Written by London Swaminathan

Post No. 16,269

Date uploaded in London – 4 October 2026

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Purananuru wonders-76, Tamil Encyclopaedia 116, One Thousand Interesting Facts -Part 116

I promised you 1000 wonders from 2000 year old Sangam Tamil Literature. I fulfilled my promise and continue to give you more wonders.

Let us continue with Maduraik Kanchi (pronounced mathuraik kaanchi)

Item 1001- ONAM Festival in Madurai. Lines 590-599, Maduraik kanchi

Now Onam festival is celebrated on a grand scale in Kerala only; in other places, temples only hold special Pujas, but 1800 years ago it was celebrated in Madurai as well. It glorifies Lord Vishnu who defeated demon Mahabali.

Even our poet say Lord Vishnu defeated Avunar (Asurar)

On Ōnam day, the birthday of Thirumāl

adorned with a gold garland who destroyed

groups of Avunars, in the settlement of brave

warriors adorned with bee-swarming flowers with

marks on their faces caused by curved swords, scars

on their foreheads, and big hands that bore battles,

there are elephant fights between rival groups,

and spectators drunk with strong liquor roam

on the dark coloured ground with pebbles that hurt

their feet, laid down to protect them from the

elephants.

***

Item 1002- Proud Pregnant Women/Proud Peacocks!

Description of proud pregnant ladies and Muruga worship are pictured in lines 600 to 615.

Women in their first pregnancies, walk very

delicately like proud peacocks, pray with their

palms together, and give offerings along with

women possessed by god, led by those carrying

many lamps with bright flames, as ākuli drums

and muzhavu drums are beaten in a fine manner,

and songs are sung in sevvali tunes to the music

of fine lutes with kural strings and frets that are

tightly tied on their stems.

(Vaidehi Herbert’s Translation is used; thanks)

***

Item 1003 Nannan’s Birthday

Poet Mangudi Maruthan compared the night time celebrations with the celebration of Nannan’s birthday.

He was only a chieftain. In other parts of Tamil literature, he was condemned for giving death sentence to a girl for taking the mango that was floating in the stream.

And the poets vowed that no poet would glorify him in poems hereafter wards.

Here Nannan is praised! There may be more than one Nannan or the death sentence anecdote happened after this poem.

***

Item 1004- MODAKAM in Tamil! Line 626

கவவொடு பிடித்த வகை அமை மோதகம்- line 626

While describing the food vendors poet used the Sanskrit word Modakam along with other food items.

This Modakam, Kozukkattai in Tamil, is the favourite food of Lord Ganesh throughout India.

If one goes to the famous Siddhi Vinayakar temple in Mumbai, which is frequented by Bollywood actors, a lot of Modaka shops can be seen.

Sri Lankans make Modaka with sweet pulses inside. Tamils in Tamil Nadu stuff Modakam with Coconut Jaggery mix what is called Pooranam.

the sounds of conch shells die down, shop

keepers remove pole props and close the

big shops where prices are called out, delicate,

arrogant women wearing bright jewels go to sleep,

vendors who sell delicate adais that are like

honeycombs with fine lines and mōthakams that

are made on the palms pressing fingers,

with fillings of sugar syrup, go to sleep,

and artists who dance in the festivals go to sleep,

**

Did ancient Tamils worship Vinayakar 2000 years ago?

Ganesh- Ganaptai- Vinyakar- Pillaiyaar in Tamil- is a subject of debate in India. Why don’t we find Ganesh in ancient works of Kalidasa or Sangam Tamil Literature or Manikkavasagar’s Tiruvasagam?

In the Vedas we come across a mantra beginning Ganaanaam Tvaa Ganapatim Havaamahe………

This mantra is recited at the beginning of every Puja. Another mantra Suklaam bharataram Vishnum…… is also recited in every ceremony.

But the ancient commentators never attributed them to modern day Ganesh with an elephant face! So the debate continues………..

And Buddha was also called Vinayaka which added more confusion. The word simply meant Supreme leader or No one is above him.

I gave my answer to this debate by giving following details:

1

Though Pathikam part in Sangam literature mentioned Ganapati, all pathikam parts are considered later additions, added when Sangam works were compiled by some Tamil enthusiasts of later centuries. But I quoted Kapilar’s poem in Puranauru (106) where he mentioned grass, Erukkam offered to God. Both the Grass (arukam pul in Tamil) and Erukkam Puu are offered to Ganesh only in all parts of Tamil Nadu until this day. And the surprising coincidence is Kapila is the name of Ganesh as well. One of the Sixteen Names of Lord Ganesh is Kapila, Purananuru  poet’s name!

2

Now I add one more point to say that Tamils worshipped Ganesh 2000 years ago. Modakam, favourite dish of Lord Ganesh or Lord Pillaiyar is used by Mangudi Maruthan in Maduraikanchi with the Sanskrit word Modakam. For all other food items, he gave us Tamil names only. Though we have a word Kozaukkattai in Tamil, Mangudi Maruthan deliberately used Modakam. It shows clearly that Tamils knew Modakam of Lord Ganesh in Sangam Age. Modakam is seen in the statues of Vinayakar in Tamil Nadu.

“முருகனே செந்தில் முதல்வனே மாயோன்

மருகனே ஈசன் மகனே – ஒருகைமுகன்

தம்பியே நின்னுடைய தண்டைக்கால் எப்பொழுதும்

நம்பியே கைதொழுவேன் நான்” என்கிறது.

(From the Pathikam part of Sangam Literature)

***

Item 1005- Thieves and Guards! Dance of Ghosts!

In Mrichcha katika, Sanskrit Play by Sudraka, we see the the Art of Stealing and the book dealing with it. That play was also written in Second century CE (Tanslated into Tamil by Kathiresan Chettiyar as Manniyal Siru Ther); here our poet portrayed the thieves and tiger like policemen who catch them!

வயக் களிறு பார்க்கும் வயப்புலி போலத் -643
துஞ்சாக் கண்ணர் அஞ்சாக் கொள்கையர்
அறிந்தோர் புகழ்ந்த ஆண்மையர் செறிந்த 645

The Third Phase of the Night Lines 632-654

Ghost Dance

In the third phase of the night, ghouls and deities

take shapes that can be seen and roam, Kootruvan (Yama)

roams holding a fine sceptre that analyses lives of

human beings, along with murderous ghouls that

whirl like chariots,

darkness is as dark as the skin of female elephants,

(Robbers with Wall Breaking instruments)

there are robbers wearing slippers, carrying dangling,

sharp swords that can break stones and chop trees,

and sharp knives with short handles placed around

their thighs.

 (Camouflage Technique)

They wear clothing made from dark blue fabric,

finely made, the colour appearing like it was seized

from fine black sand, tie elegantly ladders made with

thin ropes around their waists,

carry chisels with sharp tips which can dig deep into

the land, and roam desiring to steal precious jewels,

hiding from the view of others in an instant.

They are fearless and well trained by books that are

dense with information, the principled town guards,

who do roam around with desire without relaxing,

who hide themselves and spy on thieves.

who are praised by many, who bear arrows,

who are like powerful tigers that stalk strong male

elephants in the streets where chariots are driven.

They protect the streets without slack, removing the

fears of people, in the middle of the night and when it

is pitch dark, and when there is heavy downpour and

the streets are flooded and deities roam.

**

No commentator explained the following line!

ghouls and deities that cause distress, taking shapes that can be seen,

it looks like Tamils believed that ghosts can be seen in the mid night! Certain deities roam in the night)

the streets are flooded and deities roam.

Which deities roam is also not explained!

(Later works name the Books on Stealing as Tantra Karana and Steya Shstra; English word STEALING is derived from Sanskrit word STEYA

***

Item 1006- morning scenes- lines 656 to 673

Brahmins reciting Vedas;

Bards playing marutham tune; (also Puram. Verse 149)

Bards sing praises (of kings)

Time keepers announce time

Three kinds of singers:-

சூதர் – bards who stand up and praise, வாழ்த்த –  praise, மாகதர் – bards who sit down and praise, நுவல – utter praises,

வேதாளிகரொடு – along with those who sing praises according to their field of interest (தத்தம் துறைக்கு ஏற்ப இசைப்ப),

It is a Hindu custom also seen in Kalidasa’s works. Singers praise the kings and their ancestors. Tis shows that Hindus were great historians 200o years ago.

Later day inscriptions also give a gist of those praises.

***

Item 1007- Madurai and Ganges

The Pandya king Neduncheziyan received lot of gifts. The flow of gifts is compared with the flow of mighty Ganges river, says the poet.

The abundant flow of gifts is like the beautiful, huge

Ganges river flowing into the ocean.

The limitless goods and abundant prosperity in

Mathurai of great fame, is a sight to behold, even by

those in the celestial world.

****

Item 1008- Dams across Rivers! – lines 725-728

When praising the king he was glorified as one who blocked the enemies like the dams across rivers.

It shows the engineering skills of ancient Tamils.

We have an existing proof at Grand Anicut across Kaveri built by Karikal Choza.

Sage Agastya diverted Kaveri River into Tamil Nadu following Bhagiratha’s example of diverting Ganges into Uttar Pradesh and Bengal. Both of them were great civil engineers!

***

Item 1009- Sun and  Moon, Vishnu , Wine, Ancestors

Points to be noted:

In the Purusha suktam of Rig Veda, Sun and Moon are mentioned as two attributes of the Lord. From that day on wards, we see Kings are attributed with the qualities of Sun and Moon in Sanskrit and Tamil Literature; Hindus venerated Kings as Gods.

Here our poet used Sun and Moon.

The aim of the poem is to remind the king of Instability and that is the reason poet called it KAANCHI, a genre which emphasizes Instability of life, youth and wealth. So rightly the poet reminds him of his ancestor who did many Yagas.

***

Item 1010- Instability Lesson in Brahmin Families! நிலையாமை

 Strangely, instability of life நிலையாமை is taught to children in Brahmin families!

If a child says to his mother just before going to sleep, Mum, I Like Vadai and Dosai; Can you make them tomorrow? Immediately Mother would say No, Don’t ever say Tomorrow; Say, Pizaiththu Kidanthaa= if we live tomorrow! It is something like Inshallah of Muslims ( an Arabic expression that means “if God wills” or “God willing”)

So, Brahmin children learn from boyhood that life is uncertain. Tiru Valluvar and Vyasa described Living Next Day as World Wonder. If one is sure of tomorrow, it is a wonder, they say in Tirukkural and Yaksha Prshna of Mahabharata. And Adi Shankara wondered how come the oxygen is still inside the body despite human body that has nine holes!

மன்னனை வாழ்த்துதல் lines 755 to 782

King who Did Many Yagas -lines 759-762!     

பல் சாலை முது குடுமியின்
நல் வேள்வித் துறை போகிய,   760

velvikkudi copper plates confirmed it.

**

Item 1011- Vishnu ;like Vishnu who taught Bhagavad Gita

தொல் ஆணை நல் ஆசிரியர்
புணர் கூட்டு உண்ட புகழ் சால் சிறப்பின்
நிலந்தரு திருவின் நெடியோன் போல,759-762

Nachchinarkiniyar interpreted it as Lord Vishnu who taught Bhagavad Gita

Others interpreted it as the name of the king who listens to words of wisdom

See page 428 of U Ve Sa book on Paththuppaatttu for Bhagavad Gita interpretation)

**
Purusha suktam of Rig Veda- Sun and  Moon

முந்நீர் நாப்பண் ஞாயிறு போலவும்,
பல்மீன் நடுவண் திங்கள் போலவும்,
பூத்த சுற்றமொடு பொலிந்து இனிது விளங்கிப்   770

Like sun and moon

**

Kosars and Truth

பொய்யா நல் இசை நிறுத்த புனை தார்ப்
பெரும் பெயர் மாறன் தலைவனாகக்
கடந்து அடு வாய்வாள் இளம்பல் கோசர்
இயல் நெறி மரபின் நின் வாய்மொழி கேட்ப
பொலம் பூண் ஐவர் உட்படப் புகழ்ந்த   775
மறம் மிகு சிறப்பின் குறுநில மன்னர்

**

Wine served in gold cups by jewelled women lines 779-781

இலங்கு இழை மகளிர் பொலங்கலத்து ஏந்திய
மணம் கமழ் தேறல் மடுப்ப, நாளும்   780
மகிழ்ந்து, இனிது உறைமதி பெரும,
வரைந்து நீ பெற்ற நல் ஊழியையே! (753 – 782)

**

Now in English!

Praising the King

May you perform fine rituals like your ancestor
Palsālai Muthukudumi of fame, who received (YAGAS)
knowledge from fine teachers of ancient tradition,
in whose reign, in this big city, liquor was filtered
in all the places, goats were slaughtered under all
the trees, dishes were cooked with roasted fatty
meat and abundant ghee as colorful smoke rose
appearing like spreading rain clouds!

May you be like King Thiruvil Pāndiyan of fame, (LORD VISHNU)

spotless, and praised for this greatness by those

with great wisdom! (BHAGAVAD GITA)

(THIS IS LORD VISHNU TEACHIG BHAGAVAD GITA ACCORDING TO ANCIENT COMMENTATOR NACHCHINARKINIYAR; in Puram.57 also we come across MAYON teaching Bhagavad Gita))

May you bring precious goods to your land

and increase the number of citizens, learn

books and attain fame, appear like the sun in the

midst of the ocean, and the moon in the midst

of stars among your bright ministers!

(SUN AND MOON IN THE PURUSHA SUKTAM OF RIG VEDA)

May you shine sweetly with everlasting fame!

May Māran of the ancient clan who adorns himself

with beautifully made flower garlands be a leader to

young Kosars who kill their enemies with their

unfailing swords and listen to his commands and

follow the right path!

(KOSARS FAMOUS FOR THEIR TRUTHFUL WORDS)

May the five great assemblies and the

small-region kings, famed for their bravery, praise

you in your splendid court of renown!

May you enjoy this good life that has been given to you,

being served liquor in gold cups by young women

with glittering ornaments!

(WINE IN GOLD CUPS SERVED BY BEAUTIFUL GIRLS)

Poet Maangudi Maruthan finished the poem Mathuraik Kaanchi with these words.

And the Brahmin commentator of Bharadwaja Gotra Nachchinaarkiniyar of Madurai added that this is the poem on Pandyan Neduncheziyan.

To be continued…………………

Tags- Lord Ganesh and Modakam in Sangam Age! Ghost Dance! Instability taught to Children! Purananuru wonders-76, Tamil Encyclopaedia 116, One Thousand Interesting Facts -Part 116, item 1011