Monsoon Pictures
Written by London Swaminathan
Post No. 15,701
Date uploaded in London –5 May 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
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VAIDEHI HERBERT’S ENGLISH TRANSLATION IS USED; THANKS.
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வடக்கிருத்தல் SEE ITEM 502 GIVEN HERE Prāyopaveśana (प्रायोपवेशन).—sitting down and abstaining from food and thus preparing oneself for death, fasting oneself to death; मया प्रायोपवेशनं कृतं विद्धि (mayā prāyopaveśanaṃ kṛtaṃ viddhi) Pañcatantra (Bombay) 4; प्रायोपवेशनमति- र्नृपतिर्बभूव (prāyopaveśanamati- rnṛpatirbabhūva) R.8.94; प्रायोपवेशसदृशं व्रतमास्थितस्य (prāyopaveśasadṛśaṃ vratamāsthitasya) Ve.3.1.
Prāyopaveśana (प्रायोपवेशन):—n. dass. [Mahābhārata 3, 15138.] [Rāmāyaṇa 1, 3, 26. 4, 53, 8. 55, 11.] [Raghuvaṃśa 8, 93.] [Rājataraṅgiṇī 4, 99.] [Pañcatantra 50, 15. 110, 10. 207, 7.]
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Item 498 Shipping using Monsoon
In Puram verse 66, Poet VennikKuyathiyār, gives us some information about meteorology. Karikalan of first or second century used Monsoon Winds for sailing. I wrote in Megham, London Tamil Magazine, in the 990s that Tamils discovered MONSOON quoting this poem (It is in my book published in 2009 as well).
Pliny the Elder claimed that Hippalus discovered not the route, but the monsoon wind also called Hippalus (the south-west monsoon wind).
Later I updated it with another article to show how Asoka’s daughter and sone along wih Buddhist monks used the monsoon to sail between India and Sri Lanka.
Kalidasa who wrote the first travelogue in the world called Meghadutam also described how the monsoon progresses towards the Himalaya.
Date wise Asoka comes first, Kalidasa and Karikalan comes second. Hippalus comes third. So the credit goes to Asoka or the sailors of his time.
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Item 499 BATTLE OF VENNI
Tamils’ great discovery about Munneer= Three Waters= Sea was described me in the earlier posts.
Facing North to die = Prayopavesam in Sanskrit= Vadakkiruththal in Tamil is escribed by me in the previous post
Here BATTLE OF VENNI is praised by the poet. At the sametime poet praised the defeated Chera King for undertaking the ritual Prayopavesam.
Ancient Tamil Kings Chera, Choza, Pandyas fought hundreds of wars among themselves killing each other. But the most famous of the wars is the Battle of Venni.
King Karikālan brought prosperity to his Chozha kingdom. He was tutored by his uncle, poet Irumpidarthalaiyār from an early age. He beat a Pandiyan king, Cheraman Peruncheralathan and 11 Vēlirs at the Venni battlefield in the Chozha country. There are references to this battle in Akanānūru 55, 246, Puranānūru 65, 66 and Porunarātruppadai 147.
In that battle, a spear that was thrust into the chest of beat Cheraman Peruncheralathan came out on the other side through his back and wounded him. He was embarrassed that he was attacked in the back. He sat facing north and died on the battlefield. This is a ritual ancient Hindus did when something bad, particularly, shameful, humiliating , disgraceful act is done or forced on them.
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Wind Power in Bhagavad Gita
इन्द्रियाणां हि चरतां यन्मनोऽनुविधीयते |
तदस्य हरति प्रज्ञां वायुर्नावमिवाम्भसि || 67||
indriyāṇāṁ hi charatāṁ yan mano ’nuvidhīyate
tadasya harati prajñāṁ vāyur nāvam ivāmbhasi
BG 2.67: Just as a strong wind sweeps a boat off its chartered course on the water, even one of the senses on which the mind focuses can lead the intellect astray.
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Puranānūru 66, Poet VennikKuyathiyār sang to Chozhan Karikāl Peruvalathān (Karikālan),
1
O heir of a mighty man who mastered the movement
of the wind and had his ships sail on the huge, full
ocean!
2
O Karikalan who owns rutting elephants!
You who won displaying your strength in the
battlefield near prosperous Venni town!
3
He is a better person than you, the king who sat
facing north to die, ashamed of the battle wound on
his back, who attained great fame in this world.
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Notes: This is the only poem written by this poet. Puranānūru poems 7, 66 and 224 were written for Chozhan Karikālan. The Pathuppāttu songs Pattinappālai and Porunarātruppadai were written for King Karikālan, who brought prosperity to his Chozha kingdom. He was tutored by his uncle, poet Irumpidarthalaiyār from an early age. Chozha king Karikālan beat a Pandiyan king, Cheraman Peruncheralathan and 11 Vēlirs at the Venni battlefield in the Chozha country. There are references to this battle in Akanānūru 55, 246, Puranānūru 65, 66 and Porunarātruppadai 147. In that battle, a spear that was thrust into the chest of beat Cheraman Peruncheralathan came out on the other side through his back and wounded him. He was embarrassed that he was attacked in the back. He sat facing north and died on the battlefield.
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புறநானூறு 66, பாடியவர்: வெண்ணிக் குயத்தியார், பாடப்பட்டோன்: சோழன் கரிகால் பெருவளத்தான் (கரிகாலன்), திணை: வாகை, துறை: அரச வாகை
1
நளி இரு முந்நீர் நாவாய் ஓட்டி,
வளி தொழில் ஆண்ட உரவோன் மருக!
களி இயல் யானைக் கரிகால் வளவ!
2
சென்று அமர்க் கடந்த நின் ஆற்றல் தோன்ற
வென்றோய்! நின்னினும் நல்லன் அன்றே, 5
கலி கொள் யாணர் வெண்ணிப் பறந்தலை
3
மிகப் புகழ் உலகம் எய்திப்
புறப் புண் நாணி வடக்கிருந்தோனே.
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Item 500 Bird Migration
Hindu are great nature lovers. They watched the sky and noted birds are migrating from one direction to another, particularly from south to north. Later Saththimutraththu Pulavar also sang about it inNaarai, Naaraai! Sengal Naaraai
Sen Kaal Naarai= red legged Flamingos. Water birds migrating from far off places lie Russia are found in Vedanthangal, Ranganathan Thittu (Mysore Srirangappattinam) and Kodikkarai/Vedaranyam; they are some of the places where they are found. Researchers ring the birds with microchips and follow their routes.
When they migrate they form rules of aerodynamics. They fly in V shape to tackle the wind. This is watched and sung by Kalidasa and other Tamil poets as well (It is my article Bird Migration in Sangam Literature and Kalidasa).
Th poets described the V shape as pearl garland/necklace
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Item 501 Concept of Eka Bharat= One India
Half baked people thought and wrote that only British rule united India. But the travels of great philosopher Adi Sankara and Rishis like Agastya proved them wrong. Here also the water birds going from Kumari to Himalaya Mountain is explained by the commentators.
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Puranānūru 67, Poet Pisirānthaiyār sang for Kōperunchozhan, Thinai: Pādān, Thurai: Iyan Mozhi
1
O gander! O gander! (water bird)
Like the bright face of the
noble hero of battles who bestows
grace upon his land, the bright light
of the blossoming moon shines when
its two horns unite and it becomes
full at this confusing evening time
when I am helpless and sad.
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If you, after feeding on ayirai fish
in the beautiful, huge shores of
Kumari, should fly off to the mountains
of the far north,
and stop on your way in the
land of the Chozha king,
go to the towering mansion at Kōzhi
with your young partner and without
stopping at the gate,
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enter the palace of the great King Killi
and utter words so that the king hears
you say, “Ānthai of Pisir is your humble
servant.”
He will give desirable gifts of fine jewels
for your beloved mate to wear!
Item 502 Another Ritual Suicide where poets joined!
வடக்கிருத்தல் = பிராயோபவேஷம்
(மகாபாரதம், வால்மீகி ராமாயணம், காளிதாசன் ரகுவம்சத்தில்)
This poem is about the Choza king shows another ritual sacrifie called Payaopavesam by Kopperum Chozan
Notes: Puranānūru poems 67, 212, 213, 217, 218, 219, 220, 221, 222, and 223 were written for this king. The king wrote poems 214, 215 and 216. The poet Pisirānthaiyār wrote Puranānūru 67, 184, 191 and 212. King Kōperunchozhan sat facing the north and killed himself since he had problems with his sons. The poet Pisirānthaiyār who was his friend joined him in death. Also, there were other poets who sat near the king and starved to death along with him, facing the north.
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Item 503 Greatest Tamil Wonder! Wonderful Friendship
Poet Pisir Anthai who joined the Choza king in the Facing North and Fast Unto Death Ritual was the best example of Friendship. One will be reminded of the sacrificeof Sydney Carton in the novel The Tale of Two cities by Charles Dickens!
The poet and the king never met but were friends. Choza king toldpease make a seat for Pisur Anthai; all were pauzzled. But as he predicted the never seen friend Pisir came and joined the Fast unto Death Ritual> Great men think alike.
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புறநானூறு 67, பாடியவர்: பிசிராந்தையார், பாடப்பட்டோன்: கோப்பெருஞ்சோழன், திணை: பாடாண், துறை: இயன் மொழி
1
அன்னச் சேவல்! அன்னச் சேவல்!
ஆடு கொள் வென்றி அடு போர் அண்ணல்
நாடு தலையளிக்கும் ஒள் முகம் போலக்,
கோடு கூடு மதியம் முகிழ் நிலா விளங்கும்,
மையல் மாலை யாம் கையறுபு இனையக் 5
2
குமரி அம் பெருந்துறை அயிரை மாந்தி,
வட மலைப் பெயர்குவை ஆயின், இடையது
சோழ நன்னாட்டுப் படினே, கோழி
உயர்நிலை மாடத்துக் குறும்பறை அசைஇ,
வாயில் விடாது கோயில் புக்கு எம் 10
3
பெருங்கோக் கிள்ளி கேட்க “இரும் பிசிர்
ஆந்தை அடியுறை” எனினே, மாண்ட நின்
இன்புறு பேடை அணியத் தன்
நன்புறு நன்கலம் நல்குவன் நினக்கே.
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Item No 504 Monitor Lizards
Comparison of skinned monitor lizard with the ribs of the poor bard. This shows the poverty among bards
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Item No 505 Generosity
Go to the king and get the money. The river Kaviri in his country is like the mother whose breasts pour out milk for the news born baby .
Another good comparison!
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Item 506 Shamudrika Lakshana
Kings are compared to Vishnu in Tamil and Sanskrit books and Hindu Puranas say that Lakshmi resides in the chest of Vishnu. Here poet who is well versed in SHAMUDRIKA LAKSHANA says the king has Sempori Maarbu= Chest where Lakshmi lives.
In Tamil AAkam is Chest/maarbu in Modern Tamil
Pori in Tamil is LAKSHMI.
Sem Pori = Three lined chest shows Lakshmi’s residence.
According to Shamudrika lakshan three lines on the neck is good.
The three lines on the neck of Devi (often referred to as Kambugreeva or neck with three lines, like a conch) are a significant feature in Hindu iconography and aesthetic descriptions, such as in the Lalitha Sahasranama and Saundarya Lahari. These lines are considered a sign of high noble birth and spiritual beauty in Samudrika Lakshana.
பூவெனப்படுவது பொறி வாழ் பூவே is a saying in Tamil
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Item 507 Bad Omens புள் பகை
Bird Omen Chart in Tamil Panchang
Here the bad omen is called harming enemy birds
All the Tamil Panchangs show the Bird Omen Chart
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Puranānūru 68, Poet Kōvūr Kizhār sang for Chozhan Nalankilli,
1
Their ribs are sticking out like monitor lizards
that have been skinned, your family with great
hunger, unable to find someone who’ll remove it.
O bard who mourns that there are so few ears that
can hear you! Why do you linger here?
In the fine country where citizens are nourished
by the overflowing water of Kāviri River that
uproots trees and
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flows like milk offered from
the breast of a new mother to an infant, there is
a lord, a great man who bows to gentle women
wearing ornaments on their proud, pretty chests
with red spots, and imprisons fierce men.
When there is a fight within his army or when there
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are bad omens, he does not command his army to fight.
His valiant warriors who say they want to die, tap their
bulging shoulders, strike parai drums on the lovely
streets where chariots ride, to reduce their frustration
of not going to war, drink strong liquor which spills from
their trembling hands and creates mud on the ground,
and elephants without mounted keepers play in that
fragrant mud and listen to the roar of the drums in
Uranthai, where the great king reigns.
If you go to him, he will shower gifts abundantly,
making you forget going to the doors of others.
Notes: Puranānūru 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 45, 68, 225, 382 and 400 were written for this Chozha king. This king wrote Puranānūru 73 and 75. Kōvūr Kizhār wrote Puranānūru 31-33, 41, 44-47, 68, 70, 308, 373, 382, 386 and 400. He hailed from Kōvūr town in Thondai Nadu. It is presently in Chengalpattu district.
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புறநானூறு 68, பாடியவர்: கோவூர் கிழார், பாடப்பட்டோன், சோழன் நலங்கிள்ளி, திணை: பாடாண், துறை: பாணாற்றுப்படை
1
உடும்பு உரித்து அன்ன என்பு எழு மருங்கின்
கடும்பின் கடும் பசி களையுநர்க் காணாது,
சில் செவித்து ஆகிய கேள்வி நொந்து நொந்து
ஈங்கு எவன் செய்தியோ பாண, பூண் சுமந்து,
2
அம் பகட்டு எழிலிய செம் பொறி ஆகத்து 5
மென்மையின் மகளிர்க்கு வணங்கி வன்மையின்
3
ஆடவர்ப் பிணிக்கும் பீடு கெழு நெடுந்தகை,
புனிறு தீர் குழவிக்கு இலிற்று முலை போலச்
சுரந்த காவிரி மரங்கொல் மலி நீர்
மன்பதை புரக்கும் நன்னாட்டுப் பொருநன், 10
உள் பகை ஒரு திறம் பட்டெனப்
4
புள் பகைக்கு
ஏவான் ஆகலின் சாவேம் யாம் என,
நீங்கா மறவர் வீங்கு தோள் புடைப்பத்,
தணி பறை அறையும் அணி கொள் தேர்வழிக்,
கடுங்கள் பருகுநர் நடுங்கு கை உகுத்த 15
நறுஞ்சேறு ஆடிய வறுந்தலை யானை
நெடுநகர் வரைப்பில் படுமுழா ஓர்க்கும்
உறந்தையோனே குருசில்,
பிறன் கடை மறப்ப நல்குவன் செலினே
To be continued………………
Tags- Tamils Discovered Monsoon! Not Hippalus! Purananuru wonders-24, Tamil Encyclopedia-64 , Item 507, Hindu ritual suicide, Prayopavesa, Facing North, Fast unto death, Bird Migration, Wonderful Friendship, Shamudrika Lakshana, Bird Omen
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