Written by London Swaminathan

Post No. 15,771

Date uploaded in London –22 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

xxxx 

Low Castes and Nayudus in Sangam Literature; Purananuru wonders-28, Tamil Encyclopedia-68; One Thousand Interesting Facts -Part 68

Item 534 Vamba Mallar

 The same poet was so excited to see the boy king and so he repeats again and again the same praise. He used the word Vamba Mallar (new warriors) வம்ப மள்ளரோ here in Puram verse 79 and previous two poems. Cliché like this help researchers to confirm the colon. 

One more interesting point is available in Tiru Vilaiyadal Purana of Madurai. As soon as his father was killed, his relatives and other people plundered the royal treasury. The boy king had no crown jewellery. They prayed to Lord Siva who helped them to recover all the lost, stolen goods.

***

 Puranānūru 79, Poet Idaikundrūr Kizhār sang for Pandiyan Thalaiyālankānathu Cheruvendra Nedunchezhiyan,

 He bathed in the cool pond at the gate of his

ancient city, adorned himself with bright
sprouts of neem trees from the common ground,
and walked like an elephant behind the roaring
kinai drum, Chezhiyan who is ferocious in wars.

Many new warriors are against him.  Will some
of them survive, given there is very little time
left in the day?

(Vaidehi Herbert, USA, translation is used ;thanks)

***

புறநானூறு 79, பாடியவர்: இடைக்குன்றூர் கிழார், பாடப்பட்டோன்: பாண்டியன் தலையாலங்கானத்துச் செருவென்ற நெடுஞ்செழியன், திணை: வாகை, துறை: அரச வாகை
மூதூர் வாயில் பனிக் கயம் மண்ணி,
மன்ற வேம்பின் ஒண் குழை மலைந்து,
தெண் கிணை முன்னர்க் களிற்றின் இயலி,
வெம்போர்ச் செழியனும் வந்தனன், எதிர்ந்த
வம்ப மள்ளரோ பலரே,  5
எஞ்சுவர் கொல்லோ, பகல் தவச் சிறிதே?

***

Item 535 Wrestling in Puram verse 80 

Here is a beautiful comparison of a wrestler with an elephant. He breaks the bones of enemy like the elephant breaks the bamboo sticks for eating. More over, the wrestler’s tactics is described in detail. Thithan had a son by name Poravaikko Perunarkilli and he was the one who fought and killed a wrestler of Aamur .

one leg of his squeezes a powerful warrior,
and the other one wraps around his back
blocking him from escaping

Like a hungry elephant trying to eat bamboo,
he twists and snaps the body of the warrior
on both ends, as he attacks and kills him in combat

***

Puranānūru 80, Poet Sāthanthaiyār sang for Chozhan Poravaikko Perunarkilli,

 In Āmūr where liquor is sweet and potent,

one leg of his squeezes a powerful warrior,
and the other one wraps around his back
blocking him from escaping.  I wish that
Thithan who is victorious in ferocious battles
could see this, whether it pleases him or not.
Like a hungry elephant trying to eat bamboo,
he twists and snaps the body of the warrior
on both ends, as he attacks and kills him in combat.

Notes:  This poet has written Puranānūru 80, 81, 82, and 287.  Puranānūru 80, 81, 82, 83, 84 and 85 were written for this warrior king, whose father’s name was Thithan. Thithan was a small-region king. He ruled from Uranthai.  

 *** 

புறநானூறு 80, பாடியவர்: சாத்தந்தையார், பாடப்பட்டோன்: சோழன் போரவைக்கோப் பெருநற்கிள்ளி, திணை: தும்பை, துறை: எருமை மறம்

இன் கடுங்கள்ளின் ஆமூர் ஆங்கண்,
மைந்துடை மல்லன் மத வலி முருக்கி,
ஒரு கால் மார்பு ஒதுங்கின்றே ஒரு கால்
வருதார் தாங்கிப் பின் ஒதுங்கின்றே,
நல்கினும் நல்கான் ஆயினும், வெல் போர்ப்  5
போர் அருந் தித்தன் காண்க தில் அம்ம,
பசித்துப் பணை முயலும் யானை போல,
இருதலை ஒசிய எற்றிக்
களம் புகும் மல்லன் கடந்து அடு நிலையே.

 ***

Item 536 Mallan, Malyudhdham Wrester, Wrestling

MALLAN- Sanskrit Word is used in Sangam literature. Malyudhdham is a Sanskrit word used through out India until today.

Nepal had Malla dynasty for 600 years. King ‘s name in Sanskrit is Yuddha Raja= போரவைக்கோ = Poravaikko= samara kolakalan in Tiru vilaiyadal Puranam

From Sanskrit Dictionary

Malla.—(CII 4), a wrestler, a match. Note: malla is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.

Malla (मल्ल).—a. [mall-ac]

1) Strong, athletic, robust; Ki. 18.8.

2) Good, excellent.

-llaḥ 1 A strong man.

2) An athlete, a boxer, wrestler; प्रभुर्मल्लो मल्लाय (prabhurmallo mallāya) Mahābhārata

3) A drinking-vessel, cup.

***

Item 537 Similes

Same poet Sāthanthaiyār sang for the same king Chozhan Poravaikko Perunarkilli in Puram verse 81. He used two similes:

The uproar is louder than the sounds of the rising ocean!
The trumpeting of his male elephants lasts longer than
monsoon’s thunder! 

This adds colour to a short verse. Monsoon thunder is beautifully portrayed.

 **** 

Puranānūru 81, Poet Sāthanthaiyār sang for Chozhan Poravaikko Perunarkilli, Thinai: Vākai, Thurai: Arasa Vākai

The uproar is louder than the sounds of the rising ocean!
The trumpeting of his male elephants lasts longer than
monsoon’s thunder!  Who are these pitiful men caught
by the warrior wearing a strand of āthi flowers strung
tightly with fibre?

Notes:   The āthi flower is the symbol of Chozhas. 

***

புறநானூறு 81, பாடியவர்: சாத்தந்தையார், பாடப்பட்டோன்: சோழன் போரவைக்கோப் பெருநற்கிள்ளி, திணை: வாகை, துறை: அரச வாகை
ஆர்ப்பு எழு கடலினும் பெரிது, அவன் களிறே
கார்ப் பெயல் உருமின் முழங்கல் ஆனாவே!
யார் கொல் அளியர் தாமே, ஆர் நார்ச்
செறியத் தொடுத்த கண்ணிக்
கவிகை மள்ளன் கைப்பட்டோரே?  5

***

Item 538 caste remark about a cobbler

Tamils of Sangam Age had low castes and high castes like all societies.

In Puram 82 poet Sāthanthaiyār used a derogatory word about cobbler’s caste கட்டில் நிணக்கும் இழிசினன் கையது= needle of the ilisinan who is stitching

Here the poet wants to portray a scene to show us the fastness of the King’s actions. When he compared it to the cot making cobbler he says low caste man.

Izivu = degradation, baseness, affront, insult; in verb Insult

The enemy
was repelled rapidly, faster than the plying
needle of the ilisinan who is stitching

frantically with a cord, making a cot.

***

Puranānūru 82, Poet Sāthanthaiyār sang for Chozhan Poravaikko Perunarkilli, Thinai: Vākai, Thurai: Arasa Vākai

The celebrations have started.  His wife
is in labor.  He has to go soon to help.  It is
raining, and the sun has started to go down.

The esteemed king wearing an āthi garland
battled with an invading king.  The enemy
was repelled rapidly, faster than the plying
needle of the ilisinan who is stitching
frantically with a cord, making a cot.

***

புறநானூறு 82, பாடியவர்: சாத்தந்தையார், பாடப்பட்டோன்: சோழன் போரவைக்கோப் பெருநற்கிள்ளி, திணை: வாகை. துறை: அரச வாகை
சாறு தலைக்கொண்டெனப் பெண் ஈற்று உற்றெனப்
பட்ட மாரி ஞான்ற ஞாயிற்றுக்,
கட்டில் நிணக்கும் இழிசினன் கையது
போழ் தூண்டு ஊசியின் விரைந்தன்று மாதோ,
ஊர் கொள வந்த பொருநனொடு  5
ஆர் புனை தெரியல் நெடுந்தகை போரே.

****

Item 539

Nayudus and Sulochana 

Three verses of Puram 83,84,85 were composed by Miss Nakkannai, daughter of Perunkozi Nayaka. 

Nayaka is a Sanskrit word and Nakkannai is Su +Lochana= Beautiful Eyed.

We Have Nayak in Silappadikaram as well. Manayakan (Maha Nayaka)

Nayaka (नयक).—

1) A skilful manager.

2) One versed in policy, a statesman.

Derivable forms: nayakaḥ (नयकः).

— OR —

Nāyaka (नायक).—a. [nī-ṇvul] Guiding, leading, conducting.

-kaḥ 1 A guide, leader, conductor.

2) A chief, master, head, lord.

3) A pre-eminent or principal person, distinguished personage; सैन्यनायकः (sainyanāyakaḥ) &c.

4) A general, commander.

Also a caste name in Tamil Nadu now. They are Telugu speakers; descendants of Nayaks who came from Vijayanagara. They are Kshatriyas.

Nakkannai is Suochana 

Meenakshi is Ankayar Kanni according to Gnana Sambanda rwho lived 1400 years ago.

Miss Kammakkani of Sangam literature is Kamakshi of Kanchipuram according to U VE Sa Iyer and Kanchi Paramacharya Swamikal (1894-1994)

 Ancient kings and queens also had both Sanskrit and Tamil names.

 ***

(I have additional support for my statement: In North Masi street, Madurai opposite my house, there were Nayudu houses. They were Telugu speaking people who settled in Tamil Nadu about 600 years ago. One of the girl’s name was Sulochana, who was my sister’s classmate.)

***

Item 540 Tamil Woman’s curse 

In Sanskrit Puranas we come across lots of Boons and Curses. In Tamil Sangam literature they are rare. Here, the woman who is in love with a man curses the town.

 May this confused town

tremble as much as I do!   Forever, they are not able to
choose, being of two different minds!

The dilemma of the people of the town is beautifully described in this Puram verse 83.

***

 Puranānūru 83, Poet Perunkōzhi Nāykan Nakkannaiyār sang for Chozhan Poravaikko Perunarkilli, Thinai: Kaikkilai, Thurai: Palichuthal

My bangles have become loose because of the young man
with black beard, who wears warrior anklets on his feet.
I am afraid of my mother.  I’d be embarrassed to embrace
him in front of the assembly.  May this confused town
tremble as much as I do!   Forever, they are not able to
choose, being of two different minds!

***

புறநானூறு 83, பாடியவர்: பெருங்கோழி நாய்கண் மகள் நக்கண்ணையார், பாடப்பட்டோன்: சோழன் போரவைக்கோப் பெருநற்கிள்ளி,
திணை: கைக்கிளை, துறை: பழிச்சுதல்
அடி புனை தொடு கழல் மை அணல் காளைக்கு என்
தொடி கழித்திடுதல் யான் யாய் அஞ்சுவலே;
அடு தோள் முயங்கல் அவை நாணுவலே;
என் போல் பெரு விதுப்புறுக என்றும்
ஒரு பால் படாஅது ஆகி  5
இரு பாற்பட்ட இம் மையல் ஊரே!

 Notes:  The poet Nakkannaiyār fell in love with Chozhan Poravaikko Perunarkilli who was a great warrior. 

***

Poems 84, 85 have nothing significant. My opinion is that they should be part of Akam Literature.

Any one interested in Wrestling can get lot of materials from Mahabharata, where Bhima’s wrestling matches are vividly described

To be continued    ………………………….

Tags- Low Castes and Nayudus in Sangam Literature; Purananuru wonders-28, Tamil Encyclopedia-68; One Thousand Interesting Facts -Part 68, Mallan, Wrestling, Nakkannai, Sulochana,