Karikal Choza in Grand Anicut, Tamil Nadu

 Written by London Swaminathan

Post No. 16,125

Date uploaded in London – 24 August 2026

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Purananuru wonders-58, Tamil Encyclopaedia 98, One Thousand Interesting Facts Part 98,

Item 816- Beautiful Tamil Words

For windows the poet Uruththirankannan (Mr Rudraksha)  used Tamil words Vali Nuzaiyum Vaay= wind entering opening. வளி நுழையும் வாயில்

For different sounds from different musical instruments, he used different verbs

Kuzal Akava, Yaaz Murala, Muzavu Athira, Murasu Iyampa Line 155

The flutes do pipe, the lyres do twang,

The drums roll loud, and the tabors sound

குழல் அகவ , யாழ்  முரல, முழவு அதிர, முரசு இயம்ப

***

Item 817- Debates and Challenges

From Kanyakumari to Kashmir, Hindu philosophers challenged the Anti Hindu forces and won them to their side. We see it in the lives of Adi Sankara, Ramanuja and Madhwa. Few Buddhist and Jain Scholars also won some debates increased their strength. The main place for such debates was Varanasi/Kasi. But from Tamil literature we knew that such debates happened in the Royal courts. But poet Rudraksha gives us some new information. Here in Kaveri Poompattinam in Tamil Nadu, the debaters planted their flags and invited all the interested persons to challenge them. We must remember that this happened 2000 years ago. No part in the world such organised debates happened 2000 years ago. Read any saint’s history and you will see some reports about scholarly debates.

Here in lines 169-171 pet gives us such information

***

Item 818- Cosmopolitan Harbour City

Kaveri Poom Pattinam (meaning is city where Kaveri enters sea) was cosmopolitan city where different nationalities established their colonies for business purpose.  We know such colonies of Hindu merchants existed from Alexandria in Egypt to several South East Asian cities.

Here in lines 216 clearly say this. People from countries of different languages were there.

***

Item 819– Good Business People

While describing the qualities of city’s merchants, poet makes a beautiful comment

Afraid of
blame, they trade well, respecting their
goods and those of others. They do not
take much when they buy and do not
give less when they sell.

***

Item 820 lines 200-204 Punyam

Support to Brahmins and cow worship

Merchants worshipped gods, they maintained bulls and cows, did Yagas and gave oblations, spread the fame of people well versed in four Vedas, did punya and did give donations

Important words- Amarar= devas/gods; Aavuthi= Aahuthi from Sanskrit Havis;

Naan marai= four Vedas;

Poet has used PUNNIYAM

***

Item 821 story of choza king/ animal intelligence

Karikalvalavan was also known as Tirumavalavan . he was denied the throne because of infighting in the family. But he, like a tiger in cage, came out and got his post. Here the simile is more important. It shows Hindus knew about animal intelligence. When the elephant catchers trap an elephant, it it is a male elephant, it uses its trunk and tusks to make way and escape. Karikalan also did this and came out of his prison.

In poet’s words,

As a long trunked tusker falls when trapped

Within a pit and breaks with tusks

The sides. And on the piled-up earth

He steps, escapes, and joins his mate

So planning his escape with care

The king doth scale his foremen’s walls

Unsheathes his sword, regains his crown……………..

While we get some historical anecdote, we also come to know the intelligence of animals/elephants.

***

Item 822  Karikalan’s determination

Karikal Choza in Grand Anicut, Tamil Nadu

Karikalan’s will power is portrayed beautifully

So strong his will to carry out

His aim without defeat, that one

Would think that he could mountains move

Fill up the sea, bring down the sky.

மலை அகழ்க்குவனே, கடல் தூர்க்குவனே,
வான் வீழ்க்குவனே, வளி மாற்றுவன்,

***

Item 823 war atrocities

Karikalan after defeating enemies brought the omen from enemy countries who did the worship in the temples. they lit the never extinguishable lamps, washed the floor with cow dung paste.

Poet narrated first how festive the enemy country was and the condition now of enemy territory,

The jackal shrieks and howls;

The owl’s dad hoot is heard;

The bitten whoops; dread goblin crowds

And female ghouls that corpses eat

With hair dishevelled fill the place.

…………………………

He ruins thus the hamlets fair

Whose walls are strongly fortified,

And wipes out those that lived in them.

Even then he is not satisfied.

The poet finishes the poem with the list of countries Karikalan won

பல் ஒளியர் பணிபு ஒடுங்க,
தொல் அருவாளர் தொழில் கேட்ப,   275
வடவர் வாடக், குடவர் கூம்பத்,
தென்னவன் திறல் கெடச் சீறி, 

This poem has 301 lines.

The same poet has authored another long poem called Perumpanatruppadai .

To be continued……………….

Tags- Purananuru wonders-58, Tamil Encyclopaedia 98, One Thousand Interesting Facts Part 98, Karikal Choza, Pattinappalai, Item 823.