Written by London Swaminathan

Post No. 16,179

Date uploaded in London – 9 September 2026

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Purananuru wonders-64; Tamil Encyclopaedia 104, One Thousand Interesting Facts -Part 104

CAMEL FAIR IN PUSHKAR, RAJASTHAN.

Item 892

Next let us look at the wonders in SIRU PANATRUPPADAI (siru paan aatruppadai); it is one of the ten idylls (Paththup Paattu), part of Tamil Sangam Literature that is 2000 years old.

Poem was written by Nallur Naththathanaar; Lines 269.

Subject – a bard is guided by another bard to the town of Nalliakodan for getting gifts.

Here are the wonders or unique things from this book:

Mahabharata’s Bhima is mentioned because of his skill in cooking;

Ramayana’s Lanka is mentioned along with Mavilanka, a small town;

For the first time all the Last Seven Philanthropists listed together;

For the first time camel is mentioned;

New dream miracle reported-Nalliayakkodan’s dream of Lord Muruga led to his victory;

Doors of kings always open to Brahmins, Poets and Bards

Monkeys are kept by salt vendors, as their own children;

New type of Anthathi is used; word- word Anthathi;

Naga mystery continues with Puram verse of Perun Chitran;

Madurai city’s link with Tamil language reconfirmed;

Tamil’s belief in Moon devoured by Snake during eclipse is repeated;

Boy soldiers, Laughing Ghouls, usual description of Body Parts of Woman from Head to Foot is also found;

Great three Cities of Chera, Pandya and Choza kings are portrayed.

***

Item 893- Atharvana Veda Echo-Tamil Line one

Foreigners called earth as Fatherland where male dominance and male chauvinism is seen.

Hindus are the one who called the earth MOTHER EARTH. We see it in the most famous Ode to Earth in the Atharvana Veda. The hymn is called Bhumi Sukta or Prithvi Sukta.

Here the poet in the very first line said Mother Earth. Hindus named all the rivers after women; Hindus named all the good virtues after women.

***

Item 894-  Word Anthathi – lines 21, 22

Anthathi is a Sanskrit word that means End- Beginning.

The last word of the previous line or previous stanza will be the beginning of the next line.

Elsewhere in Sangam poems we see Anthaathi just in few lines.

In the devotional poems of middle Ages of Tamil literature we see 100 stanzas anthathi hymns.

Here in lines 21, 22 we see words used twice consequently.

***

Item 895-MullaiFlower linked to Chastity

Strange custom of Tamils is linking MULLAI flowers with chastity; Mullai is a kind of Jasmine.

Here poet links Mullai flowers with virtuous woman. We see it in other Sangam Poems as well;

Narrinai- 142;Akananuru – 274;

***

Item 896- monkeys as pets-  lines 56-61

Poet Naththathhanar depicts an interesting scene of a female monkey playing with the rattle. Salt vendors keep monkeys as pets. They are treated like their own sons or daughters, says the poet. The rattle that is used by the monkey, we can guess,it is from one of the babies of the salt vendor.

***

Item 897- Madurai -seat of Tamil Sangam- lines 66-67

We know that at least forty poets are from Madurai city in Tamil Sangam poetry, much higher than other towns. That is a proof for Third Tamil Academy  located in Madurai. Here poet confirms Tamil Link with Madurai.

தமிழ் நிலைபெற்ற, தாங்கு அரு மரபின்
மகிழ்நனை மறுகின் மதுரையும் வறிதே; அதாஅன்று, (62-67)

***

Item 898- Divine Lotus-line 73

Poet described the lotus as DIVINE LOTUS. Hindus only knew the reason.

All the Hindu goddesses, especially Lakshmi and Sarasvati, Gods Brahma and Vishnu, are associated with lotus flower. India also declared it as the National Flower of India.

திருமுகம் அவிழ்ந்த தெய்வத் தாமரை,

***

Item 899-Strange link between Lord Shiva and Choza Kings! Lines 81-82

Throughout Tamil devotional poems Lord Shiva is praised for destroying three hanging fortresses of Demons/Asuras by laughing; I always described it as the destruction of Three space stations in the sky by laser rays from Shiva’s third eye. But why the poet linked it with a Choza king is not explained properly. We know that Chozas migrated from North West India where Sibi race ruled once upon a time; Here also poet called the Choza as SEMBIAN which is derived from Sanskrit SIBI=SAIBHYA=SEMBIYA.

The connection between Lod Shiva and Choza needs more explanation, which is lacking in the commentaries. Both are depicted as destroying Three Hanging Castles!

தூங்கு எயில் எறிந்த தொடி விளங்கு தடக்கை,
நாடா நல்லிசை நற்றேர்ச் செம்பியன்

***

Item 900-lines 84-11- Last Seven Philanthropists

Here we get details of seven great chieftains who were famous for their munificence, generosity, compassion and love towards animals.

Bekan gave his clothes to a peacock (thinking that it is shivering in cold);

Pari (paari) gave his chariot to a Mullai (jasminium) creeper for support (thinking that it is struggling without a post to climb)

Kari (kaari) gifted horses (to bards);

Ay Andiran gave a rare cloth given by snake Neela Naagam to Lord Siva under Banyan Tree;

(I have some comments ;see below)

Athikan (Athiyamaan Anji) gave a rare black gooseberry (which lengthens life) to poetess Avvai;

Nalli donated lot of wealth (as charity);

Ori gave lands to dancers and singers;

This is the first reference to Seven generous men together grouped as the Great Seven

From this we know this poet lived later than many Sangam poets who praised the seven people separately.

Probably a gap of 200 years.

My comments :

Neela naakam is not a snake; it may be the name of a Naga leader who weaves very fine cloths.

***

Item 901- Ramayana Lanka and New Maavilanka- lines 110-120

Capital of chieftain Nalliyakkodan was Maavilanka

Poet says his town is Maavi Lanka which is similar to the old and famous Lanka (of Ravana).

Hindus of Tamil Nadu were well versed in Hindu epics Ramayana and Mahabharata (we are going to see Bhima soon)

***

Item 902-OVIYAR clan is Mysterious Naga Clan

Oviyar in today’s Tamil is a painter; but in the poem he is a man from Naga clan; we have about 20 Naga poets in Sangam corpus; they may be from North India or Sri Lanka; Ceylon/Sri Lanka was a Naga Island. We have Naga names in Mahavamsa and Gupta inscriptions. So their origin is still an unsolved mystery. OVIYAR hear meant who has Snake tattoos on their bodies. Puram 176 where this chieftain is praised is also a Naga poet. We have another poet named Perun Chitran in Purananuru. He used same words in his poem; Perum Chitran is Maha Chitran meaning Great Painter; it means he is also a poet with big snake tattoo on his body or a great Naga clan leader. In short Oviyar is misunderstood and misinterpreted. Neela Naakam is also a Naga Chief (see seven Generous Men above)

Last but not the least , Nalliya KODAN is similar to great snake KAARKODAN in Sanskrit books. Karkodan is also depicted as man and snake.

***

Item 903- CAMEL! in Tamil literature! Line 154

For the first time Sangam Age, Tamils hear about camel in this poem; Tamils must have already seen it, because the poet used it as a simile. It is compared to the woods washed by the waves; the logs lying on the sea shore looked like the back of a sleeping camel.

Sanskrit word Ushta for camel is changed to Ottakam in Tamil. It is a desert animal found in Rajasthan deserts. So, Tamils must have imported them from Rajasthan.

to be continued………….

Tags. Purananuru wonders-64; Tamil Encyclopaedia 104, One Thousand Interesting Facts -Part 104 , item 903, camel, Ramayana Lanka, Naga Mystery