I am continuing my series of articles on the twin issues of whether the zodiac rashi was an indigenous concept of India or an imported one and whether the knowledge of planets was there in India before Alexander's invasion. In this mail I am focusing on the sources from Tamil literature to establish that Meshadhi rashis were in vogue in Sangam period much before the Common Era.
The previous articles can be read here:-
Part 2 (Vedic astrology in Silappadhikaram)
(Part 3 (Yavana in Tamil texts)
Part 4 (origins of Vedic astrology)
(Part 5 (Zodiac from Paripaadal)
Inscriptions of Uttarayana Samkaranthi
Part 6 (Rashi in Tamil and Sanskrit)
Part 9 (The Mesha - goat in Munnar)
Mina rashi verse and Kumbh Mela
********
The Sangam Tamil texts cannot be ignored as they provide
a connectivity and missing link between past and present
by showing that we are indeed following an unbroken Vedic tradition of the past.
Let me give two examples to substantiate this.
(1)The foreign writers are trying to restrict the tradition of the start of Kumbh Mela to the first millennium of the Common Era. Kumbha Mela was actually a re-modelled tradition of the 35 year / 7 yuga cycle of the Vedanga Yugas that I highlighted in my last mail. The celebration of Kumbha Mela is mentioned in a Sangam text called "Pattinap paalai" sung in praise of Cholan King Karikala. The poet is describing the Cholan country starting from the sea shore in Pumpuhaar towards inland. There were salt beds near the shore, then there were gardens after which there was a temple called "Temple of Magha star" (Maga viNmeen kOttam) where a festival was held every year when Moon became full in Magha star! There were 2 lakes near this temple called as "Immaik kaamam" (mundane desires of present birth) and "Marumaik kaamam" (desires of after death). Only after crossing these lakes, one comes to the outer wall of Karikalan's city from which the city started. (1)
This description shows that Kumbha Mela popularly known as "Maasi magam" (Maasi = Tamil name for the solar month of Aquarius) in Tamilnadu was celebrated 2000 years BP. A special temple dedicated to it along with two theerthas where people took a dip was in existence at that time. This takes the beginnings of this festival and the use of Solar month (of Maasi) to a time period much before 2000 years ago. The existence of these 2 theerthas is not a later phenomenon as there is a sutra in the Grammar book of Tholkaappiyam of the Sangam period on the existence of 2 such lakes for 2 such desires in the ancient past of the society. (2)
(2)The second example is given from a post Sangam period text called "Manimegalai", This text is twin text of Silappadhikaram, as this tells the life of Kovalan's daughter. The author was the contemporary of the Cheran King who built the temple of Kannagi and who defeated the Yavanas along with Gautami Putra Sarakarni (refer the 2nd part of my article in this series). The period was 1st century CE.
This text speaks about a Cholan king called Kaanthan, who was a contemporary of none other than Parashurama! Opponents are questioning the very existence of Rama and quite many are confused about the time period when Rama lived. But this 1st century Tamil text is giving an account from the life of a Cholan king who was ruling from Pumpuhaar when Parashurama, the contemporary of Rama of Ayodhya, was on a rampage against Kshatriyas. This Cholan king felt threatened by Parashurama's rage and therefore handed over the kingdom to his son "Gagandhan" born of him to a concubine and went into hiding in Agasthyashrama in Kodagu, where the river Kavery originates. He thought that Parashurama would not harm this son as he was not of pure kshatriya blood. It is because of this new king Gagandhan, Pumpuhaar was called as "Gaagandhi-puram" for a brief time. (Chapter 22 of Manimegalai)
As a cross reference that Parashurama did exist in a decipherable historical past, there exists 2 inscriptions of King Rajendra Chola –I that praises him as one who captured the Golden Crown placed by Parashurama to the ruler whom he anointed as the king to protect the lands that he captured after going on war for 21 times on the Kshatriyas. (3)
That place was mentioned in the inscription as "Chandima Dweepa" which Rajendra Chola won after capturing Pazham Dweepa (Maldives). Going by the sequence of places that Rajendar Chola captured as written in the inscriptions, Chandima Dweepa can be located in the west coast of South India. {"Rama Kuta Mooshaka" was the king anointed by Parashurama as per the 12th century book "Mooshika vamsa kaavya". His mother was pregnant of him when his father, a descendant of Mahishmathi (of Kaartha veeryarujuna) was killed by Parashurama. Parashurama anointed him with a crown. That crown was captured by Rajendra Chola. This information is present in the inscriptions of Ranjendra Chola in two places, one in the Rajarajeswara temple of Tanjore and another on a hill near PoLur.
The Tamil texts and the Tamil inscriptions thus establish that Parashurama was a real character who lived in a historical past when Cholans were ruling from Pumpuhaar. No other king, say Pandyan or Cheran had thought of wresting this crown given by Parashurama. But a Cholan king had decided to do it confirms that there did exist a threat to the Cholas by Parashurama and a later Chola found it fit to give a reply by annexing that place and capturing that crown. That crown may now be lying in some Museum in Europe or with some antique collector after the British took over India.
With this introduction, let me bring to the notice of the readers 2 more information on Tamil sources. One is about the antiquity of the Tamil Sangam and another is about the presence of astrologers as a class during the Sangam period.
Antiquity of the Sangam period.
There were 3 Sangam periods in succession which came up one after another, following submergences of the Pandyan Capital cities on two different time periods. The former two capitals were completely lost and the 3rd one was the present day Madurai where the 3rd Sangam Assemblies were held. .
The last Sangam assembly was conducted by the Pandyan King Ugra Peru vazhuthi. From Sinnamanur inscriptions on Pandyan genealogy and a cross reference from Thiruvalangadu inscriptions on Cholas on a contemporary Cholan king by name Peru NarkiLLI and with yet another cross checking from a Sangam poem on these two contemporary kings, it is deduced that the last Sangam assembly was held about 2000 years ago.
From yet another narration written 1000 years ago, which was a commentary on a Sangam text, the periods of the 3 Sangam assemblies are known. Similar reference to these periods in a private collection of Tamil texts was discovered in 19th century by Dr U.Ve Swaminatha Iyer, who was pivotal in collecting and publishing the old Sangam texts. The number of poets who participated in the Sangam is also given in those texts as 4449, 3700 and 449 for the 3 Sangams respectively. The number of years of each Sangam period was 4440, 3700 and 1850 for the 3 Sangams respectively. This shows the antiquity of the Sangam period and the existence of a developed and literate culture then.
These are not figments of imagination as the names of some of the popular works and poets of the 3 Sangam periods are also given.
For example, there is a poem on Vishnu in a place called "Irunthaiyur" in Madurai. The author's name is missing in the retrieved manuscripts. But there was a poet by name "Irunthaiyur Kurunkozhi" during the 2nd Sangam period as per the text mentioned above and this was a Sangam poem – meaning, that it was published in the Sangam Assembly. This poet's name has the place name, Irunthaiyur, as the prefix. It was common to have the place name as a prefix before one's name in the Sangam period. (Even now this tradition continues in rural India to identify oneself with three names – the place name coming first, and own name coming last with father's name in the middle with a mention of son of so and so.).
Irunthaiyur means the place of one who is 'seated' or in sitting posture. The famous Vishnu temple of Madurai, Koodal azhagar is seen as a gigantic figure in sitting posture. This was the main and original temple of Madurai that had a previous name as "Naan Maada-k-koodal" (joined by four streets) from which the deity got the name Koodal azhagar. It was known as Irunthaiyur originally. From the poet's name it is deduced that he had sung this poem in the 2nd Sangam. By this the date of the temple goes before 3500 years ago! Read The Hindu article here and my article here.
The antiquity of this temple can be thus traced to pre Common Era. Even Srirangam temple is mentioned in a Sangam text called Aga nanuru, with a description of how the pilgrims spent their time while they came to witness the Phalguni Uttara festival (festival of marriage of Sri Ranganatha and his consort Sri Ranga nayaki). Balaji temple of Thirupathy and Thiru Veggha temple of Kancheepuram are also found in the olden texts putting their period before 2000 years ago. The Onam festival which is now popular in Kerala is mentioned in the Sangam text of Madurai-k-Kanchi as the festival of Vishnu celebrated in Madurai! This was 2000 years ago. {Details here (4) }
The Koodal azhagar temple of Madurai is described in another Sangam text named "Madurai –k-Kanchi". Both the texts (Paripadal and Maduraik Kanchi) on this temple describe the nature of the heavy rush of pilgrims to the temple, thereby showing the popularity of this temple in its long existence before 2000 years ago. The social and Vedic life around the temple is also described.
The consecration of these temples must have happened in well calculated Muhurtha in an auspicious lagna, in auspicious solar months (even now the yearly Brahmothsavas and other festivals happen in accordance with solar months), with specifications on planetary positions. One of the main clauses for fixing the time of the consecration of a temple is that Venus and Jupiter must not be combust at that time. From where they got the idea of these planets to fix the time of consecration of these temples at Irunthaiyur and Srirangam at 2000 + years ago? From Greece? Nothing can be more laughable than this.
Coming to the Sangam texts, names of popular rishis are associated with the Sangam texts as we do have poems written by Sandilya, Gargi and Valmiki in Tamil. A Tamil work authored by one "Mayan" published in the 2nd Sangam was found in the Saraswati Mahal Library of Tanjore Palace by the famous Sculptor Dr V Ganapathi Sthapathi. The period of this book coincides with Ramayana period in the 5th millennium BC. It must be remembered that one Mayan was the father of Mandothari (wife of Ravana)!
Calculating the period of the 3 Sangams on the basis of the duration of each Sangam, we arrive at the following figures:
1st sangam between 9990 BC and 5550 BC .
2nd sangam between 5550 BC and 1850 BC
3rd sangam between 1850 BC and 2000 years BP (beginning of Common Era)
This shows that the first Tamil sangam started 12,000 years before present. This huge number need not be taken as a myth as there is evidence of well developed society in this part of the country at that time. Let me draw the attention of readers to the discovery of a man-made structure off the coast of Pumpuhar (here) and (here) in South east Tamil nadu (It was Cholan capital about 2000 years ago) by Graham Hancock and was dated by him at 11,500 years BP as per Glenn Milne's inundation maps.
There is also on record a discovery of implements dated from 10,000 BC to 4000 BC in a place called Agastheeswaram in Kanyakumari. This is recorded in the book on Kanyakumari (page 37) published by the State Dept of Archaeology of Tamilnadu. Unfortunately these kind of information on antiquity which the Sangam texts also reveal, are ignored due to Dravidian (?) chauvinism and Western brain-wash.
Coming to the topic, the first Sangam was started after Tamil letters were formed and grammar was introduced. As per Tamil Tradition (given in many Tamil texts), both Tamil and Sanskrit grammar were simultaneously introduced under the auspices of Lord Shiva to Agasthya and Panini. The first Panini or the original Panini existed then.
Even the word Panini is a Tamil word. There were many PANans at that time period. In Tamil the word PANan is derived from PaN > pAN > PANan. PaN means the musical note. When words are composed and set to that musical note, it is called 'pAN'. 'pAN' in Tamil means a song or a composition in praise of something. The one who delivers it / sings it is a PANan. From this is derived the word "pANi" which means songs. There are many "pANi"s mentioned in Silappadhikaram that were all dedicated to the praise of God and this shows that the grammatical poems set to music had come into existence much before Silappadhikaram time, thereby indicating a deeper antiquity for its first beginnings.
The newly introduced Tamil grammar was intended for these PANans as they were the ones who were known for composing poems and setting them to music. Most of the compositions of the first Sangam were set to music. There is a Sangam verse (Pura nAnUru verse 335) (5) that says that PANans were one of the 4 oldest castes (the word used is "Kudi" which means - inhabitants). Thiru-p-pANAzhwar, one of the Azhwars who composed Divya Prabhandam was a pANan.
An important information connected to this antiquity is that astrological texts were published in the 1st Sangam period! Astrology and Music were the oldest topics that had existed even before Sangam was established. These two topics dominated the 1st Sangam. (6)
Astrologers were there in the Sangam period.
The second information that I want to give as a prelude is that the Tamil society existed not as just 4 varnas but as 7 classes. (7) The grammar work of the 3rd Sangam, namely Tholkappiyam (this name means "ancient kAvya") describes this. There were the 4 varnas and in addition, there were 3 more classes identified as saints (Thaapathar), astrologers (Arivan) and Porunar (the ksahtriya vratya who were engaged in dancing and singing but were able to spring into action to fight, if instigated). Note the mention of astrologers as a class. The term "Arivan" for astrologers is equivalent to Daivajna in meaning.
There is an elaborate description of the astrologers of Madurai in the Sangam poem "Madurai-k-Kanchi". It says that people from Java island (Saavaka - Jaavaka – Jaava) used to visit Madurai to meet these astrologers. Note here that Yavanas did not come to meet the astrologers though Yavanas were mentioned elsewhere, but in the context of supplying wine. The "honey coloured" people of Java described in this Sangam text establishes another historical past of the Tamils. Even today there are names of places of Sangam age in Java island. For example there is a place called "Thengar" in Java which is also the name of the 7 countries of the 2nd Sangam period. There were 49 countries (mostly islands) classified into 7 of 7 each that were scattered in the seas. Of these, the countries within an extant of 700 "KAvadham" were lost in the seas during the 2nd sangam period. There are calculations for what a Kaavadham means that one can get from the Tamil Thesaurus written 1000 years ago.
But I want to refer to an inscription of King Adhitya Chola found in Chengalpet which makes a similar mention of 700 kAvadham as the distance between the Ganges and the tip of Kanya Kumari. (A.R.E. 442/1922).If we take this as an understandable measurement for the scattered habitation in the Indian Ocean that was lost into the sea, we come closer to Java and other parts of Sundaland from the southern coast of India (Tamilnadu). It is interesting to know that there exists a place called Madura off Java separated by a strait of Madura from Java. The people of this Madura call themselves as Madurese and speak the language of Madurese. Their main occupation had been salt making which was a main occupation of Tamils in the Sangam age too.
Perhaps these Madurese were part of the old Sangam Tamil people that survived the deluge and moved eastward to Java while the Pandyan king moved towards Indian mainland. Another proof from a genetic analysis of the scatter-effect of the ancient Tamils can be read here. With these proofs, we can say that an olden population that was separated from the Tamil society and relocated at Java was in touch with the mainland society.
The background of their visit was a 7 day festival in Madurai. Though there is mention of different types of people coming to that festival, identification of a people by their place is given to these Java people only. The only kind of description about them centres on their interaction with astrologers. It shows that one of the main reasons for their coming to Madurai from Java was to interact with them, apart from witnessing the festival.
The text continues to say that they treated the astrologers as God and worshiped them with flowers, incense and songs in praise of them. The text goes on to describe the astrologers as those who knew the three Times (tri-kala) and had the knowledge of terrestrial, atmospheric and celestial happenings. It is also mentioned that they followed strict austerity. (8)
This visit to the astrologers of Madurai shows the existence of astrologers and their popularity for long in the past in this region of India which is close to the Equator. I request the readers to recall my article in Part 4 (here) where I reasoned out that an equal division of the zodiac and equal day and night (of 30 +30 Nadika) could have been conceived only near the equator. Only in such a location the hora system can work by which the days of the week as they exist now (followed throughout the world) could have been conceived. (Part 7 ) It must be noted that the Hora based astrology is still vogue in Tamilnadu. As we go towards north India, the7 planet- hora would not recur in the exact order and the next sunrise would not see the hora of the next day's lord. This has necessitated the re-doing of the hora system with just Sun and the moon repeating alternatingly.
Further North in Greece the exact recurrence of the hora is impossible for most days in a year. The Yavana Jataka chapter on the 7 –planet based Hora system shows that it was reproduced from an older tradition that existed near the Equator. Nowhere else on the globe, except near the equator this idea of planet based hora can be conceived nor used, as this was the basis for the naming of the day after a planet (the planetary lord of the hora present at sunrise, becomes the lord of the day – thereby giving the name as Bhanu vaara, Indu vaara etc).
In the context, the existence of a developed Tamil society, with a separate class of people as astrologers makes it possible to have developed astrology long before than currently thought. By this I am not being chauvinistic of a Tamil cause, but would like stress that astrology had existed and astrologers had existed in southern part of India and in the submerged parts on Indian Ocean with Java (near the equator) being one place where people having knowledge of astrology had existed and regularly interacted with astrologers of Madurai. A former community from whom the South and North Indian populations had emerged had existed near the equator and possessed the knowledge of astrology.
This fits with the genetic analysis of North and South Indians. Those who were in the South within the tropics retained the old hora system whereas those who went on to occupy North India made necessary changes in the Hora system. By this it is also deduced that the solar month which has practical relevance in the tropical regions continue to be retained in South India whereas it got secondary importance in north of tropic of cancer. The prevalence of lunar calendar in North India and Solar calendar in South India is due to this. But overall it is a combined Luni solar calendar where Sun gains importance in mundane activities, moon in spiritual matters and a combined reading for arriving at good and bad times for any activity.
One of the practical relevance of Solar Calendar is "Kari NaaL" – literally meaning "coal day". These are inauspicious days that come on specific days in every SOLAR month. They are 34 in all. (9) No one knows on what basis the specific solar days have been picked out as Kari NaaL. But the most prominent effect attributed to this day is that any travel undertaken on this day would result in failure. Either the traveller would run into troubles like accidents or the purpose of the travel would not fructify. One way of rationalising this is that the solar radiation or something of that stuff would hamper the one who ventures out. The word Kari, meaning coal fits with a heated effect. This effect can be there in the tropics where sun shines hot and crosses over head. This concept of Kari NaaL is not there in North India, perhaps for this reason.
Agasthya, the astrologer
This concept was given by sage Agasthya who was the family priest of the Pandyas in the 1st Sangam and was the progenitor of Tamil letters and also astrology! One must know this astrology was not developed by ordinary beings. Every concept of astrology was associated with Vedic sages. The astrology as is found in Tamilnadu or in ancient Sangam age was given by none other than Sage Agasthya! He was known as "Arivan" (Daivajna) – and recorded so by the 9th century commentator Nacchinaarkkiniyar. There is no record associated with Agasthya in the known period of the last 2000 years. His period comes very much before that. Keeping that in mind if we look at the verses attributed to him, we would know that rashi and planets are indigenous to India.
There is a book called "Agasthiyar panneeraayiram" which means 12,000 of Agasthiya. Only parts of it are available in old manuscripts. It is a tradition to name the works of Siddhas by the number of verses attributed to them. There is "Bhogar Ezhaayiram" meaning 7000 of Bhogar. Bhogar was the Siddha who made the image of Lord Muruga of Palani Hills. There is cross reference in these books that establishes that these ancient characters are true and had lived atleast 3000 years ago. These works may not be the exact words narrated by these siddhas originally. They may have been rewritten periodically as a matter of preservation. But it is hardly possible that interpolations could have happened given the kind of Guru-sishya parampara that was keen on transmitting the original ideas.
Agasthiyar 12,000 is in the form of dialogue between Agasthya and Pulastya, Pulastya being the disciple of Agasthya. Pulastya's location was Lanka or somewhere in the South near the equator, as he was the father of Ravana. This work has references to the rashis and describes the rashis. Agasthya says that he got the knowledge of astrology from the Ashwini twins. While describing the Year, he mentions the solar year only. He says when the Sun enters Mesha rashi, in the first pada of Ashwini, the Year purusha will be born. (10)
When we have references to rishi-astrologers having lived near the equator and passed on the knowledge of astrology, and particularly those ideas that can be conceived and applicable near the equator, it is illogical to assume that these ideas originated in high latitudes north off Tropic of cancer. The 30 degree equal division of the zodiac, 30 nadika day and 30 nadika night and 7 horas lorded by 7 planets appearing in a sequence in such a way that the lord of the first hora at sunrise becomes the lord of the day thereby giving its name to the day, cannot be originally conceived outside the tropic belt. With this background information on Tamil sources, let me continue with specific verses of the Sangam texts where "aadu" or Mesha is mentioned.
(to be continued)
Notes:
(1)From Pattina-p-paalai
| 35 மதிசேர்ந்த மகவெண்மீ |
(2)"இருகாமத்திணையேரி போலும் குளங்களிலும்" (Thol kappiyam, Karpiyal Sutra 50)
(3)" செருவிற் சினவி இருபத்தொருகால் அரசு களை கட்ட பரசுராமன் மேவருஞ் சாந்திமத் தீவவரண் கருதி இருத்திய செம்பொன் திருத் தகு முடியும்" Rajendra Chola -I inscriptions – year 1024 AD on a rock on top of Thirumalai-k kunRu near PoLur and in the year 1031 AD in the southern side of the sanctum sanctorum of Rajarajeswara temple of Tanjore.
(4)From Madurai-k Kanchi – Scenes of Onam festival of Vishnu celebrated in Madurai are described. This festival is of importance to Maravar (warring community). They would show their might by bringing their elephants used in wars and make them run by skilfully controlling them. Seeing their skill in controlling elephants and making them run, people would admire them by presenting them new cloths. The Maravar would enjoy drinking honey and wine on this day. There is no mention of Mahabali. The 8th century Periyaazhwar song in Divya Prabhandam also mentions Onam festival of Vishnu that was celebrated from times of yore.
| 590 | கணங்கொ ளவுணர்க் கடந்த பொலந்தார் |
| 595 | மாறா துற்ற வடுப்படு நெற்றிச் |
(5)"துடியன் பாணன் பறையன் கடம்பனென்
றிந்நான் கல்லது குடியு மில்லை" (Pura nanooru 335)
(6)"முந்து நூல் அகத்தியமும், மாபுராணமும், இசை நுணுக்கமும்,
அவற்றுட் கூறிய இலக்கணங்களாவன :
எழுத்து, சொல், பொருள், யாப்பு, சந்தம், வழக்கியல்,
அரசியல், பார்ப்பனவியல், சோதிடம், காந்தருவம், கூத்தும் பிரிவுமாம்"
(நச்சினார்க்கினியர்)
(7) "அறு வகைப் பட்ட பார்ப்பனப் பக்கமும்
ஐ வகை மரபின் அரசர் பக்கமும்
இரு மூன்று மரபின் ஏனோர் பக்கமும்
மறு இல் செய்தி மூ வகைக் காலமும்
நெறியின் ஆற்றிய அறிவன் தேயமும்
நால் இரு வழக்கின் தாபதப் பக்கமும்
பால் அறி மரபின் பொருநர் கண்ணும்
அனை நிலை வகையொடு ஆங்கு எழு வகையான்
தொகை நிலை பெற்றது என்மனார் புலவர்"
From
தொல்காப்பியம் (புறத்திணை இயல் 74)
(8)Following verse from "Madurai Kanchi" on people of Java coming to Madurai to worship the astrologers. The name of the text carries "Kanchi" which does not refer to Kancheepuram. Kanchi here means a type of song that focuses on non-permanence of life. When a king is seen to go on war to boost up his image and fame, a poet sings a Kanchi to him where he subtly brings out the non-permanence of his life and brings him to the sense of shunning war for fame. It is Madurai Kanchi because it was sung on the Pandyan king of Madurai.
475
வண்டுபடப் பழுநிய தேனார் தோற்றத்துப்
பூவும் புகையுஞ் சாவகர் பழிச்சச்
சென்ற காலமும் வரூஉ மமயமு
மின்றிவட் டோன்றிய வொழுக்கமொடு நன் குணர்ந்து
வானமு நிலனுந் தாமுழு துணருஞ்
480
சான்ற கொள்கைச் சாயா யாக்கை
யான்றடங் கறிஞர் செறிந்தனர் நோன்மார்
(9) List of kari naaL in the Solar months. Tamil month names with corresponding Rashi names are given along with the dates on the month when Kari NaaL occurs. This is fixed. Given by Sage Agasthya
Chitthirai – Aries – 6th and 15th
Vaikasi – Taurus – 7, 16, 17
Aani – Gemini -1, 6
Aadi – cancer – 2, 10, 20
Aaani – Leo – 2, 9, 28
Purattasi – Virgo – 16, 29
Aippasi – Libra – 6, 20
Kaartthikai – Scorpio – 1, 10, 17
Maargazhi – Sagittarius – 6, 9, 11
Thai – Capricorn – 1, 2, 3, 11, 17
Maasi – Aquarius – 15, 16, 17
Panguni – Pisces – 6, 15, 19
(10) "மேடமென்னும் ராசியாம் மதனிற்கேளு
மேலானா யசுவினி முதலாம்பாதம்
குலவியே கதிரவந்தான் வந்துதிக்க
வருச புருசன் அவதரிப்பானென்றே
பரிவுடன் உலகிற்கு நீசாற்றே"
(From "Agatthiyar panneeraayiram")
Excellent article. I am very well convinced that Astrology emanated from this land only. Though I am ignorant of Vedas and astrology, your article, by quoting Tamil literature establishes that Astrology was practiced very much by Indians in the pre Christian era. The proof that aliens from Java came to discuss with South Indian Astrologers ia awsome. It is a pity that Historians of the West (and in India too) do not want to look at Tamil literature for evidence.
ReplyDeleteTG Saranathan