Jayasree Saranathan: October 2013

Contrary to the claims of opponents on Greek origins of rashi and planets of Vedic astrology, there is plenty of archaeological evidence on early Indian influence, particularly Tamil influence on Greece even before Greek civilisation took shape. Tiryns, Mycenaeans, Etruscans and Vulci who contributed to Etruscan pottery bear resemblance to Tamil culture. On the other hand the oft repeated Yavana- Kirata tribes of Mahabharata of the Eastern Himalayas and Bengal have a bearing on Greek – Crete (pronounced as Kiriti) culture giving rise to scope to believe that the Greek culture had been influenced by them. All this goes to show that there was a much earlier influence of India on Greece even before their mythologies took shape. In this article let me show the Tamil connection to Tiryns, Etruscans etc and deal with Yavana- Kirata in a later article.

If phonetics can be considered as a basis for migration of ideas – something the opponents rely upon to justify their claims on 'Krios' as the Greek origin of Mesha rashi - there are similar reasons to consider Tamil as source for many a Greek word. In addition, cultural roots from Tamil sources can be quoted to prove that the pre-history of Greece was dominated by the people of Tamil origin. One prominent example is Tirayan!

Tirayan means 'seafarer'. Pandyans of the submerged Tamil lands were known as Tirayans. There was a Pandyan King by name "Tirayan Maaran" during the 2^nd Sangam period (between 5550 BC to 1850 BC) {Refer Part 10} His name is quoted by the 9^th century commentary on Irayanaar AgapporuL as one among the persons who took part in the 2^nd Sangam. (1) His name is followed by Krishna's name mentioned as King of Dwaraka, (Thuvaraik kOmaan – துவரைக் கோமான்) meaning to say that Krishna too participated in one of the Sangam assemblies. (There is no information on whether Krishna contributed any poem in Tamil or just was a distinguished onlooker, but there is ample evidence in Tamil literature including Alwars' renditions, that he married Upakesi, locally known as Nappinnai, daughter of a local Tamil Yadava / Ayar chieftain and even had a daughter by her. (2) Magasthenes' account confirms this by a note that Krishna's daughter known as Pandaiya was settled in Madurai {when Kavatapuram in the submerged land was the Pandyan capital city}. Krishna brought Yadava families from Mathura of North and settled them in 365 villages around Madurai to serve her milk products in turn throughout the year - which can be cross checked from Silappadhikaram. As these are not relevant to our present topic, I am not going into the details of them but brought them to the notice of the list to show that whatever is mentioned in or about Sangam age etc is true.)

Tirayan may refer to any seafarer as there is another Tirayan in Sangam Texts – Ilam Tirayan or Tirayan Junior who ruled ThoNdai Mandalam around Kancheepuram. This king was not of Pandyan lineage but got the title as Tirayan because he survived a lone travel in the seas when he as a child left in a boat near Nagappattinam reached the shore near Kancheepuram. (3) The meaning of Tirayan conveyed in this song is "one who was born of sea" or "one who was given by sea". This shows that anyone who withered the seas or lived in the seas or survived by the seas is a "Tirayan". This name as such belonged to early Pandyans who were ruling over a group of islands in the Indian Ocean.

The title as Tirayan stuck with the Pandyans only as long as they were ruling the Tamil lands (49 in all during the 2^nd Sangam period) scattered in the seas. In the Maangulam inscription of Pandyan Nedum cheziyan of 3^rd century BC, the title was slightly changed as "Kadalan" – one who lives by the sea, or one rules the region of the seas. (4) The title Tirayan disappeared once the Pandyans started living inland. Their life on the seas came to an end with last submergence of their entire habitat in the Indian Ocean. The time period was 1500 BC. By 1500 BC disturbances occurred in most parts of India of that time. Indus civilization was disturbed, people from Dwarka shifted to Tamil lands and Pandyans from the south seas shifted inland. That was the same time that Tiryns of Greece found a new civilization!

TIRYNS of Greece was occupied by a people whose antecedents are not known. The structures built by them stand as a testimony of their presence. These structures have been dated at 1400 BC to 1200 BC – at a time when Tirayan Pandyans were dislocated from their habitat in the Indian Ocean due to sea waves and submerges. There is a popular adage in Tamil on their seafaring nature in search of wealth (Thirai kadalOdiyum Dravyam thEdu / திரை கடலோடியும் திரவியம் தேடு. Meaning:- "Search for wealth even if it means going across the oceans") The crossing of the thirai (ocean) gave the name Tirayan. They had been very much familiar with many sea routes and this makes it possible to think that a section of the Tirayans had landed in Greece in search of new habitat after the submergence around 1500 BC. The place where they came to settle down was identified with their name as Tiryns.

As a foremost proof of Tirayans having settled down in Tiryns, I would point out some of the Tamil words connected with sea farers found in Greek root words. Any seafarer would be using the anchor. The Tamil name for anchor is "nangkooram" (நங்கூரம்). The Greek root word sounds similar to this. ἄγκυρα – ankura, ἀγκυρ –ankur – This became 'anchor' in English

(source :- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Greek_words_with_English_derivatives )

From Tamil Nangkooram > ankura > ankur > anchor.

The PELASGIANS, similar population of the ancient Greece who inhabited regions like Crete (near Tiryns) before Greek civilization started have been identified by Greek writers as sea farers. They spoke a different language which was regarded as "barbaric". This very name Pelasgians was formed by the Greek words meaning sea-men. "The ancient Greek word for "sea", pelagos, comes from the same root, *plāk-, as the Doric word plagos, "side" (which is flat), appearing in *pelag-skoi. Ernest Klein therefore simply interprets the same reconstructed form as "the sea men", where the sea is the flat." (5) One among the 37 synonyms of Tamil word for sea is 'Paravai' (6). "paara" and "paaram" are other words meaning sea. The Greek word Pelagos seem to be a derivation or adaptation from Parava, the sea men. There are Sangam verses on Paravas whose descendants continue to live today and are identified as fishermen community in the east coast of Tamilnadu.

The Tirayan title was held by kings of Pandyan lineage. So it makes sense to expect the Tamil word for king in this early settlement of Tiryns. Such a word does exist in Greek as "Arkhon" (ἄρχων) and "archont" (ἀρχοντ) It means ruler. From this English words Archon and Monarch have come up. Look at the Tamil equivalent. It is 'arasan'. From Tamil Arasan > archont> archon > Monarch had come.

Another name for king in Greek was 'basileus' (βασιλεύς) and 'basil' (βασιλ). It means king. From this "Basilica" had come. This is a public building or a place connected with King's activities. In Tamil "Paasarai" means a place where the army is stationed. The king stays with his army in the "Paasarai" . The Sangam age poem of Nedunal vaadai is about the happenings when the king was in the Paasarai. There are many similar scenes in Sangam texts. The Greek Basil sounds similar to 'paasarai' which is identified with king. The pa- ba interchange had happened. From Tamil Paasarai > baasarai > basil> basileus.

The Tirayans, if they were the settlers of Tiryns, could not have had their way without some might. The Greek term for war sounds similar to the Tamil term for war. It is "polemos" (πόλεμος) or "polem" (πολεμ) to mean 'war' in Greek language. From this the English word Polemics had come. The Tamil word for war is "por". From Tamil por > polem> polemos > polemics.

A group of Tirayans settling down in a new place invariably means the family also coming with them. The Greek word for child seems to have been adapted from Tamil. It is "pais" (παῖς) or "paid" (παιδ) in Greek to mean boy or child. From this the English Paediatrics had come. The Tamil equivalent for boy is "Paiyan"! From Tamil Paiyan > Paid > Pais > Paediatrician has come.

Wherever people settle down, water is necessary. The Greek word for river sounds similar toTamil word. It is "Potamos" (ποταμός) or "potam" (ποταμ-) in Greek. From this words like Mesapatomia and Hippopotamus have come. The Tamil equivalent is Poikai, pOkku and Puthukku in old Tamil. From Tamil Pokku or Puthukku > Potam > Potamos > Hippopotamus.

Another important word connected with Tiryns is rock! The 13^th century BC fort of Tiryns is found built on a hill. It was surrounded by Mighty wall of rocks! So there must exist the Tamil word for rocks in Greek terminology. It does and it is "Petra" (πέτρα) or "petr" (πετρ). Similar sounding Tamil word is "Paarai" which refers to rocks and boulders. From Tamil Paarai > Petr > Petra . From this petroleum, petrology etc have come up.

The rocks and boulders have played an important role in Tiryns because the walls of this Tiryns fort are made up of huge rocks which cannot be lifted by ordinary human beings. Characterised as CYCLOPEAN MASONRY, old Greek records say that giants of super human strength had built these walls.

http://www.ancient.eu.com/image/465/

Here comes an interesting correlation again with Tamil sources. The people who built these walls of huge boulders were called as "CYCLOPS" . These people were described as having an eye on the forehead! Who is associated with an eye on the forehead? It is only in the Indian culture, that we talk about the 3^rd eye or the eye in the forehead. Lord Shiva sports an eye like this and therefore the believers or followers of Lord Shiva could have very well sported an image of an eye on the forehead.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Polyphemus.gif

The above image of Cyclops painted in 1802 shows the artist's limitations and lack of touch with symbolism related reality. No being can exist with a single on the forehead. But a Shiva worshiper could have proudly painted an eye on the forehead. Such Shiva worshipers or people connected with a legend of Shiva had lived in Tamil lands of yore whose descendants continue to live even today. Their name sounds similar to Cyclops, which is actually pronounced as "kuklops" (in ancient Greek - Κύκλωπες, Kuklōpes). The Tamil name is "KaikkOla" (கைக்கோளர்). Can this be a coincidence? Further probing shows that it is not.

KaikkOla means – Kai + KoLa = hand + to take = something done with the hand. The Cyclops of Tiryns depended on their hands to lift the boulders and constructed the mighty walls. The kaikkOla of Tamil lands also possessed the power of hands to do works that are daring, dangerous and unique. The 8^th or 9^th century CE Tamil lexicon called "Adhi Diwakaram" identifies them as "செங்குந்தப் படையார், சேனைத் தலைவர், தந்து வாயர், காருகர், கைக்கோளர்"

It means 'army of Senkunthas' (senkunthap padaiyaar), "Commander-in- chief", "weaver" (thanthuvaayar) "weaver" (kaarukar) and "kaikkOLar" who were body guards of the kings. There are some temple inscriptions on KaikkOlar belonging to the period between 8^th to 13^th century CE. There was a "Known KaikkOlar" (therintha KaikkOlar) mentioned in the inscriptions thereby showing that there were "unknown KaikkOlas" too in the past. They were supposed to be awesome in physical power and had vowed to safe guard the king and would not even mind laying down their life while guarding the king.

Their origins go to the times of Skanda who was reddish in colour. That is why they got the name "Senguntha" which means reddish people. Deep down in the south, in the sub tropical southern latitudes, the body colour is reddish and we had already seen about a verse from Valmiki Ramayana on Rohitas – the reddish people living in Southern latitudes. (Read Part 14).

The same people (Senguntha) also were known as "Kaikkola" had their beginnings connected with none other than Shiva and one of his lieutenants called Veera Bahu! The 14 – 15^th century Tamil work "Kanda Puranam" (Skand Purana in Tamil) traces their origin as follows:

"Legend says Lord Siva was enraged against the giants who harassed the people of the earth and sent forth six sparks of fire from his eyes. His wife, Parvati, was frightened, and retired to her chamber and in so doing, dropped nine beads from her anklets. Siva converted the beads into as many females, to each of whom was born a hero with full-grown moustaches and a dagger. These nine heroes, namely Viravagu, Virakesari, Viramahendrar, Viramaheshwar, Virapurandharar, Viraraakkathar, Viramaarthandar, Viraraanthakar and Veerathirar with Lord Subrahmanya at their head, marched in command of a large force, and destroyed the demons. Kaikolar claim to be the descendants of these warriors. After killing the demon, the warriors were told by Siva that they adopt a profession, which would not involve the destruction or injury of any living creature and weaving being such a profession, they were trained in it. Chithira valli, daughter of Virabahu, one of the above commanders was married to Musukunthan and gave birth to Angi Vanman. His descendants were claimed as first generation of Sengunthars. The above legend was also depicted by Adhi Saiva saint Kachiappa Sivachariyar of Kanchipuram around 14th to 15th century AD in his masterpiece Kanthapuranam." (7)

Being connected with Veerabahu who overcame giants, these Kaikkolas could have been oversized in physique and possessed more than ordinary strength. The Muchukuntha connection cannot be dismissed as a myth as Muchukuntha's name is associated with Pumpukaar and Indra Festival even before Cholas established their dynasty there. {According to the genealogy given in the Thiruvalankadu copper plate inscriptions, the Cholan dynasty was founded at Pumpukar by one Cholavarman coming in the lineage of Sibi whose ancestor was Muchukuntha. Cholavarman could have come from Cholisthan near Sivi in Pakistan. The river Kavery was not flowing at that time. It was a king by name Chitra -dhanvan who came later to Cholavarman, who brought Kavery from Kodagu with the aid of sage Agasthya, perhaps by breaking the hill which is in the shape of a Kumbha within which Kavery is seen as a spring. Geological research on the Kavery bed would reveal the real period of its flow and the period of origin of Chola dynasty. Muchukuntha remained for a brief period in Pumpukaar and consecrated 7 Shiva lingas in 7 places. They are known as Sapta Vidanga sthalas which continue to be foremost Shiva sthalas of Tamil lands.}

This Muchukuntha connection to KaikkOlas lends support to devotion for Lord Shiva. The Shiva connection could have resulted in them painting a third eye on the forehead. A group of them had accompanied Tirayan king who left for Greece after the deluge in South Indian Ocean in 1500 BC. This deluge resulted in the complete submergence of Kumari hills which was an extension of Western Ghats stretching upto Madagascar. The Tirayans with his KaikkOlas (body guards) could have gone round the African continent and entered the Mediterranean Sea and settled down in Tiryns which gained this name from the Tirayan.

The early sources for Homer et al were frightened by the prominent depiction of an eye on the forehead of these KaikkOlas and therefore had mentioned that alone which gave rise to an opinion later that they were single eyed. The phonetic similarity of KaikkOla and Cyclops and the hand based work connected to both lend support to this claim.

Adding credence to the theory of Kaikkolas who were earlier associated with Skanda as the ones who landed in Tiryns is the legend of HERA. Striking similarities with Tamil culture are seen in the perception of Hera as coming in the matriarchal order. (8 )

(1) This is similar to Meenakshi whom the Pandyans identified themselves with. The Pandyans were Chandra-vanshis – indicating Matriarchal lineage.

(2) The next similarity is that the son of Hera was ARES, who is identified as Mars God! This is same as Skanda the God of Mars. His mother was Meenakshi as per Pandyan genealogy.

(3) The next similarity is that according to Hellenistic imagery, Hera's chariot was pulled by peacocks – the birds not known to Greeks before the conquests of Alexander. Peacock is the carrier bird of Skanda and is abundantly found in Tamil lands. The presence of Hera images with peacock chariot in Greece coupled with the absence of this bird or knowledge of this bird in Greece until Alexander's invasion is a singular proof of migration of Skanda and Mars cult from Tamil lands to Greece through Tiryns. It was in Tiryns the first temples of Hera had appeared. Her son Ares – the God of Mars was adapted in Roman literature as Aries.

GAMMA ARIETIS was the first star of the Aries. It has a traditional name "Mesarthim" which no scholar of the West is capable of or ready to identify with Vedic Mesha! They even say that this name, Mesarthim is oldest and has no connection with any of their known sources of vocabulary or concepts.

Mesarthim or Gamma Arietis is underlined with a yellow line in the above illustration.

This name is obvious. This name says it all. This name makes it known that this was the Mesha, the first point of the Zodiac. The researchers do claim that this is traditional name but of obscure origin!! (9) But still they would like to look at Hebrew or Arabic sources to find connections which had not yet materialized (10). They would refuse to see the obvious presence in Vedic astrology and thus make a fool of themselves.

How this name could have come to Greece? Ares as the son of Hera is there at Tiryns. The Tirayans carried the legends of Vedic society and Shiva – Skanda cult to Greece. Skanda is always identified with Mesha, the details of which were explained in Part 14 . In due course the old connections with Tamil lands were forgotten but remained in the art of Tiryns, Mycenae and some other parts. We will continue to see them in the next article along with more Tirayan connection.

( To be continued)

Notes:

(1) இனி இடைச் சங்கமிருந்தோர் அகத்தியனாரும், தொல்காப்பியனாரும், இருந்தையூர்க் கருங்கோழியும், மோசியும், வெள்ளூர்க் காப்பியனும், சிறு பாண்டரங்கனும், திரையன் மாறனும், துவரைக் கோனும், கீரந்தையுமென இத்தொடக்கத்தார் ஐம்பத்தொன்பதின்பரென்ப"

(From Irayanaar agapporuL urai)

(2) "உப்பக்க நோக்கி உபகேசி தோள் மணந்தான்
உத்தர மாமதுரைக்கு அச்சு என்ப"

By Nal koor VELviyaar.

Read the complete article in http://www.tamilhindu.com/2009/12/who-is-nappinnai/

(3) "இருநிலம் கடந்த திரு மறு மார்பின்

முந்நீர் வண்ணன் பிறங்கடை, அந்நீர்த்

திரை தரு மரபின்"

(Perum paaNaaRRup padai – lines 29 to 31)

Commentary by Nacchinaarkkiniyar:-

அந்நீர்(30) திரை தரு மரபின் (31)பல்வேல் திரையன் (37)-அக்கடலின் திரை கொண்டுவந்த ஏறவிட்ட மரபாற் பலவேற்படையினையுடைய திரையனென்னும் பெயரைஉடையவன், என்றதனால், நாகபட்டினத்துச் சோழன் பிலத்துவாரத்தால் நாகலோகத்தே சென்று நாககன்னியைப் புணர்ந்த காலத்து அவள் யான் பெற்ற புதல்வனை என்செய்வே னென்றபொழுது, தொண்டையை அடையாளமாக் கட்டிக் கடலிலே விட அவன் வந்து கரையேறின் அவற்கு யான் அரசவுரிமையை எய்துவித்து நாடாட்சி கொடுப்பலென்று, அவன் கூற, அவளும் புதல்வனை அங்ஙனம் வரவிடத் ¹திரை தருதலின் திரையனென்று பெயர்பெற்ற கதை கூறினார்.