,  One Thousand Interesting Facts! – Part 18