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Chola Warlords: Who Were the Paluvettaraiyars?

Ponniyin Selvan I movie poster showing actor Sarathkumar as Periya Paluvettaraiyar and actor Parthiban as Chinna Paluvettaraiyar. In 2024, Oxford University Press published  Minor Majesties: The Paluvēṭṭaraiyars and Their South Indian Kingdom of Paluvūr, 9th–11th Centuries A.D ., a groundbreaking study by historian Valerie Gillet. In the book’s opening chapter, A Tentative Biography of the Paluvettaraiyars , Gillet delves into the lineage and origins of this influential fami ly.  These Chola warlords traced their lineage to the formidable Maravars, an ancient warrior tribe renowned for their valor. However, I believe that while the Paluvettaraiyars were indeed of Maravar descent, they likely forged alliances through intermarriage with those of the Kallar and Agambadiyar clans, further solidifying their power and influence. Prominent figures in the medieval Chola era, the Paluvettaraiyars played a pivotal role in shaping the empire’s political and military landscape. Through st...
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Dog meat? No way!

Hachikō, was an Akita dog born on a farm near the city of Ōdate, Akita Prefecture, remembered for his remarkable loyalty to his owner, even many years after his owner's death.

Have you ever wondered why some meat are considered as taboo while others are not? I believe that the culture we are born into and the role played by the animals in our lives has always been the deciding factor.

 I would like to talk about dog meat and why most of us do not consume it. Not that I have eaten it. I also do not wish to eat it.

 Some of you, or most of you who reads this post perhaps share the same cultural perception as me. There must be reasons for why certain things are taboo in our culture. 

If you can eat goat, why not dog? It is a four legged animal too.

Man's best friend.
The answer is very simple. Dogs are considered as man's best friend. They can work for you, cuddle with you, be your companion and above all, protect you whenever needed. These qualities are not seen in other animals. That is why dogs are even accepted as the symbol of loyalty itself.

 A dog will risk its own life to protect you and your family. Chickens don't do this :p


Kabang, a small family dog, is being credited with saving two children from a dangerous collision when she threw herself into the path of a speeding motorcycle that was about to hit them in Zamboanga City, Philippines

There are many who eat dogs. The Bataks of Indonesia eat them. They even have a dish made of dog meat. It is called as Saksang.

Saksang
Those who eat dog meat do not value it for its other qualities. They see it as food. In Indian society, such people are classified as Chandala. There is also a common saying in Tamil "Ada paavi Chandala" which literally translates as "You sinner Chandala".
The word Chandala carried a different meaning during ancient times.

 But for most of us, dogs will remain as our best friends and we certainly value its characteristics more than its meat. Therefore, we have no heart to eat them.

Puppies


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