#6B8E23 Dr. R. Nagaswamy 15-Sep-2007 A land of Poets The Kongu country consisting of Coimbatore , Salem, a part of Trichy, and Dharmapuri districts constituted the ancient Kongu country. It developed a character of its own and in many ways unique among the Tamils. For example most of the population of this region generally called Gaunder – Cultivating Agriculturist declare that they are the “devotees in perpetuity” “adimai” of the famous Tamil Poet Kamban. It is unique in the history where an entire community owes their allegiance to a Poet, for the past eight to ten centuries. Their attachment to Kamban who wrote Ramayana in Tamil arises from another important factor namely it was Kamban who eulogized the greatness of the Plough and the Cultivators in seventy immortal poems called “Er Ezhupatu”. In addition some songs ascribed to Kamban were sung in the marriage rites of every Gauvunder family to this day. Further all Villages in this region and the Sub-castes among the Gauvunders appoint a Poet of their own , Confer honours on him and request him to sing Tamil Poems in their family functions. Honoured Saivacharyas Similarly all the villages and Sub-castes among them have a Temple of their own to which they are attached and take collective communal decisions in the temple. They likewise appoint a Saivacharya of their own and bestow honours on them and entrust the maintenance of the temple to them. They hold them virtually as their Guru and were ready to sacrifice everything for them. Their copper plates say that they will sacrifice even their life for the sake of the Sivacaryas of their own, from whom they take diksha- initiation. Ancient History These- cultivators’ families have been growing from before the third century BCE (before the current era), so were their requirements. One notices an amount simplicity, politeness, and sincerity in their manners and customs. Their language is known for courtesy and respect. The Gaunders never go back on their word and are akin to “Satya-putras”, Sons of Truth. It is not with out basis that they call the ancient Atiyamaan Chieftains as a vellala. They are never tricky in their dealing but always straight forward. They are God fearing and large hearted people. Though Saivites they were never exclusive in their but patronize all sects of Hindu religion alike. There is no doubt that a study of their unique character will be a great experience. Kongu Velalar Puranas - Bodhayana A study of their origin as rseen in their records relating to “Kongu Velalar Kula puranas” reveal that they were Aryas and claimed Sage Bodhayanar as their originator. Historians are of the view that Bodhayana was one the most ancient Sutra-kara, Giver of code of Conduct of life of the people and that he hailed from the south. He is the author of Bodhayana dharma, Grhya sastras and that many of his codes show he was liberal minded sage . The other is said to be Apasthambha another sutra-kara. Many of the South Indian Brahmins and almost al the Adi-saivacharyas are followers of Bodhayana to this day. That is to say that in their domestic life they follow the code prescribed by Bodhayana. As the Gaunders also claim the same origin it is possible that they belong to the same Aryan branch. Some of the customs like marriage and other domestic life style seems to follow Bodhayana.With the blessings of Maharishi Bodhayana the first progeny of the Gaunder was born and nourished by the Mother Ganga (the river Ganges), and was named “Marabalan”. Sons of Ganga These Agriculturists claim that they migrated to Tamilnadu from the banks of the great Ganga “Ganga kulotbhavas” in the north . They seem to have migrated from the Gangetic plains – the Bengal, Bihar and upper of Orissa region to Kanchipuram in Tamilnadu first and then spread to the Chola country and the Kongu country and some to Pandya region. Introduction of Paddy and sugar cane cultivation They also claim that Siva of Himalayas gace 12 measures of paddy seeds to the goddess Parvathi the daughter of Himavan (Himalaiyan Mountain) and she gave the Paddy seeds which the Gaunders cultivated and thus brought technique of paddy cultivation to the south.. Some of the families even now call themselves as Gangeyas “People of the Ganga region”. As mentioned the ancient Chieftain Atiyaman’s family is credited with the introduction of Sugar cane cultivation in the south in a Tamil sangam poem which is nearly 2000 years old. There is another group among them who call themselves “Paisalis” evidently “Vaisalis”, the Vaisali of Bihar region and remind us of many chieftains who are mentioned in Tamil inscriptions as Vesalip-peraraiyans. The Association of the Himalayas and the Gangetic banks with their life and the legends of their migration does point to the historicity of their origin and migration pattern and contribution to paddy and sugar cane cultivation. Incidentally it may be mentioned here that among individuals who have gone to Kailas Manosarover on pilgrimage, the maximum number are from Gaunder family particulary from the Kongu country. They continue to go to Kaialas to this day. The Mauryan reference The Maurya Emperor, Asoka’s mention of two groups of people, the Kerala-putras and Satya-putras and refer to them as falling outside his territory and this would show they were in the Chera-Kongu region well before third cent. BCE. The earliest available Tamil literature ascribable to the beginning of the Current era, mentions a number these sub-castes like Korrantai, Sattantai, Kannantai, Antuvan, Vannakkan and others, that show they were already well settled in this region long before that time. The earliest reference to generations of Chera kings are found in the Kongu Country at Pugalur (Arnattar-malai ). Their Capital was the modern Karur which was well within the Kongu country. Roman contact A large number of Roman gold coins and jewellery have been found in this region attesting to a very flourishing trade with the Roman Empire, Though the Romans are mentioned in other parts of Tamilnadu, Archaeologicl finds point to the Kongu region as the most frequented part by the Roman traders Vellalur now a small village near the Town of Coimbatore has yielded a very significant collection of Treasure Trove of Roman Coins and Mediterranean Jewellery. (See the article and illustrations of Vellalur finds, in the article on Vellalur in this Journal).