ÿþ<html> <style> .head1 {font-family:Times New Roman,tscu_inaimathi,tscarial,tsc_thunaivan,tscsaisai; font-size:14pt; color:green;font-weight:bold;text-align:center;} .text {font-family:Times New Roman,tscu_inaimathi,tscarial,tsc_thunaivan,tscsaisai; font-size:12pt; margin-left:3%; margin-right:2%;color="black"; margin-bottom:3%} .ptitle {font-family:Times New Roman,tscu_inaimathi,tscarial,tsc_thunaivan,tscsaisai; font-size:11pt; font-weight:bold; margin-left:3%; margin-right:2%;color="black"; margin-bottom:3%} .verse {font-family:Times New Roman,tscu_inaimathi,tscarial,tsc_thunaivan,tscsaisai; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; margin-left:5%; margin-right:2%;color="blue"; font-weight:normal; margin-bottom:1%} .auth {font-family:Times New Roman,tscu_inaimathi,tscarial,tsc_thunaivan,tscsaisai; font-size:10pt;color="brown"} .title {font-family:Times New Roman,tscu_inaimathi,tscarial,tsc_thunaivan,tscsaisai; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; color="blue"} .contents {font-family:Times New Roman,tscu_inaimathi,tscarial,tsc_thunaivan,tscsaisai; font-size:10pt;color="black"; margin-left:5%; line-height:1.5;} .selected {font-family:Times New Roman,tscu_inaimathi,tscarial,tsc_thunaivan,tscsaisai; font-size:10pt;color="red"; margin-left:5%; line-height:1.5;} .image{margin-left:3%;margin-right:4%;} .reference {font-family:Times New Roman,tscu_inaimathi,tscarial,tsc_thunaivan,tscsaisai; font-size:10pt; font-style:italic; margin-left:5%; margin-right:2%;color="black"; margin-bottom:2%; font-weight:normal; line-height:1.2} </style><script> function show_image(img_file) { newwin = window.open("imgwin","","height=550,width=600"); newwin.document.write('<html><body bgcolor="gray"><br><br><br><center><img border="1" src="' + img_file + '" height="350"></center><br>' + '<br><br><a style="cursor:hand;color:white;width:90%;text-align:right" onclick="window.close()">close</a></body></html>'); } </script><basefont face="Times New Roman,tscu_inaimathi,tscarial,tsc_thunaivan,tscsaisai" size="7"> <body bgcolor="white"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tr> <td width="25%" align="left" valign="top" bgcolor="lightgrey"><a name="begining"><br><center><img src="images/cover.jpg" height="175"></center><br><div class="title"><center>Roman Karur</center></div> <div class="auth"><center>R. Nagaswamy</center></div><br></a><a href="preface.html"><div class="contents">Preface....</div></a><a href="foreword.html"><div class="contents">Foreword....</div></a><a href="introduction.html"><div class="contents">Introduction....</div></a><a href="chapter01.html"><div class="contents">Numismatic finds, Inscrib....</div></a><a href="chapter02.html"><div class="contents">Roman Coins....</div></a><a href="chapter03.html"><div class="contents">Punch Marked Coins From K....</div></a><a href="chapter04.html"><div class="contents">Satavahana Coins....</div></a><a href="chapter05.html"><div class="contents">Square Chera Coins....</div></a><a href="chapter06.html"><div class="contents">Square Chola Coins From K....</div></a><a href="chapter07.html"><div class="contents">Pallava Coins....</div></a><a href="chapter08.html"><div class="contents">Coin Moulds....</div></a><a href="chapter09.html"><div class="contents">Karur Archaeological Exca....</div></a><a href="chapter10.html"><div class="contents">Karur Antiquities....</div></a><a href="chapter11.html"><div class="contents">Alagankulam, An Indo Roma....</div></a><a href="chapter12.html"><div class="contents">Epigraphical Evidence....</div></a><a href="chapter13.html"><div class="contents">Satyaputra Inscription....</div></a><a href="chapter14.html"><div class="contents">Literary Evidence....</div></a><a href="chapter15.html"><div class="contents">Romans In Tamilnad....</div></a><a href="chapter16.html"><div class="contents">Impact Of Roman Art....</div></a><a href="chapter17.html"><div class="contents">Chera Karur....</div></a><a href="chapter18.html"><div class="contents">Epic Age: Silappadhikaram....</div></a><a href="chapter19.html"><div class="contents">Pallava Age....</div></a><a href="chapter20.html"><div class="contents">Chola Age....</div></a><a href="chapter21.html"><div class="contents">Sekkilar....</div></a><a href="chapter22.html"><div class="contents">Arunagirinathar....</div></a><a href="chapter23.html"><div class="contents">Karuvur Puranam....</div></a><a href="chapter24.html"><div class="contents">Karur: Modern....</div></a><a href="chapter25.html"><div class="selected">Poetic Karur....</div></a><a href="bibliography.html"><div class="contents">Select Bibliography....</div></a></td> <td width="70%" bgcolor="" valign="top"> <div class="head1"> <font size="+2">Poetic Karur</font><br></div><br><div class="text"> <font size="+1"> A few poems on the Cheras and Vanci rendered into English by the eminent scholar P.N. Appuswamy are given below to give a feel of the poetry that was inspired by Karur. </font> </div> <div class="text"> <font size="+1"> The following three verses are from Muttollayiram published in 'Kurunci' - Calcutta, 1977. </font> </div> <div class="ptitle"> <font size="+1">The Glorious Slush</font> </div> <div class="verse"><font size="+1">Joyous Revellers</font></div> <div class="verse"><font size="+1">Pass the drink</font></div> <div class="verse"><font size="+1">To their boon companions:</font></div> <div class="verse"><font size="+1">And these Carousers</font></div> <div class="verse"><font size="+1">Unsteady hands</font></div> <div class="verse"><font size="+1">Spill the liquor;</font></div> <div class="verse"><font size="+1">And those delicious drops</font></div> <div class="verse"><font size="+1">All run together;</font></div> <div class="verse"><font size="+1">And when tall and stately elephants</font></div> <div class="verse"><font size="+1">Tread upon them,</font></div> <div class="verse"><font size="+1">They form a slush</font></div> <div class="verse"><font size="+1">In the heart of VANCI</font></div> <div class="verse"><font size="+1">The city of flowery groves.</font></div><br><div class="ptitle"> <font size="+1">The Earth is more Glorious</font> </div> <div class="verse"><font size="+1">The heavens are far surpassed</font></div> <div class="verse"><font size="+1">By the earth's loveliness;</font></div> <div class="verse"><font size="+1">like the stars of heaven</font></div> <div class="verse"><font size="+1">Are the early Kings of might;</font></div> <div class="verse"><font size="+1">And as glorius as the Moon</font></div> <div class="verse"><font size="+1">Moving among the stars of heaven</font></div> <div class="verse"><font size="+1">Is he,</font></div> <div class="verse"><font size="+1">The Chera called Kodai</font></div> <div class="verse"><font size="+1">The sovereign lord</font></div> <div class="verse"><font size="+1">Of the people who dwell</font></div><br><div class="text"> <font size="+1"> On KOLLI Mountain which towers upto heaven (1467-96) </font> </div> <div class="ptitle"> <font size="+1">The Vanished Resentment</font> </div> <div class="verse"><font size="+1">Let him come here</font></div> <div class="verse"><font size="+1">If he dare,</font></div> <div class="verse"><font size="+1">The King of the Western country</font></div> <div class="verse"><font size="+1">Lord of VANCI city!</font></div> <div class="verse"><font size="+1">So cried she,</font></div> <div class="verse"><font size="+1">The bright bangled maiden,</font></div> <div class="verse"><font size="+1">And she let all who were near her</font></div> <div class="verse"><font size="+1">Know of her anger,</font></div> <div class="verse"><font size="+1">But, when he came</font></div> <div class="verse"><font size="+1">And she saw him,</font></div> <div class="verse"><font size="+1">On that instnat,</font></div> <div class="verse"><font size="+1">All her resentment Fled.</font></div><br><div class="text"> <font size="+1"> The following lines on the seige of Karur, are form "The Cholas" by the great historian K.A. Nilakanta Sastri, P.40-42. </font> </div> <div class="text"> <font size="+1"> 'This poem of Kovur Kilar, composed after the king had captured Karuvur, depicts a later stage in his Chera war than another poem by Allatur Kilar, which describes Karuvur still in the stage of seige. Killivalavan is celebrated in eighteen songs by ten different minstrels, and himself and figures as the author of the poem in praise of his friend Pannan, the lord of Sirukudi. He ruled with uraiyur as his capital. This kingwho possessed considerable ability, was both brave and generous, but somewhat headstrong. Hence a great real of good advice is in a very tactful way, offered to him by ministrels, and he seems to have been all the better for it. The following lines are by Vellaikkudi makanar, who was rewarded on the spot by a remission of the arrears due on his land. </font> </div> <div class="verse"><font size="+1">The pleasant Tamil lands possess</font></div> <div class="verse"><font size="+1">For boundary the ocean wide.</font></div> <div class="verse"><font size="+1">The heaven, where tempests loud sway not,</font></div> <div class="verse"><font size="+1">Upon their brow rests as a crown.</font></div> <div class="verse"><font size="+1">Fertile the soil they till, and wide.</font></div> <div class="verse"><font size="+1">Three kings with mighty hosts this land</font></div> <div class="verse"><font size="+1">Divide; but of the three; whose drums</font></div> <div class="verse"><font size="+1">Sound for the battle's angry strife,</font></div> <div class="verse"><font size="+1">Thou art the chief, O mighty one!</font></div> <div class="verse"><font size="+1">Though the resplended sun in diverse quarters rise;</font></div> <div class="verse"><font size="+1">And though the silverly planet to the south decline;</font></div> <div class="verse"><font size="+1">Thy land shall flourish, where through channels deep,</font></div> <div class="verse"><font size="+1">Kaveri flows with bright refreshing stream,</font></div> <div class="verse"><font size="+1">Day long whose banks the sweet cane's white flowers wave</font></div> <div class="verse"><font size="+1">Like the pennon'd spears uprising from the plain</font></div> <div class="verse"><font size="+1">Let me speak out to this rich country's king!</font></div> <div class="verse"><font size="+1">Be easy of access at fitting time, as though</font></div> <div class="verse"><font size="+1">The lord of justice sat together, and right decree</font></div> <div class="verse"><font size="+1">Such kings have rain on their dominions at their will!</font></div> <div class="verse"><font size="+1">The clouds thick gather round the sun, and rest</font></div> <div class="verse"><font size="+1">In vault of heaven: - So let thy canopy</font></div> <div class="verse"><font size="+1">Of stage challenge the sky, and spread around</font></div> <div class="verse"><font size="+1">Not gloom, but peaceful shade. Let all thy victories</font></div> <div class="verse"><font size="+1">Be the toiling ploughman's gain.</font></div> <div class="verse"><font size="+1">Kings get the blame, whether rains fall, or copious flow,</font></div> <div class="verse"><font size="+1">And lack the price: such is the usage of the world.</font></div> <div class="verse"><font size="+1">If thou has marked, known this well,</font></div> <div class="verse"><font size="+1">Reject wily counsels of malicious men.</font></div> <div class="verse"><font size="+1">Lighten the load of those who till the soil.</font></div> <div class="verse"><font size="+1">The dwellers in the land protect. If thy do this</font></div> <div class="verse"><font size="+1">Thy stubborn foes shall lowly bend beneath thy feet.</font></div><br><div class="text"> <font size="+1"> The seige and capture of Karur, the Chera capital, was doubtless, the greatest military achievement of this king, and has called forth a number of poems. Thus Alattur Kilar made an effort to divert the king's attention from his enterprise and save Karur from destruction, by gently reproaching him with pitting himself against a foe unworthy of his mettle:- </font> </div> <div class="verse"><font size="+1">Whether thou wilt destroy or wilt release,</font></div> <div class="verse"><font size="+1">'Tis thine to ponder which befits thy name!-</font></div> <div class="verse"><font size="+1">The axe, bright-edged, long-handled, sharp by file</font></div> <div class="verse"><font size="+1">Of smith black-handed, smites the fragrant boughs</font></div> <div class="verse"><font size="+1">Of guardian trees in every pace around;</font></div> <div class="verse"><font size="+1">They crashing fall and scatter the white sands</font></div> <div class="verse"><font size="+1">Of An-Poruntham river cool, where sport</font></div> <div class="verse"><font size="+1">The dansels with their golden bracelets gay;</font></div> <div class="verse"><font size="+1">Thro' town, and at the guarded hall are echoes heard</font></div> <div class="verse"><font size="+1">And yet their king in pleasure slumbers on!</font></div> <div class="verse"><font size="+1">With how-armed host, thy war-drum sounding loud,</font></div> <div class="verse"><font size="+1">Twill shame thee to have fought such feeble foes.</font></div><br><div class="text"> <font size="+1"> The intercession was unsuccessful; the fair city fell; and a poetess Marokkattu Nappasalaiyar, gave expression to her grief as follows: </font> </div> <div class="verse"><font size="+1">Thou scion of the Chola Lord who saved</font></div> <div class="verse"><font size="+1">The dove from woe, - chief of the wrathful hosts,</font></div> <div class="verse"><font size="+1">Armed with the gleaming dart that work havoc,</font></div> <div class="verse"><font size="+1">As when a fiery dragon, angry, fierce,-</font></div> <div class="verse"><font size="+1">Bearing five heads, with gleaming poisonous tooth</font></div> <div class="verse"><font size="+1">Has enter'd the vast mountain-cavern, where</font></div> <div class="verse"><font size="+1">The golden creepers twine; - and form the sky</font></div> <div class="verse"><font size="+1">Fire issues forth and loudest thunder bolt;-</font></div> <div class="verse"><font size="+1">Thou saw'st at the lordly city old, whose king</font></div> <div class="verse"><font size="+1">Was circled round by girded elephants.</font></div> <div class="verse"><font size="+1">There in dark deep moat alligators congregate.</font></div> <div class="verse"><font size="+1">In the wide waters of the guarded lake</font></div> <div class="verse"><font size="+1">Are crocodiles that fierce in fight</font></div> <div class="verse"><font size="+1">Dart forth of watchman's ttourch at midnight hour.</font></div> <div class="verse"><font size="+1">Its walls like burnish'd copper shone.</font></div> <div class="verse"><font size="+1">The seemed not fair to thine eyes; for thou didstv</font></div> <div class="verse"><font size="+1">Work destruction mightly, glorious king!</font></div><br><div class="text"> <font size="+1"> The delicate lyric warning against arrogance addressed to the proud conqueror by Mulam Kilar of Avur must have been composed soon after the capitulation of Karuvur. </font> </div> <div class="text"> <font size="+1"> Thou art the mightly one, who sparing not the guarded fort broke through and slew its king and made the yellow gold, erstwhile his crown, anklets to grace, O!hero! thy conquering foot. </font> </div> <div class="text"> <font size="+1"> Thy land is so fertile that a tiny piece thereof, where a she elephant might rest can nourish seven lordly elephants. </font> </div> <div class="text"> <font size="+1"> That we may ever see, as now, the neck of thy traducers bend, and those who had there raise their heads, be thou, great king! Pleasant of speach, and easy access'. </font> </div> <div class="text"> <font size="+1"> Kovur Kilar also described this event at some length in a poem which has been preserved in its entirety. </font> </div> </td> <td width="5%" valign="top" bgcolor="lightgrey"></td></tr> </table> <table align="right"><tr width="100%"> <td align="right"><a href="../../page1.html">Home</a></td> <td><a href="#begining">Top</a></td></tr> </table> </body> </html>