Award for my book 'Ramanuja Ithihasam' (Tamil)

Received an award on 23-11-2025 for my book "Ramanuja Itihasam" (Tamil version), from Justice P.N. Prakash, instituted by Kalaimagal magazine in collaboration with Tejas Foundation and Sri Krishna Foundation.

A total of six books were given awards under Literature and Bhakti literature categories chosen from among 192 books they received for the contest. My thanks to the publisher

@SwasamP

@haranprasanna

for sending my book to the contest. My thanks to all those who helped me in making this book. I consider this award as Acharya anugraham. Ramanujacharya got this done through me. He will never let his devotee down. That is the thought in my mind at the moment.

The book for which I received the award.

The book can be bought HERE

Reported in Dinamalar on 24th Nov, 2025

My books available in Coimbatore Book Fair

Attention all book lovers in Coimbatore! The Coimbatore Book Festival 2025 is currently underway at the CODISSIA Trade Fair Complex on Avinashi Road, and it's a must-visit event for anyone passionate about reading and literature.

The festival, which started on July 18, will run until July 27, from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM daily. With over 250 stalls showcasing a wide range of books across genres and languages, you're bound to find something that piques your interest.

If you're looking for my books, pay a visit to Stall Number 318, run by "Padaippaalargal Sangamam" (படைப்பாளர்கள் சங்கமம்). 

Here is the list of my books exhibited there:

1. ஆண்டாள் தமிழும், அறியாத வைரமுத்துவும்

2. ஆதித்த கரிகாலனைக் கொன்றது யார்?

3. ராமானுஜ இதிகாசம் 

4. முதல் வேத ஹோமம் யாரால், எப்பொழுது செய்யப்பட்டது?

5. Mahabharata 3136 BCE

6. Ramanuja Itihasa 

Operation Sindoor: Creators Association Pays Homage to Indian Army's Dedication and Bravery

I was honoured to participate in the felicitation ceremony and seminar held on June 15, 2025, in Chennai, organized by the Creators Association (படைப்பாளர்கள் சங்கமம்). The event was a tribute to the Indian Army soldiers who demonstrated unwavering dedication and bravery during Operation Sindoor, ensuring national security. As an author and researcher, I felt privileged to be part of this initiative, which aimed to recognize and appreciate the selfless service and sacrifices of our soldiers.

During the ceremony, we paid tribute to the Indian Army's unshakeable resolve and the soldiers' heroism, which serves as a testament to their commitment to protecting the nation. Their courage, loyalty, and sense of duty inspire us to reflect on the values that they embody. We remain forever grateful for their service and sacrifices, which have not only ensured our safety but also instilled a sense of pride and security in our nation.

The event was presided by Sri. Nalli Kuppusamy and participated by many well-known writers and publishers. The event was a poignant reminder of the importance of acknowledging and honouring the contributions of our soldiers, who work tirelessly behind the scenes to keep us safe.

As a participant, I was deeply moved by the stories of bravery and sacrifice shared during the ceremony, and I feel grateful to have been a part of this meaningful initiative and present a talk on Dharma Yuddha angle of the Operation Sindoor by citing references from the Ramayana.  

The news report in 'Ore Naadu' magazine (click the pic to enlarge)

The event was reported in Organiser Magazine and specifically mentioned my reference to Tilak / Sindoor in the Ramayana. 

My speech can be heard here:

My talk about Macaulay education in Vettaiyan movie (Dinamalar channel)

My speech in the Dinamalar video.

I have talked about the education system introduced by Macaulay which continues to this day. Macaulay's aim was religious conversion. Macaulay has written that not a single Hindu or Muslim will remain in India in the next 30 years with the education policy he brought. He also wrote that the time was ripe to convert all Indians into to Anglo-Indians.

His methodology was three-fold: (1) Make Indians to think like the westerner though they may remain Indian in blood and colour. (2) Make Indians look at their scriptures such as Vedas from western prism. (3) Make Indians look at their regional languages and culture from western outlook.

To achieve the first, he replaced the then existing self-sufficient education system by English education to cater to his clerical needs. 

The achieve the second, he asked Max Muller to interpret the Vedas from a Western perspective, Max Muller fulfilled his wish by inventing Aryan invasion in the Vedas and made Indians believe that Aryans came from Europe to conquer the Indians. Brahmins were the residual Aryans, according to them.

His third aim was fulfilled by Caldwell who taught us that Tamil was Dravidian and that our culture was Dravidian who were driven out by the Aryans from their habitat in the Indus. 

Macaulay, Max Muller, and Caldwell were the Tri-Murthi-s who destroyed Indian education and culture. I discussed these details with data on how the old education system was self sufficient and how it was destroyed.

Macaulay's education led to a situation where one has to pay to get education. Not everyone got education. Mahatma Gandhi had said that at the Round Table Conference in 1931 and also highlighted how it increased the poverty level.

Mahakavi Bharathiar wrote in his autobiography how the Macaulay education ruined him. His father sent him to study in that educational system, but it was expensive; he did not gain knowledge, 

To show the world what Gandhiji had said then, that the English had destroyed the roots of our 'beautiful tree' of education, Dharampal titled his book as 'The Beautiful Tree' in which he compiled all the available evidence on how the Indian education system worked wonderfully until the British destroyed it. To the best of my ability, in the time available, I have explained how we had progressed in many fields like astronomy, astrology, sculpture, weaving, etc.

I also talked about the economic growth in the past 2000 years as given by an English economist named Madison. According to his statement, from the year 1 of the Common Era to 1820, we were creating 45% of the world's production. After the advent of Macaulay education, our industries collapsed. 

The video can be watched here:

Was Lord Macaulay responsible for education for all? (Tamil Janam TV)

The recently released movie 'Vettaiyan' starring with super hero-s like Rajinikanth and Amitabh Bachchan created a stir by the opening verse on Lord Macauley that he was responsible for bringing education for all which was denied until then. I was asked about the veracity of this observation and my replies were telecast by Janam TV (Tamil) channel. 

I bring out the facts about the existence of a national universal education throughout India for ages which was uprooted by Macaulay. It resulted in closure of traditional schools and impoverished the masses. This also gave rise to child labour for the first time in India. How that happened can be learnt from my interview here: 

Is the comet C/2023/A3 a warning from Bhagavan Venkateshwara?

 A comet is going to appear in our skies after 80,000 years.

Named as C/2023/A3(Tsuchinshan- ATLAS), this comet is making a brief but spectacular appearance in October for about 9 days. The appearance of this comet coinciding with the month of Purattasi (Virgo) which is auspicious for the worship of Bhagavan Venkateshwara, a question arises whether this comes as  a fore-warning or a signal to us in the wake of adulteration of ghee with animal fats in the preparation of Laddu Prasada in Thirumala.

Since such kind of mundane results are indicated by the ancient rishis and recorded in Brihat Samhita by Varahamihira, I picked out such kind of results indicated for this comet when I was asked in a brief interview in Thanthi TV. It can be watched below:

Following this interview in Tamil, I received requests from viewers to give detailed information about this comet and the Sanatan views on comets. The videos I created as a result in Tamil and English are given below.

Tamil version 

English version 

My talk about Nalanda University - the historical and the present (ChanakyaTV)

Watch and share my interview given to @ChanakyaaTv about the beginnings of Nalanda University, the Buddha and Mahavira connection, the people who studied there and the subjects taught there.

 

Its vihara-s and archaeological findings are also explained. Also spoken about how Nalanda served as an international University by attracting students from SE Asian countries who had taken a course in Sanskrit in Srivijaya (Sumatra) before coming to Nalanda. The probability of people from Tamil speaking regions attending this University is discussed based on inputs from Silappadhikaram and Manimekalai. Kumarila Bhatta's case is cited to show how Brahmins could never be implicated with destroying places of learning such as Nalanda.

Nalanda suffered raids in the 6th and the 7th century which were contained well in time. However, the 3rd raid in the 12th century was a result of bigotry by Bakthiyar Khilji who killed all the persons in the university seen with a shaven head. This is an obvious reference to the Bhikshus of the Buddhist order which was erroneously recorded by the contemporary historian of Persian origin as Brahmins. The 3 buildings of the Dharmaganja containing libraries, of which Ratnodadhi, a 9-storeyed building, housing lakhs of manuscripts were all reduced to ashes by Khilji setting fire to them.

The escape of a few Bhikshus with some manuscripts to Tibet could save only a fraction of the manuscripts stored in Nalanda. What happened to Khilji after that is discussed further. In the course of the talk, I have given the probability of Vedic deities becoming part of Tantric Buddhism and taken to East Asian countries upto Japan in modified iconography. The astronomy /astrology of Vedic society also was taken to East Asian countries, a visage of which is seen in the 60-year cycle of Barhaspatyamana found in Tibet and China in their language. I also talked about the background of the revival of Nalanda University, the issues in restoring its past glory and the probable ways in which the University can be developed in the coming decades.

The talk is in Tamil. English version will be released soon with more info.

My talk about Yoga and International Yoga Day (Mediyaan News)

Today is International Yoga Day. Watch the video where I talk about it.

I have given evidence from Tholkappiyam and temple architecture that Tamil people were practicing yoga from an undated past. The Siddha-s practiced yoga. The origins of Yoga can be traced to Valakhilya-s and to Dhruva even before them. By the prevalence of an asana by name Valakhilyasana, we understand the description about them in the Mahabharata on how they did tapas by hanging from tree-branches. With one leg bent around a branch, they stretched their body upside down and balanced with their hands holding the other leg.

Yoga, as part of Astika darshana-s is attributed to rishi Patanjali and practiced as Ashtanga yoga in a comfortable asana for the sake of Realisation of the Ultimate Reality. Today we have adopted the asana feature alone as a means of bettering our health. In his maiden speech in the UN Assembly in 2014, our PM, Modi suggested Yoga to overcome many a life-style problems of the current times. It was welcomed by a record number of countries and resulted in observing International Yoga Day every year on 21^st June. This date happens to be the day of summer solstice when daytime is the longest in the northern hemisphere.

Though our country had released coins and stamps in connection with this day, the UN also released 10 stamps with pictures of asanas and OM next to them. 

Though certain communities resisted the use of OM and Namaskar in the poses, it must be remembered that the upper echelons of those communities have no problem in learning and practising Yoga in its original form. Even the Gulf countries have added Yoga in their school curriculum.

In the current times, Yogasana was popularised by Thirumalai Krishnamachari who received the knowledge from his remote ancestor, Sriman Nadamunigal, through trance. Nadamunigal himself was a beneficiary of Yogic practice that he received 4000 Divya Prabhandam-s of Azhwars by focusing on the verses of Madhurakavi Azhwar in praise of Nammazhwar. Nammazhwar himself was a yogi seated in Padmasana in which state he could see Vishnu in different kshetras.

With such amazing events seen in our country, it is surprising to see archaeological finds in Mexico in yogic postures. I talk about these poses in Olmec and Tlatilco cultures that thrived 3000 years ago. 

The Indus region in Bharat has much older evidence of seals with images in Yogic asanas and even a skeleton unearthed in Yogic samadhi. 

The Mexican evidence perhaps can be traced to Mayan who built the city and palace for the Pandavas in the Mahabharata 5000 years ago before he moved out of Bharat.

I wind up this talk with an appeal to learn yoga from a trained teacher and practice it regularly for a healthy life. Please watch this talk which is in Tamil and share.  

Presented my books to the Governor of Tamilnadu

On Friday, the 24th of May, 2024, Thiruvallur's birth day was celebrated by the Honorable Governor of Tamilnadu, Shri. R.N.Ravi at the Raj Bhavan. It was the day of Anusham in the month of Vaikasi. This day of birth star of Thiruvallur is also celebrated in the Thiruvallur temple in Mylapore. This star and the month were also accepted as the birth star and the birth month of Thiruvallur in a meeting headed by Maraimalai Adigal in 1935.

For reasons best known to him, the former Chief Minister, Shri. M. Karunanidhi declared that Thiruvallur's birth day must be celebrated on the 2nd day of Thai month. This has caused deep consternation in the minds of people. As if to assuage the feelings of the informed public, the Governor initiated the observance of the birthday on Tiruvaḷḷuvar on Anusham in the month of Vaikasi which happened to fall on the 24th of May this year.

He invited a select number of scholars for this occasion celebrated on the evening of the 24th. 

I also received the invitation and decided to present six of my books to him. I hurriedly prepared 'Ramayana 5114 BCE' on which I had already started working. I made a shorter version of the book with 10 issues in Part-I and the dating details in Part-II. I printed only limited copies to be given to the Governor and other dignitaries. A longer version with three parts covering more issues will be published in three months about which I will make an announcement. 

On that evening, I got the opportunity to meet the Governor to present my books.

The books are 

1. Ramayana 5114 BCE

2. Mahabharata 3136 BCE

3. Ramanuja Itihasa

4. Date of Adi Shankara 148 BCE

5. When was the first Vedic homa done?

6. Who killed Aditya Karikala?

While giving, I told him specifically about the Ramayana book that it contains Tamil connection to the Ramayana. He said that he would read.

The programme went on with 'Villu Pattu', a ppt presentation on Tiruvaḷḷuvar and a couple of speeches. The Governor talked about his acquaintance with a specific Kurl as early as 1964 when he was in his 9th standard. The first book he received on becoming the Governor of Tamilnadu was Thirukkural which inspired him greatly that he has become a sishya of Tiruvaḷḷuvar. He hosted the birthday of Tiruvaḷḷuvar as a disciple of Tiruvaḷḷuvar.

A sumptuous dinner was hosted at the end of the celebration in which various dishes made of different grains were served.

The occasion offered me opportunity to meet many scholars. On my part I was happy to have given my books to the Governor.

For the curiosity of readers, let me give the wrapper of the book 'Ramayana 5114 BCE' and the Content page.

List of my books published so far..

Here is the list of my books published so far. 

1. Mahabharata 3136 BCE (English)-  https://jayasreesaranathan.blogspot.com/2021/11/published-my-new-book-mahabharata-3136.html (Rs. 450)

2. Ramanuja Itihasa (English)- https://jayasreesaranathan.blogspot.com/2022/04/chapter-wise-content-of-my-new-book.html (Rs. 400)

3. Ramanuja Itihasa (Tamil) - Rs. 380

4. Myth of the Epoch of Arundhati of Nilesh Nilkanth Oak (English) - https://jayasreesaranathan.blogspot.com/2021/12/myth-of-epoch-of-arundhati-of-nilesh.html (Rs.200)

5. When was the First Vedic Homa done? (English) - https://jayasreesaranathan.blogspot.com/2021/12/my-book-when-was-first-vedic-homa-done.html (Rs. 40)

6. When was the First Vedic Homa done? (Tamil) - Rs. 50

7. Oral Cancer: Astrological Prediction and Remedies  (English) - https://jayasreesaranathan.blogspot.com/2021/08/paper-back-edition-of-my-book-oral.html (Rs. 230)

8. ஆண்டாள் தமிழும் அறியாத வைரமுத்துவும் (Tamil) - https://jayasreesaranathan.blogspot.com/2019/09/my-book-critiquing-vairamuthus-article.html (Rs. 50) 

9. Who Killed Aditya Karikala? The Historical facts of Ponniyin Selvan (English) - Rs. 140

10. Who Killed Aditya Karikala? (Tamil)-  https://jayasreesaranathan.blogspot.com/2023/07/print-version-of-my-book.html - Rs, 175

11. Date of Adi Shankara 148 BCE (English) - Rs. 75

12. Epoch of Arundhati: A critique (eBook) 

Those willing to buy these books can drop a mail to me jayasreebooks@gmail.com

The books are distributed within India only.

The shipping cost depends on the weight of the books selected and it will be nominal. 

I will inform you of the shipping cost after you select the books.

The books will be sent as Registered Parcel through India Post.

The amount can be paid through Gpay or Phonepe or PayTm to the number provided by email.

Mahabharata and Ramanuja Itihasa (English) can be purchased from Hindu eshop too. 

Here is the link: https://www.hindueshop.com/author/jayasree-saranathan/

I am looking for book stores to sell my books throughout India.

Any help and suggestions in this regard are welcome by contacting me through email given above. 

Publications by Jayasree Saranathan

Is it necessary to celebrate Women's Day? (My talk in Twitter Spaces)

Should we in India need a special day for women, namely, the International Women's day? 

This question might sound provocative, particularly after I received a citation honouring me on the Women's Day. I am very much agreeable to honoring the hard work and contribution of any one - irrespective of being a woman or man. But thinking of the underlying concept of the International Women's Day, I have certain reservations.

The International Women's Day was adopted by the UN sometime in the 80s with specific goals such as gender equality, reproductive rights and to stop violence and abuse against women. While I am in complete agreement with the last two, the idea of gender equality is misleading. Man and woman are unique in their own ways and cannot be made equal to each other. By gender equality, the woman is made to do works that men do, in addition to the works that she alone can do as a woman. The woman is brainwashed to think that she can be a Super Woman and a Super Mom which in reality increases the burden on her. 

The Women's day was conceived in the western society where women were not treated well. They lacked the voting right even in places like Switzerland until 1971. In India, women were worshiped as Goddesses for any kind of prosperity. Moreover, if we monetise the work they do as mothers and home-makers, that runs into trillions of dollars. They are responsible for creating the future generations of the country. 

With such thoughts in my mind I suggested a title, 'Should we need to celebrate the Women's Day?' when I was invited to be the guest speaker in Twitter Spaces on the evening of 10th March, 2024. 

Many women and men joined the discussion. Smt. Uma Anandan, the BJP councilor of T. Nagar constituency also joined towards the end of the discussion. Interestingly,  none voiced against this view given by me. All those who participated talked along with the same lines as mine. The recorded version of the session can be accessed here: 

https://twitter.com/i/spaces/1PlKQDkVONkxE?s=20

Related article:

Housewives worth a trillion dollars - by Prof. R. Vaidhyanathan

ஆழ்வார்கள் வாக்கில் செங்கோல்

பரம காருணிகனான ஸர்வேச்வரன், மாந்தர் எவ்வாறு நடந்து கொள்ள வேண்டும், என்ன செய்ய வேண்டும் என்பது போன்ற பல விஷயங்களையும் அறிவிக்க சாஸ்திரங்களை ஸ்ருஷ்டித்து, அவற்றின்படி நடக்க வேண்டும் என்ற ஆஜ்ஞையையும் பிறப்பித்துள்ளான். அந்த ஆஜ்ஞையின் உருவகமே செங்கோல்!

செங்கோல் குறித்து பலவிதமாகக் கேள்விப்படும் இந்தக் காலக்கட்டத்தில், அதிலும், மன்னர்தம் கையில் மாண்புடன் இருக்கும் செங்கோல், மக்களாட்சிக்கு எதற்கு என்றும் மக்கள் கேட்கும் இந்த நேரத்தில் நாம் நினைவு கூர்வது நீள்மதிள் அரங்கத்தாமானின் கையில் இருக்கும் நீண்ட செங்கோல்தான்.

ஆள்பவன் எவனோ அவன் தண்டதாரியாக இருக்க வேண்டும் என்று பீஷ்மர், பாண்டவர்களிடம் சொல்வார். பிரபஞ்சத்தையே ஆளும் பகவான் கையில் செங்கோல் இருப்பது மிகவும் பொருத்தமானது. அதையே தர்ம-தண்டம் என்று பீஷ்மர் பலவிதமாக விவரித்துள்ளார். திருவள்ளுவனாரும் அந்தணர் நூற்கும் அறத்திற்கும் ஆதியாய் நிற்பது மன்னவன் செங்கோல் என்கிறார். எனில் அமரருக்கும் மன்னனான ஆதிபிரான் ஏந்தியிருக்கும் செங்கோலின் பெருமையை என்னென்று சொல்வது? அப்படிப்பட்ட செங்கோலைப் பற்றி ஆழ்வார்கள் எங்கேனும் சொல்லியிருக்கிறார்களா என்ற ஆர்வம் எழுவது இயற்கைதான். அவ்வாறு தேடும் போது, பன்னிரண்டு இடங்களில் செங்கோல் பற்றின விவரம் கிடைக்கிறது.

ஆண்டாள் கண்ட செங்கோல்

திருவரங்கத்துச் செல்வன் வரவை எதிர்பார்த்துக் காத்திருக்கும் ஆண்டாள் நாச்சியார், அவன் கையில் சங்கு, சக்கரம் ஆகியவற்றுடன் செங்கோலும் இருக்கிறது. அவற்றுடன் பிரிவாற்றாமையால் கழன்ற தனது கை வளையும் அல்லவோ இருக்கிறது என்று அரற்றும் போது,

“செங்கோலுடைய திருவரங்கச் செல்வனார்

எம்கோல் வளையால் இடை தீர்வர் ஆகாதே?” (நாச்-திரு: 11-3)

என்கிறாள். தன் வளையல் கழலும் அளவுக்கு பிரிவாற்றாமை என்னும் நோயைக் கண்ணன் கொடுத்தால், அவன் செங்கோல் சிறந்தது என்று சொல்லவா முடியும்? இதையே நம்மாழ்வார், திருவிருத்தத்தில் 25 -ஆவது பாசுரத்தில்,

“எம் கோல் வளை முதலா கண்ணன் மண்ணும் விண்ணும் அளிக்கும்

செங்கோல் வளைவு விளைவிக்குமால்”

என்கிறார். தலைவியின் துயரத்தைப் பற்றிப் பேசும் இடத்தில், நியாயம் தவறாமல் இருக்க வேண்டிய செங்கோல், பகவானின் திருத்துழாயின் தண்மையை எதிர் நோக்கியிருந்த தலைவிக்குக் குளிர் காற்றுக்குப் பதிலாக உஷ்ணக் காற்றடித்து, தலைவியைக் கண்ணீர் விடச் செய்தது. அதனால் அவளது நிறமே மாறி விட்டது என்கிறார். இதைச் சொல்லும் போது, செங்கோலை நினைவுபடுத்துகிறார் நம்மாழ்வார்.

“பனிப்பு இயல்வாக உடைய தண் வாடை இக்காலம் இவ் ஊர்ப்

பனிப்பு இயல்பு எல்லாம் தவிர்ந்து எரி விசும் அம் தண்ணம் துழாய்ப்

பனிப்புயல் சோரும் தடங்கண்ணி மாமைத் திறத்துக்கொலாம்

பனிப்புயல் வண்ணன் செங்கோல் ஒருநான்று தடாவியதே” (திருவிருத்தம்: 5)

பக்தைக்கு அருள் பாலிக்காமல் நோகடித்த பனிப்புயல் வண்ணனான மேக வர்ணக் கண்ணனது செங்கோல் வளைந்தது. தவறிழத்தவர்களைத் தண்டிக்கும் போது செங்கோல் நிமிர்கிறது. ஆனால் அன்பனாய்த் தன்னை அடைந்தவரை அரவணைக்காதபோது அவன் செங்கோல் வளைகிறது. ஆனால் அப்படி அவன் வளையவிட மாட்டான் என்பதுதான் இங்கு உள்ளிடைப் பொருளாகக் காட்டுவது. என்றுமே அவன் செங்கோல் வளையாதது.

இந்த மூன்று இடங்களைத் தவிர பிற இடங்களில், மன்னர்தம் செங்கோலாகவும், வேறுவிதமாகவும் அருளிச் செயல் காட்டுகிறது.

 

செங்கோலும், மன்னர் நீதியும்

நான்காவதாக நாம் காட்டும் செங்கோல், பரமேஸ்வர விண்ணகரம் பணிந்த, பல்லவர் கோன் ஏந்தின செங்கோலாகும்.

வெண் குடை நீழல் செங்கோல் நடப்ப

      விடை வெல் கொடி வேல்-படை முன் உயர்த்த

பண்பு உடைப் பல்லவர்-கோன் பணிந்த

      பரமேச்சுரவிண்ணகரம்-அதுவே   

(பெரிய திருமொழி: 2-9-6)

செங்கோல் ஏந்தினாலும், மண்ணுலகாளும் மன்னன், பரமேஸ்வரன் முன் பணிவான்.  

ஐந்தாவதாக நாம் பார்க்க இருப்பது, கண்ணன் தூது சென்றபோது துரியோதனாதியர் செங்கோலோச்சி வீற்றிருந்த  தகைமையைத் திருமங்கையாழ்வார் சொன்ன பாங்கு.

“போது ஆர் தாமரையாள் புலவி குல வானவர்-தம்

கோதா கோது இல் செங்கோல் குடை மன்னர் இடை நடந்த

தூதா தூ மொழியாய் சுடர்போல் என் மனத்து இருந்த

வேதா நின் அடைந்தேன்-திருவிண்ணகர் மேயவனே”

(பெரிய திருமொழி: 6-2-9)

குற்றமில்லாத செங்கோலுடைய மன்னர் என்று துரியோதனாதியரைச் சொன்னது, கண்ணனது தூதுச் செய்திக்கு நியாயமான பதில் கிடைக்கும் என்ற எதிர்பார்ப்பில்தான்.

ஆறாவதாக நாம் பார்க்க இருப்பதும் செங்கோல் ஏந்திய அரசன் ஒருவன், இறைவன் தாள் பணிந்தான் என்பதே.

“செங்கோல் வலவன் தாள் பணிந்து ஏத்தித் திகழும் ஊர்-

நம் கோன் நறையூர்-நாம் தொழுதும் எழு நெஞ்சமே”

(பெரிய திருமொழி: 6-4-3)   

நீதி வழுவா அரசனும், எல்லோருக்கும் நீதிமானான ஸர்வேஸ்வரனைப் பணிவன் என்பதைக் காட்டும் வண்ணம், செங்கோல் தரித்தமை காட்டப்பட்டுள்ளது.

இனி நாம் காட்டும் விவரங்கள் எல்லாம் திருவிருத்தத்தில் காணப்படுவன.

 

திருவிருத்தத்தில் செங்கோல்

‘தடாவிய அம்பும்’ எனத்தொடங்கும் 6-ஆவது பாசுரத்தில், ‘மதன செங்கோல்’ என்று சொல்லப்பட்டுள்ளது. மதன செங்கோல் என்றால் காமதேவனாகிய மன்மதனுடைய ஆஜ்ஞை என்று அர்த்தம். செங்கோல் என்பது ஆஜ்ஞையைக் காட்டுவது என்றே உரையாசிரியர்கள் கூறியுள்ளார்கள்.

யார் ஆஜ்ஞை செய்கிறார்களோ அவர்கள் செங்கோல் ஆள்வதாகக் கொள்ளவேண்டும் என்பதைத் திருவிருத்தம் 13-ஆவது பாடலில் காண்கிறோம்.

“தனி வளர் செங்கோல் நடாவு தழல் வாய் அரசு அவிய

பனி வளர் செங்கோல் இருள் வீற்றிருந்து பார் முழுதும்”

வெப்பத்தைப் பரப்பும் சூரியன் பகலில் செங்கோல் ஓச்சுகிறான். குளுமையைப் பரப்பும் இருள் இரவில் செங்கோல் ஓச்சுகிறான்.

திருவிருத்தம் 33- ஆவது பாசுரத்தில் சுவாரசியமான ஒரு விவரம் வருகிறது. அருள் தரும் திருச் சக்கரத்தால் ஆகாயத்தையும், பூமியையும், அந்தகாரமான அஜ்ஞானம் என்னும் இருளையும், பாவங்களையும் கெடச் செய்யும் செங்கோல் எங்கிறார் ஆழ்வார்.

“அருள் ஆர் திருச் சக்கரத்தால் அகல் விசும்பும் நிலனும்

இருள் ஆர் வினை கெட செங்கோல் நடாவுதிர்”

சக்கரத்தையும் செங்கோலையும் சேர்த்துச் சொல்லவே, செங்கோலின் அமைப்பில் சக்கரம் இடம்பெற்றிருக்குமோ என்னும் எண்ணம் வருகிறது. இறைவனது ஆணையின் வெளிப்பாடாகத் திகழும் செங்கோலில், அவனது ஆணையைச் செய்யும் திருச் சக்கரம் உச்சியில் வீற்றிருப்பது பொருத்தமே.

திருவிருத்தப்பா 77-இல் செங்கோல் என்ற சொல் சூரியனது ஆஜ்ஞை என்ற பொருளில் வருகிறது.

“திங்கள் அம் பிள்ளை புலம்ப தன் செங்கோல் அரசு பட்ட

செங் களம் பற்றி நின்று”

திங்கள் என்னும் சந்திரன் புலம்பும் வண்ணம் சூரியன் தன் செங்கோல் ஓச்சினது என்று இந்தப் பாசுரம் கூறுகிறது.

அடுத்து 80-ஆவது பாசுரத்தில், செங்கோல் கொண்டு அரசாளும் மன்னர் சிலகாலம் கழித்து மறைவர், சூரியன் மறைவது போல என்கிறார் நம்மாழ்வார்.

“சீர் அரசு ஆண்டு தன் செங்கோல் சில நாள் செலீஇக் கழிந்த

பார் அரசு ஒத்து மறைந்தது நாயிறு”

என்றுமே அழியாத செங்கோல் பகவானது செங்கோல்தான்.

அந்த எண்ணம்தான் மன்னராட்சியிலும், மக்களாட்சியிலும் ஓங்கி இருக்க வேண்டும். சூரியன் மறைந்து, தோன்றுவதைப் போல, மக்களை ஆள்பவர்களும், மறைந்தும், மாறிக் கொண்டும் இருப்பர். ஆனால் மாறாமல் இருப்பது சர்வேஸ்வரனுடைய செங்கோல். எங்கு, யாருக்கு, எதை, எப்படித் தருவது என்பது அவனது செங்கோலுக்கு மட்டுமே தெரியும். 25-ஆவது திருவிருத்தப்பாவில் சொல்வது போல குளுமையைத் தராமல் உஷ்ணத்தைத் தந்தாலும், எதற்கு நாம் தகுதியோ அதைத்தான் பகவான் தருவான் என்பதை ஆழ்வார் நமக்குக் காட்டுகிறார்.

 

வ்ருஷபம் என்னும் தர்ம தேவதை

அந்தச் செங்கோல் சக்கராயுதம் போல நீதி தவறாதது. அது ஒரு வ்ருஷபத்தைக் கொண்டிருக்கலாமோ என்று கேட்பின், பாகவத புராணத்தில் பரீக்ஷித் மஹாராஜா தர்ம தேவதையின் உருவில் இருந்த வ்ருஷபத்துடன் உரையாடினதை நினைவிற்குக் கொண்டு வருவோம். தர்ம தேவதை வ்ருஷபத்தின் உருவில் நான்கு கால்களில் நிற்கக்கூடியது. ஆனால் கலி யுகத்தில் மூன்று கால்கள் அடிபட்டுப் போய்விட்டன. அடிபட்டு விழுந்த வ்ருஷபம் எழுந்து நிற்க பரீக்ஷித் தர்மத்தை நிலைநாட்டினான். அதைத்தான் எக்காலத்திலும் ஆள்வோரும், மக்களும் கடைபிடிக்க வேண்டும். அதுவே தெய்வத்தின் ஆஜ்ஞை என்பதே செங்கோல் பற்றி ஆழ்வார்கள் காட்டும் கருத்தாகும்.

 

Received International Women's day Award

This is to share with my readers that I was honoured by Swadeshi Jagran Manch, Chennai Chapter, on the International Women's Day, 2024. In a function conduced at the Kamakoti Hall in Sri Krishna Gana Sabha, T.Nagar, they honored women from different fields. I express my thanks to whoever have nominated my name for this award. It is an acknowledgement of my research work towards serving Sanatana Dharma and is truly motivational. 

Me receiving the citation from Dr. Usha Sriram, Mr. Murali and Smt. Lakshmi Menon

Sengol’s a tradition that goes back to Mahabharata and Harappan... (My article in Firstpost)

Sengol’s a tradition that goes back to Mahabharata and before: How Modi connects new India with ancient past

Prime Minister Narendra Modi carries the 'Sengol' in a procession before installing it in the Lok Sabha chamber at the inauguration of the new Parliament building, in New Delhi, on 28 May, 2023. PTI

From terming the events leading to the handing over of the Sengol to Jawaharlal Nehru as ‘baseless fiction’ to the denial of its importance in the transfer of power, the Sengol continues to dominate the narrative to whitewash the adverse publicity it got as the ‘walking stick’ of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. Additionally, there is the worry about it being capable of invoking Tamil pride with the elections just a year away. The anxiety of the Congress is evident from the assertion of the TNCC president, KS Alagiri: “Nehru did not prostrate before the Sengol like Modi did. Sengol was crafted by jewellers and given by Adheenakarthars, and so it is not an appropriate symbol for showing reverence to Tamil Nadu or Tamil culture, as the BJP claims to be doing.”

Since a fact-check of the events on 14 August, 1947 is being done by all and sundry, let us focus on the lesser-known facts on certain issues doing rounds. First of all, Sengol was not the prerogative of the Cholas alone. It was also held by the other two Tamil dynasties, namely Chera and Pandya. To be more precise, it was held by all kings across India. This is not to mean that it signified monarchy, rather it was a representation of the Rule of Law or Righteousness. It was known as ‘Dharma Danda’ and expressed so at several places in the Mahabharata.

The earliest talk about it comes from the Ikshvaku king Mandhatri who wanted to know the origin of chastisement. The rules of chastisement known as ‘Danda-Niti’ were associated with the display of a weapon – an upright weapon to ensure justice for all. Those rules were described by Bhishma from an episode on Pururavas, stating that Kshatriyas were created for ruling the earth and for wielding ‘Danda’ – the Rod of chastisement.

The same was repeated by Vyasa to Yudhishthira when he was about to take up the rule of the country. Vyasa listed out twelve things for kshatriyas, of which wielding ‘the rod of punishment’ (Danda-dharanam) was the foremost. “Strength must always reside in a Kshatriya, and upon strength depends chastisement,” said Vyasa. In the same context, Arjuna said, “The man armed with the rod of chastisement governs all subjects and protects them. The rod of chastisement is awake when all else is sleep. For this, the wise have characterised the rod of chastisement to be Righteousness (Dharma) itself.”

Arjuna further elaborated on the contexts where the rod of chastisement was to be used – such as for the protection of wealth, to desist people from sinful behaviour and to discourage actions that bring censure from society.

Thus, basically, the Danda is a staff or a rod or a mace or some stick that is held upright to signify the delivery of what is just and right to everyone without any discrimination. The Kshatriya was chosen due to the strength he possesses to rule and enforce the rule of law. One may ask why not others, but only a Kshatriya. This was asked by Yudhishthira to Bhishma who gave the answer in the affirmative. It was perfectly agreeable if someone from the other orders take up the role and restore the rule of law for the protection of the oppressed, said Bhishma (Mbh: 12-79). It is here we find the importance of wielding the Danda for upholding the law of the land. This makes the very idea of Sengol relevant for our times also and not as a relic of a monarchy.

It is a symbol of authority in a democracy as it was in a monarchy. It is part of the national identity much like the national flag. How many of you know that there is a look-alike of the Sengol (Danda) in the Harappan seals? One can see it in the front of the unicorn in the numerous Harappan seals. Iravatham Mahadevan has done a detailed study of this image in his paper, ‘The cult object on Unicorn seals: A sacred Filter,’ presented in a seminar in Tokyo in 1983. In this paper, he published some rare images of the Indus seals, of which one particular image resembled a paraphrenia of a king or a leader with what appeared to be a Sengol.

In the figure, Plate 1 shows the most commonly seen unicorn seal with an object in front of the animal which is the focus of his discussion. Plates 2,4 and 5 show the same object from different seals. Mahadevan tends to believe that this object is the ‘Soma cup’ or a filter to collect the soma juice. However, he reports the view of another researcher by the name of UP Thaplyal that it represented a standard or Dhvaja or flag post because there was a stem with something on top of it.

Plate 3 is unique in the display of what appears to be a procession of three men carrying a Paaliketana (row of flags), a totem of an animal and a sceptre. This rare image does indicate the presence of a power centre in the Harappan much like any monarchy.

The sceptre seen in this Plate is no different from what is seen in Plate 4 where a man is seen holding it. The shape is similar to the so-called.... continue reading here