Hinduism through 500 Pictures in Tamil and English; படங்கள் மூலம் இந்து மதம் கற்போம்-16 (Post.15,097)

Written by London Swaminathan

Post No. 15,097

Date uploaded in London –  17 October 2025

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  

இந்தக் கட்டுரை நாளைகுத் தமிழில் வரும்

Sudarsana Chakram is one of the main symbols of vaishnavas- Vishnu devotees. Vaishnava worship it separately in Vishnu temples under the name chakra perumal. It is in a separate shrine inside the temple.

Silpasara book describes Sudarsana to be brilliant  as fire with sixteen arms  holding thw weapons conch,  discuss, bow, axe ,sword, arrow, trident,noose, goad, lotus, thunderbolt, plough, pestle, club and spear.

The figure has protruding teeth, fiery hair and three eyes .  it is fully decorated and stands in front of a shatkona or hexagon.  Dancing thus amidst flames of the discuss, the Sudarsana is supposed to kill all enemies. sometimes the image may be represented with four or eight arms holding the discuss in all of them.

At Tirupati the Sudarsana has sixteen arms but instead of hexagon an equilateral triangle is at the back. Within that a seated Narasimha is in Yogasana posture with flames of fire proceeding from his crown. This form of Narasimha is popularly known as Jvaalaa Narasimha.

The famous Chakrapani temple at Kumbakonam  is dedicated to the discus Sudarsana of Vishnu.

The Sudarshana Chakra (Sanskrit: सुदर्शनचक्र, Sudarśanacakra) is a divine discus, attributed to the god Vishnu in the Hindu scriptures. The Sudarshana Chakra is generally portrayed on the right rear hand of the four hands of Vishnu. In the Rigveda, the Sudarshana Chakra is stated to be Vishnu’s symbol as the wheel of time according to one scholar.

IN THE EPICS

The Ramayana states that the Sudarshana Chakra was created by the divine architect, Vishvakarma. Vishnu slays a danava named Hayagriva on top of a mountain named Chakravana, seizing the discus from him.

In Mahabharata we find it in the hands of Krishna.

He beheads Shishupala with the Sudarshana Chakra at the Rajasuya yajna of Emperor Yudhishthira. He also employs it during the fourteenth day of the Kurukshetra War to obscure the sun. The Kauravas are deceived, allowing Arjuna to slay Jayadratha, avenging the death of his son. Vishnu used it to kill the crocodile which caught the leg of Gajendra. It is in the story of Gajendra Moksha sculpted from Gupta days.

 Ahirbudhnya Samhita, Vishnu emanated in 39 different forms.[10] The Samhita is characteristic for its concept of Sudarshana. It provides mantras for Sudarshana, and details the method of worship of the multi-armed Sudarshana.

The Puranas also state the Sudarshana Chakra was made by Vishvakarma, featuring a legend regarding its origin: Vishvakarma’s daughter, Sanjña, was married to the sun god, Surya. However, due to her consort’s blazing light and heat, she could not approach him. When she informed her father regarding this, Vishvakarma diminished the brilliance of the sun so that his daughter could be with him. From the splendour of the Sun, Vishvakarma produced three divine objects: the aerial vehicle Pushpaka Vimana, the Trishula of Shiva, and the Sudarshana Chakra of Vishnu.

IN HISTORY

A Vrishni silver coin from Alexander Cunningham’s Coins of Ancient India: From the Earliest Times Down to the Seventh Century (1891)

The chakra is found in the coins of many tribes with the word gana and the name of the tribe inscribed on them.

Vrishni copper coins dated to later time were found in Punjab. Another example of coins inscribed with the chakra are the Taxila coins of the 2nd century BCE with a sixteen-spoked wheel. 

A coin dated to 180 BCE, with an image of Vasudeva-Krishna, was found in the Greco-Bactrian city of Ai-Khanoum in the Kunduz area of Afghanistan, minted by Agathocles of Bactria.[18][19] In Nepal, Jaya Cakravartindra Malla of Kathmandu issued a coin with the chakra.

The Chakra Purusha in Pancharatra texts has either four, six, eight, sixteen, or thirty-two hands

The Chakra Purusha in Pancharatra texts has either four, six, eight, sixteen, or thirty-two hands.

***

The Sudarshana Homam is performed by invoking Sudarshana along with his consort Vijayavalli into the sacrificial fire. This homam is very popular in South India.

*** 

IN TEMPLES

Though Chakraperumal or Chakratalvar shrines (sannidhis) are found inside Vishnu’s temples, there are very few temples dedicated to Chakraperumal alone as the main deity (moolavar):

Sri Sudarshana Bhagavan Temple, Nagamangala

Chakrapani Temple, Kumbakonam – located on the banks of the Chakra Bathing Ghat of the Kaveri river. Here, the god is Chakra Rājan and his consort is Vijayavalli.

Jagannath Temple, Puri, where Jagannath (a form of Vishnu-Krishna), Subhadra, Balabhadra and Sudarshana are the main deities.

The temple of Chakraperumal in Gingee on the banks of Varahanadi is now defunct

***

 form of Shatrughna

In Kerala, Sudharsana Chakra is worshiped both directly and in the form of Shatrughna, one of four sons of King Dasharatha, and brother to Lord Rama, considered an avatar of Sudharsana Moorthy. 

Alathiyur Pavelikkara Narayanathu Kavu Sudarshana Temple, Triprangode, Malappuram. A rare sudarshana temple complex in Kerala dedicated to Lord Sudarshana. Along with the main deity, Badrakali, Shastha and naga are worshipped here. The temple is also the paradevatha of mangalassery.

Thuravoor Sree Narasimha Moorthy Temple, Alappuzha- One of the rare temple complexes in Kerala, where two sanctum sanctorums are situated within a single Nalambalam (temple structure), one of the sanctums in dedicated to Lord Narasimha and the other to Maha Sudarsana Moorthy. The Sudarsana Moorthy Temple is believed to be 1300 years old.

Sreevallabha Temple, Thiruvalla, Pathanamthitta – One of the oldest and largest temples in Kerala and one of the 108 Divya Desams, Sudharsana Moorthy is worshipped along with Sreevallabha in this temple. The temple for Sudarshana Chakra was built by Sreedevi Antherjanam of Sankramangalathu Illam, and was rebuilt by Queen Cherumthevi in 59 BC.

Thrichakrapuram Temple, Puthanchira- The main deity is Sudharsana Moorthy.

Ayyarvattom Sree Maha Sudharshana Temple, Eravannur, Kozhikode

Pallikkara Sri Mahavishnu Sudharsana Temple, Kozhikode

Payammal Sree Shatrughna Swami Temple, Thrissur

Methiri Sree Sathrughnaswamy Temple, Kottayam

Nedungaattu Sree Shatrugna Swami Temple(Mammalassery), Ernakulam

Naranathu Shatrughna Swami Temple, Malappuram

Payam Sri Mahavishu (Shatrughna) Temple, Kannur

Sree Shatrughna Swami Temple, Kalkulam, Kuthannur, Palakkad

The Chakraperumal shrine inside the Simhachalam Temple is home to the rare 16-armed form.

Other temples with shrines to Sudarshana Chakra are Veeraraghava Swamy Temple, Thiruevvul; Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangapatna; Thirumohoor Kalamegaperumal temple, Madurai; and Varadharaja Perumal Temple, Kanchipuram.

—subham—

Tags- Vishnu, discus, Sudarsana, Chakra, weapon, temples for Sudharsana, Hinduism through 500 Pictures in Tamil and English; படங்கள் மூலம் இந்து மதம் கற்போம்-16

Hinduism through 500 Pictures in Tamil and English; படங்கள் மூலம் இந்து மதம் கற்போம்-15 (Post.15,094)


Vishnu controlling a bull (from Indonesia Wayang show)

Written by London Swaminathan

Post No. 15,094

Date uploaded in London –  16 October 2025

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  

 Vishnu desceing from heaven; prison in Mathura

Part Fifteen

Yesterday I gave the concluding remarks for Mahabharata Wayang Puppet show of Indonesia in Tamil. Let us look at some matter in bullet points

Who are Pandavas? Yuthisthiran, Bhima, Ajuna were born to Kunti and Nakula ,Sahadeva were born to Madri and both the queens were wives of Pandu, the King who was ruling Hastinapura. Because he was cursed by Kindama Rishi he went to forest and died there.

Kunti got her children through the grace of (Yama) Dharma, Vayu and Indra where as Madri got her children by the grace of Asvini Devas. But Kunti’s eldest son was Karna who was born by the grace of Sun god. When she wanted to hide her first birth all the things started going wrong. Karna was floated in a basket in the river which was recovered by a chariot driver.

In the Indian Olympic Games , Karna wanted to participate  but was prevented by the Pandavas saying he was not a king. Immediately Duryodhana proclaimed him as the king of Anga desa. This shows Duryodhana as great statesman.

Kunti could have said Karna was also a Kshatriya, but she did not say it.

Duryodhana and his 98 brothers were suffering from jealousy. At no time neither Gandhari nor Dhritarashtra corrected them. Shakuni was an evil person poisoning everyone’s mind. He spoiled all peace deals proposed by Lord Krishna

And when Yudhisthira lost everything including their wife Draupadi in the gambling, Dushasana, eldest of the Duryodhana gang disrobed her in the assembly. But Krishna saved her modesty by magically producing more and more saris.

When the war started Krishna used all his cunning plans and used Arjuna as his pawn. But Arjuna lost his beloved son Abimamyu too. At the end Aswathtama  also killed all the children of Draupadi. This shows war is cruel and both sides suffer. Krisna’s policy was End justifies Means; so he adopted all treacherous schemes.

There is another lesson; not only jealousy destroyed Duryodhana gang; but also showing disrespect to woman also another reason for the destruction. When Dussasana disrobed Draupadi she made a vow she would never decorate her hair until Duryodhanadhis were destroyed. Bhima fulfilled her vow. He killed Dusasana in a cruel way. The hand which touched Draupadi in the assembly was plucked out from his body and he was beaten to death with the same hand.

This is another lesson. If you molest a woman, you will be destroyed.

Third lesson was untruth will cause destruction. Kunti never revealed that Karna was her eldest son. If she were honest in the very beginning, Mahabarata war would not have happened. Karna’s life saving metal jacket/armour was also removed treacherously by Krishna. He asked Indra to go in the guise of a Brahmin and he asked Karna to donate his armour.

Yuthisthira should have stopped the game of dice at one stage. He never stopped it. It was his biggest weakness. Another weakness was that he can be easily manipulated by others. Krishna wanted him to tell a lie in the battlefield about Elephant Aswatththama’s death. He made the announcement in such a way that Drona thought his son Aswaththama was killed .

Kunti met her sons.

Conclusion

Kunti’s dishonesty regarding Karna, Yuthisthira’s weakness of dice game, Kaurava’s jealousy and Krishna’s cunning plans  were the reasons for war and destruction.

At the end all of them, both Pandavas and Kauravaas, had miserable death .But yet we got Bhagavad Gita, Vishnu Sahasranama and Yaksha prasna and several stories about ancient women  too from the  Mahabharata .

To be continued……………………………

Tags-Part 15, Hinduism through 500 pictures,

Ancient Tamil Encyclopaedia- Part 22; One Thousand Interesting Facts! -Part 22 (Post No.15,093)

Written by London Swaminathan

Post No. 15,093

Date uploaded in London –  16 October 2025

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   

 Oldest Tamil Historian Mamular

Part Twenty Two

129.

பிராயோபவேசம் ,வடக்கிருத்தல்யாழ்முறிநாதர்,, மாமூலனார், கதவில் பல் சின்னம் யாழை முறித்த பாணன்மூல நட்சத்திரம்

Mamular (mahaa moolar) is the oldest Tamil Historian. He is the only poet who sang about Nandas and Mauryas of fifth and fourth centuries BCE.

Though another great Brahmin poet Paranar from Kerala region mentioned about eighty historical anecdotes, the highest number, he was junior to Mamular.

Mahaa moola must have been born on Moola star/nakshatra day like another great Tamil poet Tiru Moolar. He was from Kashmir who gave us 3000 Tamil verses on Yoga etc lived 1000 years after the great Sangam poet Maamoolar.

Sangam Tamil poets Paranar, Mamular and many others give us the history of Tamil Land, what is now called Tamil Nadu in India.

Maamoolar (hereafterwards MM) gives some interesting details about golden treasure of Nandas as well. MM contributed at least 27 verses in Akananuru (naanooru=400).

His name is a Sanskrit name like Paranar and Kapilar. Lord Shiva in the famous Kanchipuram temple is also called Maamoolar. There they attribute the name to the mango tree (Maa Maram in Tamil).

***

130

MM gives us following details about Kings:

a) Pulli of Venkatam Hills (the Balaji or Venkata Achala Pathi temple at Venkata Hills is the richest temple in the world and that was the northern border of Tamil speaking world in ancient times.)

b) Nannan of Ezil Hills.

c) Badaga/ Vaduka chief Katti is one of them. Vaduka now stands for Telugu speaking people (B=V are interchangeable through out India from Sangam days (Rig Vedic saBhaa was changed as aVai in Sangam poems)

d) Other names in his poems: Kannan Ezini, Paanan and Anji)

***

131

Important note about Great Choza emperor Karikaalan

One of the greatest Tamil emperors is Karaikaal Chozan. He went up to the Himalaya and engraved his Tiger emblem there. He defeated another great king of Chera/ Kerala country named Nedun Cheralaathan. Chera king died by fast unto death called Praayopavesa.

***

132

Fast unto death

Hindus , when they wanted to die, sit facing Holy North and starve themselves to death. This is seen in Valmiki Ramayana, Bhagavata etc and they called it Praayopavesa.

Parikshit is described to have observed the prayopavesa when the Bhagavata Purana was narrated to him by the sage Shuka, son of Vyasa.

In 1982, Acharya Vinoba Bhave (spiritual successor of Mahatma Gandhi) died by prayopavesa.

On 11 January 1997 Swami Nirmalananda subjected himself to prayopavesa.

In October 2001, Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami subjected himself to prayopavesa. Subramuniyaswami was diagnosed to be suffering from terminal intestinal cancer. He later died on the 32nd day of his fast on November 12.

Kopperun choza also starved to death; his friends including great Tamil poet Pisir Aaanthaiyaar joined him.

Sanskrit dictionary

[«previous (P) next»] — Prayopavesha in Sanskrit glossary

Prāyopaveśa (प्रायोपवेश).—sitting down and abstaining from food and thus preparing oneself for death, fasting oneself to death; मया प्रायोपवेशनं कृतं विद्धि (mayā prāyopaveśanaṃ kṛtaṃ viddhi) Pañcatantra (Bombay) 4; प्रायोपवेशनमति- र्नृपतिर्बभूव (prāyopaveśanamati- rnṛpatirbabhūva) R.8.94; प्रायोपवेशसदृशं व्रतमास्थितस्य (prāyopaveśasadṛśaṃ vratamāsthitasya) Ve.3.1.

Derivable forms: prāyopaveśaḥ (प्रायोपवेशः).

Prāyopaveśa is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms prāya and upaveśa (उपवेश). See also (synonyms): prāyopagamanaprāyopaveśanaprāyopaveśanikā.

(Above is from wisdomlib.org)

Pancha Pandavas along with Draupadi walked up the Himalayas in the holy north and died.

***

133

Chera’s sea expedition

MM also sang about Cheralathan’s sea expedition where he cut the Kadampa tree (Totem symbol) of his enemy in the middle of the sea. He also won several countries in the north and brought the treasure to his town Manththai

***

134.

Tooth Relic

We read lot about Buddha’s Tooth Relic which is holy. But here in MM’s poems we read about enemy’s teeth embedded on the door of the victorious one. Ezini was defeated by Maththi. Chera won Maththi and brought his teeth buried them on the door.

(Z= special L of Tamil language)

***

135

Controversial Information

MM said that Uthiyan Cheral, a Chera/Kerala king, fed the Mahabharata warriors. If we believe that literally that Chera should have lived in about 3100 BCE! which is impossible.

The word used in MM poem is Perum Soru meaning great food. It is actually a great feast to commemorate the dead people. That is food in memory of the war heroes. Bhagavad Gita, Sangam book Purananuru and books from Non Hindu religions say that war heroes reach heaven. They have Visa free direct flight to heaven! So, they are remembered, and feast is organised.

***

136

Lyre Broken in Disappointment

Another interesting detail added by MM is a singer breaking his Yaaz (Veena/ lyre) when Evvy died in the battle field. This may be compared to another incident that happened 1400 years ago in Dharmapuram. That was the birth place of great musician named Thiru Neelakanta Yaazpaanar. He was a great Yaaz/ Lyre instrumentalist. He accompanied the Boy Saint Tiru Gnana Sambandar with his wife Mathanka Choolaamani. When he became very proud of his skill, Lord Shiva wanted to teach him a lesson. When Sambandar came to his town he could not cope up with Sambandar’s singing. When he was about to break his lyre, Shiva himself played on his instrument and so even today Shiva appears in a rare form here. He holds a lyre in his hand in this temple. Musicians also break their instruments when they get disappointed. That was reported to us by MM two thousand years ago.

Now let us go into details of Nadas and Mauryas.

To be continued………………

 Tags -பிராயோபவேசம் வடக்கிருத்தல் யாழ்முறிநாதர், மாமூலனார், கதவில் பல் சின்னம் , யாழை முறித்த பாணன், மூல நட்சத்திரம், Ancient Tamil Encyclopaedia- Part 2, One Thousand Interesting Facts! -Part 22, Oldest Tamil Historian Mamular

Ancient Tamil Encyclopaedia- Part 20; One Thousand Interesting Facts! -Part 20 (15,077)

Written by London Swaminathan

Post No. 15,077

Date uploaded in London –  11 October 2025

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  

 Akananuru (naanooru) wonders continued……………….

எழுத்துடை நடுகல்

Part twenty

Item 125

Interesting customs found in Akananuru:

Coastal fisher woman worshipping Vedic God Varunan by planting Shark fin bone.

Brahmins sent as messengers as told by Tolkappiar.

Women counting days by marking on the wall;

People are listening to lizard clicks to find out good and bad things to come;

Women worshipping crescent moon;

Girls making false cries to attract male youths; Tamil word Venkai stands for both  tiger and a tree. Girls shout Venaki, Venaki and the youths come running to save them; and the girls laugh at the youths; but one or two youths will be trapped by the tricky girls.

Women’s games are described in several poems: they played with crabs, chased parrots from the paddy fields; built sand castles;

Soldiers worship hero stones before going to battlefield.

Soldiers look for good omens before marching;

Brahmins who dot follow Vedic rituals make bangles by cutting conches.

Bride is bathed by Four Sumangalis who gave birth to children;

Cowherds take food/ pack lunch in bamboo holes and tie them on the neck of the cow;

Placing spear and other instruments used by a hero near the Hero stones.

Coastal people taking salt bags on the back of the donkeys for selling.

***

126

There are more interesting details ; we will look at them now:-

Three Akam poems (53, 67 and 269; also Ainkuru.352) tell us about the Hero stones with Tamil inscriptions. But until very recently such ancient stones were not discovered. So archaeologist K V Sundararajan raised doubts about the age of such poems. At that time the oldest hero stone was dated Sixth century CE. But in 2006 newspapers reported Hero stones with Brahmi letters and experts placed them in BCE period. Old Brahmi inscriptions never mentioned dates, and they were very short. And so, we need more clearcut evidence for Hero stones with Tamil inscription.

Tamils have the habit of pushing all the Brahmi inscriptions to fourth century BCE which is ridiculous. Asoka’s brahmi inscriptions are very long with lot of information, where as Tamil Brahmi inscriptions are not only very short but also in Prakrit or colloquial , ungrammatical Tamil .So they must be later than , much more later than Asoka’s inscriptions.

We know that Orissa king Kharavela marched into Pandya country and defeated the Pandya king according to Hathikumbha cave inscriptions in Orissa. On another side, Mauryans laid road routes in Western Ghats and marched towards or into Tamil Nadu according to Mamular’s Sangam verses. But in that part, that is Karnataka- Tamil Nadu border, we don’t find hero stones with inscription. From Pallava period only we get inscriptions. Jains must have brought it into Tamil nadu. That shows northern origin of Brahmi script.

Karnataka has more documented hero stones than Tamil Nadu. Nearly 3000 hero stones are in Karnataka from sixth century CE

The big question about Tamil Brahmi inscriptions is why didn’t Tamils write legibly like Asoka?

Why didn’t Tamils write at least three lines?

Why do we have to guess the meaning and put words into the mouths of dead people?

Even the very late sixth century CE ones don’t have long sentences.

My guess is Tamils did not practise writing on stones or on any material until sixth or seventh century. Even Lord Shiva’s letter to Cheraman (Kerala King) belongs to post Sangam period.

Some of the references to Hero stones with writings on it:–

விழுத்தொடை மறவர் வில் இட வீழ்ந்தோர் 

எழுத்துடை நடுகல் இன் நிழல் வதியும்

அருஞ்சுரக் கவலை நீந்தி என்றும்,- Akam 53

****

அரம் போழ் நுதிய வாளி அம்பின், 

நிரம்பா நோக்கின் நிரையங்கொண்மார்,

நெல்லி நீளிடை எல்லி மண்டி

நல் அமர்க் கடந்த நாணுடை மறவர்

பெயரும் பீடும் எழுதி அதர்தொறும்

பீலி சூட்டிய பிறங்கு நிலை நடுகல்  Akam- 67

***

ஏறுடை இனநிரை பெயரப்; பெயராது

செறிசுரை வெள்வேல் மழவர்த் தாங்கிய

தறுக ணாளர் நல்லிசை நிறுமார்,

பிடிமடிந் தன்ன குறும்பொறை மருங்கின்,

நட்ட போலும் நடாஅ நெடுங்கல்

அகலிடம் குயின்ற பல்பெயர் மண்ணி,

நறுவிரை மஞ்சள் ஈர்ம்புறம் பொலிய- Akam 269

***

My old articles

Hero Stone Worship in North India (Post No.4286)

Date:9 October 2017; Post No. 4286

***

HERO STONES ON SEA BATTLES (Post No.5163)

Date: 29 JUNE 2018

Post No. 5163

***

To be continued………………………

Tags- Hero stones, with Inscriptions,எழுத்துடை நடுகல், Tamil Encyclopedia, Part 20

Ancient Tamil Encyclopaedia- Part 19; One Thousand Interesting Facts! -Part 19 (Post No.15,069)

Written by London Swaminathan

Post No. 15,069

Date uploaded in London –  9 October 2025

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  

Akananuru (naanuuru) wonders continued ………

Part 19

Four interesting facts in one Akam Poem (akam.252)

121

Animals mentioned in Akananuru have two interesting animal names

One is Yaali and another is Asunam. Both are described as mythical animals.

அகநானூற்றில் ஆளி = யாளி =லியோ LEO=YALI=LIYA; அகம்/ AKAM 78, 252, 381, PURAM 207; NARRINAI 205; PORU.139.

ரத்த =தேர் RATHA= THER

குதிரை = துரக ; துருக்கி; KUTHIRAI= THURAKA

இப மா முகன்= ELEPHANT FACED GANAPATI ; IBHA= ELEPHA.

Elephant-lion combined is called Yaali, seen on the pillars of South Indian temples.

Not many people knew that the English word Leo, Leonine, Lion re all Sanskrit words.

Leo is the mirror image of Yali . it is accepted in Linguistics. If you show the word Yali in mirror you will see Liya.

The Tamil word Ther for chariot is also a mirror image of Sanskrit word Rath/a.

Scores of words are in Indian languages.

Interestingly Elephant is also Sanskrit word Ebha for elephant is in Rig Veda and Tiruppugaz by Arunagirinathar.

Horse is also a Sanskrit word; it iss the corrupted form of Haya and Asva.

Tamil word Kuthirai is a mirror word of Sanskrit Turaga. Turkey is called Turaga country because it supplied the best horses to India trained by Hindus. The proof is available in cuneiform tablet where horse manual by Kikkuli used Sanskrit instructions in Horse training. The horse manual is dated 1400 BCE. Pure Tamil word for horse is Pari. But both Kuthirai and Pari are used by Sangam Tamil poets.

****

122

ASUNAM

அசுணம்- அகம் 88akam 88

நற்றிணை  244304narrinai 244 and 304

It is extinct now. It may be a kind of deer. But one Tamil books described it as a bird, which is wrong. From Adi Shankara to American Red Indians know that Deer are caught by singing. American tribes used Bugle to catch antelopes.

Ancient Tamil hunters also played musical instruments to attract Asunam and when they came near, they played loud drums and the animals died because of the sound attack.

****

  Yali in Madurai temple

123

Yaali- Aali- Leo

Four interesting facts in one Akam Poem (akam.252)

1.Akam 252 was composed by woman poet Nakkannai .

Her real name was Sulochana! Like Sanskrit names, 34 Sangam poets have Sanskrit prefix SU=Nalla. (I have given examples in another article).

2.This poem says that Tigers wont eat its prey if it falls on its left side. Right side is the only side it aims at. Hindus invented clock- wise direction. Even today all auspicious things are done in clockwise direction and all inauspicious rituals are done in anti-clock wise direction. Even Tamil tigers followed the Hindu way.

3. Even tigers shiver at the sight of Yalis killing elephants and plucking out its tusks.

4.Lady love gives a simile which shows Tamils were so careful and socially conscious that the banks of lakes must be protected. The woman says my mother is so watchful like a guard who watches the banks of a lake on a rainy day.

இடம்படுபு அறியா வலம்படு வேட்டத்து

வாள்வரி நடுங்கப் புகல்வந்துஆளி

உயர்நுதல் யானைப் புகர்முகத்து ஒற்றி,

வெண்கோடு புய்க்கும் தண்கமழ் சோலைப்

பெருவரை அடுக்கத்து ஒருவேல் ஏந்தித் 5

தனியன் வருதல் அவனும் அஞ்சான்;

பனிவார் கண்ணேன் ஆகி, நோய்அட,

எமியேன் இருத்தலை யானும் ஆற்றேன்;

பாங்குச் செய்வாம்கொல்- தோழி! ஈங்கைத்

துய்அவிழ் பனிமலர் உதிர வீசித் 10

தொழில்மழை பொழிந்த பானாட் கங்குல்

எறிதிரைத் திவலை தூஉம் சிறுகோட்டுப்

பெருங்குளம் காவலன் போல,

அருங்கடி அன்னையம் துயில்மறந் தனளே! –அகம் 252

Akam 252 was composed by poetess Nakkanaiyaar

****

124.

Encyclopaedias like Wikipedia say they don’t know the origin of the word Caesar.

It is very simple: Kesa+ Ari= Haired animal (lion with mane)

Caesar+ Ari= Caesar= Kesar/i

By learning Sanskrit and Tamil, one can understand anything and everything in the world.

Look at the Ari in Hebrew Ariel!!

***

Here is my old article written 11 years ago:

Written by London Swaminathan
Post No. 981; dated 15th April 2014

Sonic boom and Sonic bomb
Tamil literature gives us very interesting information about a rare animal called ‘Asunam’. It is phonophobia. It has got a good taste for melodious music. It is more musical than most men. But the minute someone plays on a big drum it dies at once. Sangam Tamil literature is 2000 year old. We have three references to this ‘Asunam’and later literature gives more information. It is not a mythical animal like griffin or Makara or Yali. Somehow palaeontologists and paleo zoologists missed this. Now we get more scientific information about sonic bombs and low frequencies emitted by submarines that killed even giant squids. Dolphins and whales commit mass suicides because of sonar disturbances. So we may look into this extinct animal again armed with all the scientific facts.

Natrinai’ is one of the anthologies of Sangam Tamil literature and verses 244 and 304 give the following information:
In the mountainous ‘Kurinji’ area, ‘Asunam’ lives in the caves. It listens keenly to the buzzing sound (music) of the bees and beetles. The heroine of a love poem says, “My lover is like an Asunam. When he is near me it gives pleasure. When he is temporarily separated it gives me great sorrow. I am like Asunam attracted by melodious music and then killed by loud beating of the drums.

Yali in Tirupparankundram near Madurai

The commentator explains that the Tamils played on lyre to attract the Asunams from the caves and suddenly played on drums to kill them. Another verse from another Sangam Tamil anthology called ‘Akananuru’ (verse 88) gives similar information. The only difference is that the commentator describes Asunam as a bird here.


‘Nammanik kadikai’– is one of the 18 minor Tamil works. Verse three of the book is very clear about Asunam. It described it as an animal. It compares Asunam with several other people in public life.
The celebrated author Kamban of Kamba Ramayanam compared himself to Asunam! He said, “Among the stalwarts of Tamil language, probably my poems may be like playing drums to Asunams”. Kamban was so humble that he said his poems may not be of good quality, but the fact of the matter is that he is considered one of the great poets of the Tamil speaking world.

My Research Findings on ASUNAM:–

My research on the Asunam based on the above verses and Tamil encyclopaedia Abhidana Chintamani has found out the salient features of Asunam stories. I can summarise them as follows:–


1.Though there are only three references in the ancient Sangam literature, we know that it is not a bird, but an animal.
2.It lived in the caves of the mountains which ancient Tamils called ‘Kurinji ‘lands.
3.Asunam loved mellifluous music but susceptible to harsh music particularly high decibel noise. Modern research shows that sounds of 185 decibels or more can kill human beings.
4.Tamils deliberately played on lyre to attract it and killed them by playing on big drums. It may be one of the reasons for its extinction. The other reason is noise pollution. It might have slowly disappeared.
5. Very few references in the 2000 year old Sangam Tamil literature show that it was a rare animal even at that time. Other animals like tigers, elephants and bears are referred to hundreds of times.


6.Ancient Tamils knew the power of sound waves. Modern research in this field has led into the development of sonic bombs. We already knew the effect of sonic booms emitted by supersonic jets. We now know the effect of sonar waves on dolphins and whales.


7.It will be good that if Tamils do more research and find out the fossils from mountainous area.


8.I have given the full details of the poets names with full quotes in the Tamil version of this article and we know where those poets lived in ancient Tamil Nadu. So we can narrow down the area of our search.


9.Adi Shankara who lived in the first century BC or before, adds some interesting details about deer falling as a prey to singing hunters. ( I follow Kanchi Paramacharya in dating Adi Shankara, which is supported by Tamil literature. Please read my earlier article for the dating)

My Old Articles:-

யாளி என்னும் அதிசய மிருகம்! (Post No.11,298)

Post No. 11,298

Date uploaded in London – 26 SEPTEMBER 2022    

***

Vedic Lion around the World!

tamilandvedas.com › tag › vedic-lion Vedic lion – Tamil and Vedas

Yali in Hindu temples. English word Leo is derived from Yali. Hari is a Sanskrit word for lion. Hebrew and Tamil use this word as Ari. In Tamil Ja, Ha, Sha, SH, S sounds don’t exist. So they are Tamilized.

****

Singapore is Sanskrit (Post No.7109)

Date: 18 OCTOBER 2019; Post No. 7109

***

Hindu Symbolism in Paris!

Research article Written by London Swaminathan
Post No.1249; Dated 24th August 2014.

–Subham—

Tags- Asunam, Yali, Leo, Caesar, Kesari, Ancient Tamil Encyclopaedia- Part 19; One Thousand Interesting Facts- Part 19 ,Akananuru wonders

Hinduism through 500 Pictures in Tamil and English; படங்கள் மூலம் இந்து மதம் கற்போம்-6 (Post No.15066)

Written by London Swaminathan

Post No. 15,066

Date uploaded in London –  8 October 2025

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   

Hanuman , monkey faced God is a great devotee of Rama , one of the ten Avatars/ incarnation of Vishnu. He is a popular god throughout India, particularly in the north. Almost all villages have a shrine for hanuman also known as Anjaneya .

He is the son of wind god Vayu and Anjana and so called Maruti , Vayu putra and Anjaneya ; and being the messenger of Lord Rama , he is also known as Rama duta.

Valmiki in Sanskrit and Kamban in Tamil describe his adventures and heroic acts in three cantos from Kishkinda Kaanda to Yuddha kaanda of Ramayana.

Valmiki illustrated him as a person with two hands folded together and raised above head. This means I bow and worship you from head to foot, Sirasaa namaami .

***

Hanu means jaw and his jaw was deformed in an incident and so he is called Hanuman

There are two scientific explanations,

The vaanara – vana + nara= Vaanara= forest men shows that they deformed their jaw as a custom ; this type of body or mouth or ear alteration is seen around the world in certain tribes.

Second explanation is they wore monkey emblem or monkey masks. He is shown as a normal man when he met Rama and Lakshmana for the first time. More over Ramayana has bear people, eagle people as well showing more totem symbols. In paintings they were shown with animal face just to explain it to common people.

Even Sangam Tamil literature describes a painting in Tirupparankundram where Indra is shown as a cat in the Ahalya episode. It is written 2000 years ago.

When Hanuman  saw his master Rama and his brother Lakshmana faint with fatigue on the battle field of Lanka, he flew in an amazingly short time to the Himalaya. He uprooted the whole hill with rare herbs that have power to raise a dead man to life and returned to Lanka to revive Rama and Lakshmana and with them also thousands of monkeys.

His heroism, strength and devotion are always admired, and these characteristics are shown in his statues and idols. Kings erected hanuman shrines at the gates of their forts to infuse into the hearts of their fighting men the spirit of heroism.

Sometimes he is represented with hands showing the Abhaya and Varadha postures. He is Brahmachari

Hanuman in Ramayana had super human powers. He was able to fly with tremendous speed. He jumped from India to Ceylon/ Sri Lanka in one bound; he tore up trees, carried away big rocks, even hills and performed many other wonderful tasks.

He tackled all hurdles on the way to Lanka in different ways; this served as a management lesson in solving problems.

In one of his fights with the rakshasas /demons they greased his tail and set it on fire, but to their own destruction, for with it Hanuman burnt down their capital city.

Along with his army of monkeys, he built a bridge to Lanka so that his army could march towards Lanka. He  killed several demons in the battle.

When he met Rama in Kishkinda he made Rama and Sugriva, King of Kishkinda to sign a friendship treaty. As a result of which, Vali, sugriva’s brother was killed by Rama.

After Rama killed Ravana, demon king of Lanka, Hanuman accompanied Rama and Sita to Ayodhya  and there he received from him the reward of perpetual youth and life. So he is one of the SEVEN CHIRANJEEVIS, never dying seven. This means his service will be remembered for generations.

Hanuman was well versed in grammar according to Valmiki and Kamban

Tulsidas attributes great powers like Ashtama Siddhis (Eight Types of Superhuman powers) to Anjaneya in his Hanuman chaalisaa. Millions of Hindus recite it every day

to be continued……………….

 Hinduism through 500 Pictures, in Tamil and English, படங்கள் மூலம் இந்து மதம் கற்போம்-6, Part Six, Hanuman, Anjaneya

Hinduism through 500 Pictures in Tamil and English – படங்கள் மூலம் இந்து மதம் கற்போம்-4 (Post.15,056)

Written by London Swaminathan

Post No. 15,056

Date uploaded in London –  5 October 2025

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  

Village Gods and Goddesses are found all over India. There are three types of village Gods and Goddesses:

1.Gods and Goddesses of Vedic Origin

2.Local Heroes and Heroines with Memorial Stones

3.Persons who self- sacrificed in Sati and Navakandam.

Since it is a vast subject we will look at Village Gods and Goddesses only. All such Gods and Goddesses have Sanskrit names such as Sastha/Ayyanar, Rakkaayee/Vedic Goddess Raka, Kaththaayee/ Kathyayani, Makamaayee /Mahaa Maayaa., Mookkaayee/Mukambhika etc

Kanchi Paramacharya (1894-1994) dispelled the wrong notion that these Gods are of local origin.

The only difference from the big temples and the shelter less, open spaced Village gods is that they are maintained by Non Brahmins. Moreover, they don’t have daily pujas or rituals. During summertime they are celebrated on a grand scale. Lot of Brahmin families hold such Gods and Goddesses as their family deities. Every year, particularly during weddings, birth of new babies they go there and give offerings.

Another difference is offering flesh and wine. This is also over blown by half baked foreigners and Dravidians. They offer meat, fish and wine because they consume it every day. Even Cigarettes, Cigars and Beedies were offered to the village Gods for the same reason.

Sati Stones (Following Parvati’s self -sacrifice in to her father’s Yaga Kundam chaste women also do that; Sati means Parvati), Nava Kandam (Cutting his own body into nine different parts as in Mahabharata)  memorials are found all over India. Because Muslim invaders destroyed them in the North, we see a smaller number of monuments  in  North India. Unfortunately, this topic has not been dealt with on Pan Indian basis.

Kanchi Paramacharya mentioned this type of worship in his lectures. Dr R Nagaswamy, world famous archaeologist and historian, has contributed much on this topic.  Local villagers raise a memorial for a hero and in course of time, it became temples. In and around Madurai we see such temples.

(author who lived in Madurai visited Peacchi Amman, Chellath Amman, Sittuk Kuruvi Kali Aaththaa temples very often in Madurai. Just before entering Meenakshi temple used to worship Muniswaran in the northern entrance, and Madurai Veeran in the Eastern entrance. He used to go to Mari Amman temple with his mother outside the town and offer silver replicas of Body parts to avoid small pox. His mother used to offer Maa Vilakku/ lighted wicks in the midst of sweet flour. This is to show that Brahmin families worship village Goddesses. Every year during summer, street aster street celebrate their Goddesses and march to Vaigai River to dissolve/immerse the Goddesses they made with clay. Very big crowd with all the music and dance march to the river bank)

Even big temples have village Gods at the entrance or in front of them. Mostly they are outside villages or towns are in the border of a town.

Each festival of such Gods has different customs. Fire Walking is one of them; offering hair, making Gruel or Sweet Pongal for distribution, taking the clay model of goddesses in procession, making temporary Urchava Murtis with clay and paint, immersion on the third day of festival, carrying Umbrellas (Kudai Eduththal) men dressing themselves like females, wearing only neem leaves to hide their private parts etc are found throughout Tamil Nadu.

Dr Nagaswamy has written one article about the references in Raurava Agama about erecting memorials for the departed heroes or saints. Brahmins used to bury the stones under the earth in their gardens.

Orthodox Hindus bury the dead saints and erect Tulsi Plant Brindhavanams for Vaishnavie saints , Adhistanam with Lingas for Saivite saints. Such Samadhis are seen from Kashmir to Kanyakumari.

After Gajabhahu visited the erection of Patni Goddess Stone for Kannaki in Kerala around 132 CE, Patni cult spread all over Ceylon/Sri Lanka. This shows creation of new gods in Hinduism.

Now Samadis of Shirdi Baba, Sathya Sai Baba, Ragavendra, Ma Ananda mayi, Dhargas of Muslim saints, Gurudwaras of departed Sikh Gurus, Maharashtra Hindu sains, Samadhis of great composers are visied by millions. They are all considered Gods and regular pujas are offered. This is to show that hero worship is not new to Hindus.

Renula Devi, Draupati temples are in several places.

Not only villages, even cities have their Goddesses according to Valmiki Ramayana, Silappadikaaram, Manimekali and several other Hindu books.

Greatest of the ancient Tamil poets, Tiru Valluvar justified it in his Kural couplet:

A man who leads an ideal life in this world

Will be ranked amongst the Gods in the Heaven

Tirukkural verse 50

வையத்துள் வாழ்வாங்கு வாழ்பவன் வான்உறையும்
தெய்வத்துள் வைக்கப் படும்.-50

There are two very important points in this couplet,

This comes under the chapter Family Life along with another couplet where Pancha Yajnam of Hindus’ daily life is described.

The second important point is God/ Father in the Heaven.

So, Valluvar emphasizes ordinary family man can become God provided he leads a virtuous life.

That is why Hindus have million Gods. 

 to be continued…………………………………

Tags- Village Gods and Goddesses, Hinduism through 500 Pictures in Tamil and English , part 4

(Dr Nagaswamy’s article is given in PDF separately; this was given to the author by Dr Nagaswamy himself.)

Ancient Tamil Encyclopaedia- Part 16; One Thousand Interesting Facts! – Part 16 (Post.15,054)

Written by London Swaminathan

Post No. 15,054

Date uploaded in London –  4 October 2025

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   

Akanauru ( ahanaanuuru)wonders continued…..

101 .

Shopping streets or Bazars

Tamil words Aavanam, Niyamam, Angaadi mean Shop, Market or Bazaar

Koodal naal angaadi

#marngurpattanam aavanam

Selluurk Kosar Niyamam

Of these Madurai Day Time Market and Night Tim markets are famous (Night time market comes in another book)

ஆவணங்கள் :  கூடல் நாளங்காடி, மருங்க்கூர் பட்டின ஆவணம் , செல்லுலார்க் கோசர் நியமம்

***

102

Castes bases on Professions or Labour or works

Andar- Cowherds

Aththakkalvar- Thieves , Robbers

Anthanar – Brahmins

Umanar- Salt vendors

Uzava-  Farmers

Kuyavar – Potters

Kollar- Blacksmiths

Thattaar – Goldsmiths

Parathavar – Fishermen

Pazaiyar ?

Paanar- Bards

Yaanaip paakar- Mahouts, Elephant Trainers

Velaapaarpaar – Brahmins who do not perform Yaga, Yajnas

சாதியார் : அண்டர் /இடையர் அத்தகு கள்வர் அந்தணர், உமனார், உழவர், குயவர் கொல்லர், தட்டார்,பரதவர், பழையர் , பாணர், யானைப்பாகர், வேளாப்பார்ப்பார்

***

103

Works done by common people

Making bangles, making pounded rice (pohaa),Salt making, Salt selling, Boiling rice for making parboiled rice, Spying work?, Chasing elephants with Sling shots,

Protecting  crops from birds and animals, harvesting, cross border attacks to steal cows, recovering stolen cows (this is how ancient Hindus indicate battle readiness; it is in Mahabharata as well), diving for pearls, diving for rare conches called Valampuri Sangu, Fishing, drying fish, selling fish,  catching elephant calf etc

தொழில்கள்

அரத்தால் வலைபோழ்தல் ,  அவள் இடித்தல், உப்பு விற்றால், ஊன்புழுக்கையர்த்தல், ஒற்றுச் செல்லுதல் கவண் கல்லால் யானையை எறிதல், கொழுப்பானவெறிதல், சாத்தெறிதல்,    சேக் கொள்ளத் தண்ணுமை  கொட்டல், தினை காவல் செய்தல், தினை அறுத்தல், நிரை கவர்தல், மீட்டல் , நெல் அரியுணர் தண்ணுமை  கொட்டல் மீன் உவத்தல், மீன் விற்றால், முத்துக் குளித்தல், முதைப்புனஞ் சுடுதல், யானைக்கன்றைப் பிடித்தல், வலம்புரி மூழ்குதல்

***

104

Famous assemblies or Judicial Courts

Uranthai Sabha, Kalloor Sabha.

சபைகள்/ அவைகள்

உறந்தை அவை, கள்ளூர் அவை 

Some interesting tit bits

In Sangam literature we see  B=V

Sabha in Rig Veda changed to Avai because in Tamil , initial letter SA is banned by Tolkappiam.

So, Tamils dropped SA and inserted vowel A+vai/bai

Thi schange is seen in Avestan language which is extinct now.

The Rig Vedic ASVA is changed to ASPA (V=P) in Avestan. We see it in all words in Bengal nowadays. Vangam is pronounced as Bengal. Vandematarm= Bandemataram

No linguist has explained this change linking Tamil, Avestan and Sanskrit.

Now the question is who directed them to change V=B or B=V.

This is a Vedic rule; Paninian rule followed all over the world. It is seen even in Inca culture and Melanesian (Pacific Ocean  Islands) languages.

Unless one studies Sanskrit, no one can understand linguistics. I have already shown how letter “J” migrated from India. If we study the route of J around the world one will understand Yaaz= Jazz, Yazpaanam= Jaffna, Yesu=Jesus, Yusuf= Joseph, Yuudha= Jew. Hindus spread the culture and language around the world. Oxford and Cambridge Linguists give ridiculous reasons for this J=Y change, because they don’t know this change is in Sangam Tamil Literature.

புறநானூற்றுப் புலவர் முடி/ நாக/ ராயர் = முடி/ நாக/ ரா ஜர் (ய= ஜ)  Poet name is MR NAGARAJAN.

Oldest Tamil poet in Purananuru is MUDI NAAGA RAAYAR; his real name is Mudi NaagaraaJAr. So the J = Y change is seen even in Sangam Tamil Literature. Regal= Royal are derived from Sanskrit RAJA (J=Y). that is why they say Raja= Roya/l. in my previous research paper, I have given examples from more languages.

Those who don’t know Tamil and Sanskrit can’t be linguists!

J sound is found only in ancient Sanskrit; not even in Greek; Jason of Homer is actually Esan (Shiva’s name)

To be continued……………..

Tags- Ancient Tamil Encyclopaedia- Part 16, One Thousand Interesting Facts, Part 16, Akananuru wonders

Hinduism through 500 Pictures in Tamil and English – படங்கள் மூலம் இந்து மதம் கற்போம்-2 (Post.15,050)

Written by London Swaminathan

Post No. 15,050

Date uploaded in London –  3 October 2025

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 

 Hinduism through 500 Pictures in Tamil and English – படங்கள் மூலம் இந்து மதம் கற்போம்-2 (Post.15,050)

Before moving to Skanda/Muruga, I wanted to add few more points about Lord Ganesh

Ganesh with his mount Rat

Sometimes Ganesa is said to have two wives, even though he is a bachelor/Brahmachari

The two wives are not women but symbols of Siddhi/Success and Buddhi /Wisdom.

Like Goddess Shakti and Lord Shiva, Ganesh also has three eyes. Third Eye means Wisdom.

Vinayaka means one who has none above him. That means he is the Head.

Every Hindu God has weapons. This is to control evil forces or kill evil tendencies in us.

There are a few interesting stories.

Why does he have elephant face?

Once he was asked to guard the entrance of the building where his mother was taking a bath. When shiva came, Ganesa stopped him following Mother’s instruction. Enraged Siva cut off his head in anger. When Parvati felt sad, he found the nearest animal elephant and cut its head and fixed it on Ganesa. There is something more to this incident. His elephant trunk reminds Hindus their great symbol Aum. Another name for Om or Aum is Pranava. Great Saints called Ganesa- Pranava swarupa.

3.Why does he have Four Hands?

God is above all of us. We have only two hands. But with his four Helping Hands, he is quick to render help. There is an interesting story in Tamil books. When three people wanted to see Lord shiva in his abode, house in Kailash in the Himalayas, an old lady, great poet Avvaiyar can’t walk 3000 miles from Tamil Nadu. Ganesa with his trunk lifted her and she reached Kailash before her friends reached. So gods’ many hands help us quickly.

Ganapati in Dancing pose- Narthana Ganapati

Another interesting story about Ganesa is mango fruit story. Hindus have an Inter Galactic Traveller named Narada. He goes from one galaxy to another at the speed of thought, faster than light. He came to Kailash with one mango fruit and gave it to Lord shiva. When he was about to cut it into two and give them to Ganesa and Murugan, Narada said,

“Stop, stop, please. It should not be cut, because it’s a divine fruit.

Then Siva told his boys that whoever goes round the world and comes back first will get it. Murugan flew in his Vahana, vehicle peacock. But clever Ganesa went round their father and mother and fell at their feet saying, ‘You Are the World’. Both felt happy and gave him the whole mango. Murugan came later and felt that he was cheated. He went to Palani hills and stood there. Then the whole world went and pacified him with Panchamrutam, a special fruit salad. Here is a message to all of us- Father and Mother are greater than the world!

One more story ….. once Lord Shiva went in a hurry without saluting Ganesa. His chariot wheel had broken down, and he got stuck. Later he realised he didn’t say ‘Bye’ to his son. He went back and praised him, and he was successful in his task. This was told by a great saint called Arunagirinathar in his book Tiruppugaz. Here is a message to all of us. We must always worship God before starting anything.

****

Now let us look at Lord Skanda/ Murugan

Dandaayutha Paani appaerance in Palani, Taml Nadu (Danda= stick; Paani=Hand)

Skanda or Kumara is represented  with  Six Faces – shadaanana in Sanskrit Aarumugam in Tamil—and as riding on a peacock. Because he was brought up by six mothers, the Krittikas- Pleiades stars-  he is known as Shanmaatura and Kaartikeya. His story is narrated in Skandapurana – available in Tamil and Sanskrit. He killed demon Taaraka and rent asunder Krauncha mountain.

He is associated with snake and Sashti- sixth day- is sacred to him. He married Indra’s daughter Devasena and Tamil forest maid Valli. About 1800 years ago Sudraka in his Sanskrit drama Mrichchakatikaa shows a thief worshipping Skanda before robbing a house holder.

In tTamil Nadu six shrines are his main shrines in addition to scores of places, where he resides at the top of hills. In Tamil literature he is the god of Kurinchi region, hilly landscape. In Karnataka Kukke Subrahmanya is a famous Skanda shrine.

Skanda is called Murugan in Tamil ; his other popular names are Subrahmanya, Kartikeya, Shanmukha, Saravanabhava,Guha etc.

He is called Tamil God because he taught Tamil to the great sage Agastya who was sent by Lord Shiva from north. Arunagirinathar who composed 1300++verses called Tiruppugaz repeatedly praised him as Tamil god 500 years ago.

Lord Skanda / Murugan killed asuras/ demons Suurapadman in the south and Taarakaasura in the north.

Sangam age poets praised him sky-high in two books Tirumurugatruppadai and Paripatal.

In Sanskrit, Kalidasa composed Kumaarasambhava about the birth of Kumaara alias Kartikeya. That work influenced the Gupta kings to name their children Skanda Gupta and Kumaara Gupta even though they were Parama Bhagavatas, i.e. Worshippers of Lord Vishnu.

Son of Shiva and Uma, younger brother of lord Ganesh, he is called Senaapati, that is the commander of the army of the Devas. So he is the god of war and the planet mars. He was produced from the six fire sparks from lord Shiva and brought up by six Kartika women and they are represented as stars in the heaven called Pleiades.

Lord Shiva cast his seed into fire, and it was received by Ganges; so he is known Agni bhu/fire born and Gaangeya.

He is represented riding on a peacock with a spear in his hand. He is shown with six heads to represent symbolically six Krittika/Kartikai women.

Because of his popularity , Adi Shankara established Kaumaaram- worship of Kumara/ Kartikeya – as one of the six systems. He has composed several hyms glorifying Subrahmanya.

Somaskanda idols are found in many south Indian temples. It means Skanda with uma  (sa+ uma+ skanda= Somaaskanda)

Uma with Skanda

 Six Faced (Aaru-Six, Mukan-Face)

Lord Skanda is called Murugan in Tamil.Murugan means handsome one, beautiful.

He has six heads and 12 hands in Shanmuga form. Shanmukha means six faces. You may wonder why? If you are at school final level, please got to Level Two of Skanda Murugan.

In normal form, he is also shown as a child like Ganesa. He is Kumara (youth)  or Baala kumara.

Subrahmanya means he possesses all the qualities of Brahman (god).

The name Kartikeya came to him because he was raised by six Krittika women personified as stars in the sky.

He was born in a grass land and so he is known as Saravana bhava.

Saravana is the name of the forest/grass land

We know that Ganesa is the head of Bhuta Ghana’s and in the same way Murugan is the Commander of the Divine Army.

His festivals are Skanda Sashti, Vaikaasi Visaakam and Thai Poosam. In the modern day, New Year/ January First is also celebrated by visiting Murugan Temples by foot.

Skanda worship is very popular in Tamil speaking world such as South India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore, Mauritius, Seychelles , South Africa etc Tamils celebrate all his festivals with Kavadi. They carry it to the Temple . A normal Kaavadi will have a long pole tied with two baskets on either side. Devotee s carry food and offerings to god in the attached pots or baskets. Later they constructed different shapes.

Another important thing is that his temples are mostly on top of hills or at the foot of the hills. There are six famous temples for him in Tamil Nadu.

Subrahmanya Bharti was a great devotee of Lord Skanda and he also composed  several poems praising him.

There are very interesting stories about him. I will tell you a few stories here.

Story 1 (already given in Ganesa)

Mango Fruit Story

Story Two

He wanted to marry a girl called Valli, who fell in love with him. But she hesitated a lot. Murugan prayed to his brother Ganesh, the elephant headed god. He cam in the form of a real elephant and chased Valli and she naturally fell in the hands of Lord Murugan..

Another story is there was a demon called Sura Pathman and Muruga killed him. This is enacted every year during Skanda shasti festival in November. Tens of thousands of people go to see Sura Samhara at Tiruchendur in Tamil Nadu.

Number six is his favourite number. He was brough up by six women and his favourite geometrical diagram is Shad Kona- Star shaped. He is supposed to reside in this magical star diagram.

He is easily identified by the Spear weapon (Vel in Tamil) in his hand.

Vaikasi Visakam and Skanda Shasti are his big festivals. Thai Poosam is celebrated in Batu Caves in Malaysia

His special Prasad is Pancha Amrutam- made up of five fruits and jaggery or honey.

His famous temples are in …..

Batu Caves in Malaysia

Nallur and Kathigamam in Sri Lanka

Palani, Tiruttani, Swami malai, Palamuthircholai, Tirupparankundram and Tiruchendur in Tamil Nadu, India.

Om Saravana Bhava is his mantra

Sangam Tamil literarture has a full book on Him called Tirumurugaatruppadai (shortened as Murugu திருமுருகாற்றுப்படை (முருகு)). He is the god of mountainous area called குறிஞ்சி Kurinji . in addition to Murugu, we have several long poems devoted to him in Paripatal where 8 long poems are attributed to him.

 In Tolkappiam , oldest tamil book, he is placed next to Vishnu and he was given the name சேயோன்  Seyon , meaning the Redman.

Subrahmanya with his weapon Vel/Spear

மாயோன் மேய காடுறை உலகமும்

சேயோன்  மேய மைவரை  உலகமும்

Among the Ten Idylls of Sangam period, the long poem on Skanda Murugan, திருமுருகாற்றுப்படை (முருகு)‘Tirumurugaatruppadai’ is given the first place. All these signify the importance given to Skanda/Murugan. Sangam poets called him வேள் , செவ்வேள் நெடுவேள், வேலன் in addition to Murugan.since he belonged to mountainous landscape called குறிஞ்சி KURINJI,   he is called Kurinjik kizavan குறிஞ்சிக் கிழவன்.

Murugan means the Handsome one. He is always presented as a Young god. Nakkirar who composed the long poem on him portrayed him as young and beautiful :

என்றும் இளையாய் ,அழகியாய் ஏறூர்ந்தான் ஏறே

He is described as a Heroic god. He has Spear in his hand.. it is called Vel வேல்.

He is shown riding a peacock or an elephant named Pinimukam பிணிமுகம்

We see lot of similarities between Kumarasambhava of Kalidasa and Sangam books. But two important differences are marrying Tamil Valli and killing Tamil demon Suurapadman.

When Tamil girls become love sick, their mothers thought they are possessed by Murugan and sought the help of special village priest to drive away the sickness. He used to come in special dress and stage a dance with spear and offer meat and rice balls smeared with goat’s blood.

Tiru murugatruppadai explains that he is also worshipped in other places as well

முருகன் இருப்பிடங்கள் 

சிறு தினை மலரொடு விரைஇ, மறி அறுத்து,

வாரணக் கொடியொடு வயிற் பட நிறீஇ,

ஊர்ஊர் கொண்ட சீர் கெழு விழவினும், 220

ஆர்வலர் ஏத்த மே வரு நிலையினும், 

வேலன் தைஇய வெறி அயர் களனும், 

காடும் காவும், கவின் பெறு துருத்தியும்,

யாறும் குளனும், வேறு பல் வைப்பும், 

சதுக்கமும் சந்தியும், புதுப் பூங் கடம்பும்,   

மன்றமும் பொதியிலும், கந்துடை நிலையினும்  

–From Tirumurgaatruppadai

–subham—

Tags- Lord Skanda, Murugan, Subrahmanya, Kartikeya, Peacock, Vel/Spear, Hinduism through 500 Pictures in Tamil and English – படங்கள் மூலம் இந்து மதம் கற்போம்-2

Ancient Tamil Encyclopaedia- Part 15; One Thousand Interesting Facts! – Part 15

Written by London Swaminathan

Post No. 15,049

Date uploaded in London –  3 October 2025

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   

95.

Let us continue with Akananuru Wonders

Battle fields mentioned in the Tamil book Akanaanuuru:

Paranthalai is the word for battle field in Tamil. It also means crematorium, dilapidated place.

பறந்தலை – ஆமூர்ப் பறந்தலை, கழுமலம், குறுக்கை, கூடல், தலையாலங்கானம் , பருவூர், பாழி, பெருந்துறை, மணவாயிலுறுத் தூர் , முசிறி, வல்லம், வாகை, வெண்ணிப் பறந்தலை.

Aamur Paranthalai, Kazumalam, Kurukkai Koodal, Thalaiyaalankaanam , Paruvoor, Paazi, Perunthurai, Manavaayiuraththuur, Musiri , Valla, Vaakai, Venni  etc

Of these, Thalaiyaalankaanam battle is celebrated much.

As I mentioned earlier Tamil kings fought among themselves and killed each other. Bards sang about the victorious kings or chieftains or the commanders and got prizes. No where in the world we such a long fighting. They fought for 1500 years continuously among themselves. We will see more in Pura naanuuru.

****

96.

Mountains mentioned in this book:

அதகன் மலை , ஆவி, ஆன்குன்று,  இமய மலை, ஏழி ல், கவிர, கன்மா, குதிரை,  குறும்பொறை , கொல்லி, கோடை , சிராப்பள்ளி, சிறுமலை, திருப்பரங்குன்றம், நள்ளி, பறம்பு, பாழி, பொதியின், பொதினீ, முதுகுன்றம், முள்ளூர், மோரியர் குறைத்த மலைவேங்கட மலை,வேங்கை சேர்ந்த வெற்பகம்.

Malai மலை is the word used for mountain in Tamil.

Athakan malai, aavi, aan kundru, Imaya malai (Himalaya), Aezil, kavira, Kanmaa, Kuthirai, Kurumporai, Kolli, Kodai, Siraappalli, Sirumalai, Thirupparamkundram, Nalli, Parambu, Paazi, Pothiyin, Pothini, Muthukundram, Mulluur, Venkatam, Venkai serntha verpakam, Moriyar kuraitha malai .

Of these, Venkatam is famous because of the Venkata achala pathi Vishnu temple, which is the world’s richest temple. Neither Vatican nor Mecca attract such a large crowd in the world. The oldest book Tolkappiam said Tamil language was spoken only up to that point.

வடவேங்கடம் தென்குமரி

ஆயிடைத்

தமிழ்கூறு நல்லுலகத்து

(தொல்காப்பியம், சிறப்புப்பாயிரம்:1-3)

Another interesting historical reference is to the Mauryan Invasion of Tamil Nadu. The words used by the poet Maamuulanaar is the mountain that was levelled by Mauryans. It shows that the Mauryan army laid road route across that hill. We have references from Jain books that Chandra Gupta Maurya spent his last days in Karnataka as a Jain devotee. This reference, coupled with Asoka’s reference to Tami kingdoms, give a clear history for the Tamil Kings from Third Century BCE.

Kolli Malai was also famous in those days for the presence of Kollip Paavai, a goddess who had mysterious powers.

The name Agastya is not at all mentioned in Sangam Tamil Literature. But the word Pothiyin Malai shows that it became famous because of Agastya’s residence there.  In other verses the hill is compared with Himalayas in reverence. It is part of the  1000 mile long Western Ghats called Sahyaadri in Sanskrit.

Tamil words Malai, Kundram and Sanskrit words Achala, Adri , all meant mountain.

Tirupparam Kundram is famous until this day because of Lord Skanda (Murugan in Tamil) temple.

Imayam, i.e. Himalaya is mentioned in several places. They used the Sanskrit word Hima (snow) in many places in addition to Vada Varai (Northern chain of mountains).

Sirumalai is famous for its sweetest, smallest banana fruits till this day.

Parambu Malai became most famous hill in Sangam Tamil Literature, because of the philanthropist chieftain Paari. Three Tamil kings ganged themselves and killed him. Brahmin poet Kapilar, the greatest of the 450+++ Sangam poets gave us lot of interesting information about this Parampu hills. When the jealous Tamil kings laid a siege, Kapilar trained the birds to bring grains for the people. Moreover Kapilar says that Paari gave all the three hundred towns to the poor. This statistic is very important. If a a small Parambu area has 300 towns 2000 years ago, one could imagine how many towns Tamils had in the vast area of Chera, Choza, Pandya kingdoms!

Muthu kundram hill is known as Vriddhachalam and Chirappali is called Trichy nowadays.

***

97.

Tamil Forests

in Tamil is Kaanam or Kaadu. கானம், காடு is forest

அழும்பிற்காடு ஆ அய்கானம், ஆலங்கானம், உம்பற்பெறுங்காடு, உறந்தைப்புறங்காடு ஓரிக்கானம், குடவாயில் மிளை  சாய்க்கானம்,, முள்ளூர்க்கானம், வல்லத்துப்புற மிளை

We have the Names of the following forests in Akananuru :

Azampirkaadu, Aalangkaanam, Aay kaanam,  umbar, Uranthai, Ori, Kudavaayinmilai, Saay, Mulluur, Ellaththuppura milai

Of these Aalangkaanam is famous because it was a battlefield.

***

98.Holy Towns

Tamils have been great Hindus, and they worshipped all the Six Gods mentioned by Adi Shankara and in addition they worshipped local heroes as Village Gods.

Following shrines are mentioned in the book:

அரங்கம், அலைவாய், அழுந்தூர், ஆலமுற்றம், கூடல், செல்லூர் , தனுஷ்கோடி, பரங்குன்று, பாவத்திரி, வேங்கடம், வேளூர்

Arangam, Alaivaay, Alunthuur, AAlamutram, Koodal, Sellur, Dhanushkodi, Parangkundru, Bavaththiri, Venkatam, Velur

Arangam is Sri Rangam  with very big Vishnu Temple and Venkatam also. Alaivaay/Tiru Chendur and Parankundru/Tirupparamkundram are famous Skanda/Murugan temples.

Dhanushkoti via Rameswaram is famous because one of the 12 Jyotirlinga Shrines.

***

99

Hindu Festivals

உள்ளி விழவு, உறந்தை, கழார்ப்புதுப்புனல் , கார்த்திகை , கூடல், பங்குனி, பரங்குன்ற, பூந்தொடை யாழ் , வேல் விழவு

Tamils celebrated following festivals according to Akananuru:

Vizavu விழவு, is the word for festival in Tamil. Now it is called Vizaa.

Ulli Vizavu, Urantha Vizavu, kazaar Puthuppunal Vizavu, Kaarthikai, Pankuni , Parangkundra, Poonthodai, Yaaz/Lyre, Vel Vizavu.

Most of these are religious events.

Of these Kartikai and Panguni are Sanskrit words used for Tamil months. In fact all Tamil months in the present day calendar are Sanskrit names. Most of these festivals are celebrated until this day.

The 12 month system shows that Tamils knew zodiac for at least 2000 years. Purananuru mentions zodiac signs. It shows that we followed our own Hindu system and not the Greek one.

***

100.

Holy Rivers of Hindus

நீர்த்துறைகள்

ஆன்பொருநைத்துறை, உறையூர் காவிரித்துறை,  தொழுனை , தனுஷ்கோடி, கூடல், கொற்கை, தொண்டி  முன்றுரை ; 

Tamils being Pukka Hindus treated all the water sources as holy and took ritual baths in the rivers and seas. The safest point for anyone to take a holy dip is called Thurai in Tamil and Ghat in Sanskrit.

Rig Veda, the oldest book in the world has the highest number of hymns in praise of water. The greatest wonder is that Brahmins around the world recite those Water Mantras three times a day. In all Hindu ceremonies water filled pot is a must. It is called Poorna Kumbha; even in death ceremonies they break water pots to show that the soul has merged with water and earth.

Tamil Akananuru mentioned at least 16 Ghats/Thurais. Following are important:

Aanporunai / Tambrbarani river Thurai, Uraiyur Kaviri Thurai, Thozunai (River Yamuna) Dhanuskodi, Thondi, Koodal and Korkai. The last three are not used anymore because of natural changes.

We will see more wonders in the next part

To be continued………………………

Tags- Ancient Tamil Encyclopaedia- Part 15; One Thousand Interesting Facts! – Part 15 , Tamil festivals, Tamil shrines, Tamil holy rivers, Akanauru wonders,