Written by London Swaminathan

Post No. 16,099

Date uploaded in London – 17 August 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-55, Tamil Encyclopedia-95, One Thousand Interesting Facts – Part 95

From now on let me tell you about the wonders in PATHTHUPPAATTU (Ten Idyls); ten books in Sangam Tamil Literature

Item 774

J V Chellaiah’s translation is used; (year 1946)

Malaipadaukadam (kadaam) is the last book in the group called Paththu (10) Paattu(poems/songs).

The meaning is SECRETION OOZING FROM THE MOUNTAIN. The mountain is compared to elephant and rut from it is oozing is the implied meaning. As like other books it has got many interesting similes and information.

The author’s name is Iraniamuttattup Perunkundrur Perum Kausikan (Senior Kausikan). He is a brahmin which is evident from his Gotra Kausika.

Subject matter is mostly the description of the mountainous country of King Nannan.

Another name for this book is KOOTHTHARAATRUPPADAI.

Where is it?

Naviram hills watered by Seyaru river in Tiruvannamalai area.

First wonder is the m list of Musical Instruments. Though we see these instruments in other books like Purananuru, here all are listed in one place: the big drum, the small drum/aguli,  the cymbal, the horn, the long oboe, , the pipe the flute, he karandikai/ a peculiar drum, large cymbal/ellari, wide faced drum/padali.

THESE ARE IN THE FIRST FIFTEEN LINES.

Explanation:

Thattai , also known as Karadigai because it resembles the grunt of a bear.

Pathali – a wide faced drum with only one side.

***

Item 775 Polygamy

Kings were allowed to marry as many women as they want to protect the country; except Lord Rama all Hindu kings married many women. Here also Nannan is called Spouse of women (Line 70 in English translation).

He is the spouse of women chaste with breasts

Resembling those of statues, shoulders smooth,

And eyes like blossoms cool.

***

Item 776 Popular simile

आकाशात् पतितं तोयं यथागच्छति सागरम् ।

सर्वदेव नमस्कारः केशवं प्रतिगच्छति ॥

Transliteration

ākāśāt patitaṃ toyaṃ yathāgacchati sāgaram .

sarvadeva namaskāraḥ keśavaṃ pratigacchati .

Translation

Just as water fallen from the sky goes to the ocean, so too all salutations to the gods reach Keshava (Krishna/Vishnu).

It is a mantra which Brahmins recite thrice a day when they do Sandhya Vandana. 

This simile is here in Malaipadukadam (line 51 in Tamil poem). Before Sangam age Kalidasa used it in Raghuvamsam 9-17 and Sakuntalam 3-13. Later Tamil Sangam poets used in Puram.42 and Perump-Line 427

***

Item 777 Music Tunes

Kooththar  aatruppadai in another name for this book because prominence is given to dancers/actors and music in it. There were special songs sung by women when they pounded rice. Tribal wives sang songs to alleviate the pain caused by wounds received by their husbands while hunting. They had separate tunes appropriate to the five various conventional tracts. Of these Kurinchi and Marutham tunes are mentioned in the poem.

***

Item 778 no bangles for mothers

An unknown custom is mentioned in the poem.  Women discarded their bangles when they became  mothers. We can guess the reason for it. Bangles make noise and distract babies while breast feeding. Bangles may carry virus and bacteria; bangles made up of conch shells and glass are dangerous for babies.

***

Item 779 only leafy garments

All Kurinchi women wore garments made up of leaves and plant fibres. It was the custom even in Pacific Ocean islands. We see it in Hawaii islands, USA.

The women wore their hair in five plaits. Some scholas thought that it was five different hair styles like modern women. Rich women, however, wore fine spun clothes. Such garments were presented to dancing women. Even semi- nude women wore lot of ornaments. We see them in Yakshi statues of Second Century BCE in Bharhut and Tamil temple statues.

***

Item 780

 Ingenious methods were followed to indicate the paths in the jungle and bushy areas. They made grass knots on either side along the path so that people in the day time don’t lose tract.  If one lays stones on either side it may be hidden by the over growth of plants.

***

Item 781

Barter trade was given in details. They exchanged or sold their goods this way.

***

Item 782

One of the pastime was watching bull fight.

***

Item 783

Kartikai star/Pleiades constellation is mentioned. We must remember the composer of this poem was a Brahmin. They had knowledge of all the 27 stars. Tamil word used for this star in this pome means fire. It is the abbreviated form of Azarkuttam which Agni Nakshatram in Sanskrit.

***

Item 784 Lord Siva

There was a temple for Lord Siva in Naviram hills. He was called the person who swallowed poison ( in Tamil Kaariundik Kadavul). Lord Muruga was praised as war god corresponding to Sanskrit name Deva Senapati, Commander in Chief of Indra’s army.

Gods were worshipped in dedicated pillars called Kandhu.

***

Item 785 DARE NOT FORGET THE PAST

It is a significant phrase (translated line 264) indicating the belief in Karma theory.  If you have done something wrong in the past, you will have to face the effect in this birth. The implied meaning is Don’t Do anything wrong in this birth.

***

Item 786 Auspicious Time

Even now Anti God Dravidians too file their nomination papers for contesting in elections in an auspicious hour. They go to temples secretly or send their proxies to do special Pujas. Throughout Tamil literature, from Tolkappiam to latest works, we see Nimiththam and Sakunam etc. The auspicious hour for starting on a journey is mentioned in this poem.

***

Item 787

Malaipadukadam is more appreciated for the portrayal of NATURE than anything else. The list of sounds heard in the mountain is depicted in this poem- lines 294-348 in Tamil. This elaborate description extends to more than fifty lines

Tamil Wordworth

Total lines 583. Out of it, more than 400 lines are devoted to descriptions of nature. The poem is one stretch of pen pictures of nature beautified by countless similes.  It shows  not only the poet’s keen perception of nature’s beauties but also his capacity for painting nature.

Dark hills, swift streams, and steep ways appear. Gloomy caves, deep clefts, dangerous slopes and rough tracts are all depicted in detail with the various plants and animals of the region. The poet has an unerring ear for the various sounds heard in the mountain, these sounds combine together and echo far off. This conglomeration of sounds is likened to the rut of the elephant to which the mountain itself is compared and hence the suggestive title Malaipatukataam = the Rut of the Mountain.

***

Item 788

References: Tamil line numbers are given below:

Musical instruments- lines 1 to 11;

Phrase -Not even an iota of defect – lines 22-24;

Five plaits hair style- lines 30-31;also Kuruntokai-2;

Small feet like the tongue of a dog;

Rain from the sky go to sea- 51-53;

Birds seeking only fruit trees- common simile- 53-55;

Sandal paintings on breasts- 57 (Beautiful Tamil Words- Vanai Punai Ezil Mulai)

To be continued…………………………….

Tags- Tamil Wordsworth! Purananuru wonders-55, Tamil Encyclopedia 95, One Thousand Interesting Facts, Part 95, Malaipatukataam, item 788