தமிழ்நாடு வரலாறு - Tamilnadu History Updates & Discussions

[kannan infratech]

The following Tamil Scholars / Pulavars & their works were deliberately neglected and they are not quoted or referred much by TN Govt backed programs.

The main reason being that they were religiously inclined. Saivam & Vainavam have given great poetry to Tamil but they are ignored.


Agasthyar, who received Tamil language from Shiva himself.

Tolkappiyar (Thruna dumagni), who wrote grammar after Agaththiyam became obsolete.

Amur Gowthaman Sathevanar (Sahadevan)

Kadiyalur uruththiran Kannanar ( Rudra Aksha)

Kodimangalam Vathula (Gothra) Narsenthan

Sellur Kosikan (Kausika Gothra) kannanar

Madurai Teacher Nalanthuvan

Madurai Ilam kausikanar

Madurai Kanakkayanar

Nakkiran,son of Madurai Kanakkayanar

Madurai gownian daththnar

Mamulanar

Uraiyur enicheri mudamosi

Perunkundrur Perungkausikan

Kumattur kannan

Gowthaman

Valmiki

Vadamavannakkan damodaran

Vembathur kumaran

12 Azhwarkal

64 Nayanmarkal

Thiru Gnana Sambandhar

Sundarar

Manikka Vasagar

Andal

Periyalvar

Madura kavi alvar

Tondaradippodi alvar

Jayamkondar

Ramanujar

Parimel Azkar: Though ten scholars wrote commentaries on the most famous Tamil ethics Tirukkural, Parimel Azakar’s was the best and most popular.

Nachinarkiniyar:

Senavaraiyar

Bharathiyar

Parithimar Kalaigna


Books / Poetry written which are neglected:

Tolkappiyam (Pre Cankam period)
Kurinji pattu (lines 261)
Thiru murugatruppadai (lines 317)
Pattinap palai (Lines 301)
Perumpanatrup padai (Lines 500)
Malaipadukadam (lines 583)
Nedunal vadai (lines 188)
Pathitrup pathu (all except one)
Ainkurunuru (Kapilar’s 100)

[jaish]

Why is illayaraja's musical composition Thiruvasgam is not much successful among karnatic musical fraternity.

It is not being patronised by community leaders and by Public ( are in so pathetic state they dont even visualise what it is talking about). They few people who shows interest are being called as eccentric.

[venkyinblr]

Thanjavur has been the seat of the arts -- music, dance, architecture and sculpture -- and their proliferation since the Chola period. It was here that Rao Saheb Abraham Pandithar, hailing from Tirunelveli, settled down with his family towards the end of 19th century.
Pandithar had acquired skills in various streams during his early years that included herbal medicine, Carnatic music, printing technology, teaching, farming and astrology. He was also a good photographer.
However, his heart lay in music and herbal medicine. Creating various compounds and mixtures from the herbs grown on his 100-acre farm, Pandithar marketed his herbal medicines under the name Karunananda Sanjeevi Medicine. Such was his interest in agriculture that his farm had a variety of fruit-bearing trees and flowering plants.
His wife Gnanavadivu Ammal was a pillar of strength and supported him in his various activities.
When it came to music, Pandithar expanded his knowledge by learning from a nagaswaram vidwan. This laid the foundation for a series of music conferences which were held in Thanjavur and a book titled ‘Karunamrithsagaram’ comprising papers submitted at these conferences. He was a prolific composer and composed several kritis in chaste ragas in praise of Jesus Christ.
The first three parts of the book written by Pandithar are virtual treatises on Carnatic music. Sadly, he passed away before he could complete the fourth part. It was completed by his descendants and today, most of them are still connected with music and research in some way.
Abraham Pandithar emphasised the fact that Tamil music was in existence even during the First Century by drawing references from Ilango Adigal’s ‘Silappadikaram.’
In this book, the authors take us through a journey of Pandithar’s research in Tamil music and the nuances of srutis that form the basic structure of music. In his detailed approach, Pandithar drew references from books relating to music such as ‘Sangita Parijatham’, ‘Chaturdandi Prakasikai’, ‘Suramelakalanidhi’ and ‘Shadroga Chandrodayam.’
This apart, Pandithar had extensive knowledge of the styles of the Trinity and many other composers including Jayadeva, Tamil Moovar and Narayana Tirtha. The knowledge so acquired inspired him to compose and practise exercises, geethams, varnams and kritis both in popular and rare ragas.
Abraham’s vaggeyakara mudra was either Aabiram or Aabiragaam. He shot to fame after his demonstration of the 24 srutis in one octave and the existence of finer srutis in the same octave, at the Baroda All India Music conference in 1916.
This is a useful book for music scholars and musicologists.


http://www.thehindu.com/arts/books/article3716867.ece

[krishnaswamy]

அமெரிக்காவில் அனல் கிளப்பிய வேலு நாச்சியார்!
முதல் முதலில் பெண்கள் ராணுவம், உடையாள் படையை உருவாக்கியவர்.

முதல் மனித வெடிகுண்டு குயிலியை உருவாக்கியவர்.

பூமராங் என்ற வளரிக் கலையில் தேர்ச்சி பெற்றவர்.

இந்தியாவின் முதல் கெரில்லா படையணி, கூராள் படை வைத்திருந்தவர்.

வெள்ளையர்களால் தோற்கடிக்க படாத ஒரே ராணி.

வெள்ளையர்கள் மன்னிப்புப் பட்டயம் எழுதிக்கொடுத்த ஒரே மகாராணி.

- இத்தனை பெருமைகளுக்கும் சொந்தக்காரர்தான், வீரத்தாய் வேலு நாச்சியார். இந்திய விடுதலைப் போராட்ட மரபில், வேலுநாச்சியாரின் பங்கு மிகப்பெரியது. வெள்ளையரை எதிர்த்து வீரத்துடன் போரிட்டுத் தோல்வி அடைந்த ஜான்ஸி ராணியைப் போற்றும் அளவுக்கு, வரலாறு வேலு நாச்சியாரைப் போற்றியது இல்லை. அந்த மறைக்கப்பட்ட கறுப்பு வரலாற்றை அழுத்தமாகப் பதிவு செய்கிறது 'வீரத்தாய் வேலு நாச்சியார்’ நாட்டிய நாடகம்.

ம.தி.மு.க. பொதுச்செயலாளர் வைகோவின் முயற்சியால் கடந்த ஆண்டு சென்னையில் அரங்கேற்றம் செய்யப்பட்டது வேலு நாச்சியார் நாடகம். வழக்கமான நாட்டிய நாடகங்களில், நடைமுறைக்குப் பொருந்தாத புராண, இதிகாசக் கதைகள் மட்டுமே உள்ளடக்கமாக இருக்கும். அதைக் கடந்து, முதன்முறையாக வரலாற்றை மீட்கும் விதமாக நடத்தப்பட்ட இந்த நாட்டிய நாடகத்துக்கு அப்போதே அமோக வரவேற்பு கிடைத்தது. ஸ்ரீராம் சர்மாவால் எழுதி இயக்கப்பட்டு, அவரது மனைவி மணிமேகலை, வேலு நாச்சியாராக நடித்த இந்த நாடகம், அதன்பிறகு பல்வேறு இடங்களில் நடத்தப்பட்டன. அதன் தொடர்ச்சியாக, ஐக்கிய நாடுகள் சபையின் கலாசாரப் பிரிவு, வீரத்தாய் வேலு நாச்சியார் நாடகத்தை அரங்கேற்ற இவர்களுக்கு அழைப்பு விடுத்துள்ளது.

அமெரிக்காவில் நாடகம் முடித்து திரும்பிய ஸ்ரீராம் சர்மா, மணிமேகலை இருவரிடமும் பேசினோம். ''வரலாற்றை மீட்டெடுக்கும்

முயற்சியாகவே இந்த நாடகத்தை ஆரம்பித்தோம். இதற்காக வேலு நாச்சியார் வாழ்ந்த பகுதிகளில் ஐந்து ஆண்டுகள் ஆய்வு செய்தோம். நாடக வடிவம் பெற்றுவிட்ட பிறகு, அதற்குப் பொருள்உதவி செய்ய ஆள் இல்லாமல் தவித்தபோதுதான், வைகோ உதவி செய்து ஆதரித்தார்.

வெள்ளையரை எதிர்த்த மன்னர்கள் இந்தி​யாவில் நிறையப் பேர் இருக்கிறார்கள். அதில் வெற்றி பெற்றவர்கள் குறைவு. 1796, டிசம்பர் 25-ம் தேதி வேலு நாச்சியார் மரணம் அடைந்தார். அவருக்கு முன், மன்னராக இருந்த அவரது கணவர் முத்துவடுகநாதரை வெள்ளையர்கள் கொன்றனர். வேலு நாச்சியாருக்குப் பிறகு வந்த மருது பாண்டியர்களையும் கொன்றனர். ஆனால், இடையில் 20 ஆண்டு காலம் மகாராணி​யாக இருந்த வேலு நாச்சியாரை அவர்களால் எதுவும் செய்ய முடியவில்லை.

பூமராங் என்று சொல்லப்​படும் எய்தவரிடமே திரும்பி வரும் ஆயுதப் போர்க்கலைக்கு தமிழ்நாடுதான் தாயகம். வளரி என்று சொல்லப்படும் இந்தக் கலையில் வேலு நாச்சியார் வல்லவர். காற்று வீசும் திசைக்கு எதிரியை வரவைத்து, வளரி அடித்தால் அது இலக்கைத் தாக்கிவிட்டுத் திரும்பி வரும். துப்பாக்கிகள், பீரங்கித் தொழில்நுட்பத்துடன் இருந்த வெள்ளையர்களை இந்த வளரி அச்சுறுத்​தியது.

வேலு நாச்சியாருக்கு தமிழ், ஆங்கிலம், பிரெஞ்சு, உருது உட்பட ஆறு மொழிகள் தெரியும். திண்டுக்கல் கோட்டை உச்சியில் முகாமிட்டு இருந்த ஹைதர் அலியைத் தன் படை பரிவாரங்களுடன் சந்தித்து, உருது மொழியில் பேசி ஆயுதங்கள் கேட்டார். கணவனை இழந்த ஒரு பெண் இத்தனை தைரியத்துடன் வந்து, அதுவும் உருது மொழியில் பேசியதைக் கண்டு ஹைதர் அலி திகைத்தார்.

சாமி கும்பிடச் சென்ற தன் கணவன் முத்துவடுக​நாதனை இறைவன் சன்னதியில் நிராயுதபாணியாக சுட்டுக் கொன்ற ஆங்கிலேய கவர்னர் பாஞ்ஜோரை கத்தி முனையில் மடக்குகிறார் வேலுநாச்சியார். பாஞ்ஜோரின் கழுத்தில் வாள். அதுவரை ராணியாக இருந்த வேலு நாச்சியார் அந்தக் கணத்தில்தான் மகாராணி ஆகிறார். ஆம், தன் சொந்தப் பகை மறந்து கவர்னரை மன்னிக்கிறார். அந்த மன்னிப்பையும் பட்டயமாக எழுதித் தரச் சொல்கிறார். வெள்ளைக்கார கவர்னர் எழுதித் தந்த மன்னிப்புப் பட்டயம் இப்போதும் ஆவணமாக நம்மிடம் இருக்கிறது.

இந்த உண்மைகளை நாங்கள் நாட்டிய நாடகமாக நடத்தினோம்.. இதில் கதக், மைமிங், இண்டியன் ஃபோக், வெஸ்டர்ன், பரதம் எல்லாம் கலந்து கொடுத்ததால் நாடகம் விறுவிறுப்பாக இருக்கிறது'' என்றார்.

நல்ல முயற்சி!

[kannan infratech]

My Grandma used to tell long stories about Velu Nachiar . Each will go for 3 hours with tiffin & coffee breaks in between.

Legendary figure. But ignored by Historians nay... Distorians.

[jaish]

I really don't bloody people are hiding all these things. I really worry moving our people away from our history is great injustice to us and detrimental to our country later.

[venkyinblr]

Originally Posted by krishnaswamy

அமெரிக்காவில் அனல் கிளப்பிய வேலு நாச்சியார்!
முதல் முதலில் பெண்கள் ராணுவம், உடையாள் படையை உருவாக்கியவர்.

முதல் மனித வெடிகுண்டு குயிலியை உருவாக்கியவர்.

பூமராங் என்ற வளரிக் கலையில் தேர்ச்சி பெற்றவர்.

இந்தியாவின் முதல் கெரில்லா படையணி, கூராள் படை வைத்திருந்தவர்.

வெள்ளையர்களால் தோற்கடிக்க படாத ஒரே ராணி.

வெள்ளையர்கள் மன்னிப்புப் பட்டயம் எழுதிக்கொடுத்த ஒரே மகாராணி.

- இத்தனை பெருமைகளுக்கும் சொந்தக்காரர்தான், வீரத்தாய் வேலு நாச்சியார். இந்திய விடுதலைப் போராட்ட மரபில், வேலுநாச்சியாரின் பங்கு மிகப்பெரியது. வெள்ளையரை எதிர்த்து வீரத்துடன் போரிட்டுத் தோல்வி அடைந்த ஜான்ஸி ராணியைப் போற்றும் அளவுக்கு, வரலாறு

நல்ல முயற்சி!

Great to hear this...they admire our stories..though patronizing this in TN is a Big deal

[venkyinblr]

Originally Posted by kannan infratech

My Grandma used to tell long stories about Velu Nachiar . Each will go for 3 hours with tiffin & coffee breaks in between.

Legendary figure. But ignored by Historians nay... Distorians.

Well said Kannan Sir, there is some selective history bashing going on in tamilnadu at all times..There is no manimandapam / monument / places to celebrate or commemorate the brave queen of TN ..but adhiga mukiyam illatha aasimugulaku silai vaikirargal(vote bank wins over history..ippadiyae ponna Rajaraja cholan oru kurunila mannarnu solluvanga)

[kannan infratech]

Originally Posted by venkyinblr

Well said Kannan Sir, there is some selective history bashing going on in tamilnadu at all times..There is no manimandapam / monument / places to celebrate or commemorate the brave queen of TN ..but adhiga mukiyam illatha aasimugulaku silai vaikirargal(vote bank wins over history..ippadiyae ponna Rajaraja cholan oru kurunila mannarnu solluvanga)

Do you know the current status of Raja Raja Cholan Samadhi ?

[venkyinblr]

Originally Posted by kannan infratech

Do you know the current status of Raja Raja Cholan Samadhi ?

Sir, I happened to see them circulating around Facebook and elsewhere..But Scholars say its not the right Samadhi..Its just the Ritual that the villagers are following and the real one is not that one...So we dont even have a clue about the Greatest Tamil Emperors samadhi ..

[krishnaswamy]

Raja Raja cholan statue-romba kasta patruchu..
is the statue does not deserve to be in the entrance of the big temple?
lot of information about ancient kings, their ruling patterns will come out if "Saraswathi Mahal" treasure is properly used.

[Thangaselvan]

Originally Posted by venkyinblr

.There is no manimandapam / monument / places to celebrate or commemorate the brave queen of TN .

மணி மண்டபம் மற்றும் நினைவு சின்னம் எப்படி உபயோகமாக இருக்கும்? மக்கள் மனசில நுழைய வேண்டுமென்றால் சினிமா எடுக்க வேண்டும் வேலு நாச்சியார் பற்றி. தங்கர் பச்சன் எடுப்பாரா கேளுங்க

[venkyinblr]

Originally Posted by krishnaswamy

Raja Raja cholan statue-romba kasta patruchu..
is the statue does not deserve to be in the entrance of the big temple?
lot of information about ancient kings, their ruling patterns will come out if "Saraswathi Mahal" treasure is properly used.

You are right, few years back there were lot of politics for the installation of his statue..that was bloody outrageous..people should consider the history that he is master mind of most of the best temples of india,the pioneer of Architect and arts in whole of india,the finest ruler in south-india..yet they have other holy/political/creed reason to unveil his statue outside the temple premises..

Its now placed in the sivaganga park ..I dont know how they are going to promote the culture and history..if you see in maharashtra ,Chatrapathi Sivaji is given a wonderful place in every important places of Maharashtra.I appreciate them.You know when you compare the rulers of India ,Rajaraja I have a edge when compared to Shivaji (in terms of Area conquered,Innovative Arts,Temples built,contribution for Language,Society and so many)...But still the whole of TN dont even recognize him as a Important-Valuable Emperor..He is fading away after 1000 years gradually..

[kannan infratech]

I specifically asked the question about Samadhi to test how many people knows about this.

Erecting Statue, samadhi & Mani mandapam and then forget about that with NIL maintenance & no mention in history books seems Tamil Ina Shtyle.

I was touched when I saw the way heritage buildings & sites are maintained in Europe. Even Indonesia & Thailand market them well.

TN is full of Heritage treasures and vibrant & long history. But we neglect them. We do not even know who all are the Tamil freedom fighters for Independence of India except VOC & Kumaran. We study Moghul, American, European history and not about TN much.

If at all, only recent history post Kazhagams. Pathetic.

[satchitananda]

I think this is more of an Indian style than just kazhagams. Perhaps they amplify the mindset more (in a bad way). We as a current culture are taught that past is junk and all we had was bad.. only the modern latest west is kool... There are dumb critics who read too much into the ancient greatness and try to poke holes. Unknowingly they also collapse whatever little respect we have.

In US, I have seen special name tag on a tree, where some civil war general tied his horse or rested.

We can atleast educate the next generation to take pride and restore some respect to these great treasures. Any Romeos caught defacing with his heart sign, should be punished severely. As a culture it may take some time to give value to all these, BUT WE CAN MAKE A NEW BEGINNING NOW... Agree with you Kannan, this pathetic state of not just marketing, but treating these great treasures with care and respect and pride must be inculcated to the masses.

Recently heard some big shot (panchaloha) statue stealer was caught and he involved his own daughter and family to make big bucks. Such heartless folks must be severely punished. What is sad is after max few years, he will be out and will be back to make a killing.

[venkyinblr]

Originally Posted by satchitananda

Recently heard some big shot (panchaloha) statue stealer was caught and he involved his own daughter and family to make big bucks. Such heartless folks must be severely punished. What is sad is after max few years, he will be out and will be back to make a killing.

I think the same happened to the Suthamalli Nataraja Chola bronze idol which was stolen from India and Kept in the New york museum.There were many treasures (even from TN) shipped out of india for the posh/Rich museums across the world.First point the people here should have the awareness of such treasure and then law will find its own way...

[kannan infratech]

Many of us may not be aware of the different types of worship methods being followed in TN.

Vaishnavite Temples : (Maha Vishnu as Presiding Deity)

Vaikhanasam - Mainly followed by Krishna Yajurvedis. More ritualistic & stricter kind.

Pancharatra - Less ritualistic, more liberal.


Shiva Temples : (Shiva as Presiding Deity)

Veera Saivam : This form is prevalent in many parts of TN & Karnataka. Extreme Rituals. Very Strict.

Saiva Siddhantham : They follow the 28 Agamas mentioned in Vedas but comparatively liberal.


Shakthi Worship : (Amman & Female Goddesses as Presiding Deities)

This is becoming popular in TN during the past few decades. Bakthi movement and not so ritualistic as others.

Mulaippari ( Sprouting of seeds), Pookkuzhi (Fire Walk), Pasuvan ( Clay Cow), Kummi & Kolattam, Koozh Ootrudhal, Urumi Melam, Karakattam, Oyilattam are some of the rituals followed. Kida Vetti Pongal (Mutton & Rice) is the most popular one.

Tribal Worship :

There are various types.
Worshipping Natural Elements & Life sustaining mechanisms / aids including tools.
Worshipping Animals. Forests etc.
Worshipping Forefathers / Mothers.
Worshipping Heroes & Warriors from their tribes (Ayyanar / Madurai Veeran etc Worships)
Even a Nadu Kal (Stone) or a Sickle (Aruval) can be a deity.

Liquor, Cigar & raw meat are also given as Padaiyal.

Hinduism allows all these forms of worship and there is no restriction for anybody. But when many people who were following one form of worship want to switch over to the other forms of worship without understanding the inherent rituals, clashes take place.

They totally depend on the unscrupulous elements who take money from them and cheat them. There is no need to go through the touts.

But doing Pooja or other rituals as others do makes the gullible people feel that they are also promoted forward ( Perception). God accepts what ever form he is worshipped and does not favour anybody.

But when one goes to a temple following a certain type of worship, all should follow the same or respect the same even if they do not understand the same.

Even for marriages they invite a priest / vadhyar who is supposed to know agama vidhikal. But most of the times, he blabbers something in unknown language and nobody understands for what every thing is done.

This is just like aping the others.

[kannan infratech]

As I see a lot of misunderstanding due to limited exposure and consistent (false) campaigns through books, media, internet etc over one or two generations. I wish to explain the real happening so that everyone understands the same. Sorry if I quote our family often…. that is more to ensure authenticity and for easier understanding.

But it is not Brahmins alone who were purporting this but the larger society who were against the Dalits.

Many of you may not have been told / informed that it was Brahmins who fought for equality more than the others esp the so called Justice Party / Kazhagams in Tamil Nadu & Kerala.

But for the sustained campaign of Sir. P. Rajagopalachari (not Rajaji) .who was the Dewan of Travancore, the Law regarding Temple Entry may not have been enacted in (Travancore) Kerala. He had to fight people from his own Brahmin sect and the dominant Namboodhiri sect and other supposed to be forward sects to enable entry for Dalits & Ezhavas in Kerala. But only EVR Periyar’s Vaikkom Agitation is mentioned in our history books.

Similarly, it was Rajaji who was the then CM of Madras Presidency who enacted Temple Entry Proclamation Law in spite of the stiff opposition from the politicos from other sects of Hinduism & Christianity. Please note that Congress at that time was full of leaders from Non Brahmin sects.

Kalki Krishnamoorthy, a Brahmin, campaigned for two major issues through Ananda Vikatan & Kalki in spite of the great opposition.
- Singing Tamil Songs in Carnatic Music concerts
- Allowing all people into temples without Entry restrictions.

My great grandfather ( who was a vedic scholar and a follower of Vaishnavism) arranged for the Temple Entry in our native place. He had to fight the whole local society (mainly non Brahmins) including the Justice Party whose people threatened him for leading from the front.

It will not be out of place to mention that it was Ramanuja who had a Non Brahmin as his Guru and who announced publicly from the terrace of the temple - all that he learnt from his Gurus in spite of the stiff opposition from the local society.

Most of the Alwars (12 in total) are Non Brahmins. Their works have been compiled as Naalayira Divya Prabhandham (4000 verses) and that is one of the best classic Tamil literature which is recited daily in all Vaishnavite temples of Tamil Nadu and some in AP & Karnataka.

But for U. Ve. Saminatha Aiyer, Tamil Literature world would have lost almost all its classics. But he gets only a passing mention.

As there are bad elements in every sect, Brahmins sect also had a few bad elements but only that has been highlighted. All the atrocities done by other sects have not been documented or even if it was done, they were destroyed.

History has been rewritten / hidden and sustained false propaganda was done.

I was forced to write this since many of you were posting with wrong understanding of the issue.

[satchitananda]

Being on the receiving end of the priest, I can relate to you extremely well.

In slightly advanced cases of religious/spritual sadaks, they ensure they get good priests, when possible. But most masses, end up with a traditional ritualistic one.

This is leading to a dangerous trend in the society. In the past, in most cultures, where this trend came on, it resulted in violent upheavels. Now the violence will be directed towards the religion itself. It just becomes a perfect excuse for not respecting the traditions or understanding their significance.

A priest in Hindu religion is not like an intermediate with God. Under ideal conditions, can be a (spi)ritual aide. As the five other major schools declined, leaving only Vedanta on firm turf, this decline in proper conduct of priest can undermine the very foundation.

It is heartening to note that there is a kind of gentle revival of vedic agamas and interest in it.

[satchitananda]

Concur with you. Brahmins were left with the tag that they opposed temple entry, while it was the influential larger society which was trying to enforce such junk on the folks on the edge.

Kanchi Maha Periyaval spearheaded this in early 20th century itself. Unfortunately the Distorians as Kannan puts it, ignore these ground changing impacts. The DK movement later took this as a sole focus, but the ground work was laid much before by so many great leaders.

One must reiterate that all the masses in the past vedic times, were supposed to do vedic rituals. Brahmins were only tasked at providing the services, besides transferring knowledge. As a proof, if one were to go over many upanishads, the teaching is from either a King or at his behest. Suka, the great illumined son of Vyasa, was asked to go to Janaka (legendary Upanishadic king) to seek confirmation if he was really enlightened. Ashtavakra does the same.

It is time that the rest of the folks also understand their real legacy by looking at these great texts.