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Showing posts from November, 2013

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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The Paraiyars

Thirumavalavan, Dalit activist and president of Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) The Paraiyars are among the most ancient Tamil clans which has stood the test of time. They were also mentioned in the ancient Sangam literature, the Purananooru. The name of this clan comes from the percussion instrument known as Parai. The actual meaning of the Tamil word Parai is 'to speak' or 'to convey'. Malayalam language being a descendent of Tamil managed to retain the use of this word.  Some of you who happened to hear spoken Malayalam would have come across the following: English Can you suggest another hotel?  Malayalam Vere oru hotel parayamo? The Parai drum was used for religious occasions. The art performance which uses the Parai drum is known as Parai Aattam. It is also called as Thappu Aattam by the Telugu speaking Sakkiliyars. After the social change that happened in ancient times, it lost its importance and became associated with funeral rites.  ...
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My Thoughts on Numerology

Today's world is obsessed with many occult practices. Among the many occult practices that became an obsession is Numerology. I have nothing against occult practices. Some of the practices like Palmistry and Indian Astrology have always kindled the interest in me. According to Palmistry and Indian Astrology, no two human being will have the same reading. The lines in our palms are unique. Furthermore, Indian Astrology is calculated based on time of birth, place of birth, latitude and longitude. There are also rules to follow if twins were born, making this branch of occult science a very special one. However, Numerology as what we see today has many flaws. The flaw is not with the numbers, but the system itself. Numerology is based mainly on ones date of birth. Numbers are taken, added and a reading is done. Alphabets are assigned numerical values and names derived from the combination of alphabets are said to have special values. This is believed to have the power to decide on fa...
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Chindians of Nilgiris

An offspring born as a result of marriage between an Indian and Chinese is known as Chindian. This term is very common in Malaysia as there are quite a number of Chindians in my country. Nilgiris Back in the 19th century, there were a lot of Chinese convicts in British Malaya. The prison was not enough to accommodate them so these convicts were sent to a prison in Nilgiris. Nilgiris is a hilly region located in the west of Tamil Nadu. It is known for its natural beauty and tea plantations. During a stormy night in 1868, 12 of these Chinese convicts escaped from the prison. They were arrested 2 weeks later in Malabar (prese nt day Kerala). Some of the Chinese remained in Nilgiris. They married the local Paraiyar tribe women and settled down on the hill slopes between Naduvattam and Gudalur. Their descendants with typical Chinese slant eyes developed into a colony over there. This is one of the earliest records of Chindian families in modern history outside Mal...
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Birds of A Feather Flock Together

The population of our species is currently 7.1 billion. We are in every part inhabitable in this planet. Although we are the same species, breathe the same air, and share the same blood color, we have differentiated ourselves in many ways.  Our ancestors are probably the same but thousands of years of social evolution has divided mankind along many lines. We took different paths, settled in different lands, created different cultures, believe in different Gods, speak different languages but we remain the same when it comes to our strong sense of belonging.  That sense of belonging can be called as tribalism. Tribalism is alive in each one of us. Although the core feeling is the same, the application is different. Take football fans for an example. No matter how good or bad the performance is, a diehard Man Utd fan and a Liverpool fan will never come to a common agreement. Their loyalty to their club is displayed by not just supporting the club of their choice but also b...
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The Indian confusion - Race, Caste, Clan & Surnames

Before you read, keep in mind that this was not written with the intention to divide the people. It was written with the intention to explain the meaning of each group. The write up on my journey in Bali is still in progress. I have to transfer some image files in order to upload them. So I thought of writing about the biggest confusion in the Indian Malaysian community. It is a sensitive one too. But clarification should be given. Else, when are we going to understand it? To my friends of other races who happened to read my blog, this will probably be enlightening as many may not be aware of our demographics. First of all, there are two main classification for us in Malaysia. Indian & Ceylonese. Many assume it to be a homogenous race like Chinese, but it isn't. The Chinese have many languages but they have a common language called Mandarin. They also have one writing script. This is what makes the over 1 billion Chinese worldwide as a homogenous race. Ancient Chinese ...
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Dogs of Tamil Nadu

Pictures taken from Google. Credit goes to the various people who uploaded them. I apologise for not being able to identify the original owner of the pics. Whenever we speak of dogs, we tend to focus on the European breeds.  This is due to their popularity and demand. Unknown to many, India has about 88 native dog breeds. Six of these breeds are from the southern state of Tamil Nadu. Most of these dogs from Tamil Nadu evolved naturally. That makes them more suitable to the hot climate in the south. Furthermore, these dogs require less medical attention as their immune system is stronger, making them less prone to disease which are common among the European breeds. In Tamil Nadu, we can find breeds like the famous Rajapalayam, Kombai, Alangu Mastiff, Chippiparai, Kanni and Malayeri. Both the Alangu Mastiff and Malayeri are now extinct. Malayeri The Malayeri (hill climber) was a shepherd dog used by the tribals to herd sheeps. It was commonly found in the hills of Tamil Na...
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Muniswaran Worship

(Pictures taken from Google except for the Banyan tree) Hinduism is a world of its own. It is not a single book religion like the Abrahamic religions. It is actually a collection of various religions, philosophies, doctrines, rituals and practices. In Hinduism, worship of minor deities is also practiced. Although it is not part of mainstream Hinduism, it still plays an important part in the daily lives of many individuals and families. The worship of minor deities is much more common in rural areas. It is often more of a clan or family affair. The minor deities fall into different categories. One of it is a class of powerful spirits known as Muni. My family use to offer worship under this tree in Klang. My interest in Muni worship started at a very young age. I have always been a curious kid. I ask alot of questions.. I still am a curious person. Always looking for more clues and hopefully some answers. It is perhaps my late paternal grandmother, Letchumy, who ign...
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