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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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The Concept of Avatara Purusha

Image result for tirupathi perumal
Vishnu in the form of Venkateswara or Balaji in Tirupathi. Picture source unknown.
The Samkhya philosophy speaks about the duality of reality. Samkhya is one of the 6 valid philosophies of Hinduism. Buddhism was influenced by Samkhya. It contains humanistic and practical values.

 The cosmos is known as Purusha and the energy or nature that sustains it is called Prakriti. If Purusha is Static, Prakriti is Dynamic. The Chinese call it Yin and Yang. For the Saivites, Siva is Purusha and Sakthi is Prakriti.

 In the Vaishnava religion, Narayana or Vishnu takes up the role of Purusha. His energy is called Vaishnavi. Vishnu is also the Preserver and Protector of Dharma. As we all know, Vishnu has many Avatars or incarnations.

In the Bhagavat Gita, Krishna mentioned that whenever there is a decline in Dharma, he will be reborn again and again to uphold Dharma. This brings us back to the concept of Purusha or the cosmos itself. 

 The cosmos repairs itself. It does not have an external input to fix its internal problems. Because there is nothing external. Everything is internal and happens within the cosmos.

 Whenever there is a problem, the Purusha will manifest itself to solve it. Whenever someone stands up for the right thing and restores order during desperate times especially when all hope is lost, such person will be considered as the manifestation of the Purusha itself. 

 Krishna was needed to slay Kamsa, Rama was needed to slay Ravana. Their act restored order. Hence they are considered as Avatara Purusha; the Purusha (Vishnu) that incarnated/manifested.

 There is an Avatara Purusha in each of us. It will and it must manifest in times of need. A separate God in blue will not appear to fix the problems in our society. We are the solution for our problems. We are our own saviour.
Vishnu on Garuda Tanjore
Pic Credit: Madhurya

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