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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.
Pictures are taken from various sources for spreading knowledge.
this is a non- commercial blog. Thanks for your great pictures.
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xxxx
Hindu Vedas describe the Vedic gods in detail but the archaeological proofs of images come only from Harappan /Indus Valley Civilization. We see beautiful figures of Goddesses, Pasupati, a strange tiger goddess, ghosts and Saptamatas on Indus seals. In the Saptamata seal of Harappa/Mohanjadaro, a devotee offers severed human head (Nara bali) to a goddess and we know about self-sacrifices called Navakandam till later Pandya/ Choza periods.
***
Tamils in Tamil Nadu worshipped Hindu gods and goddesses in their houses and temples as well. Tamil poets of Sangam Age give us enough proof for this in their poems composed 2000 years ago. Poets show us that Tamils were well versed in Puranas and two epics Ramayana and Mahabharata.
No where Buddha or Mahavira is mentioned. Tamils worshipped Seven Stars in Saptarishi Constellation (Ursa Major), sun and moon too. Even Asura Guru Sukra/Venus and Deva Guru Brihaspati/Jupiter are mentioned as Iru Perum Deivangal/ Two Great Deities.
***
Picture of Siva, Uma on Bull
Before Sangam Age, we get more evidence from Patanjali’s Mahabhashya commentary and Chanakya’s Arthasastra. Chanakya advised the Mauryan government to produce Gods’ figures in large scale and sell them to increase the revenue of the government.
Patanjali in his Mahabhashya commentary on world’s first grammar book Ashtadhyayi written by Panini , provide us interesting details. Patanjali lived 2200 years ago and Panini lived 2800 years ago according to Goldstucker.
***
Arcaa and Pratikruti
Picture of Lord Siva drinking poison.
Patanjali has termed the ordinary images Pratikriti and gods’ images Arcaas. The pratikriti of a horse is named asvaka and a camel ustraka. Suffix ka was added to denote the pratikriti of an object. Pratikritis of animals were used on flags as drawings. The author of the Kaasikaa has mentioned the pictures of the horses of Arjuna, Duryodhana etc. Garuda figures of Lord Vishnu were on pillars and flags. Rock edicts bearing inscriptions describing the Garuda dwaja (Eagle Flag) have been found at Mehrauli and Sisunia.
The idols of gods were made, and they were called arcas ( arcaas) . Two types of them were described by him, one for priests and the other for householders. Idols of Siva, Skanda and Vishaka are mentioned by him. The idols made for sale mentioned with the suffix ka. Thus we get
Siva ka
Skanda ka
Vishaka ka
Kasyapa ka
Kasyapa is a name of Varuna and Vishnu. Also Kasyapi devi for earth.
Rama, Kesava, Dhanapati and Vaisravana were also worshipped during Patanjali’s time.
Skanda and Vishaka pairs were also sold 2200 years ago. These details were provided by him on the commentary on following Paninian sutras,
(P D Agnihotri of Bhopal has given the above information in his article in the volume Recent studies in Sanskrit and Indology, Ajanta publications, 1982.
***
Sangam Tamil Literature
Picture of Lord Skanda on peacock.
Tamils in ancient Tamil Nadu worshipped idols in Temples and in their residences. But the residences had the gods’ pictures on the walls. We guess they were drawings on the walls or cloths. Doors of palaces and big houses had figures of Gaja Lakshmi and Conch and Lotus representing two of the Nine Treasures of Kubera. Kubera was also called Dhanapati, Vaisnavara, Siva sakha and Kuvera.
***
Long list of temples is available in Silappdikaram, a Tamil epic of Post Sangam period.
Gatha Sapta Sati (GSS), Prakrit language anthology of love poems, also mentioned a painting of Rama, Lakshmana and Sita on a wall in a house. When the younger brother of a householder looked at the wife of his elder brother with bad intention, she politely refused by pointing out at Lakshmana picture on the wall. Lakshmana was famous for his loyalty to his elder brother Rama and he never looked at Sita, Rama’s wife; he was said to have looked at her feet only. GSS also belonged to Sangam Age.
***
We have hundreds of references to epic and Puranic anecdotes, flags, vahanas of Gods and symbols of all Gods in ancient Tamil poems.
Following references in Sangam literature confirm Image Worship:
Hero Stones and Sati Stones are available in South India from fifth century CE. Their worship is mentioned in many Sangam poems another Mysterious word Kandazi in Tolkappiamகந்தழிவழிபாடு and later poems points out to worship of Linga (Siva) or post.
Very clear proof comes from Tamil epic Silappadikaram. Senguttuvan, a Chera king of Sangam Age, went all the way to the Holy Himalayas and took a stone, bathed it in the holy Ganga river and carved out Kannaki’s statue for worship. It spread to Sri Lanka as Patni (Chaste Woman) worship. Chaste women were more powerful than gods according to Tiru Valluvar.
Chenguttuvan made the statue only because of the popularity of image worship in his time.
We know the popularity of clay figures of Goddess Durga in Bengal, Lord Ganesh in Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu and Village Goddess figures of Tamil towns. Even today they are made for worship and dissolved in the river water on the third day. Such figures might have existed during Sangam Age. The word PAAVAI (doll) is mentioned in Sangam books as a worshipful figure.
***
Picture of Nara bali in Harapa/ Mohanjadaro
Madurai Kanchi, one of the Sangam books, mentioned the deities taken around town in line 164. And in lines 577/8 more information about deities living in prosperous houses.
அணங்கு வழங்கும் அகல் அங்கண்
கொழுங்குடிச் செல்வரும் பிறரும் மேவிய,
மணம் புணர்ந்து ஓங்கிய , அணங்குடை நல் இல் – மதுரைக் காஞ்சி 577-578
And Tamils worshipped the deities living in the doors of the houses with Ghee and Aiyavi/white mustard.
More refence comes from another Sangam work called Nedunalvaadai says that women worshipped with flowers by lighting lamps.
Women who Worship in the Evening Hours
Tender, naive women with bamboo-like arms, delicate looks, teeth resembling pearls, white conch-shell bangles on their tight forearms, and moist, pretty eyes that matched their beautiful earrings, carried long, green-stemmed jasmine buds in trays. The flower buds opened their pretty petals and blossomed, their spreading fragrance announcing the arrival of evening time.
They lit the oil-dipped wicks of iron lamps, pressed their palms together and worshipped, tossing offerings of rice paddy and flowers, and celebrated evenings in the prosperous market.
நெடுநல்வாடை வரிகள்
வெள்ளி வள்ளி வீங்கு இறைப் பணைத் தோள்,
மெத்தென் சாயல், முத்து உறழ் முறுவல்,
பூங்குழைக்கு அமர்ந்த ஏந்து எழில் மழைக்கண்,
மடவரல் மகளிர் பிடகைப் பெய்த
செவ்வி அரும்பின் பைங்கால் பித்திகத்து,
அவ்இதழ் அவிழ் பதம் கமழ, பொழுது அறிந்து,
இரும்பு செய் விளக்கின் ஈர்ந்திரி கொளீஇ,
நெல்லும் மலரும் தூஉய், கை தொழுது,
மல்லல் ஆவணம் மாலை அயர (36 – 44)
***
Image of Agni
Friend of a would be bride says Come on, Let us worship the God in the house with proper Bali/offering for your quick marriage- Akananuru 282
Another Akam poem 369 talks about the painted Gods on the wall of a house.
(Vaidehi Herberts Translation is used; thanks.)
Akanānūru 369, Nakkeerar – What the foster mother said to the heroine’s friend, after the heroine eloped
Look at this, my daughter! What is the use of our close relationship?
The pet parrot with red neck band refuses to drink sweet milk, even when young women hold it on their forearms with bright bangles, in the proper manner uttering praises. Her friends with beautiful jewels and peacock nature do not play games anymore. The big urn does not have any flowers, and the goddess image decorated with pearl strands on the sturdy wall does not get any offerings.
Akanānūru 282, What the heroine’s friend said to her as the hero listened nearby, or what the heroine said to her friend ……………………………………………………
Let us hold our delicate fingers with fine joints and give offerings to our house gods so that the wedding day will happen soon!
”வல்லே வருக, வரைந்த நாள்!” என,
நல் இறை மெல் விரல் கூப்பி,
இல் உறை கடவுட்கு ஆக்குதும், பலியே! -அகநானூறு 282
***
Picture of Parvati
Tirupparankundram Painting of Indra- Ahalya anecdote
A villager’s wife who was wondering about a painting on the wall asked her husband and he explained to her the Ahalya anecdote according to commentators:
The Splendor of Thirupparankundram Paripaadal verse 19
In auspicious Thirupparankundram with perfect
bamboo and wide boulders,
there is a pavilion in the temple of Murukan,
nephew of Thirumāl, decorated with paintings that
are admired by devotees. Some try to figure the
positions of the heavenly bodies that cause summer
heat. Some in love say, ‘This is Rathi. This is Kāman,
the god of love’. Some say, ‘This is Indiran as a cat’.
Some say, ‘This is Akalikai who was desired by Indiran’.
Some say, ‘This is her husband Gauthaman, the sage
who left, tricked by Indiran’. Some say, ‘This rock is
the hapless Akalikai cursed by her angry husband’.
There are some who give food to many monkeys.
There are some who give sugarcane to black-faced
monkeys. Some play the divine veenai. Some play
flutes closing the holes with their fingers. Some play
pālai tunes in even tones on the yāzh. Some praise
the beauty of rituals. Some create drum sounds
according to tradition.
மலைச் சிறப்பு குரங்கு அருந்து பண்ணியம் கொடுப்போரும், கரும்பு கருமுகக் கணக்கு அளிப்போரும், தெய்வப் பிரமம் செய்குவோரும், 40
கை வைத்து இமிர்பு குழல் காண்குவோரும், யாழின் இளி குரல் சமம் கொள்வோரும், வேள்வியின் அழகு இயல் விளம்புவோரும், கூர நாண் குரல் கொம்மென ஒலிப்ப, ஊழ் உற முரசின் ஒலி செய்வோரும், 45
என்றூழ் உறவரும் இரு சுடர் நேமி ஒன்றிய சுடர் நிலை உள்படுவோரும், “இரதி காமன் இவள் இவன்” எனாஅ, விரகியர் வினவ வினா இறுப்போரும், “இந்திரன் பூசை; இவள் அகலிகை; இவன் 50
சென்ற கவுதமன்; சினன் உறக் கல் உரு ஒன்றியபடி இது” என்று உரை செய்வோரும், இன்ன பல பல எழுத்து நிலை மண்டபம், துன்னுநர் சுட்டவும், சுட்டு அறிவுறுத்தவும், நேர் வரை விரி அறை வியல் இடத்து இழைக்கச் 55
சோபன நிலையது துணி பரங்குன்றத்து மாஅல் முருகன் மாட மருங்கு.
In addition to these quotes, many religious festivals are reported when Gods’ processions take place. Just two hundred years after the Sangam Age comes the literature of devotional period where we get thousands of examples for image worship.
—subham—
Tags- Image Worship , Sangam Tamil Literature, idols, Pavai dolls, wall paintings, Arca, Patanjali, Mahabhasya, Artha sastra, Indus Valley, Harappa images, Tamil poets, Akanauru, Paripadal , clay figures
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There is a natural wonder near Viluppuram. At 20 miles from Viluppuram, is Tiruvakkarai where there is a fossil wood park. Many people who visit the famous Vakrakali temple and the Siva temple do not know about the fossil wood or stone tree park. I would suggest the Geological Survey of India who maintain the park place sign posts near the temple.
Tiruvakkarai has hundreds of fossilised trees spreading over a vast area—247 acres. The entry is free. It has got trees 20 million years old. They were washed away millions of years ago and buried under the earth. They are now wood stones. The department has installed big boards in Tamil and English explaining it to laymen. They have done a very good job. A watchman is getting the signatures of visitors on a note book, which must be appreciated.
There is another fossil wood park near Perambalur.
Scientists have found out the types of trees. Following are the facts given on the board at Tiruvakkarai:-
Fossilwood of Mesembrixylon schmidianum (gymnosperms/non -flowering plants)
Peuce schmidiana (angiosperms/flowering plants)
How big the trees are?
30 metres long with a diameter of 1-5 metres
How did the trees become stones?
During the petrification period, the organic matter inside the tree is replaced with silica/sand
How did they know they were washed away from another area?
Absence of roots and branches indicate toward in this direction.
Who discovered it?
In 1781 an Europena recorded the occurrence of it.
What is the use of preserving it?
These trees tell the age of the earth and the flora and fauna of an area.
Trees’ annual rings are preserved even in the fossilised wood.
They are of Mio-pliocene Sedimentary Rocks.
In some parts of the world they even indicate the drought, volcanic eruptions happened millions of years ago.
.JPG)
Tamil and Vedas 
