Bhagavad Gita and Brahmins’ Big Role! Purananuru wonders-30, Tamil Encyclopedia-70  (Post.15,807)

Written by London Swaminathan

Post No. 15,807

Date uploaded in London –30 May 2026

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Purananuru wonders-30, Tamil Encyclopedia-70; One Thousand Interesting Facts -Part 70

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Item 553 Kural Echo in Puram verse 92

Here the Yaaz music and prattle of children are compared; Commentators say that shows the relationship between the poetess Avvai and chieftain Athiyaman. Valluvar’s Kural also says about this. But Valluvar says prattle of children is sweeter (only for their parents!) than instrumental music.

Kural 66

66.‘The flute is sweet, the lute is sweet’ say those who have never heard the pretty prattle of their little ones

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Puranānūru 92, Poet Avvaiyār sang to Athiyamān Nedumān Anji,

Little children’s babbling words are
no match for yāzh music.  Their tenses
do not match, and they cannot be
understood.  Yet their fathers shower
their graces on them.

O Nedumān Anji who has seized
many enemy fortresses, their walls
well-guarded!
The words out of my mouth are just
like that, because of your graces.

***

புறநானூறு 92, பாடியவர்: ஔவையார், பாடப்பட்டோன்: அதியமான் நெடுமான் அஞ்சி, திணை: பாடாண், துறை: இயன் மொழி

யாழொடும் கொள்ளா, பொழுதொடும் புணரா,
பொருள் அறிவாராயினும் தந்தையர்க்கு
அருள் வந்தனவால் புதல்வர் தம் மழலை,
என் வாய்ச் சொல்லும் அன்ன, ஒன்னார்
கடி மதில் அரண் பல கடந்து  5
நெடுமான் அஞ்சி, நீ அருளல்மாறே.

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Item 554 Brahmin’s Big Role

Throughout Sangam Tamil literature we see the big role played by the Brahmins. Brahmin (braahmana) poets contributed more than the poets from other castes (See Kapilar, Paranar, Nakkeerar, Rudrankannan, Perum Kausikan etc).

Here in Puram verse 93, a strange custom is referred to. Those kings who meet death by natural causes were also cut (symbolically) and then laid to rest, because they did not die in battle fields. This was done by the Brahmins who were well versed in Four Vedas. They spread the holy Darbha grass and placed the body of the kings and then did the ceremony. They recited the mantras and sent the king to heaven. Those who die in battlefield go to heaven directly according to Bhagavad Gita. Being ardent Hindus , Tamil kings also believed in it.  In Puram verse 74 Chera King Kanaikkal Irumporai also mentioned it. We see Tamil kings performing Yagas like Rajasuyam, Asvamedam etc. We come across Yupam (Yaga Pole) in Purananuru poems.

Here are the Bhagavad Gita slokas for comparison

In Chapter 2 of the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna explains that a warrior (Kshatriya) who fights righteously fulfils their duty. He states that if you fall in battle, you will attain heaven (swarga), and if you are victorious, you will enjoy the earthly kingdom.

Krishna highlights this path in two specific verses:

• Verse 2-32: Krishna describes the battlefield as an unsought opportunity that opens the doors to heaven.
• Verse 2-37: Krishna directly tells Arjuna: “If you fight, you will either be slain on the battlefield and go to the celestial abodes [swarga], or you will gain victory and enjoy the kingdom on earth. Therefore arise with determination…

यदृच्छया चोपपन्नं स्वर्गद्वारमपावृतम्।
सुखिनः क्षत्रियाः पार्थ लभन्ते युद्धमीदृशम्।। 2-32

yadṛcchayā copapannaṁ svarga-dvāram apāvṛtam
sukhinaḥ kṣatriyāḥ pārtha labhante yuddham īdṛśam 2-32

“O Partha (Arjuna), happy are the Kshatriyas (warriors) to whom such fighting opportunities come unsought, opening for them the doors of the heavenly planet

हतो वा प्राप्स्यसि स्वर्गं जित्वा वा भोक्ष्यसे महीम् |
तस्मादुत्तिष्ठ कौन्तेय युद्धाय कृतनिश्चय: ||2- 37||

hato vā prāpsyasi swargaṁ jitvā vā bhokṣhyase mahīm
tasmād uttiṣhṭha kaunteya yuddhāya kṛita-niśhchayaḥ2-37

 If you fight, you will either be slain on the battlefield and go to the celestial abodes, or you will gain victory and enjoy the kingdom on earth. Therefore arise with determination, O son of Kunti, and be prepared to fight.2-37

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Puranānūru 93, Poet Avvaiyār sang to Athiyamān Nedumān Anji,

With tightly strapped battle drums roaring,
how can there be more victories to be won?
Enemy kings who came could not stand against
your foot soldiers.  They scattered and ran.

The kings without pride killed by you
avoided what would have been done to
them, had they died naturally of disease,
their bodies laid out on fine green grass
by Brahmins who desire righteousness, who
know the four Vedas, who chant, “Go where
the great warriors with splendid war anklets
go, those who have died in battles with bravery
as their crutch,” and forgetting any love
they had for them,
they would have cut their bodies with swords
to escape the dishonor of being buried.

But you are a great man who fights harsh
battles, shattering the battlefield around you,
as noble elephants fall down, the juices of
their musth flowing into their mouths where
bees hum, and you have good battle wounds!

***

புறநானூறு 93, பாடியவர்: ஔவையார், பாடப்பட்டோன்: அதியமான் நெடுமான் அஞ்சி, திணை: வாகை, துறை: அரச வாகை
திண்பிணி முரசம் இழுமென முழங்கச்
சென்று அமர் கடத்தல் யாவது? வந்தோர்
தார் தாங்குதலும் ஆற்றார், வெடிபட்டு,
ஓடல் மரீஇய பீடு இல் மன்னர்
நோய்ப்பால் விளிந்த யாக்கை தழீஇக்,  5
காதல் மறந்து அவர் தீது மருங்கு அறுமார்,
அறம் புரி கொள்கை நான்மறை முதல்வர்
திறம் புரி பசும் புல் பரப்பினர் கிடப்பி,
“மறம் கந்து ஆக நல் அமர் வீழ்ந்த
நீள் கழல் மறவர் செல்வுழிச் செல்க” என  10
வாள் போழ்ந்து அடக்கலும் உய்ந்தனர் மாதோ,
வரி ஞிமிறு ஆர்க்கும் வாய் புகு கடாஅத்து
அண்ணல் யானை அடு களத்து ஒழிய,
அருஞ்சமம் ததைய நூறி, நீ
பெருந்தகை விழுப்புண் பட்டமாறே.  15

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Item 555 Elephant Simile

 Here in Puram verse 94 poetess Avvai compared the king to an elephant in rut and an elephant not in rut.

This contrast is seen by us  in Rudra and Siva, Uma and Kali.

Two sides of every one of us. When a father is happy the child plays on his back. When the same dad is angry, the child runs away and hides behind its mother.

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Puranānūru 94, Poet Avvaiyār sang to Athiyamān Nedumān Anji,

To us, you are sweet, O Greatness,
like a huge bull elephant that relaxes
in the town’s bathing port since
children wash its white tusks!

But to your enemies, you are harsh,
like the harshness of that elephant
which is unapproachable when it is
in rut!

***

புறநானூறு 94, பாடியவர்: ஔவையார், பாடப்பட்டோன்: அதியமான் நெடுமான் அஞ்சி, திணை: வாகை, துறை: அரச வாகை
ஊர்க் குறுமாக்கள் வெண்கோடு கழாஅலின்,
நீர்த் துறை படியும் பெருங்களிறு போல,
இனியை பெரும எமக்கே, மற்று அதன்
துன் அருங்கடாஅம் போல,
இன்னாய் பெரும நின் ஒன்னாதோர்க்கே.  5

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Item 556 Sarcasm 

Ancient Tamil poets were bold like Vedic Rishis (seers). They can go to any country; they can praise or criticise a king without fear. They were very bold and used sarcastic remarks too. Here in poem 95, we see poetess Avvai making sarcastic remarks to Chieftain Thondaiman who showed her, his brand new ,shining weapons beautifully decorated inside the armoury. Avvai said your enemy’s weapons are blunt because he fought many wars. Thondaiman had no such battle experience!

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Puranānūru 95, Poet Avvaiyār sang to Thondaimān for Athiyamān Nedumān Anji, Thinai: Pādān, Thurai: Vāl Mangalam
Here,
these spears are adorned with peacock
feathers and decorated with garlands,
their strong, thick shafts anointed with
ghee and they are in perfect condition,
in this palace that is guarded.

There,
they are in the small blacksmith’s shed,
his sharp spears, their blade tips
broken by piercing enemies.  When he has
plenty, he gives food.  Even when he does
not have enough, he shares and eats what
he has, our noble king, a leader to those who
do not have.

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புறநானூறு 95, பாடியவர்: ஔவையார், பாடப்பட்டோன்: அதியமான் நெடுமான் அஞ்சி, திணை: பாடாண், துறை: வாள் மங்கலம்
இவ்வே பீலி அணிந்து, மாலை சூட்டிக்,
கண் திரள் நோன் காழ் திருத்தி, நெய் அணிந்து
கடி உடை வியன் நகர், அவ்வே அவ்வே,
பகைவர்க் குத்திக் கோடு நுதி சிதைந்து,
கொல் துறைக் குற்றில மாதோ, என்றும்  5
உண்டாயின் பதம் கொடுத்து,
இல்லாயின் உடன் உண்ணும்,
இல்லோர் ஒக்கல் தலைவன்,
அண்ணல் எம் கோமான், வைந்நுதி வேலே.

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Item 557

In Puram verses 96,97,98 we see some usual praises on Athiyaman and his son Pokuttezini.  He looked very handsome. Athiyaman was compared to Yama, God of death, because he kept on killing his enemies. Using white mustard seed smoke to drive away the ghosts is also mentioned. 

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 Item 558

Athiyamans came from Noth India with Sugarcane.

Once again we come across some information about the ancestors of Athiyaman. They were Ikshvakus (Sanskrit word for sugarcane people)  who brought sugarcane cultivation to Tamil Nadu. They did Vedic ceremonie sand brought sugarcane cultivation to Tamil Nadu,according to Avvaiyar. Since Sugar cane is discovered in Harappa and Mohanja Daro, Ikshwakus must be older than Indus Valley people. Puranas give 140 ++ generations before Mauryas. Even if we give 20 years for a king we can place Ikshwakus around 3100 BCE corresponding to Hindu Kali Yuga. That shows Ikshwakus as part of Indus- Saraswati River Civilization.

Fifteen years ago, I posted this matter here in my two blogs Please see the attached article.

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Puranānūru 99, Poet Avvaiyār sang to Athiyamān Nedumān Anji, Thinai: Vākai, Thurai: Arasa Vākai
Like your ancestors of ancient tradition
who served the gods and offered oblations
to secure the gift that is hard to obtain,
sugarcane for this land,
and rolled the wheel of their power around
this world surrounded by ocean,
you inherited by right the beautiful gold
warrior anklets you wear on your legs,
the garland of dark palmyra, gardens with
abundance of flowers, tall spears with fresh
flesh, seven royal symbols,
and your rightful kingship to the land.

Not satisfied with these, you advanced
against seven kings with strength, their
battle drums roaring, and won.
Singers could not sing to you at that time.
Now Paranan has sung of you and about
your strong hands that held the discus that
destroyed forts and strong, hostile Kōvalūr.

***

புறநானூறு 99, பாடியவர்: ஔவையார், பாடப்பட்டோன்: அதியமான் நெடுமான் அஞ்சி, திணை: வாகை, துறை: அரச வாகை
அமரர்ப் பேணியும், ஆவுதி அருத்தியும்,
அரும் பெறல் மரபின் கரும்பு இவண் தந்தும்,
நீர் அக இருக்கை ஆழி சூட்டிய
தொல் நிலை மரபின் நின் முன்னோர் போல,
ஈகை அம் கழற்கால் இரும் பனம் புடையல்,  5
பூ ஆர் காவின் புனிற்றுப் புலால் நெடுவேல்
எழு பொறி நாட்டத்து எழாஅத் தாயம்
வழு இன்று எய்தியும் அமையாய் செரு வேட்டு,
இமிழ் குரல் முரசின் எழுவரொடு முரணிச்
சென்று அமர் கடந்து நின் ஆற்றல் தோற்றிய  10
அன்றும் பாடுநர்க்கு அரியை, இன்றும்
பரணன் பாடினன் மற்கொல், மற்று நீ
முரண் மிகு கோவலூர் நூறி நின்
அரண் அடு திகிரி ஏந்திய தோளே.

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The Sugarcane Mystery: Indus valley and the Ikshvaku 

Dynasty

Written by London Swaminathan

Posted date-November 19, 2011

Ikshvaku was the founder of the Solar Dynasty. Lord Sri Rama, Bhageeratha and other great kings of the solar dynasty are well known to the Hindus. What is interesting is that we get more and more evidence to link him with the Indus Valley Civilisation, first Jain Thirthankara, Rishabadeva, the Rik Veda and a Tamil king called Adhiyamaan.

Ikshvaku was mentioned in Rik Veda. The meaning of his name is SUGARCANE. The plant sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) is mentioned in the Atharva Veda. Ayurvedic authors Charaka and Susruta mentioned the sugarcane in many places. The word ‘sugar’ and the words for sugar in other European languages came from the Sanskrit word ‘Sharkara’. Columbus introduced the sugarcane to the Americas in 1439. Arabs took it from India to other parts of Asia around 8^th century AD.

Encyclopaedias say that the people of New Guinea were the first to cultivate sugarcane around 6000 BC. But they did not extract sugar from it. They just chewed it to get the juice out of it. But King Ikshvaku was the first one to show the people of extracting sugar from the sugarcane. That is how he got this name Mr Sugarcane.

Who was Ikshvaku?

Ikshvaku was the son of Vaivasvata Manu who is equated with the King Satyavrata of Dravidian country in whose time the first avatar of Lord Vishnu- Matsyavatara (Fish incarnation) – took place. So all the facts lead us to the remotest period. Ikshvaku was more famous for his just rule rather than sugarcane juice.

Jains have another interesting story about the sugarcane. Their first Thirthankara Rishabadeva (Adi Nath) was the one who taught the people of extraction of sugarcane juice. So he was known as Ikshvaku. Another version is that he took sugarcane juice after a year of fasting. Both the Hindu and Jain Ikshvakus are probably one and the same.

Indus Valley civilisation has evidence to show that they knew sugarcane and sugar extraction. Crystallised sugar was used by the Indus Valley people. Hindu Gods and Goddesses such as Lalitha (Ref. Lalitha Sahasranamam), Kamakshi, Tripura Sundari and the Hindu Cupid Manmatha are depicted holding a sugarcane in one hand. The Sanskrit word Sharkara and these Hindu goddesses prove that sugarcane was very much Hindu and Indian.

Tamil King Adhiyamaan Nedumaan Anji

Another interesting fact about sugarcane is in Tamil literature. The word for sugarcane in Tamil is ‘Karumbu’.The grand old lady of Tamil literature Avvaiyar praised chieftain Adhiyamaan  Nedumaan Anji of Thagadur (modern Dharmapuri in Tamil Nadu)  for his philanthropy in Puranaanuru verse 99. Avvaiyar lived two thousand years ago. While praising him she made a passing remark. She said that the forefathers of Adhiyamaan were the one who introduced sugarcane to the people. If we get all these facts together we get a good picture of sugarcane cultivation in India. Ikshvaku or Rishabadeva was the one who taught people how to get the juice and make sugar. But if Indus valley had it by 3000 BC then we had to push the date of Ikshvaku dynasty or Rishabadeva to 3000 BC as well. Tamils also say indirectly that Adhiyamaan was related to him. The South Indian Tamils corroborate what their North Indian counterparts said about the sugarcane. The idea that it was ‘introduced’ by some king is undeniable. The sugarcane mystery pushes back the date of Ikshvaku dynasty and the Jain Thirthankara to the remotest periods of Indian history.

Other Sanskrit words for sugarcane are Mahashira, Mahapushpaka and for jaggery ‘Gur’ or ‘Gud’ (Tamil word Vellam).

Please visit my blogs: swamiindology.blogspot.com and tamilandvedas.wordpress.com.

Send comments and feedback to swami_48@yahoo.com.

–subham—

Tags- Athiyaman, Ikshwaku Dynasty, Sugarcane Cultivation, Avvaiyar, Bhagavad Gita and Brahmins’ Big Role! Purananuru wonders-30, Tamil Encyclopedia-70