ஜூலை 14 Amavasyai/New moon day ; 29 Purnima/Full moon day;
Hindu Fasting Days/ Ekadasi 10, 25;
Auspicious Days for Weddings: July 2, 5, 9, 12 ;
***
Tiru Valluvar, author of Tiruukural, is the greatest poet of ancient Tamil Nadu; Kamban,author of Ramayana, is the greatest poet of Middle ages and Bharatiyar is the greatest poet of the Modern Age in Tamil Literature.
No English Translation will justify the beautiful Tamil verses of Kamban. Yet I use mostly from P R Ramachander’s website. Thanks. Here are 31 golden sayings from Tamil Ramayana:
July 1 Wednesday
1.He who forever plays the sports of
Creating all the world by his thought,
Looks after it and destroys it ,
And is our lord and we only surrender to him.
***
July 2 Thursday
3.Those people learned the beginning , end and rare of everything ,
But know that Vedas are that which can be measured and not measured,
***
July 3 Friday
Those who do not have any desires would not catch hold of any other feet ,
Except the feet of He who is the abode of wisdom, good conduct and goodness.
***
July 4 Saturday
4.One cat reached that great ocean of milk
And desired to drink it all by licking and slapping,
And like that I desired to tell the whole story ,
Of Rama who won over everything without committing any fault .
***
July 5 Sunday
5.I started spinning this tale by using simple understandable words ,
Of the greatness of that great one , who by one arrow pierced the seven Mara Maras (7 trees)
***
July 6 Monday
9, If on the floors of the room little children and dancing dames ,
Make scratches , would the architects bother about it?
Reading this inferior poems written by me, which does not have,
Even with a little knowledge of God, would expert writers get angry?
***
July 7 Tuesday
12. Both those five edged arrows which do many crimes,
And the arrow like eyes of those ladies who have .
Busts laden with very many ornaments ,
Do not go beyond Dharma in the Kosala country,
***
July 8 Wednesday
15. Similar to the devas thinking that that Himalaya mountain was made of Gold,
And made the stars fall all over the mountain like a rain of silver,
Similar to the philanthropists giving their all ,
The clouds gave away all the water they had to that mountain.
***
July 9 Thursday
16.The water in the river (Sarayu) flowed rapidly like ,
The travel of the fame of those great kings who ruled under a cool umbrella ,
***
July 10 Friday
18.Because it was flowing carrying gems, gold , peacock feathers,
Pretty tusks of the elephant. Incense ,sandal , incomparable garlands
From one place to other , that river resembled the men of trade.
***
July 11 Saturday
20.Because it was carrying Mountains, Uprooted trees ,
And nearby leaves and bringing them, that river resembled ,
The movement of the monkeys when Rama wanted
To bridge the ocean which was full of waves.
***
July 12 Sunday
30 The waters of the river born in between rocks of Himalayas,
And merging with the waters of the sea ,
Seems to say that the boundless Vedas,
Were telling , “This is the divine truth,”
***
July 13 Monday
By being single while it began and later spread,
Among the lakes and ponds all over ,
And was similar to the words of many religious scholars ,
Who studied the books and told about a single divine truth.
***
July 14 Tuesday
32.Using four lined verses , the great one called Valmiki,
Composed sweet poems which were drunk by devas using their ears,
After drinking the alcohol called love , I am now talking ,
About the country he described like a dumb one who has started talking.
***
July 15 Wednesday
35.With peacocks playing in the garden , With lotus flowers holding the lamps,
With clouds making sound like drums, With kuvalai flowers opening their eyes and seeing,
With water storages shining like curtains, With bees singing like the honey sound of lute
It appeared as if the lady of cultivable land was sitting in a regal manner.
***
July 16 Thursday
41.The farm women spoke words which are as sweet as poems,
***
July 17 Friday
50. Since the country was protected by a king, who knew the rules of ruling,
Who kept his desires under control , Who got angry when and where he should,
Who knew the amount of tax that he was collecting and who was merciful to his citizens,
That country was avoiding the burden and were similar to the land which was like god to them,
***
July 18 Saturday
69. To all those citizens of that Kosala country,
Ships would continuously bring them very great wealth,
The cultivable lands continuously would lead them to prosperity
The mines would continuously give them precious stones,
And the difficult to get clan heritage would give them good conduct.
***
July 19 Sunday
70.Since nothing wrong is committed there , there is no unnatural death,
Due to the purity of thought of people , there is no anger there,
Due to absence of activities which are not good ,
Except for progress there is no deterioration.
***
July 20 Monday
71.That which spreads crossing its path there, is the flood,
That which has lost its recognition, is the shoulders of saffron mark,
That which is small is the thin , are waists of ladies there ,
And that which is scented there is the hair of girls decorated by flowers.
***
July 21 Tuesday
72.The smoke raised by putting incense sticks in fire, The smoke from kitchen,
The good smoke coming from Sugarcane processing places,
And the pretty smoke coming from Vedic fire sacrifices,
Spread everywhere and were looking like exuberant clouds.
***
July 22 Wednesday
84.Since poverty is not there, there is no charity there,
Since there are none to fight face to face ,Strength cannot be exhibited,
Since no body tells a lie , there is no definition of truth,
And since wealth of questions are asked , there is no ignorance.
***
July 23 Thursday
85.Since carts bringing huge stocks of gingelly, millets , ragi and maize
And the carts bringing lot of salt from the slushy salt farms
Are not able to be driven properly due to heaviness of their load,
They are being pushed by men who meet and mingle with each other.
***
July 24 Friday
86.Like those souls who cannot get salvation due to lack of divine wisdom,
Are born several times to completely wipe away Karmas done earlier,
Sugar, honey , sugary juices , the curd of lands of cowherds and toddy.
***
July 25 Saturday
90. The outer beauty was permanent due to their inner beauty,
Due to their being without a lie , their justice lives permanently,
Due to love of their women , all the dharmas were permanent,
And due to the virtuous life of their women , the seasonal rain was permanent.
***
July 26 Sunday
94.Is the city of Ayodhya , the face of the earth or the thilaka on its face,
Is it the very long auspicious thread of the marriage?
Is it the gem studded necklace worn over the breasts?
***
July 27 Monday
97.The opinion of the great Vedas is that,
Those who do blessed deeds would reach heavens after death,
And who else is there in this world except Raghava,
Who nurtured dharma with penance in this world?
***
July 28 Tuesday
99.All the kings are there, the best among ornaments are there,
All the gems which can never be got are all there ,
All the elephants in rut with rope tied to their neck are all there,
All the things in this world are there ,
***
July 29 Wednesday
And if all sages , devas and asuras have all assembled there ,
And if all of them praise the greatness of that city,
Is there a comparison to it . It is definitely difficult to find
***
July 30 Thursday
And if we want to talk about those great boundary walls ,
WE can say it is as high as the true divine knowledge ,
Which can be got after mastering great books of wisdom ,
And after that bring them to practice and get it in the micro form.
***
July 31 Friday
101.These boundary walls are similar to Vedas as their end cannot be seen,
They are like devas because they also have reached the world of devas,
They are like sages because they control outside attachments,
They are like like Goddess Durga who rides on deer as they both guard the city,
They are like Goddess Kali , because both hold spears for war,(spears are attached to walls)
And are like God because both of them are difficult to reach.
TAGS– July 2026 Calendar, Golden Sayings, Kamba Ramayana, Tamil poet, Kamban
உத்தரப் பிரதேச மாநிலம் மதுராவில் அமைந்துள்ள ஒரு வரலாற்றுச் சிறப்புமிக்க தலம் ;இங்குதான் கண்ணன் குழந்தைப் பருவத்தில் தனது விளையாட்டுகள் மூலம் எல்லோரின் அன்பையும் பெற்றார் ; இன்றும் வீடுகளில் சேட்டை செய்யும் சிறுவர்களைக் கண்ணனுக்கு ஒப்பிடுவதைக் காணலாம்.
திருவாய்ப்பாடி (கோகுலம், கோகுல்)
மதுரா ஜங்ஷனிலிருந்து 3 மைல் தூரமுள்ள யமுனைப் பாலத்தைக் கடந்து அங்கிருந்து 5 மைல் பஸ்ஸில் சென்று இவ்வூரை அடையலாம்.
மூலவர் – நவமோஹன கிருஷ்ணன், நின் திருக்கோலம், கிழக்கே திருமுக மண்டலம்.
தாயார் – ருக்மிணி ஸத்யபாமா பிராட்டியார்கள்.
தீர்த்தம் – யமுனா நதி.
விமானம் – ஹேமகூட விமானம்.
ப்ரத்யக்ஷம் – நந்தகோபர்.
ஆழ்வார்கள் பாடிய கோவில்களோ மூர்த்திகளோ ஒன்றும் இப்போது இல்லை. இப்போது உள்ளவை எல்லாம் பிற்காலத்தவை. கோகுல் என்ற இடத்துக்கு சுமார் முக்கால் மைல் தூரத்தில் “புராணா கோகுல்” (பழைய கோகுலம்) என்று ஓர் ஆலயத்தை ஸ்தாபித்துள்ளனர். கோவில் வாசலிலேயே யமுனை ஓடுகிறது. நந்தகோபர், யஸோதா, பலராமர் விக்ரஹங்களுக்கடியில் குழந்தை கிருஷ்ணன் ஒரு சிறிய மரத்தொட்டிலில் ஸேவை ஸாதிக்கிறார். இவை எல்லாம் மர விக்ரஹங்கள். இந்த இரண்டு கோகுலங்களில் எது உண்மையானது என்று தெரியாது.
கண்ணனின் குழந்தைப்பருவ லீலைகள் நிறைந்த கோகுலம் (ஆயர்பாடி) பற்றிய சிறப்புகள் நாலாயிர திவ்ய பிரபந்தத்தில் உள்ள பல பாசுரங்களில் போற்றப்பட்டுள்ளன. ஆண்டாள் அருளிய திருப்பாவை, பெரியாழ்வார் திருமொழி மற்றும் நம்மாழ்வார் பாசுரங்கள் கோகுலத்தின் அழகையும் கண்ணனின் லீலைகளையும் விவரிக்கின்றன. துவாபரயுகத்தில் திருமாலின் ஒரு அவதாரமான கண்ணனின் குழந்தைப்பருவ லீலைகள் நடந்த இடமே கோகுலம். கண்ணன் சின்னஞ்சிறுவனாக இருந்து இந்த ஆயர்பாடியில் செய்த லீலைகள் எல்லாம் எண்ணற்ற நூல்களில் வருணிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. வீடுகளில் வெண்ணெய் உண்டது, இளங்கன்னிமார்களை ஏய்த்தது, சிற்றில் சிதைத்தது. நந்த கோபாலனாக வளர்ந்தது, மாடு மேய்க்கப் போனது என்றிவ்வாறான பலவித லீலைகளை நடத்திய இந்த கோகுலம் முழுவதையும் ஆழ்வார்கள் தம் பாக்களில் பாடியுள்ளனர்.
திருப்பாவை (ஆண்டாள்):ஆயர்பாடியில் அவதரித்த கண்ணனின் பெருமைகளையும், கோகுலத்துப் பெண்களின் மார்கழி நோன்பையும் விவரிக்கும் முப்பது பாசுரங்களின் தொகுப்பு இது. “கீசுகீசென்றெங்கும்” எனத் தொடங்கும் பாசுரம், கோகுலத்தில் பறவைகள் எழுப்பும் ஓசையையும், பெண்களின் விடியலையும் அழகாகக் கூறுகிறது.
பெரியாழ்வார் திருமொழி:கண்ணனைத் தன் குழந்தையாக பாவித்து, கோகுலத்தில் அவன் செய்த குறும்புத்தனங்களை (வெண்ணெய் திருடியது, உரலில் கட்டியது, ஆய்ச்சிகளிடம் வம்பு செய்தது) பெரியாழ்வார் மிகச் சுவையாகப் பாடியுள்ளார். “மாணிக்கம் கட்டுண்டாய்” மற்றும் “கண்ணன் பிறந்த அணிமணி அரங்கத்து” போன்ற பாசுரங்கள் ஆயர்பாடியின் சிறப்பைப் போற்றுகின்றன. திருவாய்மொழி (நம்மாழ்வார்):கண்ணனின் மீது அதீத அன்பு கொண்டு, அவனது லீலைகளை வியந்து பல பாசுரங்களை அருளியுள்ளார். கோகுலத்தில் கண்ணன் ஆடிய லீலைகள் இப்பாசுரங்களில் சிறப்பிடம் பெறுகின்றன.
திவ்யதேச பாசுரங்கள்
132.
தீய புந்திக் கஞ்சன் உன்மேல்* சினம் உடையன் சோர்வு பார்த்து*
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
Yaudheyas who ruled Northwest part of India had issued Skanda- Kartikeya -Murugan Coins 2000 years ago. They ruled Sapta Sindhu area (Punjab, Haryana regions) from 200 BCE to 300 CE. They issued various types of Skanda coins. The surprising thing is that they were the one who issued Skanda (Murugan in Tamil) coins with his Six Heads and his vehicle peacock. Later Gupta rulers issued such coins. Six Headed Skanda is called Shanmukha in Sanskrit and Aarumukham in Tamil. Adi Sankara who formed six groups of worship called Skanda worship Kaumaram because Kalidas made that name (Kumaara) popular 2200 years ago.
Sangam Tamil literature has one whole work written by a Brahmin poet named Nakkirar on Skanda and it is called Tiru Murugatruppadai. Anti God Dravidians dubbed it as a later interpolation, but Yaudheya coins explode such arguments. Added to this Patanjali’s Mahabhashya reference to Skanda, a commentary on world’s first grammar book by Panini known as Ashtadhyayi. In the 2200-year-old Mahabhasya, Patanjali gives us information about selling Murtis/figures of Skanda -Vishaka. This also gives credence to Sangam book Tiru Murugatruppadai.
Through this we come to know that the Skanda worship was popular from Himalayas to Kanyakumari 2000 years ago.
***
Who are Yaudheyas?
Panini refers to them specifically as an Ayudhajivin Sangha—a community of warriors who lived by the profession of arms. He explains that the suffix “-ya” was used in Sanskrit to signify martial and warrior tribes, a linguistic detail that fits the Yaudheyas’ historical reputation as a formidable military force
The tribal republics or Janapadas like Audumbara, Kuninda and Yaudheya issued their coins in the name of their presiding deities-Mahadeva. Chitresvara and Brahmanya. The early tribal republics of the 2nd century B.C.E, refer to their names and places in Brahmi script. Some republics issued coins with their names and title Raja or Maharaja. Copper was used as the prime metal for such issues. A few tribes issued coins in silver too.
Monarchies like Surasena and Panchala that sprang up during this period were located in the Ganga-Yamuna plain. The kingdom of Panchala issued copper coins bearing the names of no less than 35 kings.
***
Gupta Coins on Skanda
The golden age of Indian history was the rule of Guptas. They were great worshippers of Vishnu and they called themselves Parama Bhagavatas. But the world famous poet Kalidasa changed them into Saivites. Kalidasa lived in the first or second century BCE. His work Kumarasambhava on the birth of Kumara/ Skanda made Guptas to name their children Skanda Gupta, Kumara Gupta etc. They issued coins with Skanda with peacock.
Even Asvagosha , author of Buddha Carita in Sanskrit, compared Skanda with Buddha! According to Hindu literature in Tamil and Sanskrit, Skanda was a war god. He was the commander in chief of the Divine army. He married Indra’s daughter Devasena. In spite of his association with war, red colour and planet Mars, Asvagosha compared him to Buddha because of Kalidasa. In Raghuvamsa, Kalidasa compared three kings to Skanda. Tamils of Sangam age also followed Kalidasa and compared the kings with Muruga. Such was the influence of Kumarasambhava Kavya. Not only this, Tamil Sangam poets used the first ten slokas on Himalayas in Kumarasambhava, in their poems.
The greatest Art Historian of India Mr Sivaramanurti (Curator of Madras Museum) was a Sanskrit scholar. He argued Literature comes first Sculptures follow it like the Tamil saying Literature comes first Grammar follows it. He placed Kalidasa in Pre Gupta period,because Gupta coins show whatever Kalidasa said in his seven works.
***
Other coins on Muruga/Skanda/Kartikeya
Huvishka,successor of Kanishka, issued coins on all Hindu gods including Kartikeya around first century CE. Earlier rulers used pictures of Siva only. Huvishka used names in Mahabhashya such as Masena/ Mahasena , Skandakumaro Vizaka . His coins show that Skanda holding Trisula/trident like Shiva.
They spelt the names in strange ways
Shiva – oeso, uma – ommo
***
Yaudheya coins showed Skanda holding a spear; Vel in Tamil.
Kumara Gupta 415-450 CE issued beautiful Skanda coins in gold. The legend on his coin was Mahendrakumarah.
Gold coin issued by Chalukya Vikramaditya of Badami/Vatapi 655-681 CE has the figure of Kartileya. Peacock feather and snake are also seen.
Though kanda Murugan is called Tamil God, we don’t have any ancient coin with Muruga!
As late as seventeenth century, king Ragunatha Nayak of Thanjavur displayed standing figure of Kartikeya in his coin.
Later Kanthirava Narasaraja Wodeyar (1638-56) of Mysore issued coins with Kartikeya seated on a peacock.
***
Maurya dynasty was named after Peacock (Mayura) growers. Asoka was very fond of peacock meat. Even after spreading Buddhism, he never stopped killing peacocks for food, but he ordered to kill lesser number of the birds. Their coins show peacock with its feather. Since India made peacock its national bird, we can even say that India’s national God is Lord Skanda, Mahasenatipati, Commander in Chief!
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
Jewellery in Kamasutra: Ancient Hindu Jewellery! You can get Ph.D.- Part 4 (Post No.15,879)
Hindu Mother Goddess in Indus Valley
Vatsayayana’s Kamasutra, the oldest Sex Book in the world, has details of types of jewellery that was used 2000 years ago.
Kamasutra in Sanskrit has the world’s oldest syllabus for teenage girls; Hindu women were far advanced in learning than other ancient cultures. One of the 64 subjects that a girl should study is JEWELLERY.
Apart from jewellery, he has dealt with garland making, the art of dressing and crowns and head ornaments.
Pronunciation – vaatsyaayana, kaama suutra;
1
Crowns and head ornaments
Headbands or circlets of flowers of all colours used especially by town people.
2
Theart of dressing
To chose garments and jewels to embellish the body, according to place and circumstances.
3
Ivory and mother of pearl ornaments
4
Perfumes
5
Jewellery
These are of two kinds: necklaces ornamented with jewels worn around the hips, used mostly for the theatre.
Under the topic of the conduct of the well-bred townsmen vatsyayana says,
At dusk numerous people gather for reception, including singers, dancers and the players of instruments.
Gentlemen should go to the reception room elegantly dressed. Elegance is a matter of the quality of the clothes and jewels. Bharata gives some indications in his Natya Shastra (naatya shaastra). An elegant man wears four kinds of clothes made of vegetable silk/kshauma, cotton/kaarpaasa, natural silk/kaushysa or wool/rangava. Vegetable silk is made from hemp fibre and can also be made from bark.
After this gentlemen put on their jewels. Varahamihira describes thirteen kinds of precious stones and nine kinds of golden jewels. The gemstones are
Diamond/ vajra,
Pearl/mukta,
Ruby/pamaraga,
Emerald/ maragata
Sapphire/ indranila,
Lapis lazuli/vaidurya,
Topaz/puhparaga,
A black stone,
A whet stone,
Amber/pulaka,
Garnet/rudhiraaksha,
Amethyst/bhiisma
Crystal/sphatika, opla/pravaala.
Jewels are of four kinds:
picture of African Negro Dancer from Indus Valley with Jewels.
Avedhya – for which the flesh is pierced: earrings, diamond in the nose;
Nibhandaniiya- attached with bands; attached to the arm/angada, headband for the hair/venii; crown /shikaa dridhikaa, belt/shroni suutra, diadem/chuudaamani.
Prakshepya –slipped on : ring/urmikaa, nail guards/kataka, bracelets/valaya, anklets/manjiira.
Aaropya – worn around the neck; necklaces/hara, necklace of twenty seven perarls/nakshatramaalikaa.
Then vaatsyaayana describes other flower decorations and perfume types.
Later in a chapter he gives details of how a woman should behave:
For amorous encounters, she must dress luxuriously with many jewels, many flowers and ointments.
On going out to amusements, she must wear elegant but unpretentious garments, only a few jewels, discreet scent and makeup, white flowers in her hair.
Pretty but simple clothes, simple ear rings, no colours that are too flashy.
If her husband practises periodic abstinence or fasting, she does the same. She tells him” We are bound to one another. I am not independent”.
She does as he does to show her devotion.
When her husband departs on a journey abroad, she removes the married woman’s marks and her jewels, dedicates herself to devotion, and looks after the house according to the rules established by her husband.
She attends to worshipping the gods, praying, fasting, and must behave as her husband has taught her.
She must sleep beside her parents-in-law and obey their instructions.
Vaatsyaayana gives more details of daily routine. I am not writing here because it has not anything to do with jewellery.
–to be continued
Tags – Kamasutra, Vatsyayana, jewellery, part 4, Jewellery in Kamasutra: Ancient Hindu Jewellery, You can get Ph.D.
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
The dress and ornaments used by the women in Kalidas’s time were unrivalled in their simplicity, elegance and effectiveness. He used the rings to give surprises and twists in his dramas. He used the following ornaments,
Nupura- anklet; nuupura
Mekala or Kanchi or Rasna -girdle; waistband; mekalaa, kaanchi, rasnaa .
Valaya – bracelet;
Kankana – bracelet;
Keyura or Angadha – armlet;
Karnapura or Kundala Thadanga – ear ornaments; ear stud or earring; karnapoora, kundela, thaadanga;
Cudamani- ornament for the middle of the head; cuudaamani;
Mudrika- rings ; Aṅgulīyaka अङ्गुलीयक A finger-ring
Pictures of Gem stones found in Excavations in Sri Lanka
Following are some references where Kalidasa used ornaments –
There is no reference to nose ring; but brahmins and tribes in the hills are wearing it until this day.
Details of the jewels
In the plot of Sakuntala drama, the ring figures very conspicuously. So also, in Malavikagnimitra , the sarpamudrika, the serpent shaped ring, plays an important part .
Some of the above mentioned ornaments were worn both by men and women. Ancient statues of Gods and Goddesses, men and women show jewels worn on every part of the body. 2000 year old Sangam Tamil literature also confirms it.
Sanskrit words like Kinkini, Nupura, Mani, Kanchi, Mekhala are used in 2000-year-old Tamil Sangam Literature
***
Amarakosha, the oldest dictionary of synonyms in the world, give details of Hindu ornaments:
The Amarakosha, the ancient Sanskrit thesaurus by Amarasimha, catalogues a wide variety of traditional ornaments (ābharaṇa/alaṅkāra). It classifies these jewels comprehensively by the body part they adorn, providing the foundational vocabulary for Indian jewellery.
Specific ornaments mentioned in the Amarakosha include:
1. Head and Ear Ornaments (śīrṣa-ābharaṇa)
• Mukuṭa: A crown or diadem.
• Cūḍāmaṇi: A jewel worn on the crest of the head or hair.
• Kundala: Earrings.
2. Neck and Chest Ornaments (kaṇṭha-ābharaṇa)
• Hāra: A prominent chain or necklace made of pearls.
• Niṣka: A necklace made of gold coins.
• Graiveyaka: A torque or collar necklace worn close to the neck (also known traditionally as kanthi).
• Tarala: A central pendant on a necklace.
3. Arm and Hand Ornaments (hasta-ābharaṇa)
• Keyūra and Aṅgada: Armlets worn on the upper arm.
• Valaya: Bracelets or bangles.
• Kaṭaka: Rings or bracelets often having a round crest shape. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
4. Waist and Hip Ornaments (kaṭi-ābharaṇa)
The Amarakosha distinguishes several types of ornamented waist belts: [1]
• Mekhalā: The primary term for a jeweled girdle.
• Kāñcī: A specific type of waist girdle.
• Raśanā: A multi-stringed or multi-beaded waist ornament.
• Sārasana: Another variant of a decorated waist belt. [1, 2, 3]
5. Ankle Ornaments
• Nūpura: Ankle ornaments or anklets.
Head & Hair Ornaments
• Chūḍāmaṇi: A prominent crest jewel or diadem worn on the top of the head, often used as a key plot point or status symbol.
• Ratnajāla / Muktajāla: Nets or networks of pearls and gems used to adorn and veil the hair. [1, 2, 3]
Ear Ornaments
• Kuṇḍalas: Large earrings often crafted in specific designs, such as the Makara-kuṇḍala (shaped like a mythical sea creature) or the Ratna-kuṇḍala (gem-encrusted). [1]
Neck & Chest Ornaments
• Kaṇṭhīkā / Kaṇṭhīhāra: Traditional, tightly fitting chokers and necklaces.
• Ekāvalī: A single-string pearl necklace.
• Muktāvalī: A classic, multi-strand pearl necklace. [1, 2]
Arm & Wrist Ornaments
• Aṅguliya / Ratna-aṅgulīyam: Gem-studded rings, most famously the signet ring given by King Dushyanta to Shakuntala.
• Kankaṇa: Bangles and bracelets worn on the wrists. [1, 2]
Waist & Hip Ornaments
• Mekhalā: Elaborate beaded or multi-stranded hip belts and girdles.
• Raśanā: A multi-stringed (often 16-strand) beaded waist chain.
• Kāñcī: A single-strand hip girdle. [1]
Ankle Ornaments
• Nūpura / Mañjīra: Ornate, often heavy anklets.
• Kiṅkiṇī: Tinkling anklets adorned with small bells, typically worn by dancers.
***
My old articles on this topic are also attached herewith:
Three wivws of most celebrated Madurai Nayak King Tirumalai Nayak.
Four Gold Rings in Ramayana and Kalidasa’s Works
Research paper written by London Swaminathan
Research article No.1520; Dated 26th December 2014.
Gold Rings play an important part in Valmiki Ramayana and three of Kalidasa’s works in addition to Vishaka Datta’s Mudra Rakshasa.
Valmiki, the great Adi Kavi, inspired Kalidasa and Vishaka datta. All these are Sanskrit works. In Sangam Tamil literature we have one reference to a gold ring with shark picture on it. Such rings are found in Rome and Greece. Apart from their literary merits, there are lot of things for researchers.
1.Gold rings were used as seals. They were like government seals and emblems.
2.Gold rings have personal names inscribed on it. Rama’s name was there on his ring. Dushyanata’s name was inscribed on it.
3.Sita was able to recognise the letters RAMA and Shakuntala was able to read the letters. So women were literates and highly educated. Kalidasa tells us how many letters were in Dushyanta’s name and asked Shakuntala to count them so that she would know many days she had to wait.
Tiberius ring
4.Tamil had rings with shark picture on them. They might have been imported from Rome. Roman gold coins are found in nook corner of Tamil Nadu and the vaults of Ananta Padmanabha Swami Temple of Tiruvanathapuram, Kerala.
5.Kalidasa gives information about gem studded rings (Ratna Angukiyam) in Raghu Vamsa (6-18, 12-62, 12-65). In the Sakuntalam, he mentioned about giving engagement rings. Now it has become a big custom and big business in Western countries. Actually Hindus taught the world about giving Engagement Rings. Giving flowers is in Tamil literature.
6.Kalidasa also gives information about ring with a snake picture on it in his drama Malavika Agnimitram.
7.In Kalidasa’s Abinjana Sakuntalam and in Vishaka Datta’s Mudra Rakshasa, the ring plays an important part. Sanskrit scholar Chandra Rajan compared it with Shakespeare’s Othello (hand kerchief instead of ring in Othello).
Snake ring
8. Tamil Poet Maruthan Ilanakan used (Kali- 84) the ring in his Kalitokai verse. It is a gold ring given by a prostitute to the hero. It shows that prostitutes were very rich and they may even give rings to their customers if they fall in love with them. In other parts of the world, it is other way round; they only received, never donated.
9.Since Tamil ring has a Makara/shark, Romans might have brought them. Sailors used to visit prostitutes the counties they visit and the VD or STD are called Sailor’s diseases. But the heroine actually said that it was Manmatha’s flag emblem, meaning that the prostitute wanted to rule over his heart for ever. Manamatha is God of Love.
10.in Mudra Rakshasa, it is the signet ring of a minister. So, all the top government officials used their rings as signatures. Each one must have a different picture or personal name on it.
11.It is unfortunate that we have such rings only in the vaults of Maharajas now, which slowly find their way to auction houses in London and New York.
12.When I visited Stockholm I was able to see all the jewellery in the museums. In my city London, people queue to see the Royal jewellery including India’s Kohinoor diamond. I paid to enter Metropolitan Museum in New York. India can mint money by displaying her treasures properly. Government should set up a panel for this purpose with historians and archaeologists.
13.Indian government must ban legal or illegal “export” of all Indian jewellery to foreign auction houses. They must also make arrangements to display all the jewellery of temples such as Tirupati, Tiruvananthapuram and palaces of Maharajas. There are many more hidden gems lying in the dark rooms of India. I have written about our treasures in Tehran museum.
(Please Read my articles on “India needs an Indian Jones” and the Diamond studded Rs 1000 crore Globe in Tehran Museum)
Gold Ring in Valmiki Ramayana (Sundara Kanda, Canto 36)
Sangam Tamil book Purananuru says that the monkeys did not know how to wear Sita’s jewellery! Sita threw them down from Ravana’s air plane. Hanuman took Sita’s jewellery back to Rama . Hanuman won Sita’s confidence when he gave her Rama’s ring. When she saw the ring with Rama’s name on it she believed that Hanuman was a real messenger from Lord Rama.
Here is the verse from Sundara Kanda
“O, Fortunate One, I am a monkey, the messenger of the sagacious Rama; behold this precious ring on which his name is engraved! O, Goddess, it was given to me by that magnanimous hero so that thou shouldst have faith in me”
“Janaki taking the jewel that had adorned her lord, was overcome with joy, as if he himself were present her gentle countenance with its large eyes sparkle with delight resembling the moon released from Rahu’s hold. Blushing with pleasure on receiving this token from her lord, that youthful woman, in her satisfaction, began to look on that great monkey as on a friend and paid tribute to him”.
From The Ramayana of Valmiki, Volume II, Translated by Hari Prasad Shastri
Here is the Gold Ring from Abhinjana sakuntalam:-
King : Then putting the ring on her finger, I said to her;
Madhavya: What did you say?
King: Count off each day one letter of my name
On the Ring; and when you come to the last,
An escort will present himself, my love,
To lead you to my Royal Apartments.
But in blank confusion I acted cruelly.
Mitrakesi: A charming arrangement, no doubt; only fate slipped in and broke it
Madhavya: How on earth did the ring enter the (fish) carp’s mouth as if it were a hook?
King: It slipped off your friend’s finger when she was worshipping the waters at Sasi’s pool (Soma Tirtha).
Act 6 of Sakuntalam (Chandra Rajan’s Translation in “Kalidasa-The Loom of Time”).
Chandra Rajan compared it with Othello of Shakespeare:
“In Othello, proof of the heroine’s chastity and love is demanded. Desdemona’s chastity hangs on a hand kerchief; Sakuntala’s on a ring. Both heroines are blissfully unaware of the importance of the token. To them love is its own proof and a witness to their charity”
Snake ring in Malavikagnimitram
Act 4 of Malavikagnimitram says that the queen parted with her signet ring bearing a serpent seal, as it was required by the poison-doctor to effect a magical cure. He thus procures the freedom of Malavika.
Mudra Rakshasa
The meaning of the drama is “The Signet Ring of Rakshasa”, the Chief Minister of last Nanda King. Chanakya, installed Chandragupta Maurya as king, and dethroned the last Nanda king. Nanda king’s chief minister Rakshasa was made to switch sides through the clever plans of Chanakya.
***
GEM STONES IN KALIDASA & TAMIL LITERATURE
From my blogs dated 13-2-2012
(This is the third part of my thesis to prove that the age of Kalidasa is around 1st century B.C. Please read other two parts as well-S .Swaminathan)
A country’s wealth is reflected in its literature. If the poets always sing about poverty and begging bowl we know that the general public suffered and starved. If the poets sing about gold and gems and enormous wealth and donation it means that the country was wealthy. Kalidasa,the greatest of the Indian secular poets, sings about gold and gems though out his seven books. As a matter of fact he himself was considered one of the Nine Gems (Nava Ratnas) in the court of Vikramaditya who started his own era in 56 BC.
Kalidasa’s praise of Himalayan gems is sung by Sangam poets as well. Sangam poets who lived hundred or two hundred years after Kalidasa might have got the information from his works. If this is the only similarity then we can ignore it as coincidence. But I have identified 225 similes between Kalidasa and Tamil Sangam literature which proves that Kalidasa lived around 1st century BC or before the Sangam period.
Tamil kings were very rich. Tamil literature refers to thrones and cots made up of ivory and gold. The chariots were decorated with gold. Even the elephants had big gold plated coverings to its face. Roman ships poured gold in to Tamil Nadu (South India) and took spices in exchange. This was corroborated by Roman writers of first few centuries and discovery of thousands of Roman gold coins though out South India.
Kalidasa uses 16 names for the Himalayas including Kailash and Kubera saila. He is all praise for the Himalayas. He is so excited whenever he describes the mountains.
“There is in the northern quarter, the deity souled Lord of Mountains, by name Himalaya,who stands, like the measuring rod of the earth, spanning the Eatern and Western oceans”. 1-1:Kumarasambhava
“Snow could not be a destroyer of beauty in the case of him who is the source of countless jewels.” 1-3
“Who bears on his peaks, a richness of metals, appearing like an untimely twilight, with its colours reflected upon patches of clouds, and the cause of amorous decking of the heavenly nymphs.” 1-4
In Kumara I-3 and Ragu. II 29, IV 79 he describes the gems available in the Himalayas.
Tamil poets echo it in Puram 218 (Kannakanar) 377 (Ulochanar )Pattina. 190-198 sung by a Brahmin poet Kadiyalur Rudran Kannanar:
“Brought by the cart, gems and gold from the Northern Mountain
Sandal and eagle wood from the hills of Coorg
Pearls from the southern sea, coral from the east
Ganga’s wealth and Kaveri’s produce
Eza’s provisions and Kazhaga’s plenty “(Pattinapalai 193-197)
In addition to these there are hundreds of mention of all types of gem stones and precious metals.
Nagaratna/Cobra Jewel
(Please read my article :How did Shakespeare know Cobra Jewel-the Indian Nagaratna, where in I have explained what is Nagaratna)
We find the following references about the cobra jewel in Tamil and Sanskrit.
Kakaipatini Nachellaiyar ,a poetess of Sangam period says that the the snakes with cobra jewels are dancing in the holy Himalayas like the women possessed by divine spirits in Pathitru Pathu (6-lines 10 to 1)
Hindus believed that the snakes carried luminescent gem stones on their heads. They used them to find their prey. The general theme is that snakes use the light of Nagaratnam (cobra jewel) and if they lose it, snakes become very upset.
This is not an exhaustive list. We find such references in innumerable places.
Pearl in the Oyster
If the rain falls on Swati star day the oysters open their mouth to drink the rain drops and the rain drops become pearls-This was the belief of ancient Indians including Tamils.
Malavi.1-6: Kalidasa says , ‘the skill of a teacher imparted to a worthy pupil attains greater excellence, as the water of a cloud is turned in to a pearl in a sea shell.In Puram 380 ,Karuvur Kathapillay says the same about the origin of pearls. Bhartruhari makes it more specific by saying the rain on Swati Nakshatra days become pearls. Biologits also confirm on full moon days lot of sea animals like corals release their eggs or spores. So far as India is concerned it might have happened in that particular (Swati star with Moon) season.
Kalidasa gives more similes about pearls. He describes the river that is running circling a mountain as a garland of pearls( Ragu.13-48 and Mega.-49)
Other references from Kalidasa: sweat drops as pearl:Rtu.6-7; tears as pearls: Mega 46, Ragu VI 28,,Vikra V 15; smile-KumarI-44, water drops on lotus leaf:Kumara VII 89
In Tamil the teeth are compared to the pearls: Ainkur. 185, Akam 27
Since Gulf of Mannar is the main source of pearls in India ,thre are innumerable references to pearls in Tamil literature. Even Kautilya refers to the pearls from Pandya country. Korkai was the harbour city where the pearl fishing was flourishing. Aink 185,188, Akam 27,130 and Natri 23mention pearls from Korkai.
Ivory
The pearl recovered from elephant ivory is referred by Kalidasa and other poets:Kumar I-6,Ragu 9-65.This is referred to by several Sangam Tamil poets:Murugu 304, Malaipadu 517, Kali 40-4, Puram 170 (V M Damodaran),Pathitru.32 (K Kappiyanar), Natri. 202 (P P Katunko), Kurinji 36 (Kapilar), Akam 282 (Thol Kapilar).
Pearl from bamboo trees is also sung by a Tamil poet in Akam 173 (Mulliyur Puthiyar).
Pictures are taken from various sources; they are representational only; thanks.
contact; swami_48@yahoo.com
Recorded by The Rev. J E Padfield B.D. year 1908 in his book The Hindu at Home.
It is an old world notion that magic properties are attached to certain gems, and this idea has been systematized by the Hindus. It is called “The Test of Precious Stones” (Ratna Pareeksha). But the testing is largely confined, to the luckiness or otherwise of the particular gem and has nothing to do with its intrinsic value, nine kinds of precious stones are enumerated and mention is made of the deity, or planet with which each is connected.
It is stated that the wearer of a particular gem receives the blessing of the patron deity. Thus rubies are the favoured gems of the sun; diamonds of Venus; pearls the moon; emeralds of Budha, the son of the moon. sapphires of Saturn; cat’s eye of the dragon’s tail, or descending node of the moon (Rahu); topaz of Jupiter; coral of the ascending node of the moon (Ketu) and the agate of Mars.
Faulty Gems!
Six kinds of rubies with flaws are enumerated, each of which is said to bring misfortune to the wearer. A ruby, with milky layers enveloping it, is said to bring poverty to the wearer; one with a broken ray in it will cause quarrels and disputes; one chipped will make enmity between relatives; one full of cracks will plunge the wearer into sorrows for ever; one with many flaws will endanger the life of the wearer one rough and dark in colour will be sure to cause evils. It is advisable to avoid either of these six kinds. It is also said that rubies containing two or three round spots are not lucky. It is not advisable to cast one’s eyes upon such a stone on awaking in the morning. It is most lucky to wear good and pure rubies; the sun, their patron, will bless the wearer with wealth and prosperity castes.
diamond
Diamonds are divided into four classes or castes. Those that are pure white are said to be of Brahmin caste, and bestow great benefits upon of wearer. Those that are red, are of the Kshatriya caste, and bestow upon the wearer the power. Those that are yellow are of the Banya caste, and bestow prosperity generally. Those that are black, are of the Sudra caste, and mean ruin to the wearer.
When a diamond contains shining streaks, resembling the feet of a crow, it will cause death of the wearer. If a pure diamond is worn, Venus, its patron, will bless the wearer with the comforts of life.
There are said to be nine places in which pearls are found. In the clouds; this kind said to be oval in shape, and to be worn by the gods. In the of a serpent; these are said to be like small seed, and to have the quality of relieving the wearers from all troubles. In the hollow of a bamboo; these are said to be black in colour, and give the wearer certain attractions. In a fish; these are white in colour, and protect the wearer from danger by fire. In the head of an elephant ; these are yellowish green and should be worn by king. In a sugarcane, this kind is of reddish colour and is said to have the power of causing all , even and queens, to be subjected to be subjected to the will of the wearer. In a conch shell; these are said to be like a dove’s egg, but they cannot be obtained by ordinary men. it requires a knowledge of mantrams, or of magic, to get them. In the tusk of a wild boar; this kind is red in colour, and is in size like the regu fruit (ziziphus jujuba); it will bring fame to the wearer.
pearl
In the pearl oyster; of these there are said to be three kinds, of a reddish, a golden, or a white colour. The moon, the patron of pearls, will bless a wearer of pure pearls with fame and the pleasures of life.
emerald
Emeralds are said to be of eight classes according to their colour. Poisons have no power over those persons who wear a good emerald. It gives protection against the power of the evil eye and develops the mental faculties. Emeralds also have the power of protecting the wearer of one from the designs foes, from sorrows, madness, internal pains, swoon and various diseases of the liver. A sure access to heaven is promised to that one who freely gives emerald to a Brahmin.
sapphire
Sapphires are divided into three classes according to the depth of their colour. There are also six kinds (with flaws) that are said to bring evil to the wearer; such evils as quarrels with relatives, loss of children, hazard to life, certain death within a year. A sapphire is purest when, if placed in milk it gives to the milk a bluish tinge. It is then a true sapphire. A sapphire is said to be electric, when a blade of grass will adhere to it though blown upon. Such a stone is said to bring lustre to the wearer. The Saturn, the patron of sapphires, will bless the wear of a true sapphire with prosperity and immunity from death.
The topaz is described as having a colour like a drop of dew on a flower, and its patron deity, Jupiter will bless the wearer with immense wealth.
Four kinds of coral (with flaws) are enumerated that will cause evil to the wearer, troubles, grief, disease, and death. There are six kinds of good coral mentioned, according to the colour, and the wearer of such is promised the pleasures of life and the accomplishment of his designs.
agate
The blessing of Mars is promised to the wearer of an agate, which blessing ensures wealth and prosperity.
The details given in this chapter, have, I think, served to show how strong the passion for jewels amongst the Hindus.
(My comments: Being a Christian preacher, Rev. Padfield had criticized the Hindus for their beliefs at the end of each chapter; that is why he gave more information about flawed (bad) gems than good gems. I have already written about the good gems mentioned by Kalidasa and Varahamihira (Brhat Samhita). Manu also advise that gems should be worn by the kings (7-218)
–Subham—
Tags- Ornaments in Kalidasa Works, Ancient Hindu Jewellery, You can get Ph.D., part 3
விசேஷங்கள் – வீற்றிருந்த பெருமாளாக கோவிந்தராஜனுக்கும், சயனத் திருக்கோலத்தில் ரங்கநாதனுக்கும் இரு ஸந்நிதிகள். வேறு பல ஸந்நிதிகளும் உண்டு. ரங்கநாதன் ஸந்நிதியில் மிக அபூர்வமான அஷ்டபுஜ நரஸிம்ஹரின் வெண்கலச்சிலை உள்ளது. ஒருகை பிரஹ்லாதன் தலையைத் தொட்டும் மற்றொரு கை அபயஹஸ்தமாகவும் விளங்குகின்றன. மற்ற கைகள் ஹிரண்யவதம் செய்கின்றன. இந்த க்ஷேத்ரம் த்ருவனுக்கு ஸேவை தந்த அவஸரத்தில் தோன்றியதாகக் கூறப்படுகிறது. கோலத்தில் இன்னும் சில சிறு அழகிய கோவில்கள் உள்ளன.
****
பாசுரங்கள்
திருமங்கையாழ்வார் அருளிய 10 பாசுரங்கள் நாலாயிர திவ்ய பிரபந்தத்தில் உள்ளன.இப்பதிகம் அச்சோப்பதிகம் என்று அழைக்கப்படுகிறது. பெருமாளின் அழகில் ஆழ்வார் மயங்கி, “அச்சோ, ஒருவன் அழகியவா!” என்று ஒவ்வொரு பாசுரத்திலும் வியந்து பாடியுள்ளார்.
நாலாயிர திவ்ய பிரபந்தம்– இரண்டாம் ஆயிரம்– திருமங்கை ஆழ்வார்– பெரிய திருமொழி– திருநாகை: அச்சோப்பதிகம்.
1757 பொன் இவர் மேனி மரகதத்தின்
பொங்கு இளஞ் சோதி அகலத்து ஆரம்
மின் இவர் வாயில் நல் வேதம் ஓதும்
வேதியர் வானவர் ஆவர் தோழீ
என்னையும் நோக்கி என் அல்குல் நோக்கி
ஏந்து இளங் கொங்கையும் நோககுகின்றார்
அன்னை என் நோக்கும் என்று அஞ்சுகின்றேன்-
அச்சோ ஒருவர் அழகியவா (1)
1758 தோடு அவிழ் நீலம் மணம் கொடுக்கும்
சூழ் புனல் சூழ் குடந்தைக் கிடந்த
சேடர்கொல் என்று தெரிக்கமாட்டேன்
செஞ் சுடர் ஆழியும் சங்கும் ஏந்தி
பாடக மெல் அடியார் வணங்க
பல் மணி முத்தொடு இலங்கு சோதி
ஆடகம் பூண்டு ஒரு நான்கு தோளும்-
அச்சோ ஒருவர் அழகியவா (2)
1759 வேய் இருஞ் சோலை விலங்கல் சூழ்ந்த
மெய்ய மணாளர் இவ் வையம் எல்லாம்
தாயின நாயகர் ஆவர் தோழீ
தாமரைக் கண்கள் இருந்த ஆறு
சேய் இருங் குன்றம் திகழ்ந்தது ஒப்பச்
செவ்விய ஆகி மலர்ந்த சோதி
ஆயிரம் தோளொடு இலங்கு பூணும்-
அச்சோ ஒருவர் அழகியவா (3)
1760 வம்பு அவிழும் துழாய் மாலை தோள்மேல்
கையன ஆழியும் சங்கும் ஏந்தி
நம்பர் நம் இல்லம் புகுந்து நின்றார்
நாகரிகர் பெரிதும் இளையர்
செம் பவளம் இவர் வாயின் வண்ணம்
தேவர் இவரது உருவம் சொலலில்
அம் பவளத் திரளேயும் ஒப்பர்-
அச்சோ ஒருவர் அழகியவா (4)
1761 கோழியும் கூடலும் கோயில் கொண்ட
கோவலரே ஒப்பர் குன்றம் அன்ன
பாழி அம் தோளும் ஓர் நான்கு உடையர்
பண்டு இவர்-தம்மையும் கண்டறியோம்
வாழியரோ இவர் வண்ணம் எண்ணில்
மா கடல் போன்று உளர் கையில் வெய்ய
ஆழி ஒன்று ஏந்தி ஓர் சங்கு பற்றி-
அச்சோ ஒருவர் அழகியவா (5)
1762 வெம் சின வேழ மருப்பு ஒசித்த
வேந்தர்கொல்? ஏந்திழையார் மனத்தைத்
தஞ்சு உடையாளர்கொல்? யான் அறியேன்
தாமரைக் கண்கள் இருந்த ஆறு
கஞ்சனை அஞ்ச முன் கால் விசைத்த
காளையர் ஆவர் கண்டார் வணங்கும்
அஞ்சன மா மலையேயும் ஒப்பர்-
அச்சோ ஒருவர் அழகியவா (6)
1763 பிணி அவிழ் தாமரை மொட்டு அலர்த்தும்
பேர் அருளாளர்கொல்? யான் அறியேன்
பணியும் என் நெஞ்சம் இது என்கொல்? தோழீ
பண்டு இவர்-தம்மையும் கண்டறியோம்
அணி கெழு தாமரை அன்ன கண்ணும்
அம் கையும் பங்கயம் மேனி வானத்து
அணி கெழு மா முகிலேயும் ஒப்பர்-
அச்சோ ஒருவர் அழகியவா (7)
1764 மஞ்சு உயர் மா மதி தீண்ட நீண்ட
மாலிருஞ்சோலை மணாளர் வந்து என்
நெஞ்சுள்ளும் கண்ணுள்ளும் நின்று நீங்கார்
நீர்மலையார்கொல்? நினைக்கமாட்டேன்
மஞ்சு உயர் பொன்மலைமேல் எழுந்த
மா முகில் போன்று உளர் வந்து காணீர்
அம் சிறைப் புள்ளும் ஒன்று ஏறி வந்தார்-
அச்சோ ஒருவர் அழகியவா (8)
1765 எண் திசையும் எறி நீர்க் கடலும்
ஏழ் உலகும் உடனே விழுங்கி
மண்டி ஓர் ஆல் இலைப் பள்ளிகொள்ளும்
மாயர்கொல்? மாயம் அறியமாட்டேன்
கொண்டல் நல் மால்வரையேயும் ஒப்பர்
கொங்கு அலர் தாமரை கண்ணும் வாயும்
அண்டத்து அமரர் பணிய நின்றார்-
அச்சோ ஒருவர் அழகியவா (9)
1766 அன்னமும் கேழலும் மீனும் ஆய
ஆதியை நாகை அழகியாரை
கன்னி நல் மா மதிள் மங்கை வேந்தன்
காமரு சீர்க் கலிகன்றி குன்றா
இன் இசையால் சொன்ன செஞ்சொல் மாலை
ஏழும் இரண்டும் ஓர் ஒன்றும் வல்லார்
மன்னவர் ஆய் உலகு ஆண்டு மீண்டும்
வானவர் ஆய் மகிழ்வு எய்துவரே (10)
***
இங்கு புகழ்பெற்ற சிவன் கோவிலும் இருக்கிறது
அம்பாள் நீலாயதாட்சி இங்கு கருந்தடங்கண்ணி என்ற பெயரில் கன்னிப் பெண்ணாகக் காட்சி அளிக்கிறாள். ஆகையால் சுவாமிக்குப் பக்கத்தில் அமையாது தனியாகக் கோவில் கொண்டு அருள்பாலிக்கிறாள். அம்பாள் கோபுரம், அர்த்த மண்டபம், மகாமண்டபம், அம்மன் சந்நிதிக்கு எதிரில் உள்ள நந்தி சிற்பக் கலைத்திறனுக்கு ஒரு எடுத்துக்காட்டு. சுற்றுச் சுவர்களில் புண்டரீக முனிவர் இங்கு இறைவனைப் பூஜித்து முக்தி அடைந்த கதை வண்ண ஓவியமாகத் தீட்டப்பட்டிருக்கிறது.
மேலும் நாகாபரணப் பிள்ளையார், சுவாமி சந்நிதியின் முன் உள்ள மிகப் பெரிய சுதை நந்தி, ஒரே கல்லில் செய்யப்பட்ட ஆறுமுகக் கடவுள், பஞ்சமுக விநாயகர் உருவச்சிலை இந்த ஆலயத்தின் மற்ற சிறப்புகள் ஆகும்.
மேலும் இத்தலத்தில் தியாகராஜர் சந்நிதி உள்ளது. இவர் சுந்தரவிடங்கர் எனப்படுகிறார். 63 நாயன்மார்களில் ஒருவரான அதிபத்த நாயனார் இத்தலத்தில் அவதரித்து முக்தியும் அடைந்தவர் அவருக்கு இத்தலத்தில் தனி சந்நிதி உள்ளது. அதிபத்த நாயனார் தான் முதல் தடவை பிடிக்கும் மீன்களை பக்திப் பெருக்கோடு இறைவனுக்கு அர்ப்பணித்து பூஜித்து வந்தார். ஒரு முறை ஒரே ஒரு தங்க மீன் கொடுத்து அதிபத்த நாயனாரை சோதித்து திருவிளையாடல் செய்து அவரை இறைவன் ஆட்கொண்ட திருத்தலம் இதுவாகும்.
—subham—
Tags- Vishnu Temples 108 “Divya Desams” in Pictures-53; திவ்யதேசம்- லண்டன் சுவாமிநாதன் படங்கள், திரு நாகை, அம்பாள் நீலாயதாட்சி, கருந்தடங்கண்ணி
உத்தரகாண்டத்தின் இருபத்தைந்தாவது ஸர்க்கமாக அமைவது ‘மது சக்யம்’ என்ற ஸர்க்கமாகும்.
ஒரு நாள் ராவணன் லங்காபுரியில் ஒரு உத்தியானவனத்திற்குச் சென்றான்.
அங்கே ஒரு யாகம் நடைபெற்றுக் கொண்டிருப்பதைக் கண்டான். தன் புதல்வன் மேகநாதனே அந்த யாகத்தை நடத்திக் கொண்டிருப்பதைப் பார்த்து,”இது என்ன? சொல்!” என்றான். உடனே யாகத்தை நடத்திக் கொண்டிருந்த அசுர குருவாகிய சுக்ராசாரியர் ராவணனிடன், “நானே சொல்கிறேன். உனது புதல்வனால் ஏழு யாகங்கள் இயற்றப்பட்டன” என்று ஆரம்பித்து விவரங்களைக் கூறுகிறார்.
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
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Purananuru wonders-29, Tamil Encyclopedia-69; One Thousand Interesting Facts -Part 69
Item 541 Tamil Heroine
This is one of the famous poems in Purananuru. This shows Tamil women were heroic in Sangam Age. This is seen not only in Tamil Nadu but also in other parts of India. All Kshatria women were like her. Indian history is full f heroic women who fought against Muslim invaders and Christian invaders. But here is a beautiful comparison from a female poet. Her son is like a tiger cub and so definitely in the battle field.
One must remember the modern rules. Nowadays using boy soldiers is against international law. In those days teenage boys Rama and Lakshmana were taken by Vishwamitra to fight demoness Tadaka and others.
We see Veera Maathaa in Vedic literature as well. (I have written a separate article on this topic some years ago)
Notes: This is the only poem written by this female poet.
***
Item 542 Sanskrit word Thachchan (Puram verse 87)
In English we have lots of words with Tech (nology, nician, nical etc). All these words including Thachcan are derived from Sanskrit word
Takṣa (तक्ष).—[adjective] cutting off, destroying (—°); [masculine] a carpenter (—°); [Name] of a serpent-demon etc.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary
1) Takṣa (तक्ष):—[from takṣ] 1. takṣa mfn. ‘cutting through
***
Item 543-Eight Chariots in One Day
Avvaiyar, the most famous Female poet of Sangam age had composed several poems and gave us very interesting details of Sangam Age culture. Here in Puram 87 she warns the enemies of chieftain Athiyamān Nedumān Anji that he had also got good carpenters who can make 8 chariots a day! This statement shows us the technology and the road conditions of those days. We have hundreds of references to chariots in Akam (Sex and Family life) section where the hero comes to see his lady love in chariots. So, the road conditions were so good that they can drive very fast. Second point is that Tamils also used Chariots in battlefield like their northern counterparts. We always see Arjuna and Krishna in war chariot in Bhagavad Gita pictures.
***
Item 544 Athiyaman is Sathyavan, not a Tamil King!
Tamil name Athiyaman is Sathyavan in Sanskrit. Because Tolkappaiar banned SA as initial letter in Tamil he is Tamilized as Athiyamaan. Tamil women knows the story of Sathyavaan Savitri very well. They are known for their truthfulness. Sathya=Truth. Asoka 268 BCE also mentioned them in his inscription as Satyaputro. He belonged to Ikshvakus (Ikshu= Sugarcane) which Avvai herself said in another verse. They were the one who introduced Sugarcane cultivation in Tamil Nadu. Like Chozas they also came from North India.
***
Item 544 Strange but True Tamil has no AVV in Tamil!
If you go through word index of Sangam Tamil literature or Tirukkural you wont see the Tamil letter ஔ AVV at all. Only in footnotes under the poems we see ஔ (வையார்)
***
Puranānūru 87, Poet Avvaiyār sang for Athiyamān Nedumān Anji, Thinai: Thumpai, Thurai: Thānai Maram O enemies! Protect yourselves before you enter the field! Among us is a warrior who will fight you in battle. He is like a chariot wheel crafted with care for over a month, by a carpenter who creates eight chariots in a day!
***
Avvaiyār and King Athiyamān Nedumān Anji were great friends. Avvaiyār wrote Puranānūru poems 87-104, 140, 187, 206, 231, 232, 235, 269, 286, 290, 295, 311, 315, 367, 390 and 392.
***
புறநானூறு87, பாடியவர்: ஔவையார், பாடப்பட்டோன்: அதியமான் நெடுமான் அஞ்சி, திணை: தும்பை, துறை: தானை மறம் களம் புகல் ஓம்புமின் தெவ்விர்! போர் எதிர்ந்து எம்முளும் உளன் ஒரு பொருநன், வைகல் எண் தேர் செய்யும் தச்சன் திங்கள் வலித்த கால் அன்னோனே.
***
Item 545 Different sections of Army
In the Tamil commentary for Puram verse 88, we come across two sections of army “கூழை தார் கொண்டு யாம் பொருதும்”
Koozai= கூழை= the soldiers on the sides of the king or commander and at his back
Thaar = தார்= Front of the battalion= dust soldiers= they ride very fast and produce dust.
This description in the commentary shows Tamils organised the army and allocated particular roles to the soldiers.
***
Puranānūru 88, Poet Avvaiyār sang for Athiyamān Nedumān Anji, Thinai: Thumpai, Thurai: Thānai Maram Whoever you may be, if you defend your words, “We will fight with his foot soldiers and the rest of his army”, you haven’t seen my lord who celebrates victories with festivals. He has drum-like shoulders, fine, strong chest with elegant ornaments that shoot rays, and is chief to young, brave warriors who bear long and shining spears.
யாவிர் ஆயினும், “கூழை தார் கொண்டு யாம் பொருதும்” என்றல் ஓம்புமின்! ஓங்கு திறல்
ஒளிறு இலங்கு நெடுவேல் மழவர் பெருமகன், கதிர் விடு நுண் பூண் அம் பகட்டு மார்பின் விழவு மேம்பட்ட நல் போர் 5 முழவுத் தோள் என் ஐயைக் காணா ஊங்கே.
***
Item 546
Here in Puram verse 89, poetess Avvai described the appearance of a Virali:
, “O virali with a bright brow, kohl-rimmed eyes, delicate nature, and lifted, beautiful loins decorated with jewels!
VIRALI= a a female dancer , a female bard.
***
Item 547 Snake simile
Normally snakes will run away if they are hit or chased; but there are certain aggressive kinds of snakes that are ready to fight. Here poetess compared the soldiers to such aggressive snakes
Like snakes that do not fear the rods that hit them.
*** Item 548 Tamils were warmongers!
The king was ever ready for a fight; so he mistook even the natural sounds for beating sounds of war drums,
whenever the wind blows against the clear-sounding eyes of the tightly tied thannumai drum in the courtyard and it resonates.
***
Puranānūru 89, Poet Avvaiyār sang for Athiyamān Nedumān Anji, Thinai: Thumpai, Thurai: Thānai Maram
O king with a battling army! You asked me again and again, “O virali with a bright brow, kohl-rimmed eyes, delicate nature, and lifted, beautiful loins decorated with jewels! Is there anyone in your huge country who can fight?
Yes, there are young, brave warriors who are fearless Not only that, there is also my king who is happy that it is war, whenever the wind blows against the clear-sounding eyes of the tightly tied thannumai drum in the courtyard and it resonates.
***
புறநானூறு89, பாடியவர்: ஔவையார், பாடப்பட்டோன்: அதியமான் நெடுமான் அஞ்சி, திணை : தும்பை, துறை: தானை மறம் “இழையணிப் பொலிந்த ஏந்து கோட்டு அல்குல், மடவரல், உண்கண், வாணுதல் விறலி! பொருநரும் உளரோ நும் அகன்தலை நாட்டு?” என வினவல் ஆனாப் பொரு படை வேந்தே, எறி கோல் அஞ்சா அரவின் அன்ன5 சிறு வன் மள்ளரும் உளரே, அதாஅன்று பொதுவில் தூங்கும் விசியுறு தண்ணுமை வளி பொரு தெண் கண் கேட்பின், “அது போர்” என்னும் என் ஐயும் உளனே.
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Item 549
Here is a beautiful description to say that No one can stop the king; no one can survive his attack.
The enemies are compared to deer in front of a tiger, darkness when sun shines, a strong bull that draws the cart even in muddy lands.
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Item 550 Avvai Fond of Sanskrit Words!
Poetess Avvaiyar never hesitated to use Sanskrit words such as ACHCHU (Axis, Axle) PANDAM (things, materials) SAKATAM (cart).
Shamudrika Lakshana of kings :
Your strong, faultless arms reach down to your legs that are like crossbars – already explained in previous poems.
***
Puranānūru 90, Poet Avvaiyār sang to Athiyamān Nedumān Anji, Thinai: Thumpai, Thurai: Thānai Maram
If a fierce tiger roars in anger on the fragrant mountain slopes with white glory lilies resembling broken conch and wild jasmine flowers with lush leaves, can a deer herd linger there?
If the sun burns with rage, is it possible for darkness to exist in the expanses of the confused sky?
If a proud ox hauls a cart with goods, even if the long bar grinds the axle bars due to the weight, scattering the sand and breaking stones as it pulls out of a deep rut, is there a place where it cannot go?
O Lord of young warriors! Your strong, faultless arms reach down to your legs that are like crossbars.
Is there any warrior in this vast earth who can take your land and be jubilant, if you enter the field?
அச்சொடு தாக்கிப் பார் உற்று இயங்கிய பண்டச் சாகாட்டு ஆழ்ச்சி சொலிய, அரி மணல் ஞெமரக் கல் பக நடக்கும் பெருமிதப் பகட்டுக்குத் துறையும் உண்டோ?
எழுமரம் கடுக்கும் தாள் தோய் தடக்கை 10 வழு இல் வன் கை மழவர் பெரும! இரு நில மண் கொண்டு சிலைக்கும் பொருநரும் உளரோ, நீ களம் புகினே?
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Item 551 King is Lord Shiva
Hindu poets never hesitated to compare kings with Vedic Gods and other gods. Queens were called Devi= Goddess; feminine form of Deva. Here in Puram verse 91, poetess Avvai blessed the king to live like Lord Shiva. She described Shiva as wee see in Puranas. So ,Tamils were Pukka Hindus well versed in Hindu scriptures
May you live as long as he lives, the god who has a milk-like, brow shaped moon on his lovely head, and a sapphire-like dark neck!
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Item 552 Ayurveda in Tamil
Nellikkay , Indian gooseberry, Amlaka in Sanskrit has been used by the Hindus for long. They knew the medical benefits of using it. And there was a special type in black colour which is rare and has more medical benefits. Thos who use it would have full life span- 100 years. Even al-Biruni mentioned it is his writings (I have written a separate article on this topic some years ago)
Chieftain Athiyaman gifted such a rare variety to Avvaiyar which shows his generosity
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Puranānūru 91, Poet Avvaiyār sang to Athiyamān Nedumān Anji, Thinai: Pādān, Thurai: Vālthiyal
O Athiyar king owning uproar-causing alcohol! O king with a mighty hand with whirling bracelets that lifts an unfailing, victorious sword and strikes down enemies in battlefields! O Anji with a golden garland, who is rich in murderous battles!
1 May you live as long as he lives, the god who has a milk-like, brow shaped moon on his lovely head, and a sapphire-like dark neck!
2
O Greatness! Without considering how difficult it was to get the sweet nelli fruit from a tree with small leaves, plucked from the crevices of an ancient lofty mountain that was difficult to scale, you gave it to me, knowing its benefits of removing death, which knowledge you kept within yourself!
***
புறநானூறு91, பாடியவர்: ஔவையார், பாடப்பட்டோன்: அதியமான் நெடுமான் அஞ்சி, திணை: பாடாண், துறை: வாழ்த்தியல் வலம்படு வாய்வாள் ஏந்தி ஒன்னார் களம் படக் கடந்த கழல் தொடி தடக்கை, ஆர்கலி நறவின் அதியர் கோமான்! போர் அடு திருவின் பொலந்தார் அஞ்சி! பால் புரை பிறை நுதல் பொலிந்த சென்னி 5 நீலமணி மிடற்று ஒருவன் போல மன்னுக பெரும! நீயே தொன் நிலைப் பெருமலை விடர் அகத்து அரு மிசை கொண்ட சிறியிலை நெல்லித் தீங்கனி குறியாது, ஆதல் நின் அகத்து அடக்கிச் 10 சாதல் நீங்க எமக்கு ஈத்தனையே.
The Story of Indian Gooseberry Tree in Hinduism (Post No.11923)
Tags- Lord Shiva, Nellikkay, Indian Goosberry, Athiyaman, Sathyavan, Satyaputro, No AVVஔ in Tamil! Purananuru wonders-29, Tamil Encyclopedia-69, Item 552, Sanskrit words, Thachan, Taksha, Tech
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
Item 508 Poverty
Here in Puram verse 69 composed by Ālathūr Kizhār we get some interesting information about the appearance of a bard suffering from poverty. He is a musician with Yaaz (Veena like instrument). He is wearing torn clothes. The bards led a nomadic life.
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Item 509 Wealth of Kings
In the next few lines, we see a quite contrasting scene with king wearing golden chains, sitting at Uraiyur with big shining mansions. Also bloddy scenes from battles are described. One more interesting point is kings saw saints and bards without waiting.
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Item 510 Golden Lotus
Kings used to give Golden Lotus to bards. It is in other poems as well.
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Puranānuru 69, Poet: Ālathūr Kizhār sang for Chozhan Kulamutrathu Thunjiya Killivalavan
1 O bard who is sad! You carry a yāzh used to playing perfect music. Your body is hungry, since you do not have a patron. The clothes around your waist are darned and soaked in sweat. You protect and wear them. You have a large family that is depressed like the body of a man with no will. Since you have travelled around the world and you ask me gently, I will tell you.
2
The battle elephants of kings are in pain in a camp with flags, while other elephants have been cut down and they lie in pools of blood, his army has caused flesh to stink, the King of Uranthai with shining mansions, who raises his spear against advancing warriors and he is ready to march into the lands of his enemies!
If you go and see Killivalavan who wears a fine garland and lovely gold ornaments that flash like fire, you will not have to wait at his tall gate without seeing him donate chariots at harsh noon time
3 in his court. You will not fail to gain a golden lotus flower upon which bees that swarm on flowers do not buzz!
(Vaidehi Herbert’s translation is used; thanks
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Notes: Puranānūru poems 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 69, 70, 226, 227, 228, 373, 386, 393 and 397 were written for this Chozha king who wrote Puranānūru 173. Ālathūr Kizhār who came from a town called Ālathūr, wrote Puranānūru 34, 36, 69, 225 and 324.
கையது கடன் நிறை யாழே, மெய்யது புரவலர் இன்மையின் பசியே, அரையது வேற்றிழை நுழைந்த வேர் நனை சிதாஅர் ஓம்பி உடுத்த உயவற் பாண! பூட்கை இல்லோன் யாக்கை போலப் 5 பெரும் புல்லென்ற இரும்பேர் ஒக்கலை வையகம் முழுதுடன் வளைஇப் பையென என்னை வினவுதி ஆயின்,
2
மன்னர் அடு களிறு உயவும் கொடி கொள் பாசறைக் குருதிப் பரப்பின் கோட்டுமா தொலைச்சிப், 10 புலாக் களம் செய்த கலாஅத் தானையன் பிறங்கு நிலை மாடத்து உறந்தையோனே பொருநர்க்கு ஓக்கிய வேலன், ஒரு நிலைப் பகைப் புலம் படர்தலும் உரியன், தகைத் தார் ஒள் எரி புரையும் உருகெழு பசும்பூண்15 கிள்ளி வளவற் படர்குவை ஆயின்,
3 நெடுங்கடை நிற்றலும் இலையே கடும் பகல் தேர் வீசு இருக்கை ஆர நோக்கி, நீ அவற்கண்ட பின்றைப் பூவின் ஆடு வண்டு இமிராத் தாமரை 20 சூடாய் ஆதல் அதனினும் இலையே.
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Item 511 Snskrit names for Tamil Months
Kōvūr Kizhār copied the greatest poet Kalidasa in Puram verse 70
Tamils have no names in Tamil for 12 months. All the names we use now for 12 so called Tamil months are Sanskrit names. In some cases they are Tamilized. Kanchi Shankaracharya (1894-1994) who was a great linguist, has explained the names of all the 12 months. No one could have any doubt because we get Panguni in Akananuru 137, Karthikai in other poems. Silappadikaram also used Sanskrit month. This shows ancient Tamils considered Tamil and Sanskrit as two eyes of a man. More over all the Tamil dictionaries and Nikandus have more Sanskrit words than Tamil.
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Item 512 Bee= Six Legged Bird
This poem shows that Kovur Kizar as a great Sanskrit scholar. He not only used Sanskrit Thai, but also used Six Legged Bird (bee) of Kalidasa.
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Item 513 Interesting Folklore- Gold Diggers
Hindu folklore is full of finding gold in the middle of the forest. This is used as a simile here. They always add those gold are protected by snakes. There are two reasons for it:1. Gold is found as nuggets in many places in those days. Now they were all exploited by gold diggers. 2.Tamils have a proverb Tamilan puthithuk kettan—meaning Tamils spoiled themselves by burying (treasures). In those days there were no banks or lockers in villages So they buried the treasure and told no one. After their death, some lucky person stumble on it.
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Item 514
Another notable point is the appearance of a drum held by the bards.
like a pond tortoise strung on an iron rod
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Puranānuru 70, Poet: KōvūrKizhār sang for Chozhan Kulamutrathu Thunjiya Killivalavan,
1
O bard with ancient wisdom carrying a small yāzh with honey-sweet music! You show me sweetly your clear-eyed kinai drum tied with sticks like a pond tortoise strung on an iron rod, and urge me strongly to rest here a little.
2
Killivalavan is the lord of a fine country with abundant rice and water. His huge city is filled with food and there is constant abundance like a Thai month pond whose level never goes down despite taking. There are only kitchen fires and no war fires. Go to him thinking of his renown.
3
If you travel leisurely and quietly with your female dancer, her forehead glowing, her smile sweet, adorned with pāthiri flowers from Sirukudi of Pannan who gives very generously, where six-legged bees buzz on small white waterlilies desiring fragrance, you will become rich.
4
Do not think that his generosity is not a rare matter, like woodcutters going to the forest to cut wood finding gold. May his efforts prosper!
Notes: Puranānūru poems 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 69, 70, 173, 226, 227, 228, 373, 386, 393 and 397 were written for this Chozha king. Kōvūr Kizhār wrote Puranānūru 31-33, 41, 44-47, 68, 70, 308, 373, 382, 386 and 400. He hailed from Kōvūr town in Thondai Nadu. It is presently in Chengalpattu district.
தேஎம் தீந்தொடைச் சீறியாழ்ப் பாண! கயத்து வாழ் யாமை காழ் கோத்தன்ன நுண் கோல் தகைத்த தெண் கண் மாக் கிணை இனிய காண்க இவண் தணிக எனக் கூறி, வினவல் ஆனா முதுவாய் இரவல! 5
1 தைத் திங்கள் தண் கயம் போலக், கொளக் கொளக் குறைபடாக் கூழுடை வியன் நகர், அடு தீ அல்லது சுடு தீ அறியாது, இரு மருந்து விளைக்கும் நன்னாட்டுப் பொருநன், கிள்ளிவளவன் நல் இசை உள்ளி, 10
2 நாற்ற நாட்டத்து அறு கால் பறவை சிறு வெள் ஆம்பல் ஞாங்கர் ஊதும் கைவள் ஈகைப் பண்ணன் சிறு குடிப் பாதிரி கமழும் ஓதி ஒண்ணுதல், இன்னகை விறலியொடு மென்மெல இயலிச் 15 செல்வை ஆயின் செல்வை ஆகுவை
3 விறகு ஒய் மாக்கள் பொன் பெற்றன்னதோர் தலைப்பாடு அன்று அவன் ஈகை, நினைக்க வேண்டா, வாழ்க அவன் தாளே.
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Item 515 Bhutapandyan
In Puranānūru 71, we come across the pandya king
Bhuta pandyan. This name is also found in alupa kings of Karnataka. Also we come across a queen, whose husband was Bhuta pandyan; see Puranānūru 246. This is a Sanskrit name. also note devi is used in verse 246.
Item 516 Names of dear friends
The king gives us a list of his dear friends that makes interesting reading.
May I lose the great joy in the company of my friends who are as precious to me as my own eyes – Māvan who is the ruler of Maiyal town and cities surrounded by the famous Vaiyai River with abundant riches and unending prosperity, Ānthai of long established Eyil town, Anthuvan Sāthan of great renown, famous Āthan Azhisi, Iyakkan with intense rage and others!
Also we get the names of river and towns.
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Item 517 Dhama Sabhai and rebirth and Patriotism
The king makes two more points. His assembly is a place of Justice. Rig Vedic Sanskrit word Sabha is used in the poem. All over India B=V are interchangeable and so we see Avai in Tirukkural and Sangam literature.
Another point is rebirth. He makes a vow that he would be born in a country that is not Pandya country. This shows his patriotism and loyalty towards his mother land. This shows his belief in rebirth as well.
They say that kings enraged like lions and owning armies that do not succumb have formed a federation, and announced that they will go into battle against me.
If I do not assault them so that I can hear their scream in harsh battles as they show their backs and flee in their chariots, may I separate from my wife with large, calm kohl-lined eyes! And in my kind court that does not sway from justice, let me install someone unworthy and rule with a weak scepter, moving away from righteousness!
May I lose the great joy in the company of my friends who are as precious to me as my own eyes – Māvan who is the ruler of Maiyal town and cities surrounded by the famous Vaiyai River with abundant riches and unending prosperity, Ānthai of long established Eyil town, Anthuvan Sāthan of great renown, famous Āthan Azhisi, Iyakkan with intense rage and others!
May I no longer reign as king of this southern land, known for its ancient lineage and protection to its citizens! May I be born into a family that protects the dry lands of others!
*1**
புறநானூறு71, பாடியவர்: ஒல்லையூர் தந்த பூதப்பாண்டியன்,திணை: காஞ்சி, துறை: வஞ்சினக் காஞ்சி
2 அறன் நிலை திரியா அன்பின் அவையத்துத் திறன் இல் ஒருவனை நாட்டி, முறை திரிந்து மெலி கோல் செய்தேன் ஆகுக, மலி புகழ் வையை சூழ்ந்த வளங்கெழு வைப்பின் 10
3 பொய்யா யாணர் மையல் கோமான் மாவனும் மன் எயில் ஆந்தையும், உரை சால் அந்துவஞ்சாத்தனும் ஆதன் அழிசியும், வெஞ்சின இயக்கனும் உளப்படப் பிறரும், கண் போல் நண்பிற் கேளிரொடு கலந்த 15 இன் களி மகிழ்நகை இழுக்கி யான் ஒன்றோ, மன்பதை காக்கும் நீள்குடிச் சிறந்த தென் புலம் காவலின் ஒரீஇப், பிறர்
4 வன்புலம் காவலின் மாறி யான் பிறக்கே.
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Item 518
Puram verse 72 was composed by a famous king called Thalaiyālankānathu Cheruvendra Nedunchezhiyan. The battle of Thalaiyālankānam as famous as Venni Battle where Choza Karikalan defeated many kings and Velirs. Here the young Boy King defeated many kings.
His story is in Thiru Vilayadal Puranam which says Lord Siva helped him. I have pointed out in my research articles on Tiru Vilayadal Puranam of Madurai.
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Item 519 Proof for Tamil Sangam
Sangam is a Sanskrit word which we see from Panini days to modern times. Arthasastra of Kautilya/ Chanakya also mentioned Sangam(Association). But Tamil Tolkappiar banned all Sa beginning words in Tamil. So scholars were wondering what the association was called in Sangam period. We can only guess. But Nedunchezian in this verses says there was a group of poets under the leadership of Mangdi Maruthan. He was the author of the longest Sangam poem Madurai Kanchi.
They cause me anger, those who say, “They are laughable who praise his land. He is too young.”
They also say, “We have fine, tall elephants with wide feet and huge legs that wear tinkling bells, chariots, horses and able warriors.” They have no fear and they are filled with fury as they utter disparaging words.
If I do not attack those enraged kings, who don’t fear my strength, in harsh battles and ruin their drums, may my citizens who live under the protection of my shadow no longer see any shade! Let them cry and and blame me as a cruel king and insult my office!
3
Poets with great skill, their leader Mānkudi Maruthan with his vast and great learning, as well as others firmly established in this earth, let them leave my country and sing no more about it! May I lose wealth and become unable to help those who come to me in need, and remove their sorrow!
Notes: This is the only poem written by this king. Puranānūru 18, 19, 23, 24, 25, 26, 76, 77, 78, 79, 371 and 372 were written for this king. He defeated the Chera and Chozha kings along with five Vēlir kings in a battle at Thalaiyālankānam in the Chozha country.
2 “நகு தக்கனரே, நாடு மீக்கூறுநர், இளையன் இவன்” என உளையக் கூறிப், “படுமணி இரட்டும் பாவடிப் பணைத் தாள் நெடுநல் யானையும் தேரும் மாவும் படை அமை மறவரும் உடையம் யாம்” என்று 5 உறு துப்பு அஞ்சாது, உடல் சினம் செருக்கிச் சிறுசொல் சொல்லிய சினங்கெழு வேந்தரை அருஞ்சமம் சிதையத் தாக்கி, முரசமொடு ஒருங்கு அகப்படேஎன் ஆயின் பொருந்திய என் நிழல் வாழ்நர் சென்னிழல் காணாது, 10 “கொடியன் எம் இறை” எனக் கண்ணீர் பரப்பிக் குடி பழி தூற்றும் கோலேன் ஆகுக,
3 ஓங்கிய சிறப்பின் உயர்ந்த கேள்வி மாங்குடி மருதன் தலைவன் ஆக,
3உலகமொடு நிலைஇய பலர் புகழ் சிறப்பின் 15 புலவர் பாடாது வரைக என் நிலவரை புரப்போர் புன்கண் கூர, இரப்போர்க்கு ஈயா இன்மை யான் உறவே.
To be continued
Tags- No name for months in Tamil, Sangam, Mangudi Maruthan, Item 519, Tamils have no Tamil Names for 12 Months:25Purananuru wonders-25, Tamil Encyclopedia-
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M words continued………………………………
Snake or Rope illusion = Maayaa
Tamil Version will be posted tomorrow.
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Mangalasanam
Twelve Tamil Vaishnavite Saints known as Alvars, have sung the glory of Vishnu in 108 divine shrines spread over India and beyond. Those temples which are sung by an Alvar or more Alvars are said to have Mangalaasanam of this Alvar or these Alvars. The 108 Divine Shrines are called Divya Desam. The 4000 compositions of Alvars in praise ofVishnu shrines are in a Tamil book known as Divya Prabandham.
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Madayanthi
Madayanti (or Madayanthi) is a virtuous queen of King Saudasa (Kalmashapada) in the Mahabharata and Puranas. Known for her loyalty, she aided her husband in overcoming a curse from Sage Vashishtha and is associated with the birth of their son, Ashmaka.
Wife of King Saudasa of the Ikshwaku dynasty. She is depicted as a virtuous queen who, along with her husband, survived a difficult curse.
When her husband was cursed to be a cannibal, she remained by his side. Later, she was involved in a complex narrative involving the sage Vashishtha to obtain a son.
The name is sometimes spelled Madayanti and should not be confused with Madayantika, which is the botanical name for henna (Lawsonia inermis).
It is a plant with medicinal properties known for treating skin diseases, jaundice, and as a natural hair dye.
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MADURAI
A big city in Tamil Nadu known for its big and beautiful Siva temple called Meenakshi Sundareswarar temple. About 2000 years ago, there was a Tamil Academy called Tamil Sangam here with 49 poets. Madurai is synonymous with Tamil language because of this Tamil Sangam. Sangam Tamil literature has more than 40 poets with the prefix Madurai. Chitra festival celebrated here every year attracts lakhs of people.
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Malayalam
It is the name of a language and the land where it is spoken. The place is called Kerala now. It is adjacent to Tamil Nadu. As a language it is junior to Tamil language. Kerala is also known for its temples and natural beauty. In the olden days it was called Chera Nadu.
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Malaya Parvata
Common name of Western Ghats also known as Sahyadri. Pothikai hill is part of this mountain chain Where sage Agastya lived and wrote the first grammar book for Tamil. The mountain chain runs for over 1000 miles from the land’s tip up to Maharashtra.
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Mathura
One of the Seven Sacred Cities in India. Lord Krishna was born here, and his playing field is called Brindavan It is in modern Uttar Pradesh with a beautiful Krishna temple.
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Mahabharata & War
Mahabharata is one of the two Hindu epics; the other epic is Ramayana. Mahabharata is the longest religious book in the world with one hundred thousand Slokas/couplets describing the history of Pandavas and Kauravas. It has 18 chapters and the most popular Bhagavad Gita is in one of the 18 Chapters.
The 18 day war between the five Pandavas and their 100 cousins Kauravas was fought in Kurukshetra, now in Haryana. Hindus believe that the war was fought just before Kali Yuga began, that is before 3102 BCE. Majority of the modern historians believe that it should have happened around 1500 BCE.
Apart from the conflict, the epic has lot of sub stories ad a lot of didactic materials. And it is said thus in a famous quote:
“यदिहास्ति तदन्यत्र यन्नेहास्ति न तत्क्वचित्”Yad ihāsti tad anyatra, yan nehāsti na tat kvacit “What is here [in the Mahabharata] is found elsewhere, but what is not here is nowhere else”. The epic covers all aspects of human life.
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Mahabhasyam
Mahabhayasam is the celebrated commentary on grammar given to the world by Maharshi Patanjali based on Ashtadhyayi of Maharshi Panini. It deals with the theory of language from Bharatiya perspective. The siddhantas behind the origin and development of sound, syllable, word, sentence and context and their interrelated features are discussed in this commentary. It consists of nine ahnikas (Units) .
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Mahamakam
Mahamaham is a major Hindu festival celebrated every 12 years in Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu, often referred to as the Kumbh Mela of South India. It occurs during the Tamil month of Masi (Feb–Mar) when Jupiter passes through Simha Rasi, drawing millions for a holy dip in the sacred Mahamaham tank, which is surrounded by 16 small mandapams. It is very near the famous Siva temple- Kumbeswarar.
The next Mahamaham festival in Kumbakonam is scheduled to take place on March 9, 2028
The Mahamaham tank is a massive, historic pond located in the heart of Kumbakonam town, featuring 20 “theerthams” (holy wells) on its banks, each associated with specific deities or blessings. During the festival all the nearby temples take part in it. 500 years ago, famous king Krishnadeva Raya travelled all the way from Vijayanagara to take part in it.
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Maya, Mahamayi. Mahamaya
Maya is illusion.
Mahamaya (“Great Illusion”) is a multifaceted term in Indian philosophy and religion, primarily referring to the divine, all-encompassing, and bewildering creative energy of the Supreme Goddess (Shaktism) or the material world’s illusory nature (Vedanta). It represents the power that creates, maintains, and veils reality, often associated with Goddess Durga and the material world’s distracting, worldly attachments.
In Tamil, Mahamayi is the goddess of small pox. If some one is sick with any type of pox, they hang Neem leaves outside the house to avoid spreading the disease. After recovering, they go to Marai Amman Goddess temple and offer Maa Vilakku. It is a flour and jaggery dish with ghee lamps lighted in the middle. They consume it after the lamp is extinguished
Mahamaya (or Yoga-maya) is the divine energy of illusion and Vishnu’s potency who facilitated Krishna’s birth to destroy the tyrant King Kamsa. She transferred Krishna from Kamsa’s prison to Gokul and replaced him with her own form, ultimately warning Kamsa that his killer had already been born, thus fulfilling the prophecy of Kamsa’s downfall. When Kamsa tried to strike her with his sword it flew into sky and disappeared.
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