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    Hinduism in Sangam Tamil Literature
    Hinduism in Sangam Tamil Literature
    Hinduism in Sangam Tamil Literature
    Ebook153 pages1 hour

    Hinduism in Sangam Tamil Literature

    By London Swaminathan

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    Sangam Tamil books are at least 2000-year-old; chronologically Tamil stands next to Sanskrit in India; though 6000 year old Vedas are still available and recited in all the temples and Vedic Schools, Tamils have lost many of their ancient works. But fortunately, we see the continuity of Vedic thoughts in Tamil Sangam books; they are 18 in number. There is another grammatical treatise Tolkappiam which is considered older than the 18 books. We see full-fledged Hinduism in it. The book mentioned Vedic Gods as the Gods of the Tamils. I have been writing about it from 2011. This book has some of the articles on this topic.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPustaka Digital Media
    Release dateNov 5, 2022
    ISBN6580553509206
    Hinduism in Sangam Tamil Literature

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      Book preview

      Hinduism in Sangam Tamil Literature - London Swaminathan

      http://www.pustaka.co.in

      Hinduism in Sangam Tamil Literature-London Swaminathan

      Author :

      London Swaminathan

      For more books

      https://www.pustaka.co.in/home/author/london-swaminathan

      Digital/Electronic Copyright © by Pustaka Digital Media Pvt. Ltd.

      All other copyright © by Author.

      All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

      Table of Contents

      Foreword

      1.Tamil Hindu Encyclopaedia – Part 1( Shamudrika Lakshnanam)

      2.Tamil Hindu Encyclopaedia- Part 2 (Nymphs அணங்கு,  சுராங்கனி )

      3.Tamil Hindu Encyclopaedia (Indra’s Amrit - இந்திரர் அமிழ்தம்)

      4.Tamil Hindu Encyclopaedia 4 (Divine Women வானவ மகளிர், கடல் கெழு செல்வி Sea Nymph)

      5.Tamil Hindu Encyclopaedia (Asuras/Demons அவுணர/அசுரர்)

      6.Tamil Hindu Encyclopaedia 6 (Tri Kala Gnani அறிவர், த்ரிகால ஞானி)-

      7.Tamil Hindu Encyclopaedia 7 (Divine Snake Bed ஆதி சேஷன், ஆதிசேடன்)-

      8.Tamil Hindu Encyclopaedia 8 (கர்ம வினைக் கொள்கை Karma Theory)

      9.Tamil Hindu Encyclopaedia (ஊழி Big Crunch)

      10.Tamil Hindu Encyclopaedia பஞ்சபூதம் (Pancha Bhuta)

      11.Who discovered Five Elements/Pancha Bhuta?

      12.Tamil Hindu Encyclopaedia கணபதி வழிபாடு (Ganapati Worship)

      13.Tamil Hindu Encyclopaedia- (மஹாபாரதம்) Mahabharata )

      14.Tamil Hindu Encyclopaedia - Sibi Story (சிபி கதை)

      15.Sibi Story in Old Tamil Literature!

      16.Tamil Hindu Encyclopaedia ; Ramayana unknown to Valmiki (தெரியாத ராமாயணம்)

      17.Tamil Hindu Encyclopaedia  (ARUNDHATI அருந்ததி)

      18.Chaste Woman Arundhati in Literature!

      19.Arundhati wins; Vishwamitra defeated!

      20. Hindu Puranic Scenes in Sangam Tamil Literature -1 (Gaja Lakshmi)

      21. Hindu Puranic Scenes in Sangam Tamil Literature -2 (Krishna and Balarama)

      22. Hindu Puranic Scenes in Sangam Tamil Literature -3 (Hindu Vahanas and Flags)

      23. Hindu Puranic Scenes in Sangam Tamil Literature -4  (Moon and Star Worship)

      24.Fire won’t Burn You- Miracle in Hinduism

      25.Mischievous Hindus will be born as Crocodiles

      26. Lord Ganesh - Pillaiyaar (for children)

      27.Lord Shiva (for School Children)

      28.Lord Skanda/ Murugan (for Children)

      29.BASIC QUESTIONS ABOUT TAMILS & HINDUISM

      30.Vishnu (for school children)

      31.Lakshmi (for London school children)

      32.Where does Lakshmi reside?

      33.Where does Lakshmi reside? -2

      34.Sarasvati (for School Children )

      35.Tamil Hymn to Saraswati

      Foreword

      Sangam Tamil books are at least 2000-year-old; chronologically Tamil stands next to Sanskrit in India; though 6000 year old Vedas are still available and recited in all the temples and Vedic Schools, Tamils have lost many of their ancient works. But fortunately, we see the continuity of Vedic thoughts in Tamil Sangam books; they are 18 in number. There is another grammatical treatise Tolkappaim which is considered older than the 18 books. We see full-fledged Hinduism in it. The book mentioned Vedic Gods as the Gods of the Tamils. I have been writing about it from 2011. This book has some of the articles on this topic.

      The second part contains some articles under the title ‘Hinduism for Children’. London Hindu teachers wanted to tell their Tamil students the stories about Hindu Gods in English. Along with the Tamil lessons they taught them this so that they would fully grasp the subject. There will be more parts in this series.

      The articles appeared in my blogs over 11 years and the serial numbers and the dates are given in all the articles.

      London Swaminathan

      October 2022

      1.Tamil Hindu Encyclopaedia – Part 1( Shamudrika Lakshnanam)

      Ancient Tamils were ardent Hindus. They were well versed in Vedas, Itihasas/epics and Puranas/Mythology. Many of their names are in Sanskrit. They reveal lot of new information which are not in Sanskrit; probably we lost them. The oldest book Tolkappiam, talks about Dharma Artha and Kama in many places, surprisingly in the same order. Oldest part of the Sangam corpus, Pura nanuru (naanuuru) also sings about the Dhrama artha kama . The best book in the Tamil is Tirukkural and its real name is Muppaal (three divisions- Dharma, Artha Kama. Moksha is included in the Ascetism chapter.

      Many of the Poets’ names are in pure Sanskrit such as Damodaran, Kesavan, Vishnudasan (Vinnanthaayan in Tamil), Kannadasan (kannanthaayan in Tamil), Kaamaakshi (Kaamakkanni in Tamil), Valmiki, Brahma, Sulochana (Miss Nakkannai in Tamil), Raadhaa ( in Tamil Nappinnai= Miss Hair Beauty) Mahadevan (maathevan in Tamil), Rudraksha (Uruththiran kannannaar in Tamil) so on and so forth.

      We have references to Raja Suya Yaga and 21 types of Yagas and Yupa sthambas. We have evidence of Eagle shaped Yaga Kunda, and Asvametha Yaga.

      In the first part of this Tamil Hindu Encyclopaedia

      I will list all the references and in the second part, I will add poems and brief explanation.

      Here we go

      Sangam Tamil literature is nearly 2000 year old. The oldest part belongs to first century BCE and the latest part belongs to third century CE. But they were made anthology only later, probably in the fourth century CE. We have 18 books running to 27,000 to 30, 000 lines. Since some people don’t consider the ‘in between’ Pathikams, the number of lines differ.

      In the eighteen books we have Pathuppattu (paththuppaattu) and Ettuththokai.

      Pathuppattau consists of Ten long poems- idylls

      Ettuththokai consists of Eight Anthologies

      Pathu is Ten and Ettu is Eight in Tamil.

      ***

      1.Shamudrika Lakshnanam

      1.Shamudrika Lakshnanam (Science of Body features and their link to behaviour and virtues)

      Thaal Thoi Tadakkai- long hands extending to knee- Aajaanu Baahu in Sanskrit

      Rama is praised as Ajanubhahu Aravintha lochana/long hands, lotus like eyes in Sanskrit.

      ***

      Thaal Thoi Tadakkai- Akananuru 312-11;

      Purananuru – 59-2;  90-10;

      Kurinjippattu – Line 123

      ( Akanaanuuru is abbreviated as Akam, Puranaanuuru- Puram, Kurinjippaattu – Kurinji)

      ***

      Three Lines on chest  (Sempori in Tamil)

      Some commentators think that it is not three lines but Lakshmi, Goddess of Wealth is mentioned. When the poets described men, particularly kings, they used Sempori.

      Sem in Tamil means both Red and Best/Proper

      Following are the references:

      Puram – 68-5; 161-27;

      Pathitruppaththu – 88-30

      (Pathitruppaththu is abbreviated as Pathitru)

      Kurinji – lines 121-123

      Tirumurukaatruppatai – Lines 104-105

      (Tirumurukaatruppatai is abbreviated as Muruku)

      ***

      Vishnu with Lakshmi on his chest

      Sri Vatsa in Sanskrit and Tamil translation is ‘Tiru Maru Marba’.

      Tiru Maru Marba literally means Sri/Lakshmi Emblem/Mole (on) Chest.

      It is the name of Vishnu, ‘one who carries Lakshmi on his chest’.

      Tiru Maru Maarba is found in

      Paripaatal – 1-39 (abbreviation Pari.)

      Kalittokai 104-10 (Kali. is abbreviation)

      Perumpanatruppatai (perum paanaatrup patai)- line 29 (abbreviation- Perum)

      This emblem is found in Jain Tirtankara (Arukan) statues as well.

      ***

      Lotus Eyed Vishnu /Krishna/Rama

      Rama, Krishna and Vishnu are praised as Lotus eyed- Aravinda Lochana

      But it is found only in Post Sangam work Tirukkural (5th century CE)

      Thaamaraik Kannaan- Tiruk Kural 1103

      ***

      Lotus Seated – All the goddesses are lotus seated, but it is mostly used to denote Lakshmi.

      Tiru Valluvar used it in Kural – 617

      Tamil words used:-

      தாள் தோய் தடக்கை, மார்பில் செம்பொறி, மூன்று வரிகள் தாமரைக் கண்ணான், தாமரையினாள், திரு மறு மார்பன், ஆஜானுபாஹு, அரவிந்த லோசன, ஸ்ரீ வத்ச

      2.Tamil Hindu Encyclopaedia- Part 2 (Nymphs அணங்கு, சுராங்கனி )

      Tamils are better Hindus than others. Tiru Valluvar begins his most popular book Tiruk Kural with Bhagavad Gita sloka/couplet. Krishna said ‘Aksharanam Akaarosmi’ (BG 10-33)- ‘Of the letters I am letter ‘A’ (in the alphabet). Valluvar, an ardent Hindu said ,

      ‘As all alphabets have letter ‘A’ as their first, so as the world Bhagawan(god) for its beginning’.

      The things to be noted are the Sanskrit words A-kaaram and Bhagawan in the very first couplet of the most famous Tamil work. He summarised all the 700 slokas of Bhagavad Gita into 140 couplets in his Chapters on Ascetic Virtues.

      Let us look at more words from Tamil Sangam works now:

      Anangu (அணங்கு)

      Anangu அணங்கு means nymphs, spirits that live in  nature. Female deities and personification of nature are portrayed as beautiful maidens. Hindus believe that all the things in Nature have their own spirits. Greeks also followed Hindus and allocated nymphs for lakes, hills, ocean, water, trees etc. They even used Sanskrit word Neer for water in Nereids in Greek. Sanskrit word Neer for water is in the holiest mantra ‘Narayana’ and Rig Veda as well.

      Anangu in Mahabharata gave us the best advice in Yaksha Prasna. Hindus call them with various names as Yaksha, Brahma Rakshas (Brahmin Ghosts) etc.

      Hindus (Tamils) believed that they will harm us if we interfere in their work or cross their borders. 2000 year old Sangam Tamil Hindus found these spirits in at least 20 places.

      ***

      Tamil Hindus sing about Spirits/Nymphs found in the following places:-

      Apsaras, Women’s chest,  House, Door steps, Lyre (Yaaz in Tamil), Kadamba tree, Head of the elephant, Cot made up of tusk, Ponds, Ocean, Bathing Ghats, in the middle of the sea, Shark, Lord Skanda (Muruga in Tamil) Goddess (Devi), Ghost etc.

      We must understand what they really mean. Hindus believe that everything in Nature is divine, and so use them carefully; give them respect; and if you use them unnecessarily they will harm you. Now science also says that is correct. If you waste water you won’t get good harvest. If you cut all the trees, there won’t be any rain.

      Linguistics Research

      My research shows that the word Nymph, Anangu in Tamil and Surangani are cognate words. Nangai in Tamil means wife, woman; found only twice in Sangam literature (Paripatal). Surangani (beauty from heaven/ devaloka ) is used in Sinhalese.

      The reason for my interpretation is the reference in Tolkappiam, the oldest book in Tamil.

      Tolkappiar, the author, says that four things cause fear in people: Anangu, Animals, Thieves and Kings.

      The commentators interpreted Anangu as Divine Women such as Suurara Makalir (Suraangani)

      Sura/Deva+ Aaaranangu/beauty

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