Written by London Swaminathan

Post No. 16,306

Date uploaded in London – 14 October 2026

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 

Tami’s greatest contribution to the world is Tiruk Kural authored by Tiru Valluvar.

What is Kural and Who called it Tamil Veda?

Kural is a genre of Tamil verse with two lines. Tiru means Sri or Holy.

Tamil Veda is the word used by one of the oldest poets who praised Tiruk Kural. Even H A Popley named his Tirukkural book as Tamil Veda in 1931. Tirukkural has an appendix called Tiru Valluva Malai where we find this word Tamil Marai= Tamil Veda.

Though the oldest Tamil book Tolkaappiam named Vedic Gods Indra and Varuna as important Tamil Gods, though the 2000 year old Tamil Sangam Books, 18 in number, praised Hindu Gods in hundreds of poems, a gang who called themselves Dravidians tried to show Tamils as Anti God group. But Tirukkural, the greatest Hindu book in Tamil, gives the gist of Hinduism . The book has 1330 couplets, divided into 133 chapters (Adikarams) has three parts called Dharma Artha and Kaama, in Tamil Aram Porul, Inbam. The original name of the book itself is Muppal= Three Divisions=Dharma Artha Kaama.

One gang of Tamil fanatics dated it BCE just to counter Christian propaganda who tried to project him as a person influenced by Christian thoughts. But’s Tamils’ own classification put it in Post Sangam books called 18 minor works. Internal evidence, style diction and use of Sanskrit words in over 500 couplets out of 1330 couplets placed it fifth century CE.

Let me give the couplets where Hindu Gods are praised and used as similes; in addition to them, we have translations of Manu, Mahabharata, Artha shastra, Kamasutra slokas in it. Even Dr Reverend G U Pope who translated it into English, referred to them without any hesitation.

1

Vamana Avatara

The king who is free from sloth shall gain all that has been measured by the feet of Lord Vishnu- Kural 610

(This is Singapore translation;  EVS published the book Sayings of Tiruvalluvar.

The reference to the God who measured Earth in three feet is originally in the Rig Veda 1-22-17; 1-155-4

*************

2

Indra

Indra, the king of the devas himself, will bear testimony to the will power of those who curbed the desires of the five senses- Kural 25

It is in Dhammapada 30 and Atharva Veda 11-5-19

If those of rigorous penance become enraged, even Indra will crash from power and position-Kural 899

This is the interpretation of the Kanchipuram Vishnu temple priest Parimel azakar, who is the most famous interpreter of Tirukkural.

*************

3

Departed souls in South (Yama loka)

The paramount duty of a householder I to cherish daily the manes (who are in the South), the gods, his guests, his relations and himself- Kural 43

(Here he summarised Panchabhuta Yajna of Manu Smriti, Vedic dictum Athithi Atithi (अतिथि) Devo Bhava (Guests are Gods) and confirming Hindu belief that the dead people travel towards South to reach Yama Loka).

*************

4

Vishnu’s Vaikuntha

Can the lotus eyed Vishnu’s heaven be indeed as sweet to those who delight to sleep in the delicate arms of their beloved?- Kural 1103

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5

Lord Siva

Men of refined courtesy accept even a cup of poison and look cheerfully calm- Kural 580

Lord Shiva took poison without any hesitation when the Devas and Asuras churned the Milky Ocean. It may be a reference to Socrates as well).

*************

6

Lakshmi and her sister Jyeshta

The Goddess of Fortune / Lakshmi shun the envious and hands them over to her sister Goddess of Poverty/ Jyeshta devi- Kural 167

Ill luck resides with the indolent and good luck of the lotus deity Lakshmi with strenuous people- Kural 617

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7

Markandeya/Lord Siva

Those who labour on untiringly and without fault will overcome even fate- Kural 620

Though we have examples of Nachiketas in the Upanishads and Savitri in the Mahabharata, one of the ancient commentators referred to Markandeya as an example.

(Out of the Ten Ancient Commentaries on Tirukkural, we have only five available now and one of them referred to Markandeya)

*************

8

Brahma

Even to those who have acquired immense wealth the enjoyment of it may not be possible except as ordained by the Disposer/ Brahma of all things — Kural 377

May the creator / Brahma perish wandering about if he has ordained begging too, as a means of existence- Kural 1062

*************

9

Agastya and Nahusa

See Kural 899 under Indra above

*************

10

Dharma Artha Kama in Kurals 501, 754, 760

Apply four tests in choosing genuine officers: Virtue, Wealth, Pleasure and Fear of Death (their views on Dharma, Artha, Kaama, Moksha)- Kural 501;

The Wealth must be acquired by honest work.  Such Wealth brings Virtue and Pleasure/happiness (Artha, Dharma and Kaama)- Kural 754

Those who have treasured abundant wealth, easily obtain the other two Virtue and Delight (Artha, Dharma, Kaama)- Kural 760

*************

11

Pancha tantra stories

273 (Cow clothed in Tiger’s Skin);

274 (Hunter seeking birds hiding in bush);

 277 (Red berry Abrus with Black in tip);

 481 (Crow defeating Owl in day time);

 490 (waiting Heron striking Fish at right time);

495 (Crocodile in Water more powerful);

500 (Elephant trapped by cunning Fox);

 565 (Ghost with Seven Jars of Gold -Story told by Ramakrishna Paramahamsar);

890 (Living with Serpent in a hut).

Valluvar used such stories together; see the number sequence of Kurals; probably he had notes taken from Pancha Tantra book by his side).

*************

12 Strictly Vegetarian, No Killing Animals

Chapter 26- Kurals 251 to 260

Chapter 33- Kurals 321 to 330

Valluvar was an ardent advocate of Vegetarianism.

*************

13

Bhagavad Gita style, diction, thoughts-617, 620,  1023, 1058, 1020, 332; 19, 295 (Dhaanam, Tavam); 360; I have written several articles on it; D M Diaz (Former IG of Police in Tamil Nadu) quotes a lot of Bhagavad Gita slokas in his two volume book on Tirukkural in English)

*************

14

Venan ,Nanda Vamsa, Kannaki

Under the chapter titled oppression he says

The leader who without refection on the evil consequences acts unjustly will lose at once both his wealth and his subjects- Kural 555

Stories of Venan, Nanda vamsa kings, Kannaki, Nahusan etc are examples.

*************

15

Brahmins / Vedas 134, 560

The Vedas which have grown shadowy and vague beyond recollection, a Brahmin can learn anew; but his birth right he never can regain when once fallen from his high estate- Kural 134

Cows yield less, Brahmins forget Vedas, if the leader/king does not guard justice- Kural 560;

*************

16

Fasting to get good sons 70, 160

The duty of the son to the father is to make others exclaim what penance he has done to be blessed with such a worthy son– Kural 70

Those who perform fasting by penance are certainly great but even they are not equal to those that forbear the harsh words spoken by others- Kural 160

*************

17

Seven Births 62, 107, 398

No evil will befall a man in all the Seven Births he may have if he begets children of irreproachable character- Kural 62

Throughout the Seven Births, the wise ones will remember

Those who have, at some time wiped their tears -Kural 107

The knowledge gathered in one birth is beacon that lights you across the seas of your sevenfold birth- Kural 398

*************

18

Attack on atheists -850

He who denies what all the people affirm as real, is considered not human but an evil spirit-Kural 850

*************

19

Sevenfold Hell 835

A fool does so much sinful deeds in one birth that he suffers infernal misery in sevenfold hells- Kural 835

*************

20

Chapter 85 – Stupidity – is an attack on Jains

and Buddhists

*************

21

Sankara’s Bhaja Govindam

It matters not whether a man shaves his hair or allows it to grow in flowing locks if he could refrain from what the world shuns- Kural 280

*************

22

Yagas and Yaga food 413

Those who in this world enjoy instruction/discourse which is the food of the ear, are equal to the gods who enjoy the food of the sacrifice- Kural 413

*************

23

Chapters on Tapas 35, 36

Kurals 341 to 360

*************

24

Chapter on Fate

Kurals 371 o 380

*************

25

God with a Form

In the very first chapter titled Prayer to God, he mentioned the feet of God in seven Kurals out of ten kurals (No 1 to 10)

*************

25

Who is God?

In several Kurals he eleated human to the status of God. He mentioned God in the Sky (heaven)

All such Kurals justify Hindus giving diine origin to many Avataras and Saintly persons. Following Kurals are important:

Kurals 50, 260, 268, 294, 388, 413, 702.

Apart from this I have already comparedseveral Kurals with Slokas in Dhammapada and Bhartruhari’s Niti Sataka (Please see my book in Tamil- Valiki muthal Valluvar varai) 

–subham—

Tags – Hindu Gods, Tiruk Kural, Tiru Valluvar, Tamil Veda, God, Avataras, Indra, Vishnu, Siva, Yama, Brahma, rebirth, seven births

Kinnara in Bangkok Palace in Thailand (my picture)

Written by London Swaminathan

Post No. 16,231

Date uploaded in London – 24 September 2026

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 

Purananuru wonders-70, Tamil Encyclopaedia 110, One Thousand Interesting Facts -Part 110

Pathitrup Paththu (Ten Times Ten) book continued…………………..

Item 944- Kinnara music- lines 43-21/22

Poet Paranar mentioned musical Kinnaram birds with wings in this line 43-21 .

Ancient Tamils believed that the bird like Kinnaram with wings sings beautifully ; but the dancers with lute in their hands sings better than those Kinnaram birds.

I , London swaminathan, visited Bangkok palace in Thailand in January this year and saw golden coloured kinnara statue with wings along with other statues.

It is interesting to note the difference between the Kinnara with horse face in India and Kinnara with bird face in South East Asian countries. Here are the two different descriptions:

In Buddhist mythology and Hindu mythology, a kinnara is a paradigmatic lover, a celestial musician, half-human and half-horse (India) or half-bird (south-east Asia). Their character is clarified in the Adi parva of the Mahabharata, where they say:

We are everlasting lover and beloved. We never separate. We are eternally husband and wife; never do we become mother and father. No offspring is seen in our lap. We are lover and beloved ever-embracing. In between us we do not permit any third creature demanding affection. Our life is a life of perpetual pleasure.

They are also featured in a number of Buddhist texts, including the Lotus Sutra. An ancient Indian string instrument is known as the Kinnari Veena.

2) In Southeast Asian mythology, Kinnaris, the female counterpart of Kinnaras, are depicted as half-bird, half-woman creatures

Kinnara (किन्नर), like Yakṣas, are the attendants of Kubera. They are represented as mythical beings with a human figure and the head of a horse or with a horse’s body and the head of a man. They are described as celestial choristers and musicians who dwell in the paradise of Kuvera on Kailāsa. They are called Aśvamukhas, Turaṅgavaktras, “horse-faced” and Mayus.

Kinnara from Wikipedia.

***

Item 945- Discovery about Sea (lines 45-18/22)

மழைகொளக்   குறையாது புனல்புக நிறையாது-45/19

Tamils are great oceanographers. They studied oceans 2000 years ago.

This is evident from two descriptions about sea: 1.Tamils called it MUN NEER, meaning Three waters. One of the explanations is the sea has river water, rain water and spring water. I commented it as the ‘springs under the sea’. Oceanographers have discovered hot water springs under the sea in the past 100 years only.  But Tamils knew it 2000 years ago. The reason for my comment is spring water is already part of river water and so the spring water referred to by the ancient commentator is the sub marine springs.

2.The second discovery sung by Paranar here is already in the Vedas. Hindus knew that thousands and thousands of rivers on earth pouring down millions of gallons of water into the seas every second, but yet the sea never becomes full and crosses its shores. The line also mentioned that rains/clouds take water and yet the sea dries not. Hindus knew the main source of rain is the sea. To make this comment they must have watched the three seas around India for thousands of years.

***

Sixth decad

Poet: Kākkai Pādiniyār Nachellaiyār, King: Chēran Ādukōt Pāttu Chēralāthan.

காக்கை பாடினியார் நச்செள்ளையார்;பாடப்பட்டவர்: சேர மன்னன் ஆடுகோட் பாட்டுச் சேரலாதன்

This Chera king ruled for 38 years. One of his adventures was that he marched to Dandakaranya forest and brought back mountain goats; he donated reddish brown coloured  cows to brahmins. He gave the poetess one hundred thousand gold Kaanam ( gold coin or gold particles) and nine gold coins

***

Item 946- mountain goats or Nilgri Tahr-cobra dance of Tamil women

It is interesting to note that Nilgri Tahr found in Nilgris in Tamil Nadu now,confirms what the poetess said. Why he did is the question that crops up in our mind. Perhaps Chera king was a man interested in nature. And the poetess also has an epithet- woman who sang about crows. Her famous poem about crows is in Kuruntokai.

Lines 51-24 in about the Himalaya where great god is, where snakes with cobra jewel/ nagaratna dances like possessed women.

We get three details here

Great God in the Great Mountain (Himalaya is Lord Siva in Kailash; Hindus were very familiar with Kailash in the Himalaya. In the previous part also, we saw Kalidasa’s Devatatma Himalaya used by Paranar.

Second point is snakes dancing with cobra jewels= nagaratna;

Third interesting detail- snakes dance like possessed women or possessed women dance like snakes.

The snake dance in Bharatanatyam is a traditional classical performance piece, most famously set to the Tamil composition “Naadhar Mudi Mel Irukkum” (or “Aadu Pambe”), meaning “dance, oh snake”

The song is composed by the 17th-century Tamil Siddha poet Pambatti Siddhar and is traditionally set to the Punnagavarali (Mishra Bilaskhani Todi) raga. The snake is a metaphor for Kundalini energy. Pannaga is the Sanskrit word for snake.

***

Item 947- Mechanical devices/weapons on Forts

Poetess sung about mechanical devices in the forts which shoots arrows in line 53-7.

In other part of the poem also we come across Yantra, a Sanskrit word, used for mechanical instruments. Lord Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita (18-61) also spoke about Yantra Aarudaani.

***

Item 948-Peri yaaz- big lute – lines 57-7/15

Peri yaaz பேரியாழ்  is a big lute; commentators say any lute with 21 to 1000 strings come under this category. 1000 is used for a lot in Hindu literature, not necessarily 1000.

Paalai pann- tune or raga for Arid/paalai landscape

***

Item 949-Maasi Month

In line 59-2, month Maasi is referred to. All the names of Tamil months are derived from Sanskrit words.

In lines 57-5/6, king is compared to sun which is common in Tamil and Sanskrit literature.

***

Item 950- Seventh Decad sung by Brahmin poet Kapilar.

பாடியவர்: கபிலர், பாடப்பட்டவர்: செல்வக்கடுங்கோ வாழியாதன்

Pathitruppathu 61, Poet: Kapilar, King: Selvakkadunkō Vāzhiyāthan, 

Kapilar is praised by many poets and he was the one who had contributed highest number of poems in Sangam Tamil Corpus.

This chera king Selvakkadunkō Vāzhiyāthan ruled for 25 years. He donated hundred thousand gold (coins or particles= Kaanam in Tamil) to poet Kapilar. He took Kapilar to the top of the Nandraa hill and said to him whatever you see belongs to you; such a generous king! He was a great Vishnu devotee who performed many Yagas.

I HAVE ALREADY POSTED THE PICTURES OF THE SIEVE IN MADRAS MUSEUM FOR SIFTING GOLDEN PARTICLES/COINS. IN ONE SIFT , IT GIVES APPROXIMATELY 400 DUST PARTICLES. it wont even take one minute to do it.

Kapilar adds one more line- The king impressed even priests with his knowledge.

***

Item 951- Paari praised again-

Here we get some historic detail. Poet Kapilar visited this king after great philanthropist Paari’s death. First, he praised his dearest friend Paari and then made it very clear that he did not come there to beg money because Pari was dead. immediately he praises the Chera king saying that he never regretted after giving nor he became ecstatic after giving/donating.

Now we know he came to Chera country after Paari’s death. Earlier we saw tha he visited many kings for marrying Paari’s daughters Sangavai and Anagavai.

***

Seven Suns appeared in China in 2024; Four suns appeared in Karaikal (see my blog for full information; these are rare optical illusions)

Item 952- Bhagavad Gita Echoed! Lines 62-1/9

Kapilar must have mastered Bhagavad Gita. In one of the poems in Purananuru, he said God never rejects Bhakta’s offering even if it is water , grass or leaves. Hindus offer Tulsi leaves, Vilvam leaves and Arukam grass to Gods. This is in Bhagavad Gita sloka Patram Pushpam phalam toyam…. ( I have already given the details in this Purananuru Wonder series)

Here again he talks about mysterious Vata Muka Agni (Badavaagni) = Submarine Fire = Vadavaith Thee in Tamil and many suns appearing at the same time. This is from the Viswarupa Darsana of Bhagavad Gita (11-12)

“If thousands of suns were to rise simultaneously in the sky, their radiance would still barely resemble the light of that great Supreme Lord” (This was quoted by  J. Robert Oppenheimer, father of nuclear bomb, when atom bomb was tested in an American desert) here Kapilar used many suns and Vatamukhagni to compare the arson attacks of Chera king in enemy territories. The fire set by the army of the Chera king set fire in enemy territories resembled many suns blazing at the same time!

To be continued……………………

Tags- Kinnara, Kapilar, Paranar, Kakkai Paatini, Kinnara Bird, Purananuru wonders-70, Tamil Encyclopaedia 110 , item 952

Written by London Swaminathan

Post No. 16,159

Date uploaded in London – 3 September 2026

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 

Purananuru wonders-62; Tamil Encyclopaedia 102, One Thousand Interesting Facts -Part 102

The next book we are going to see is Kurinchip Pattu (pronunciation- kurinjip paattu), one of the Ten Idylls ( Paththup Paattu) in Sangam Tamil Literature. It is a 261 lines long poem. It is a love poem. Kurichip pattu means mountain song; Tamils called the mountain landscape as Kurinchi; Kurinchi  is the name of a plant and its flowers blossom once in 12 years. Kurinchi blossom itself is a natural wonder. Tamils visit Nilgris and Kodaikanal to see the once in 12 year flowering.

Subject of the poem

A mother sees her daughter pine away day by day and is distressed, not knowing the causes. She consults soothsayers and makes offerings to gods for her daughter’s cure. A girl friend of the maiden knows the real cause and keeps it a secret. The girl fell in love with a man she met in the millet field. The poem described the meeting of the hero and the heroine in the natural surroundings.

***

 First, let me list the wonders in it:

It was written by the Brahmin poet KAPILAR who contributed highest number of poems to Sangam Tamil Literature;

He changed the mind of a North Indian Musician who criticised Tamil language and made him a Tamil poet!

To impress him Kapilar imitated Kalidasa’s poems; Rev G U Pope said that the poem was an imitation of Kalidasa, whose Rtu Samharam and Sakuntalam have beautiful description of Nature.

Biggest wonder is Kapilar listed 99 flowers at one go; it is not found in any other literature.

Reference to Sun God with a Chariot pulled by Seven Horses, worship of many gods; belief in rebirth;

Reference to the custom of Tamil women arranging their hair into five separate braids; it is seen in some parts of Burma and Iraq; in the absence of any painting or sculptures some scholars think it is five different hair styles.

***

Item 872 –Flower Wonder

The biggest wonder in Kurinchip Paattu is the list of 99 flowers at one go! Though Kalidasa, a Pre-Sangam Age poet and Valmiki also used as many flowers but not in one place in a poem.

Few of the flowers have Sanskrit names and few of the flowers are not satisfactorily identified; yet it shows the interest and  knowledge of botany in Sangam Age.

Following is the list: Lines 61- 98

பாறையில் மலர் குவித்த பாவையர்

———– ———— ———– வள் இதழ்
ஒண் செங்காந்தள், ஆம்பல், அனிச்சம்,
தண் கயக் குவளை, குறிஞ்சி, வெட்சி,
செங்கொடுவேரி, தேமா, மணிச்சிகை,
உரிது நாறு அவிழ் தொத்து உந்தூழ், கூவிளம்,  65
எரி புரை எறுழம், சுள்ளி, கூவிரம்,
வடவனம், வாகை, வான் பூங் குடசம்,
எருவை, செருவிளை, மணிப்பூங் கருவிளை,
பயினி, வானி, பல்லிணர்க் குரவம்,
பசும்பிடி, வகுளம், பல்லிணர்க் காயா,   70
விரி மலர் ஆவிரை, வேரல், சூரல்,
குரீஇப் பூளை, குறுநறுங்கண்ணி,
குருகிலை, மருதம், விரிபூங் கோங்கம்,
போங்கம், திலகம், தேங்கமழ் பாதிரி,
செருந்தி, அதிரல், பெருந்தண் சண்பகம்,   75
கரந்தை, குளவி, கடிகமழ் கலிமாத்,
தில்லை, பாலை, கல் இவர் முல்லை,
குல்லை, பிடவம், சிறுமாரோடம்,
வாழை, வள்ளி, நீள் நறு நெய்தல்,
தாழை, தளவம், முள் தாள் தாமரை   80
ஞாழல், மௌவல், நறுந்தண் கொகுடி,
சேடல், செம்மல், சிறுசெங்குரலி,
கோடல், கைதை, கொங்கு முதிர் நறுவழை,
காஞ்சி, மணிக்குலைக் கள் கமழ் நெய்தல்,
பாங்கர், மராஅம், பல்பூந் தணக்கம்,   85
ஈங்கை, இலவம், தூங்கு இணர்க் கொன்றை,
அடும்பு, அமர் ஆத்தி, நெடுங்கொடி அவரை,
பகன்றை, பலாசம், பல்பூம் பிண்டி,
வஞ்சி, பித்திகம், சிந்துவாரம்,
தும்பை, துழாஅய் சுடர்ப்பூந் தோன்றி,   90
நந்தி, நறவம், நறும் புன்னாகம்,
பாரம், பீரம், பைங்குருக்கத்தி,
ஆரம், காழ்வை, கடிஇரும் புன்னை,
நரந்தம், நாகம், நள்ளிருள்நாறி,
மாஇருங் குருந்தும், வேங்கையும் பிறவும்,   95
அரக்கு விரித்தன்ன பரு ஏர் அம் புழகுடன்
மால் அங்கு உடைய மலிவனம் மறுகி,
வான்கண் கழீஇய அகல் அறைக் குவைஇப், (61-98)

Collecting flowers and placing them on boulders

Attracted to the flowers that were
there, with desire,
we collected the flowers of red
kānthal with thick leaves, white āmpal,
delicate anicham, kuvalai from cool
ponds, kurinji, vetchi, chenkoduvēri,
sweet mango, manichikai, unthoozh with
fragrant clusters of flowers, koovilam,
flame-like erulam, sulli, kooviram,
vadavanam, vākai, kudasam with white
flowers, eruvai, seruvilai, and
karuvilai with gem-colored flowers,
payini, vāni, kuravam with many clusters
of flowers, pasumpidi, vakulam, kāyā with
many clusters of flowers, āvirai with open
blossoms, vēral, sooral, small poolai,
small and fragrant kanni, kurukilai,
marutham, kōngam with open blossoms,
pōngam, thilakam, honey-fragrant pāthiri,
cherunthi, athiral, large cool chenbakam,
karanthai, kulavi, flourishing
fragrant mango, thillai, pālai, mullai
that has spread on rocks, kullai, pidavam,
siru mārōdam, banana, valli, neythal flowers
with long stems, coconut, thalavam, lotus
with thorns on its stems, gnāzhal, wild
jasmine, cool fragrant kokudi, sedal,
chemmal, small chengurali, kōdal, kaithai,
mature naruvalai, kānji, sapphire-colored
clusters of neythal flowers, pānkar, marām,
thanakkam with clusters, eengai, ilavam,
kondrai, adampu, perfect
āthi, avarai with long vines, pakandrai,
palāsam, pindi with clusters of blossoms,
vanji, large pithikam, sinthuvāram, thumpai,
thulāi, flame-like thōndri, nanthi, naravam,
fragrant punnākam, pāram, peeram, fresh
kurukkathi, āram, kāzhvai, fragrant punnai,
narantham, nākam, nallirul nāri, kuruntham,
vēngai and vermilion-hued thick, beautiful, red,
wild puzhaku, that were washed by the
rains, and piled them on a wide, clean boulder.

(Translation of Vaidehi Herbert is used; thanks)

My comments:

Anicham is not identified but guessed what it was; now not seen in any part of the world. Many of the flowers are not seen in other books of Sangam literature. Few are from Sanskrit literature that existed before Sangam Age.

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Item 873 -New Poet Made

Yaaz Brahma Dutt was a North Indian musician and Aryan chieftain, who was an expert in playing Yaaz (lyre, lute); he criticised Tamil language. Kapilar being a Brahmin , taught him Tamil via Sanskrit. He impressed him and in course of time Yaaz Brahma Dutt became a Tamil Poet! That Brahma Dutt composed a poem in Tamil and, compilers included it in the Sangam corpus (see Kuruntokai 184)! This is really a wonder because within a short time a poet was created in the language which he was not speaking.

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Item 874 -Many Gods Worship

Lines 1 to 8 give vital information about Hindu religion followed by the Sangam Age Tamils 2000 years ago. A friend of a women was consoling a mother whose daughter was love sick. That friend said that the mother worshipped MANY DIFFERENT GODS using flowers and fragrant materials. This is a severe blow to Anti Hindu Dravidians who projected Tamils as a No Faith Gang!

Using soothsayers is also mentioned.

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Item 875 Rebirth

Lines 23 to 26 show Tamil girl’s strong belief in REBIRTH

 Heroine worries about her parent’s mis understanding of her ‘sickness’ and says “if I can’t get him as my husband in this birth I will get him in my next birth”.

There is a golden saying as well; if jewels are broken, they can be repaired, but if one’s character is ruined , cannot be set right.

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Item 876 – Another Wordsworth

Kapilar described the beautiful Kurinchi landscape in lines 31- 61, that is before listing the 99 flowers.  The girl/heroine said where and when she fell in love. That was the place full of birds, waterfalls, bathing in crystal clear water etc. here we are reminded of William Wordsworth and his Daffodils!

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Item 877 -Film Director of Indian Love Films!

107-127 a handsome man appeared

Here Kapilar, like a Tamil or Hindi film director , suddenly introduces appearance of some big hounds. When the girls got scared, the owner of the hounds appear and pacify the scared ladies and use the opportunity to talk to them and praise their beautiful faces. He asked whether they (heroine and her friends) saw the animal that escaped from him. He controlled the barking hunting dogs.

Another scene is introduced now . an angry elephant entered the fields to eat the millets. The girls ran towards the young man hugged him. He gave him full protection and praised girl, who is the heroine of the poem. Then, his country with natural spots is described.

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Item 878

Dances -Lines 186-199

Here we come across different dances. Dancing girls’ rope walking adventures is mentioned.

Poet compared the peacock to the dancing girl who did rope walking- line 194.

Young man’s promise to marry that girl and provide wedding feast;

Sun riding a chariot with seven horses Line 215 ; mountain god’s worship;

Love at first sight; Meetings of lovers were  done more often;

Heroine worried about the safety of her lover b coming via forest route;

Delay in marriage made her lovesick.

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Item 879 Peacocks drink Liquor!

People indulged in ‘honey sweet toddy’. The peacocks too drank it, only they drank the home made variety, mistaking it for water.

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Item 880- Water used for swearing.

Hindus use water while giving away donations. They also use water for making promises or taking oaths. Here is an interesting reference to the custom of swearing  with water taken in hand by the one who makes the oath. Lines 210-213

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Item 881 Nineteen Sanskrit words!

J V Chelliah (year 1946) says, “There are 261 lines in the poem, containing 1440 words of which 22 are not Tamil words. Nineteen are of Sanskrit origin, four are common to Tamil and Sanskrit and three are provincial words”.

My comments: even among the 99 flowers there are Sanskrit names; few examples Asoka, Palaasam, Tilakam, Bahulam (Vakulam) etc.

Apart from these wonders usual things like Nagaratna (cobra Jewel) in/ line 221, women lighting lamps in the evening, brahmins performing religious rites/ line 223, worship of Lord Muruga/Skanda, Gods residing caves, feast, pearl from elephant tusk/ line 36, body of women like flowers and birds are also mentioned.

To be continued……………………

Tags –  Kurichippattu, Kapilar, 99 flowers, Yaz Brahmdutt, Kalidas, Purananuru wonders-62; Tamil Encyclopaedia 102, One Thousand Interesting Facts -Part 102