Skip to main content

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...

Direct Reference To Sanskrit by Appar



The Tamil Nayanmar Thirunavukarasar @ Appar, was not only fond of Tamil but also Sanskrit. He gave importance to both languages. We have evidence from the Thirumurai to prove this. 

Hymn #2552, Chapter Thiruvavaduthurai, 6th Thirumurai

பந்து அணவு மெல்விரலாள் பாகன்தன்னை,
பாடலோடு ஆடல் பயின்றான்தன்னை,
கொந்து அணவு நறுங்கொன்றைமாலையானை,
கோல மா நீலமிடற்றான்தன்னை,
செந்தமிழோடு ஆரியனை, சீரியானை,
திருமார்பில் புரிவெண்னூல் திகழப் பூண்ட
அந்தணனை, ஆவடுதண்துறையுள் மேய
அரன் அடியே அடினாயேன் அடைந்து உய்ந்தேனே!

pantu aṇavu melviralāḷ pākaṉtaṉṉai,
pāṭalōṭu āṭal payiṉṟāṉtaṉṉai,
kontu aṇavu naṟuṅkoṉṟaimālaiyāṉai,
kōla mā nīlamiṭaṟṟāṉtaṉṉai,
centamiḻōṭu āriyaṉai, cīriyāṉai,
tirumārpil puriveṇnūl tikaḻap pūṇṭa
antaṇaṉai, āvaṭutaṇtuṟaiyuḷ mēya
araṉ aṭiyē aṭināyēṉ aṭaintu uyntēṉē!

Translation : He is concorporate with Her whose soft fingers sport a ball; He is the Master of song and dance; His is a wreath of fragrant konrai growing in bunches; Beauteous is His throat with the blue hue; He is Chaste Tamil as well as Sanskrit; He is the glorious One; He is the Brahmin (Anthanar) who wears on His divine chest, The sacred thread (Poonol); He is Hara that presides over Aavaduthurai; I, the lowly, reached His feet and stand redeemed.

Hymn #2946, Chapter Thirusivapuram, 6th Thirumurai.

வானவன்காண் வானவர்க்கும் மேல் ஆனான்காண்
வடமொழியும் தென்தமிழும் மறைகள் னான்கும்
ஆனவன்காண் ஆன் ஐந்தும் ஆடினான்காண்
ஐயன்காண் கையில் அனல் ஏந்தி ஆடும்
கானவன்காண் கானவனுக்கு அருள்செய்தான்காண்
கருதுவார் இதயத்துக்கமலத்து ஊறும்
தேன் அவன்காண் சென்று அடையாச் செல்வன் தான்காண்
சிவன் அவன்காண் சிவபுரத்து எம் செல்வன்தானே.

vāṉavaṉkāṇ vāṉavarkkum mēl āṉāṉkāṇ
vaṭamoḻiyum teṉtamiḻum maṟaikaḷ nāṉkum
āṉavaṉkāṇ āṉ aintum āṭiṉāṉkāṇ
aiyaṉkāṇ kaiyil aṉal ēnti āṭum
kāṉavaṉkāṇ kāṉavaṉukku aruḷceytāṉkāṇ
karutuvār itayattukkamalattu ūṟum
tēṉ avaṉkāṇ ceṉṟu aṭaiyāc celvaṉ tāṉkāṇ
civaṉ avaṉkāṇ civapurattu em celvaṉtāṉē.

Translation: He is of the empyrean; He is far above the celestials; He became Sanskrit, Tamil of the South and the four Vedas; He bathes in the Pancha-kavya; He is the Lord; He is a forester who holds fire in His palm and dances; He graced the forester; He is the honey that gushes from the lotus-hearts of the meditators; He is the opulent One of infinite riches; He is Siva; He is our opulent Lord of Sivapuram.

You would have noticed that in #2946, Appar also referred to Siva as the 4 Vedas. There are also other references to Vedas in the hymns composed by Appar. We will look at it under a separate posting in the future. 

Based on Appar's teachings, it is quite clear that both Sanskrit and Tamil are important for Saivism. Appar even declared that both Sanskrit and Tamil represents Siva peruman. It will be good for Saivas to learn and understand both languages for their own benefit in pursuit of spiritualism. 



Comments

  1. The Thirumurai songs are misinterpreted here. Please check with the scholars before coming up with all these.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This is from the 6th Thirumurai and it clearly refers to Sanskrit as given above. There is no chance of misinterpretation. I learn Saivism through the teachings of legitimate Saiva Parampara such as Dharmapuram Adheenam. View the Youtube link below for some eye opener.
      https://youtu.be/BY1SXwwEI8A

      Delete
    2. Sreekha nada raja, I understand that you have been influenced by the fanatical shaiva movement. Therefore, you refuse to accept evidence even when presented.
      But you must swallow the bitter truth because reality is independent of what you believe or hallucinate upon.

      Delete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

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 ...

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...

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...