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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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Tirumantiram (Mantra 51-56) Preface: Greatness of Vedas



pāyiram

vētac ciṟappu



0051
vētattai viṭṭa aṟam illai vētattiṉ
ōtat takum aṟam ellām uḷa tarkka
vātattai viṭṭu matiñar vaḷam uṟṟa
vētattai ōtiyē vīṭu peṟṟārkaḷē.
0051: Vedas Proclaim Dharma
No Dharma is, barring what the Vedas say;
Its central core the Vedas proclaim;
And the Wise ones ceased contentious brawls,
Intoned the lofty strains and Freedom's battle won.
0052
vētam uraittāṉum vētiyaṉ ākilaṉ
vētam uraittāṉum vētā viḷaṅkiṭa
vētam uraittāṉum vētiyar vēḷvikkāy
vētaṉ uraittāṉum meyp poruḷ kāṭṭavē.
0052: Truth Of Maker
Brahma spoke the Vedas, but Himself not the goal supreme;
He spoke the Vedas only the great Maker to reveal;
He spoke them for the Holy sacrifices to perform,
He spoke them, the True One to manifest.
0053
irukku uruvām eḻil vētattiṉ uḷḷē
urukku uṇar vāy uṇar vētattuḷ ōṅki
verukku uruvākiya vētiyar collum
karukku uruvāy niṉṟa kaṇṇaṉum āmē.
0053: Moving Mood
In the beauteous Veda, aptly named the Rig,
As the moving mood behind, He stood;
In the trembling chant of the Vedic priests He stood,
Himself the Eye of vision Central.
0054
tiru neṟi āvatu citta cittu aṉṟip
peru neṟi āya pirāṉai niṉaintu
kuru neṟi ām civamā neṟi kūṭum
oru neṟi oṉṟu āka vētāntam ōtumē.
0054: Supreme Path
The Holy Path is naught but the Path Supreme,
Who muse on the Lord, Himself the Path Supreme,
As Material-Immaterial, as Guru Divine,
They reach Siva's Pure Path-so Vedantas all declare.
0055
āṟu aṅkamāy varu māmaṟai ōtiyaik
kūṟu aṅkam ākak kuṇam payilvār illai
vēṟu aṅkam āka viḷaivu ceytu appuṟam
pēṟu aṅkam ākap perukku kiṉṟārē.
0055: One In Several
Of the One, the Vedas chant in divisions six,
The One who yet in parts divisible does not be,
As divided parts they swam into their ken,
Then upgathered and swelled into the patterned whole.
0056
pāṭṭum oliyum parakkum kaṇikaiyar
āṭṭum aṟāta avaṉiyiṉ māṭṭātār
vēṭṭu viruppār viratam illātavar
īṭṭum iṭam ceṉṟu ikalal uṟṟārē.
0056: Vedic Sacrifices
Uncaught in the world's web of woman, song and dance,
Such alone seek the holy sacrifice to perform;
But the unpracticed in austerities do but reach
Desire's Abode, misery to find.




சிவாயநம

civāyanama



back to full list of Tirumantiram entries
Tirumantiram - The Journey Begins

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