#6B8E23
Porpū Vilaiyum nan Nādu
Nagswamy R
2013-11-05
We have seen earlier that the ancient Tamil sangam literature refers in many poems Vedic traditions as guiding principle of Tamil society. The northern tradition is not restricted to Vedic influence alone. The same is mentioned in different forms that would come as a stunning revelation to protagonists. For example in the following poem from Puranānūru anthology the Devaloka is mentioned where Kalapaka trees abound in a grove , where people have all their wants fulfilled and there is none to make any request and none to give because there was no want and not available and no pleasure not available. The concept of karpakam kāṭu is distinctly a northern one and not a Tamil one. The reference to it is a pointer to the fact that from very ancient times, there has been an inseparable unity in the culture of the Tamils and the northern part of India. Let us see the concerned poem.
The poem appears as no 38 in the collection sung by Āvūr Mūlam Kiḻār, praising Choḻa, kulamurrattu tunjiya Kil̤l̤i Val̤avaṉ, who died at (kulmuṟṟam). The poem is brought under pādān tinai, and the turai called "iyalmoḻi". The poem can be easily understood in four parts
The first part is reads like this: You victorious king. You have a powerful army which carries fluttering multi coloured flags carried on young elephants and they look as if reaching the sky. If you happen to look at a region with angry look, it would be consigned to flames immediately. But if you look at a region with grace there would flower gold. You have the valour to obtain moon in the sun or should you seek sun in the moon, you are capable of achieving it without fail.
The second part of the poem says:- I was born in your shade and grew up under your shade. We enjoy such comforts under you. There are others who live in Devloka/celestial world where there is everything obtainable for the Kalpa Vana - the park of all fulfilling trees, are there that blossom with golden flowers. Those who are there neither need to ask for or receive anything for they get everything they want suited to their deeds. So there is no use of that Devaloka because there is none to give anything.
The next part says that who have any need, for them no use of going there ast everything can be obtained in your land. They are always thinking that you are here (to fulfill all their wants) even those who are living in the opponents land keep thinking of your land .
This poem is an indirect method of praising the Choḻa land is like Devaloka providing all pleasures for the people or in a sense even better therein lives Kil̤l̤i to give while in Devaloka there is none to give.
This is an exemplary poem that praises greatness of Devaloka, and also the forest of Kalpa trees. There could be no doubt these northern ideas were part of Tamil culture in early Tamilnad.