Tamil bards received Chariots and elephants from the kings.

Written by London Swaminathan

Post No. 15,360

Date uploaded in Sydney, Australia –  25 January 2026

Contact – swami_48@yahoo.com

Pictures are taken from various sources for spreading knowledge.

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tamilandvedas.com, swamiindology.blogspot.com

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(Last Post- Part 45-Purananuru Wonders 5- Ancient Tamil Encyclopaedia Part 45 (Post No.15,314) Date uploaded in London –  27 December 2025. We have seen up to verse 9 in Purananuru)

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Purananuru Wonders 6- Ancient Tamil Encyclopaedia Part 46 (Post No.15,360)

Item 301

புறநானூறு பாடல்:10

பாடியோர் : ஊன் பொதி பசுங் குடையார்.

பாடப்பட்டோன்- சோழன் நெய்தலங் கானல் இளஞ்சேட் சென்னி.

In verse 10 of Purananuru sung by Unpothi pasunkudaiyar, Choza king Ilam setchenni was praised.

Dandam, Amilthu/ amrit , Sila are Sanskrit words used by him. He composed other verses in this anthology- 203, 370, 378.

அமிழ்து, தண்டம், சிலை (rock, Stone)

In verse 378, he gives us a Ramayana anecdote.

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302

The Tamil words used by the poet in this verse such as

Vazipadu

Theemai

Amilzthu / amrit are used by

Tolkappiar as well.

வழிபடு, தீமை, அமிழ்து

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303

Bhagavad Gita lines 

Parithraanaaya saadhoonaam vinaasaaya duskrthaam is echoed by the poet

If you find fault with someone, punish him; if he regrets for his mistake, reduce the punishment– is the advice given by the poet to the king.

நீமெய் கண்ட தீமை காணின்,

ஒப்ப நாடி அத்தக ஒறுத்தி;

வந்து, அடி பொருந்தி, முந்தை நிற்பின்,

தண்டமும் தணிதி,

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304

Sen vilangu is a cliché used by Nakkirar.

சேண்விளங்கு

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305

புறநானூறு- பாடல்:11

Three interesting things are in this poem.

Pavai Figure made up of sand worshipped by girls on the river bank.

Jewellery made up of gold and silver

Name of the poetess having GHOST.

பாடல்:11

பாடியவர் : பேய்மகள் இளவெயினியார்.

பாடப்பட்டோன்- சேரமான் பாலை பாடிய பெருங்கடுங்கோ.

306

Name of the poetess is Ghost woman பேய்மகள். In the Bhakti / devotional poems we come across Peyaar Karaikkal Ammaiyar and Vaishnavite Alvar  Peyalvaar meaning ghost; we do not see such names for at least 1500 years. We don’t know why she got that epithet. This is a negative remark. Another poetess also has the name Ilaveyini. She has the prefix Kuramakal. This poetess is given the prefix  Peymakal/ Ghostwoman.

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307

Paavai worship

We have two Bhakti poems Tiruppavai and Tiruvempavai. Tamil teenage girls go to rivers in the early morning and worship Kathyayani Devi to get good husbands. Paripatal poems also describe the PAVAI worship. Pavai means Doll or Figure. The girls make such figures in sand and worship them with flowers. Later they will be washed away by the river water. Tamil epic Silappdikaram also has a Pavai story. If it is made up of wood it is called Marappavai, colloquially Marappachchi.

வரி மணற் புனை பாவைக்குக்

குலவுச் சினைப் பூக் கொய்து

தண் பொருநைப் புனல் பாயும்

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Jewellery

308

We find two references to jewellery. A woman singer (bard) was given golden jewellery to the weight of Kalanchu. Her husband was given golden lotus on a silver string.

வால் இழை, மட மங்கையர்,

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ஒள்அழல் புரிந்த தாமரை

வெள்ளி நாரால் பூப்பெற் றிசினே.

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309

More Jewelley

 Lotus neckace 

From this verse Puram 12 and the previous verse we get very precise information about the jewellery the bards received.  Poet Nettimaiyar is one of the oldest poets. Poet used a satire to praise the Pandya king Pal Yaka Salai Mudu Kudumi Peruvazuthi. The king harmed his enemies but gave joy to the bards by giving them jewellery. The king gave the bards Golden lotus and chariots and elephants with golden cloth on the forehead of the elephant

பாடல்:12

பாடியவர் : நெட்டிமையார்.

பாடப்பட்டோன்

பாண்டியன் பல்யாகசாலை முதுகுடுமிப் பெருவழுதி.

புறநானூறு 12, பாடியவர்– நெட்டிமையார், பாடப்பட்டோன் – பாண்டியன் பல்யாகசாலை முதுகுடுமிப் பெருவழுதி, 

To be continued…………………

Tags – Bards, Jewellery, Pavai worship, Ghost woman, Sanskrit words, Lotus neckace