KanakasabaiPillai
KanakasabaiPillai
The Tamils Eighteen Hundred Years Ago
CONTENTS
CHAPTER I
Introduction
Political divisions of the known world 1800 years ago—The Tatnil-land—Ancient Tamil literature recently published—Antiquity of the literature—Sangha poets—Ilanko-Adikal, brother of a Chera king and author of the Tamil epic Chilappathikaram— Allusion in the poem to contemporary kings Satakarnin of Magadha and Cajabahu of Ceylon. ... ... ... 1
CHAPTER II
Geography of Tamilakam
The limits of Tamilakam—Neighbouring kingdoms—The thirteen nadus of Tamilakam and principal towns in them— identification of places mentioned by Pliny and Ptolemy. ... 10
CHAPTER III
Foreign Trade
Early trade routes—Strabo—Discovery of direct route by sea from Arabia to Tamilakam—Pliny’s account of the trade—
Fuller account in the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea. ... 81
CHAPTER IV
Tamil Races and Tribes
The Villavar and Minavar—The Nagas—Naga tribes: Maravar, Eyinar, Olivar, Oviyar, Aruvalar, Parathavar— Mongolian immigrants from Tamilitti in Bengal called Tamils—
Tamil tribes: Marar, Thirayar, Vanavar or Celestials—Kosar identical with the Koshans who conquered Northern India—
Aryan immigrants—Princess of the Lunar race who founded Southern Madura—Brahmin settlements—Ayar or Shepherd races—The bull fight their national pastime—Jew's—Correct reading of the double years in Jewish grant. ... ... 39
CHAPTER V
The Cholas
Chola genealogy from A.D. 50 to A.D. 150—Karikal the Great—Ched-Chenni Nalank-Killi—Killi-Valavan—Rajasuyamvedda-peru-nar.killi. ... ... ... ... 65
CHAPTER VI
The Pandyas
Pandyan genealogy from A.D. 50 to A.D. 150—Aryappadai-kadanta-nedunj-Cheliyan — Vorri-ver-Cheliyan —:Nedunj Cheliyan II—Ugrap-peru-valuti—Nan-maran. ... ... 81
CHAPTER VII
The Cheras
Chera genealogy from A.D. 50 to A.D. 100—Athan 1—Athan II alias Vana-Varmman—Chenkudduvan alias Imaya Varmman—Yanaik-kad-Chey-Perun-cheral-Irumporai. ... 80
CHAPTER VIII
Princess and Chiefs
Thirayun of Kanehi—Pulli and Athanungan of Venkadam— Malayaman of Kovalur—Evvi of Milalai—Nannan of Chenkanma—Ay of Aykudi—Porunan of Nanjil Nad—Palayan Maran of Mohoor—Alumbil-Vel—Piddan-Korran of Kuthiraimalai—Athiyaman of Thakadoor. ... ... ... 102
CHAPTER IX
Social Life
Systom of Government—The king—Five great assemblies—
Eight groups of attendants—Officers of State—Customs, tolls and taxes—Tamil castes: Arivar, Ulavar, Vellalar or Karalar,
Ayar, Vodduvar, Artisans, Padaiadcliiyar, Valayar, Pulayar—
Tamil castes similar to the castes described by Megasthenes—Mode of dress—Perfumes—Ornaments—Freedom of women—Courting—Suicide of disappointed lovers—Harlots and courtezans—Marriages—Articles of food—Entertainments—
Mu sic—Tamil and Aryan plays—Dances—Actresses—Painting— Sculpture—Houses—Forts—Assault and battle—Military caste —War-bards, minstrels, and actors—Description of city life in Madura. ... ... ... ... ... 100
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CHAPTER X
The kural of Tiruvalluvar
Tiruvalluvar—Visit to the court of Ugrap-peru-valuti— Conclave of poets and authors—Kural or Muppal, a moral code in poetical aphorisms—Opinion of the court poets. ... ... ItfS
CHAPTER XI
The Story of Chilapp-athikaram
The marriage of Kovilan and Kannaki—Kovilan falls in love with the beautiful actress Mathavi—Wastes all his wealth—
Leaves her in a fit of jealousy—Travels to Madura with his wife Kannaki—Goes to the market to sell one of his wife’s anklets—
Is accused of having stolen it from the palace and is beheaded— Kannaki appears before the Pandya and proves her husband’s innocenco—Wanders into the Chera country and dies broken¬ hearted. ... ... ... ... 141
CHAPTER XII
The Story of Mani-mekalai
Mathavi, the beautiful actress, bacomes a Buddhist nun on hearing of the tragic death of her lover Kovilan—Her daughter Mani-mekalai is courted by Udayakumara, the Chola king’s son—She escapes to the island Manipallavam—Returns to Kavirip-paddinam—Assumes the disguise of a Buddhist mendicant—Prince Udayakumara seeks her at night and is killed in the Buddhist monastery—Mani-mekalai is thrown into prison by the Chola king—She is released—Visits Nagapuram in Chavakam and Vanchi the Chera capital—Learns the six systems of Hindu philosophy—Goes to Kanchi, feeds the poor, and becomes a Buddhist nun. ... ... ... ... 102
CHAPTER XIII
Tamil Poems and Poets
The Kalith-thokai, a love poem—Kalath-thalai—
Uriththiran-kannanar—
Mudath-thamak-kanniyar—
Kapilar—
Nakkirar—
Mamulanar—
Kallad&nar—
Mankudi-maruthanar —
Tiruvalluvar —
Kovur-kilar—
Iraiyanar—
Paranar —
Perun-kausikanar —
AuvvaiyaT—
Ilanko-adigal —
Arisil-kilar—
Ponmudiyar —
Perunkunrurkilar—
Total extent of Tamil literature 1800 years old—
Allusions to Aryan literature. ... ... ... 190
CHAPTER XIV
Six Systems of Philosophy
Vedanta—
A jivaka —
Nigrantha —
Sankhya —
Vaiseshika —
Bhutavati—
Bauddha. ... ... ... 212
CHAPTER XV
Religion
Evolution of religion according to civilization—
Worship of the aborigines:
Kali, Muruga, Krishna, Siva, Balarama—
Effect of Nigrantha and Bauddha faiths—High ideals of morality and charity—Belief in transmigration of souls—Speculation as to a future state—Utter neglect of affairs of this world bywise men the cause of national decay. ... . ... 227
CHAPTER XVI
Conclusion
The Tamils under their own kings—Changes during the last sixty generations—Extension of sea-coast—Ancient cities in ruins—Decline and fall of royal dynasties— Malayalam and Canarese become separate dialect—Foroign invasions—Peace and security under British rule—Tamils now at the parting of ways—Urgent need of immediate reform on the lines of Westerncivilization. ... ... ... ... 235
