Written by London Swaminathan

Post No. 15,637

Date uploaded in London –20 April 2026

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 

Purananuru Wonders -22 Ancient Tamil Encyclopaedia -Part 62; One Thousand Interesting Facts -Part 62

For English versions I Used Vaidehi Herbert’s translation; For most of the Sanskrit words I used Wisdomlib.org

Item 477

सामुद्रिक लक्षण (Sāmudrikalakṣaṇa)-

In Puranānūru verse 59, Poet Mathurai Koolavānikan Cheethalai Sāthanār used the opt repeated Sanskrit words AAJAANU BAAHU தாள் தோய் தடக்கை large hands that touch your legs.

This is not the only place the Sanskrit cliché is used. Eyes are described as lotus petals or fish like in Tamil and Sanskrit literature.

Ajanubahu (Sanskrit: आजानुबाहु) is a term describing a person whose arms are long enough to reach their knees when standing erect. It signifies a physical ideal in Indian culture, representing immense strength, divine stature, and high character, often used to describe gods, saints, and heroes like Rama or Krishna.

Etymology: Derived from a (up to), jānu (knee), and bāhu (arm), meaning “one

A famous sloka said by all devotees of Lord Ram is

SHRI-RAGHAVAM DASHARATHATMAJAM APRAMEYAM

SITA-PATIM RAGHUKULANVAYA-RATNADIPAM

AJANU-BAHUM ARAVINDA-DALAYATAKSHAM

RAMAM NISHACARA-VINASHAKARAM NAMAMI

It is famous Tamil film Lava Kusa as well.

In Indian culture, persons with such physical characteristics are either gods, saints, kings or great warriors. The idols of Hindu gods like Rama, Lakshmana, Krishna when shown in standing position are depicted as ajanu bahu feature. Even idols of Jain Tirthankars are shown as ajanbahu. The great saints like, Sai Baba of Shirdi, Ramkrishna Paramhansa, Swami Samartha and Gajanan Maharaj were said to have ajanu bahu characteristic.

***

Item 478  Painting and Sanskrit word

This about a Pandya king who died in Chitra madam- a place with paintings in Madurai. Two things are notable. Sanskrit word Chitra and painting.

***

Item 479 Two Different Authors with the same name

Silappadikaram by Ilango and Manimekalai by this poet Mathurai Koolavānikan Cheethalai Sāthanār differ greatly with Sangam poets in language and style.

Both these Tamil epics do not fit in Sangam age Tamil. Linguists must do more research.

I placed Tolkappiam Porul Adhikaram- Third Adhikaram , Silappadikaram and Tirukkural 133 adikarams in Fifth century CE

Sanskrit Word ADIKARAM is common to these three books.

Manimekalai followed Silappadikaram and its last three chapters are full of Sanskrit/Prakrit words.

My conclusion is the author of Manimekalai and this Puram verse are two different poets, though with the same name.

***

Item 480 Sun and Moon

In Kalidasa’s works and Manu Smriti kings are compared with Five Elements- Pancha Bhuta –and Sun and Moon.

In this verse poet says

You are like the sun that rises
from the ocean, never relenting in your fierce rage toward
your enemies, but like the moon to people like me!

ஞாயிறு அனையை நின் பகைவர்க்குத்,
திங்கள் அனையை எம்மனோர்க்கே.

***

Puranānūru 59, Poet Mathurai Koolavānikan Cheethalai Sāthanār sang to Pandiyan Chithiramādathu Thunjiya Nanmāran,

1
O greatly esteemed Vazhuthi wearing garlands on your
handsome chest, with large hands that touch your legs!
You certainly give with love, Lord!
You do not accept lies. 

2

 You are like the sun that rises
from the ocean, never relenting in your fierce rage toward
your enemies, but like the moon to people like me!

***

புறநானூறு 59, பாடியவர்: மதுரைக் கூலவாணிகன் சீத்தலைச் சாத்தனார், பாடப்பட்டோன்: பாண்டியன் சித்திரமாடத்துத் துஞ்சிய நன்மாறன், திணை: பாடாண், துறை: பூவை நிலை

1
ஆரம் தாழ்ந்த அணி கிளர் மார்பின்,
தாள் தோய் தடக்கைத் தகை மாண் வழுதி!
வல்லை மன்ற நீ நயந்து அளித்தல்,
தேற்றாய் பெரும பொய்யே, என்றும்
காய் சினம் தவிராது கடல் ஊர்பு எழுதரும் 

2
ஞாயிறு அனையை நின் பகைவர்க்குத்,
திங்கள் அனையை எம்மனோர்க்கே.

***

Item 481 Dr.Damodaran

In Puram verse 60, Poet’s name is Lord Krishna’s famous name.

Brahmins recite this name at least three times a day when they do Sandhyavandana.

Poet was a doctor!

Meaning of Damodaran is “one who is tied with a rope around his belly” (dama = rope, udara = belly). This signifies a divine pastime where Krishna was bound by his mother, symbolizing his accessibility and control, and is the 367th name of Vishnu in Sahsranama. உறையூர் மருத்துவன் தாமோதரனார்

***

Item 482 Tamil’s Great Discovery

Tamils only called Ocean S Three Waters. முந்நீர் Mun Neer.

Ocean or sea has River Water, Rain Water and Spring Water. Because of these three types of waters it is called Mun=Three, Neer= Waters.

My interpretation is No spring water mingles directly into sea because it is part of river water. So it must be the springs under the ocean. Oceanographers reported such under water hot springs in the last century only. But Hindus knew it long long ago. It is confirmed by another reference Vada Mukhagni or Badavagni or Vadavai Anal in Tamil. That is submarine fire which we see in Hawai Island on all days.

I wanted to add one more interpretation.

Mun Neer also mean First Water. Only ocean water was there in the beginning; life evolved in it and spread to land and sky. So, it is called First, Mun in Tamil.

***

Item 483 Planet Mars செம்மீன்

செம்மீன் Sem Meen is literally Red Star. Planet Mars which looks blood red in the sky was rightly named Sev Vay or Sem Meen செம்மீன் in Tamil.

Ancient Tamils were keen observers of sky and so add the heavenly objects wherever possible.

In Sanskrit also, it is called a red planet:

The primary Sanskrit name for the planet Mars is Maṅgala (मङ्गल), meaning “auspicious” or “fortunate”. It is recognized as one of the Navagraha (nine celestial bodies) and is strongly associated with the color red and fiery energy. Tuesday is named Mangalavāra (मंगलवार) after this planet. 

Other common Sanskrit names for Mars include:

• Kuja (कुज): Meaning “son of the Earth” (born from Bhoomi).
• Angāraka (अङ्गारक): Meaning “the burning coal” or “the red planet” (referring to its color).
• Bhauma (भौम): Meaning “son of Bhumi” (Earth).
• Raktavarna (रक्तवर्ण): Meaning “blood-colored” or “red-bodied”.
• Lohitāṅga (लोहिताङ्ग): Meaning “red-bodied” or “iron-bodied”. 

***

Item 484 White Umbrella வெண்குடை

Hindu Kings were protected by White Umbrellas வெண்குடை VEN KUDAI It is used throughout Sanskrit literature and always compared to Moon. Both signify Coolness.

***

Item 485 Strength of a Bull பகட்டு

King’s strength is compared to that of a Bull.

In Tamil even youths are called KAALAI, word for Bull in Tamil

***

Puranānūru 60, Poet Uraiyur Maruthuvan Thāmōtharanār sang for Chozhan Kurāpalli Thunjiya Perunthirumāvalavan,

1
Like a lantern on a boat in the middle of the THREE WATERS/ocean,
there was the Red Planet high above us in the sky,

and we saw the full moon that was high above.  On seeing
it, did I not, along with my dancer with few bangles,
like a peacock in the wasteland, bow to it many times?

2

It was because it resembled the white umbrella that protects us,
pretty and fearsome, hiding the sun, decorated with garlands,
belonging to my king Valavan with a victory drum and a sword
3

that never fails, his strength like that of a bull that pulls a wagon
with salt from salt pans near the ocean, up toward the mountain,

***

புறநானூறு 60, பாடியவர்: உறையூர் மருத்துவன் தாமோதரனார், பாடப்பட்டோன்: சோழன் குராப்பள்ளித் துஞ்சிய பெருந்திருமாவளவன், 

முந்நீர் நாப்பண் திமில் சுடர் போலச்
செம்மீன் இமைக்கும் மாக விசும்பின்

உச்சி நின்ற உவவுமதி கண்டு,
கட்சி மஞ்ஞையின் சுர முதல் சேர்ந்த,
சில் வளை விறலியும் யானும் வல் விரைந்து,  5
தொழுதனம் அல்லமோ, பலவே, கானல்
கழி உப்பு முகந்து கல் நாடு மடுக்கும்
ஆரைச் சாகாட்டு ஆழ்ச்சி போக்கும்
உரனுடை நோன் பகட்டு அன்ன எங்கோன்,
வலன் இரங்கு முரசின் வாய்வாள் வளவன்,  10
வெயில் மறைக் கொண்ட உருகெழு சிறப்பின்
மாலை வெண்குடை ஒக்குமால் எனவே?

***

Item 486 Description of a Village

Ploughing the land and eating Valai fish with rice is described. At the same time, their children are climbing the hay stacks to pluck the palmyra fruits. Nature’s gifts make the land prosperous of the Choza kingdoms, say the poet in Verse 61.

Choza king’s strong chest and shoulders are also praised.

***

Puranānūru 61, Erichalūr Mādalan Mathurai Kumaranār sang for Chozhan Ilavanthikaippalli Thunjiya Nalankilli Chētchenni,

In the land of Chenni carrying a gleaming spear in his powerful
hand and owning elegant chariots,
in the fields where eels roll, women donning hair knots and cool
leaves remove small patches of blue and white waterlilies where
the harrows have passed and cut up vālai fish, and labourers
with strong arms take the fat pieces and eat with white rice from
new paddy to their full as their ribs stick out, become confused,
and are unable to leave the long sheaves with grains, and their
youngsters with parched heads who hate large coconuts,
climb on the tall haystacks of their fathers to pluck the fruits
of palmyra palms.  There is abundant prosperity every day.

If there are men who oppose the king wearing a bow-like garland
on his chest, they should know what will happen to them.  We have
not seen anybody succeed against his shoulders that are like
fortress gate bolts!   More than that, we have not seen sorrow in
those who take refuge in his handsome feet without delay!

****

புறநானூறு 61, பாடியவர்: கோனாட்டு எறிச்சலூர் மாடலன் மதுரைக் குமரனார், பாடப்பட்டோன்:  சோழன் இலவந்திகைப்பள்ளித் துஞ்சிய நலங்கிள்ளி சேட்சென்னி, திணை: வாகை, துறை: அரச வாகை
கொண்டைக் கூழைத் தண்டழைக் கடைசியர்
சிறு மாண் நெய்தல் ஆம்பலொடு கட்கும்,
மலங்கு மிளிர் செறுவின் தளம்பு தடிந்திட்ட
பழன வாளைப் பரூஉக்கண் துணியல்
புது நெல் வெண்சோற்றுக் கண்ணுறை ஆக,  5
விலாப் புடை மருங்கு விசிப்ப மாந்தி
நீடு கதிர்க் கழனிச் சூடு தடுமாறும்
வன் கை வினைஞர் புன்தலைச் சிறாஅர்
தெங்குபடு வியன் பழம் முனையின், தந்தையர்
குறைக்கண் நெடுபோர் ஏறி விசைத்து எழுந்து  10
செழுங்கோட் பெண்ணைப் பழந்தொட முயலும்,
வைகல் யாணர் நன்னாட்டுப் பொருநன்,
எஃகு விளங்கு தடக்கை இயல் தேர்ச் சென்னி,
சிலைத் தார் அகலம் மலைக்குநர் உளர் எனின்
தாம் அறிகுவர் தமக்கு உறுதி, யாம் அவன்  15
எழு உறழ் திணி தோள் வழுவின்றி மலைந்தோர்
வாழக் கண்டன்றும் இலமே தாழாது,
திருந்து அடி பொருந்த வல்லோர்
வருந்தக் காண்டல் அதனினும் இலமே.

***

Item 487

SATI IN SANGAM AGE

Following lines show that they died wih their husbnads in funeral pyre. They did not live like widows.

Widows of warriors do not eat keerai or bathe in cold ponds.
They are there, embracing the chests of their fallen husbands.

Another poem by Bhutapandyan Devi also shows that Sati was followed by Tamil queens. Strangely Sati is not in Manu Smriti or Rig Veda.

***

Item 488 Aliens and ETs

Throughout Sanskrit literature we find the descriptions of ALIENS and EXTRA TERRESTRIALS (ET). Those things are repeated in Puram Verse 62 and many other Tamil poems.

Celestials who get food offerings, wear flowers that don’t fade,
do not blink, guide the new arrivals in the other world that is so
hard to obtain.  May the glory of both of you glow!

More references to ETs:

பெரும்பாணாற்றுப்படை 429 – பொ. வே. சோமசுந்தரனார் உரை – இமைத்தல் இல்லாத இமையினையுடைய தேவர்கள்.  இமய மலையின் உச்சியில் தேவர்கள் உறைவர் என்பது மரபு.  மதுரைக்காஞ்சி 457-458 – வாடாப் பூவின் இமையா நாட்டத்து நாற்ற உணவின் உருகெழு பெரியோர்க்கு.  அனந்தல் (5) – ஒளவை துரைசாமி உரை –

Manu Smrti and our Puranas speak about various time zones for Devas and Brahma. When we hear about Extra Terrestrial Civilizations in distant planetary system we will understand such descriptions better.

We read that Devas can’t have sex in the Devaloka, can’t stand on their feet, can’t blink, their garlands never wither away , they can travel from one place to another place and appear intact, sages like Narada can do inter galactic travel (Tri Loka Sanchari) etc.

 Atharva Veda Bhumi Sukta Mantra 7/ 63

Here the earth is praised as sweet hearted. Sweet honey MADHU is referred here and HEART (hrudaya) is mentioned  in the 8th stanza.

Here we come across the word UNSLEEPING Devas. This is reference to Extra Terrestrials (ET). Throughout Hindu spics and Puranas/mythologies, we have following qualities attributed to ETs.

1.They are in the form of Light; Devas meaning Light Emitting.

2.They don’t wink their eyes; like fish they don’t close their eyes. Even Tamil poet Tiru Valluvar compared Devas with Thieves ; he humorously refers to thieves as Devas because thieves also never sleep during night (Kural 1073) This is my interpretation of Kural. Other old interpreters said both are same because they can do whatever they want to do; It doesn’t look right to me. Moreover, Valluvar used the Sanskrit word Devas instead of God (Iraivan).

3.They can’t have sex in the heaven. (they come to earth for it). Parvati cursed that they cant have sex in heaven according to Puranas.

4.They can travel to Earth with the speed of Mind (faster than Light; Einstein is only 50 % right)

5.Their feet don’t touch earth/ground (always flying)

6.Their garlands never wither away (because of metals like gold?)

7.They are always happy

8.They enjoy Dance and Music of Gandharvas and Apsaras

9.Even the Indus/Harappan symbol of Fish is compared to Devas by some scholars because both ‘Shine’ and both ‘never close their eyes’.

The seventh mantra says Devas protect earth without erring. That means aliens are always watching us. Intergalactic traveller NARADA visits earth now and then. Poet prays to earth to shower sweets on us. Madhu used here is Honey; also  used in all poems on Asvins in the RV. Name of Narada appears for the first time in AV.

***

Puranānūru 62, Poet Kazhāthalaiyār sang for Cheraman Kudakkō Neduncheralathan and Chozhan Verpahradakkai Peruviral Killi,

1

How can they be victorious over the advancing foot soldiers?
Female ghouls in bright coloured forms, plunge their hands
into the wounds of dead warriors, smear their hair red with
blood and dance to the soft, rhythmic beat of parai drums.
Kites are feasting on the army, and the two kings have also
perished along with their soldiers, kings with righteousness
on their sides who fought a valiant war.  Their royal umbrellas
have drooped and their drums of renown stand ruined.

In that vast battle camp, hundreds of men from different lands
have gathered together with no space left, and there is nobody
with strength to take the field, and the combat has stopped
suddenly causing fear.

2

Widows of warriors do not eat keerai or bathe in cold ponds.
They are there, embracing the chests of their fallen husbands.

3

Celestials who get food offerings, wear flowers that don’t fade,
do not blink, guide the new arrivals in the other world that is so
hard to obtain.  May the glory of both of you glow!

Notes:  The poet wrote this after watching the two kings and their armies perish in battle. Puranānūru poems 62, 63 and 368 were written for Cheraman Kudakkō Neduncheralathan.   Puranānūru poems 62 and 63 were written for Chozhan Verpahradakkai Peruviral Killi.  Poet Kazhāthalaiyār wrote Puranānūru 62, 65, 270, 288, 289 and 368.  

புறநானூறு 62, பாடியவர்: கழாத்தலையார், பாடப்பட்டோர்: சேரமான் குடக்கோ நெடுஞ்சேரலாதன்,  சோழன் வேற்பஃறடக் கைப் பெருவிறற் கிள்ளி

1

வருதார் தாங்கி அமர் மிகல் யாவது?
பொருது ஆண்டு ஒழிந்த மைந்தர் புண் தொட்டுக்,
குருதிச் செங்கைக் கூந்தல் தீட்டி,
நிறம் கிளர் உருவின் பேஎய்ப் பெண்டிர்
எடுத்து எறி அனந்தல் பறைச் சீர் தூங்கப்,  5
பருந்து அருந்துற்ற தானையொடு செரு முனிந்து
அறத்தின் மண்டிய மறப்போர் வேந்தர்
தாம் மாய்ந்தனரே, குடை துளங்கினவே,
உரை சால் சிறப்பின் முரைசு ஒழிந்தனவே
பன் நூறு அடுக்கிய வேறுபடு பைஞ்ஞிலம்  10
இடம் கெட ஈண்டிய வியன் கண் பாசறைக்,
களம் கொளற்கு உரியோர் இன்றித் தெறுவர
உடன் வீழ்ந்தன்றால் அமரே,

2

பெண்டிரும்
பாசடகு மிசையார் பனி நீர் மூழ்கார்
மார்பகம் பொருந்தி ஆங்கு அமைந்தன்றே,  

3

வாடாப் பூவின் இமையா நாட்டத்து
நாற்ற உணவினோரும் ஆற்ற
அரும் பெறல் உலகம் நிறைய
விருந்து பெற்றனரால், பொலிக நும் புகழே!

–subham—

Tags- Purananuru wonders-22, Tamil Encyclopedia-62, Aliens, ETs, Tamil Sangam Literature, Samudrika Lakshana, Tamil Poems, SATI IN SANGAM AGE, Item 488