Written by London Swaminathan

Post No. 15,625

Date uploaded in London –16 April 2026

Contact – swami_48@yahoo.com

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Purananuru Wonders -21 Ancient Tamil Encyclopaedia -Part 61; One Thousand Interesting Facts -Part 61

Item 458 Puranas in Sangam Tamil Literature

Tamils living during Sangam age (100 BCE to 300 CE) were ardent Hindus. We did not have the name of Gautama Buddha or Mahavira in the 30,000 lines in 2500+ Sangam poems sung by 450++ poets. Only Hindu Gods are praised in those poems.

Purananuru verse 56 composed by famous and controversial poet Nakkirar (nakkeerar) shows Hinduism in full colour. Here we see Lord Siva, Lord Skanda/Kartikeya/Muruga, Lord Vishnu and Balarama along with their flags or Vahanas.

Since all the Puranic details and stories are in Sangam poems, Puranas must be dated in the BCE period. We know Hindus were keen in updating everything, which they did up to Gupta period and so foreigners dated them wrongly. When it came to writing, the updating slowed down. We will deal with the details in verse 56 one by one.

***

Item 459 Lord Siva on Bull

“Sivan has a victory flag with a bull, flame-like bright matted braids,
axe that is hard to avoid and a sapphire blue neck”.

Lord Siva is shown as we see in Siva Purana and later Tevaram and Tiruvasagam hymns.

Name Siva is not in the Rig Veda as well as 34,000 lines of Tolkappiam and Sangam literature. But He is described in other ways. Here Nakkirar says Siva rides on Bull with red coloured matted hair. The matted hair is in Yajur Veda (see Rudram Chamakam Mantras).

This shows Tamils were well versed in the Vedas and Puranas. This is confirmed by various other Sangam poets (Even Indra’s molestation of Ahalya is in Paripaatal poems).

***

Item 460 Balarama

“Balarāman has
a white body as white as whorled conch growing in the ocean, kills
with his murderous plough and carries a palmyra palm on his flag”. 

Lord Krishna and his brother Balarama were household names in Tamil Nadu. It has been there for at least 2500 years. Even today children are named after them. Film songs praise Krishna or use Him as a simile.

Here the poet described his flag with Palmyra tree emblem, his skin colour, his picture with a plough on his shoulder. During Mahabharata war, he differed with Krishna and went on a pilgrimage to the South and he spread agriculture through out India. The plough symbol mentioned by the poet confirms it.

***

Item 461

“Thirumāl who is the colour of lovely, blue, washed sapphire, longs for
triumph, and has a bird is on his flag which towers high into the sky”.

In the same way Lord Vishnu (Tirumaal) is portrayed with his Eagle Flag (Garuda) ; Pul means bird, but in Tamil this word is sued to mention Garuda Vahana of Vishnu). His skin colour was Bluish Black. Krishna means Black.

Black colour was very much  appreciated and even most beautiful Draupadi was called Krishnaa (aa—long sound)

Tamil were thorough with all the Vishnu, Siva, Devi Puranas.

***

Item 462
“Murukan who has never been defeated, glows, has a peacock on his
flag and rides a peacock.”

Lord Skanda was always victorious and he was riding on a peacock. He is the most popular god among village folk in Tamil Nadu. In the Puranas he is shown as Deva Senaapati- Commander in Chief of the Divine Army.

In other poems we see Tiruchendur , one of His Six Abodes, where he became victorious after killing the demon Sura Padman (suura Padman).

The same poet has written another work called Tiru Murukaatruppadai in praise of Lord Skanda/Muruga.

***

Item 463 Kings are Gods

In Tamil the same word is used for King and God (iraivan in Tamil) and for the place where they reside (Ko il in Tamil).

Here the poet explains in what way the king is like Hindu Gods (described above). Manu smriti and other Sanskrit scriptures also describe the king in this way. This is a Hindu concept; kings are gods.

***

Item 464 Yavana Ships

“wearing bright bangles serve you fragrant and cool wine brought in fine ships
by the Yavanas, pouring from finely made pitchers made of gold.  O Māran
whose sword is raised high!” 

In the Sangam Tamil literature Yavanas are mentioned at least six time. They wee not Greeks but Romans. The contact between Rome and South Indian ports 2000 years ago is confirmed by the Roman coins unearthed in a lot of places in South India. Coins from Augustus Ceasar period confirmed the Age of Sangam Literature as well.

Tamil kings liked Roman wine.

Dr R Nagaswamy, world famous historian and archaeologist of Tamil Nadu, ha given full details in his book Roman Karur.

Yavana/Roman ships came to Tamil Nadu ports with gold and exchanged it with pearls, black pepper, spices, ivory, Indigo etc

***

Item 465 Long Live like Sun and Moon

“May you live in this earth for long, like the sun
with hot rays that drives away darkness in the sky, and like the cool moon
that spreads its rays from the west!”

Hindus were great astronomers even 2000 years ago. They named famous constellations after Hindu Puranic figures. They used strs and heavenly bodies as similes. They knew Sun and Moon are eternal (in human years) and compared them with the kings or one’s life span. They used to sing this Ramayan story will be sung on earth as long as Sun and Moon exist. The inscriptions also used the cliché As long as the Sun and Moon exist. Manu Smriti and epics also use the Sun and Moon with regard to kings.

****

Puranānūru 56, Poet Mathurai Kanakkāyanār Makanār Nakkeeranār sang to Pandiyan Ilavanthikaipalli Thunjiya Nanmāran

1

Sivan has a victory flag with a bull, flame-like bright matted braids,
axe that is hard to avoid and a sapphire blue neck. 

2 

Balarāman has
a white body as white as whorled conch growing in the ocean, kills
with his murderous plough and carries a palmyra palm on his flag. 

3
Thirumāl who is the colour of lovely, blue, washed sapphire, longs for
triumph, and has a bird is on his flag which towers high into the sky.

 4

Murukan who has never been defeated, glows, has a peacock on his
flag and rides a peacock.

 5

You are to be placed among these four gods who protect the earth and
bring on destruction, whose fame cannot be ruined.  With your anger
that cannot be opposed, you are like Kootruvan in his killing.  You are
like Balarāman in might.  In your great fame, you are like Thirumāl
who kills enemies.  You are like Murukan who has the might to create
the end of time, because you finish tasks that you set out to do.  There is
nothing that you cannot perform, since you resemble these gods.

6

May you live sweetly, giving away precious ornaments to those who come
in need and never run out of them, while you enjoy life every day as women

7
wearing bright bangles serve you fragrant and cool wine brought in fine ships
by the Yavanas, pouring from finely made pitchers made of gold.  O Māran
whose sword is raised high! 

8

May you live in this earth for long, like the sun
with hot rays that drives away darkness in the sky, and like the cool moon
that spreads its rays from the west!

***

புறநானூறு 56, பாடியவர்: மதுரைக் கணக்காயனார் மகனார் நக்கீரனார், பாடப்பட்டோன்: பாண்டியன் இலவந்திகைப்பள்ளித் துஞ்சிய நன்மாறன், 

ஏற்று வலன் உயரிய எரி மருள் அவிர் சடை,
மாற்று அருங் கணிச்சி மணி மிடற்றோனும்,
கடல் வளர் புரி வளை புரையும் மேனி,
அடல் வெந்நாஞ்சில் பனைக்கொடியோனும்,
மண்ணுறு திருமணி புரையும் மேனி,  5
விண் உயர் புள் கொடி விறல் வெய்யோனும்,
மணி மயில் உயரிய மாறா வென்றிப்
பிணிமுக ஊர்தி ஒண் செய்யோனும், என
ஞாலங் காக்கும் கால முன்பின்,
தோலா நல் இசை நால்வர் உள்ளும்,  10
கூற்று ஒத்தீயே மாற்று அருஞ் சீற்றம்,
வலி ஒத்தீயே வாலியோனைப்,
புகழ் ஒத்தீயே இகழுநர் அடுநனை,
முருகு ஒத்தீயே முன்னியது முடித்தலின்,
ஆங்கு ஆங்கு அவரவர் ஒத்தலின் யாங்கும்  15
அரியவும் உளவோ நினக்கே அதனால்,
இரவலர்க்கு அருங்கலம் அருகாது ஈயா
யவனர் நன்கலம் தந்த தண் கமழ் தேறல்
பொன் செய் புனை கலத்து ஏந்தி நாளும்
ஒண்தொடி மகளிர் மடுப்ப, மகிழ் சிறந்து,  20
ஆங்கு இனிது ஒழுகுமதி ஓங்கு வாள் மாற
அங்கண் விசும்பின் ஆரிருள் அகற்றும்
வெங்கதிர்ச் செல்வன் போலவும், குடதிசைத்
தண் கதிர் மதியம் போலவும்
நின்று நிலைஇயர், உலகமோடு உடனே!  25

****

Item 466 Lord Vishnu Again

“Whether they have talent or not, you give gifts
to them like Thirumāl, O King Māran with fame
and greatness fit for words!  Let me tell you
something!”

Like Nakkirar in Puram verse 56, poet Kaarik Kannanaar , also compared the king with Lord Vishnu for his generosity. All the Tamils knew the story of Kuchela/Sudama, where Krishna made his hut into a palace in a second.

***

Item 467 Tamil atrocities 

Tamils were ferocious and aggressive in wars. The plundered enemy lands and they set fire to big towns. Even today we hear about such atrocities in the Middle East War.

The surprising thing is Tami poets praised it!

*** 

Item 468 Don’t cut trees

Here is an irony. The same poet supported burning cities of enemies, but he was against cutting trees. But it is ironical statement. We don’t know whether the poet was a Tree lover, an environmentalist or advising the king to occupy the land permanently and tie his war elephants there.

May be the poet was an environmental warrior and supporter of the trees.

***

Item 469 Bhagavad Gita reference

Poet says,

“Whoever it is you give them ADVICE like Vishnu”.

These lines are interpreted as Krishna’s advice given to Arjuna in Bhagavad Gita and to Kunti, Draupadi and others.

Whether they have talent or not, you give ADVICE
to them like Thirumāl, O King Māran with fame
and greatness fit for words

***

Puranānūru 57, Poet Kāviripoompattinathu Kārikannanār sang to Pandiyan Ilavanthikaipalli Thunjiya Nanmāran,

1
Whether they have talent or not, you give ADVICE
to them like Thirumāl, O King Māran with fame
and greatness fit for words!  Let me tell you
something!

2

When you seize lands of others,
let your young warriors plunder fields where
stalks are bent with heavy grains, let fires eat
large towns, and let your tall spear, bright like
lightning flashes, kill enemies. 

3

But do not cut
down their protected trees, for they will serve
as posts to tie your tall, fine elephant!

***

புறநானூறு 57, பாடியவர்: காவிரிப்பூம்பட்டினத்துக் காரிக்கண்ணனார், பாடப்பட்டோர்: பாண்டியன் இலவந்திகைப்பள்ளித் துஞ்சிய நன்மாறன், 

வல்லார் ஆயினும், வல்லுநர் ஆயினும்,
புகழ்தல் உற்றோர்க்கு மாயோன் அன்ன,
உரை சால் சிறப்பின் புகழ் சால் மாற!
நின்னொன்று கூறுவது உடையேன், என் எனின்,
நீயே பிறர் நாடு கொள்ளுங் காலை, அவர் நாட்டு  5
இறங்கு கதிர் கழனி நின் இளையரும் கவர்க,
நனந்தலைப் பேரூர் எரியும் நைக்க,
மின்னு நிமிர்ந்தன்ன நின் ஒளிறு இலங்கு நெடுவேல்
ஒன்னார்ச் செகுப்பினும் செகுக்க, என்னதூஉம்
கடிமரம் தடிதல் ஓம்பு, நின்  10
நெடுநல் யானைக்குக் கந்து ஆற்றாவே.

****************************************

Item 470

Velliampalam Silver Stage in Madurai

Poet Karikkannan (kaarikkannanaar)  in verse 58 refers to Choza and Pandya kings with the places where they died. It is seen only in Tamil literature. Here Velliampalam throws more light on the history of Madurai. Chidambaram has Pon Ambalam- Golden Stage where Nataraja/ Siva danced. Madurai temple has Silver Stage where Nataraja danced. Probably Pandya king died of heart attack while he was worshipping in the temple.

Velli/ Silver Ambalam has more stories in Tiru Vilaiyadal Puranam.

***

Item 471

Poet mentioned what made them great and advised them to be united. Kaveri river is great in Choza country  and Pandya lost his father and he is a young ruler; but yet he supports all like Banyan roots.

***

Item 472

Poet used the cliché in Tamil literature. They believed that thunder and lightning destroy snakes. That simile is used here for the destruction of his enemies.

***

 Item 473

Then the poet says what is special about two capitals. Choza capital Uranthai (Uraiyur near Trichy) was famous for the Justice Court there. Pandya capital Madurai was famous for Tamil Sangam.

***

Item 474

Kings are compared to Lord Vishnu and Lord Balarama. This is in previous poem as well.

***

Item 475

Tamil poets always supported unity among three Tamil Kingdoms. They always praised whenever two or three kings sitting together in a place or in an event. Poets knew Tamils always fought with one another.

***

Item 476 Tamil Emblems

Modern Tamils are more inclined towards erecting statues for their leaders. But ancient Tamils were keen to carve their symbols on peaks, particularly the northern Himalayas. Pandya symbol Fish and Choza Symbol Tiger are referred to. We have the history of Tamils for over 1500 years. They never changed their symbols or Flags.

***

Puranānūru 58, Poet Kāviripoompattinathu Kāri Kannanār sang to Chozhan Kurāpalli Thunjiya Perunthirumāvalavan and Pandiyan Velliampalathu Thunjiya Peruvazhuthi,

1

You are the ruler of Kāviri River with cool waters!
He is born of great lineage of an ancient Pandiyan
clan, and because his ancestors have vanished, he is
the support, like a hanging root from a non-flowering
banyan tree that supports a long branch that offers dense
shade, after the thick trunk has died. 

2

Even though he
is young, he is a bull among Pandiyars with war wisdom.
Like white lightning and thunder that attacks snakes and
their families, he will not tolerate his enemies.

3

You are lord of Uranthai where justice resides.  He is the
king of Koodal where Thamizh flourishes, where he rules with
his cool, just scepter and he commands three royal drums
with resounding voices, in a city that gets sandalwood from
the mountains, pearls from the ocean waves, and water and
paddy is easily available for all.

4

You two are like the great gods – Balaraman with a palmyra
flag whose skin is white as milk and Thirumal who is blue,
and wields a discus, glowing together and causing terror.
Is there anything sweeter? 

5

Listen to more!  May your fame
flourish forever!  If you help each other and do not ruin
this unity, you will win this beneficial world that is
surrounded by oceans.  So, be good and fair to each other.

Paying attention to the path that your ancestors took, may
your unity continue with caring hearts like it is today,
while paying no attention to strangers who come between you!
May your spears see victory after victory in murderous
battlefields!  In the lands of others, where mountains rise high,

6
may the peaks be incised with the signs of the tiger with
curved stripes and of the carp from the deep waters!

***

புறநானூறு 58, பாடியவர்: காவிரிப்பூம்பட்டினத்துக் காரிக்கண்ணனார், பாடப்பட்டோர்: சோழன் குராப்பள்ளித் துஞ்சிய பெருந்திருமாவளவனும் பாண்டியன் வெள்ளியம்பலத்துத் துஞ்சிய பெருவழுதியும், திணை: பாடாண், துறை: உட ன் நிலை

நீயே தண் புனல் காவிரிக் கிழவனை, இவனே,
முழு முதல் தொலைந்த கோளி ஆலத்துக்
கொழு நிழல் நெடுஞ்சினை வீழ் பொறுத்தாங்குத்,
தொல்லோர் மாய்ந்தெனத் துளங்கல் செல்லாது,
நல்லிசை முதுகுடி நடுக்குஅறத் தழீஇ,  5
இளையது ஆயினும் கிளை அரா எறியும்
அரு நரை உருமின் பொருநரைப் பொறாஅச்
செரு மாண் பஞ்சவர் ஏறே, நீயே,
அறந்துஞ்சு உறந்தைப் பொருநனை, இவனே,
நெல்லும் நீரும் எல்லார்க்கும் எளியவென  10
வரைய சாந்தமும் திரைய முத்தமும்,
இமிழ் குரல் முரசம் மூன்றுடன் ஆளும்
தமிழ் கெழு கூடல் தண் கோல் வேந்தே,
பால் நிற உருவின் பனைக்கொடியோனும்,
நீல் நிற உருவின் நேமியோனும், என்று  15
இரு பெருந்தெய்வமும் உடன் நின்றாஅங்கு,
உருகெழு தோற்றமொடு உட்குவர விளங்கி,
இந்நீர் ஆகலின் இனியவும் உளவோ?
இன்னும் கேண்மின்! நும் இசை வாழியவே!
ஒருவீர் ஒருவீர்க்கு ஆற்றுதிர், இருவீரும்  20
உடனிலை திரியீர் ஆயின், இமிழ் திரைப்
பெளவம் உடுத்தஇப் பயங்கெழு மாநிலம்
கையகப்படுவது பொய்யாகாதே,
அதனால் நல்ல போலவும் நயவ போலவும்,
தொல்லோர் சென்ற நெறிய போலவும்  25
காதல் நெஞ்சின் நும் இடை புகற்கு அலமரும்
ஏதில் மாக்கள் பொதுமொழி கொள்ளாது,
இன்றே போல்க நும் புணர்ச்சி வென்று வென்று
அடு களத்து உயர்க நும் வேலே, கொடுவரிக்
கோள் மாக் குயின்ற சேண் விளங்கு தொடு பொறி  30
நெடுநீர்க் கெண்டையொடு பொறித்த
குடுமிய ஆக, பிறர் குன்று கெழு நாடே.

-subham—

Tags- – Purananuru Wonders -21, Full-fledged Hinduism , Tamil Sangam Literature, Ancient Tamil Encyclopaedia -Part 61, One Thousand Interesting Facts -Part 61, Hindu flags, Hindu Vahanas, Hindu Gods,