‘ANDRE SONNA ARIVIYAL-SANGAKAALAM’ - An Introduction By Prof. G.MARIA JOSEPH XAVIOR : 8/8

 

 

An Introduction To The Book

‘SCIENCE DURING THE SANGAM AGE’

‘ANDRE SONNA ARIVIYAL-SANGAKAALAM’

By Ilakkuvanar Thiruvalluvan

  

8/8

 

In the chapters  41 and 42 the author has made mention of the different types  ordinary houses also.

 

There were several types of dwelling places like Veedu(well built abode), Kuṭaṅkar (Cottage),  akam (House), illam (Bungalow), kuṭicai (Hut), kuṭiñai, Kuṭil (well built cottage), maṉai (House),  maṭam (Hermitage),    paḷḷi   (school, choultry), uṟaiyuḷ (Quarters), kuṭilam (Curved House), kūṭu (Round shaped house), koṭṭakai (A thatched roof resting on rectangular sides erected by bamboo sticks), toḻuvam (Cow shed)), koṭṭil (Cattle stall, small armoury), āyutaccālai (armoury), cālai (an edifice with many halls),  vaḷavu (An enclosure with many small houses dwelt by close relatives), Vaḷaivu (houses in an enclosure), maṭa vaḷākam  (Shelter for saints) māḷikai (Mansion),  māṭi vīṭu  (Terraced house), ōṭṭu vīṭu (tiled house) and araṇmaṉai (Royal Palace).

 

 There were houses sarounded by compuound walls called as cuvar, matil, uvaḷakam.

There were Forts with adamantine walls . They were known as ārai. eyil (there were places to deposit war equipments),  iñci, nocci, puricai.

 

In these days we had no air-conditioned houses. But our wise ancestors built  such houses. They were called செழுந்தண் மனை  - CEḺUNTAṆ MAṈAI (ice cool house).

it is mentioned in the anthology titled NAṞṞIṆAI(Poem 271-3).

There were lofty mansions like those carved out of a rock(AKANĀṈŪṞU, Poem 93.12).

The same point is stressed in other poems (AKANĀṈŪṞU Poems 17.1, 22.9, 22.16 &35.2)

 There were huge houses in Uṟantai city (AKANĀṈŪṞU, Poem 385.4-5).

The tuck of the drum was heard from the top of huge mansions (Puṟanāṉūṟu, Poem 68.17)

There were big mansions whence came fragrant fume of burning sandal wood. (PUṞANĀṈŪṞU, Poem 281.6)

In ancient days there were large mansions with a barn full of paddy (PUṞANĀṈŪṞU, Poem 287.9)

There were mansions proud of wealth (Kalittokai, Poem 57.6) (Naṟṟiṇai  258.4)

Naṟṟiṇai speaks of houses full of plenty.

Akanāṉūṟu gives a picture of granaries full of grains. (AKANĀṈŪṞU, Poem 49.14)

There were lofty sky scrapers fitted with bright light that shone till day break. (AKANĀṈŪṞU, Poem 87.13)

There were huge aburn houses in Uṟantai city (AKANĀṈŪṞU, Poem 385.4-5)

There were big houses in the front of which there were sprawling open space and verdant gardens. On the top most floors there were roof gardens.

The houses were roomy with massive doors.

The houses were airy as they had windows and ventilators that  let into the houses balmy breeze.

 

Tamil literature adduces proof to the fact that our ancestors had enginering skills to construct houses, 2000 years back.

There were large fragrance houses (Puṟanāṉūṟu, Poem 337.11),splendid fine rich huge houses (Nattrinai 339.6), very large house where sand filled in front of the house (Nattrinai, Poem 361.6), sky touching huge house where night lights shine until dawn (AKANĀṈŪṞU, Poem 87.13), large broad house with high entrance (AKANĀṈŪṞU, Poem 103.8), houses with abundant rice and great wealth and the houses were very broad and so they had strong double door.

 

All the houses had windows and ventilators.

The construction engineering works before 2000 years, was explained in the chapters 54 - 56

Rain guages were fitted in the high houses. They are explained in the chapter 57.

Two thousands year before thamizh people used ice-pots and hot-pots. It was explained in the chapter 58.

 

These are all not imaginery. Science books in thamizhs are not available. But in the literature the poets spread the science news. Through this we can understand the knowledge behind it.

-       Prof. G.MARIA JOSEPH XAVIOR

‘ANDRE SONNA ARIVIYAL-SANGAKAALAM’ - An Introduction By Prof. G.MARIA JOSEPH XAVIOR : 7/8

 

An Introduction To The Book

‘SCIENCE DURING THE SANGAM AGE’

‘ANDRE SONNA ARIVIYAL-SANGAKAALAM’

By Ilakkuvanar Thiruvalluvan

  7/8

 

Science of civil engineering

 

In the chapters from 38 to 58, the author has explained in detail the town planning and the  knowledge of architectural engineering, our ancestors had duirng the Sangam age.

There are hundreds of references to many mansions, multi-storeyed houses and  skyscrapers  constructed in the days of yore.

The author has cited many examples and explained the following phrases and lines in ancient Tamil literature.

Line No 84 in the poem PORUNARĀṞṞUPPAṬAI speaks about the topmost floor in an edifice that touched the clouds.( மழைஎன மருளும் மகிழ் செய் மாடம் - Maḻai'eṉa maruḷum makiḻ cey māṭam)

 

Line 355 in the poem MATURAIKKĀÑCI tells us that different types of buildings rose up very high in the sky.

[மழை ஆடும் மலையின் நிவந்த மாடமொடு - Maḻai āṭum malaiyiṉ nivanta māṭamoṭu ]

 

The Line No 357 in the same MATURAIKKĀÑCI speaks about the formation of streets that were wide and long like rivers. [யாறு கிடந்தன்ன அகல் நெடுந் தெருவில் - Yāṟu kiṭantaṉṉa akal neṭun teruvil]

 

Buildings rose up so as to touch the clouds. The walls were of great strength with many sections. (MATURAIKKĀÑCI 352-355)

[விண் உற ஓங்கிய பல்படைப் புரிசை
தொல் வலி நிலைஇய அணங்குடை நெடுநிலை
நெய்படக் கரிந்த திண்போர்க் கதவின்
மழை ஆடும் மலையின் நிவந்த மாடமொடு

Viṇ uṟa ōṅkiya palpaṭaip puricai

tol vali nilai'iya aṇaṅkuṭai neṭunilai

neypaṭak karinta tiṇpōrk kataviṉ

maḻai āṭum malaiyiṉ nivanta māṭamoṭu ]

 

The lofty mansions had flights of staircases. It is said that the top most floor soared high so as touch the sailing clouds.  (PATTINAPPAALAI 142-145)

The tall light house was at the port. It was so tall that it seemed to touch the sky.  The night lamp with a bright flame, guided the mariners to arrive at the shore.

We learn these facts from PERUMPĀṆĀṞṞUPPAṬAI (lines 346-351)

 

[வானம் ஊன்றிய மதலை போல

ஏணி சாத்திய ஏற்று அருஞ் சென்னி

விண்பொர நிவந்த வேயா மாடத்து

இரவில் மாட்டிய இலங்கு சுடர் ஞெகிழி

உரவு நீர் அழுவத்து ஓடு கலம் கரையும்  

துறை (346-351)

 

Vāṉam ūṉṟiya matalai pōla

ēṇi cāttiya ēṟṟu aruñ ceṉṉi

viṇpora nivanta vēyā māṭattu

iravil māṭṭiya ilaṅku cuṭar ñekiḻi

uravu nīr aḻuvattu ōṭu kalam karaiyum  

tuṟai]

 

We learn from PUṞANĀṈŪṞU(390.7) that there were long lines of splendid mansions that looked like ranges of mountains.

[மலைக் கணத்து அன்ன மாடம் சிலம்ப

Malaik kaṇattu aṉṉa māṭam cilampa]

 

Mansions with plastered walls were like the full moon.( PUṞANĀṈŪṞU: 378.6)

புதுப் பிறையன்ன சுதை செய் மாடத்துப்

Putup piṟaiyaṉṉa cutai cey māṭattu

 

From PUṞANĀṈŪṞU(32.5), we learn that MATURAI City was rich with many mansions. [மாட மதுரை - Māṭa maturai]

There were towering  big mansions in the city of URANTHAI(PURANAARU 67.9). 

[ உயர் நிலை மாடத்து - Uyar nilai māṭattu]

We learn from the Poem MULLAIPAATTU(86) by the poet NAPPOOTHANAAR that there were seven storeyed mansions (எழுநிலை மாடம் – EZHU NILAI MAADAM)

in ancient Tamilnadu.

In the city of MATURAI, the wede streets were straight and splendid. Many mansions beautified MATURAI(TIRUMURUKĀṞṞUPPAṬAI 70). [மாடம் மலி மறுகின் கூடல்

Māṭam mali maṟukiṉ kūṭal]

MATURAI is an ancient city with tall mansions. Thus NEṬUNAL VĀṬAI (29) endorses this fact.

[மாடம் ஓங்கிய மல்லல் மூதூர்

Māṭam ōṅkiya mallal mūtūr]

 

The lofty  mansions with bright flames resembled tall light houses that guided the mariners to reach their destination.

There were splendid mansions in the Famous city kūṭal / MATURAI was proud of spruce mansions. (MATURAIKKĀÑCI, line 429)

[மாடம் பிறங்கிய மலி புகழ்க் கூடல்

Māṭam piṟaṅkiya mali pukaḻk kūṭal]

The lofty houses looked like the cloud cappeed mountains (MATURAIKKAANJI, lines 355 & 406) [மழை ஆடும் மலையின் நிவந்த மாடம்

Maḻai āṭum malaiyiṉ nivanta māṭam]

[மலை புரை மாடம் - Malai purai māṭam]

There were tall houses with terraces on which the graceful moon shone bright.( MATURAIKKĀÑCI, line 451)

The Palatial mansions were as tall as the cloud capped mountains(MALAIPAṬUKAṬĀM, line 484).

[மலைஎன மழை என மாடம் ஓங்கி

Malai'eṉa maḻai eṉa māṭam ōṅki]

There were multi storeyed splendid mansions that beautified Maduai. (AKANĀṈŪṞU, Poem124.6).

[மாட மாண் நகர் - Māṭa māṇ nakar]

Many lofty houses seemed to touch the clouds in the sky. (AKANĀṈŪṞU, Poem 167.4)

    The houses were well guarded at night (AKANĀṈŪṞU, Poem 255.16).

Ancient towns were rich with mansions (AKANĀṈŪṞU, Poem 335.11).

There were streets flanked by splendid houses in Koodal/MATURAI (AKANĀṈŪṞU,Poem 346.20).

There were stately mansions with their walls plastered. Their courtyards were lit by the milky moon. They regated the eyes of he beholders. (KALITTOKAI, Poem 96.19)

There were houses with tall columns (PAṬṬIṈAPPĀLAI, Poem 111)

Koodal city was full of  tall mansions (KALITTOKAI, Poem 35.17)

The clouds that sailed in the sky gently brushed the top most storey of the lofty mansions. (PAṬṬIṈAPPĀLAI, Poem 145)

The splendid mansions erected had strong columns and wide entrances (PAṬṬIṈAPPĀLAI, Poem 261)

The same poem speaks about the splendour of URANTHAI town  (PAṬṬIṈAPPĀLAI, Poem 285).

At the top of the tall houses bright banners werefluttering (PATIṞṞUPPATTU,  Poem 47.3)

 

Prof. G.MARIA JOSEPH XAVIOR

An Introduction To The Book ‘ANDRE SONNA ARIVIYAL-SANGAKAALAM’

 

An Introduction To The Book

‘SCIENCE DURING THE SANGAM AGE’

‘ANDRE SONNA ARIVIYAL-SANGAKAALAM’

By Ilakkuvanar Thiruvalluvan

 

-Prof. G.MARIA JOSEPH XAVIOR

 

5/8

 

Knowledge of migration  birds

 

In a prose book prescribed for the studies of the U.G.students there is an English Essay that deals with the Migration of birds. It is not something new to the Tamils.

 

 In ancient Sangam age, the Tamils had the knowledge of migration  birds. In the chapter No 23, the author has made a mention of it. The Tamil Poets have mentioned three types of migration as PUTUPPUḶ – Migrated birds from other countries; PAḺAM PUḶ Pōkiṉum -  the birds migrated to other places and The birds which never migrate to other area as Vati

[வட மலைப் பெயர்குவை ஆயின் –

Vaṭa malaip peyarkuvai āyiṉ -

 The bird which migrated to the northern mountains – Puṟanāṉūṟu 67.7]

[புலம் பெயர் மருங்கில் புள் எழுந்தாங்கு –

Pulam peyar maruṅkil puḷ eḻuntāṅku –

 the birds that rise up and fly away to another land, Akanāṉūṟu113.25]

[தென் திசைக் குமரியாடி
வடதிசைக்கு ஏகுவீராயின்

Teṉ ticaik kumariyāṭi

vaṭaticaikku ēkuvīrāyiṉ

– NĀRAI VIṬU TŪTU 4-5 A

after taking bath in southern ocean KUMARI. shift to northern place]

[வதி குருகு

Vati kuruku

 – non migratied herons/egrets/storks,  Kuṟuntokai Poem 5, line 2 ]

 

SCIENCE OF ECONOMICS

 

The thoughts of modern economists are seen in the Sangam literature.  In the chapters from 24 to 29 the author has elaborately explained the Tamils knowledge of economics even 2000 years back.

 

Modern Economist talked about the Positive Science/Positive Economics and Normative Science/Normative Economics. World Poet Thiruvalluvar says in Thirukkural couplet 660 that wealth obtained by foul means is like preserving a vessel of wet clay by filling it with water. And he says that the wealth of him who is disliked (by all) is like the fruit-bearing of the etty tree in the midst of a town. Accordings to the Tamils Wealth should be earn by virtual ways and should spent for good purposes.

 

Like these principles the Tamils emphasised the positive economics and oppose the normative economics.

 

SCIENCE OF LANGUAGES

 

Death of a Language occurs when it lost its usage. The life of the language is in the body of it – ie. the letters and numbers( scripts). To save the language we should save our litterature. To save the literature we should save the alphabets of the language. If there is no alphabets there is no words and then there is no usage of it.

 

The  author advised not to destroy the letters and numbers of languages to safe guard them. By refereing to Tirukkuṟaḷ No.392 he emphasises it.

 

Eṇṇeṉpa ēṉai eḻutteṉpa ivviraṇṭum

kaṇṇeṉpa vāḻum uyirkku.

(The twain that lore of numbers and of letters give
Are eyes, the wise declare, to all on earth that live.)

 

Usage of clocks before the begining of the christian era

 

An instrument to indicate the time is a clock. Peter Henlein, a Locksmith and Clockmaker of Nuremberg, Germany, is the inventor of the watch. In the year 1656 Christiaan Huygens invented the clock with a pendulam. In the chapter No 31 the author has explained that the clock came into use 2000 years back.

Our ancestors called it KUṞUNĪR KAṈṈAL – a small bowl water clock. Later on they invented an ornamental type  of clock to be worn around the neck. In the Kanta purāṇam, the poet has mentioned about a clock by name Arumpuṉal kuṭikai  (அரும்புனல் குடிகை). (Here the word அரும்புனல் (arumpuṉal) means water dripping through the finest pores.  The word puṉal means water, arum means fine. The word kuṭikai  means clock.)

 

[பொழுதுஅளந்து அறியும் பொய்யா மாக்கள்
தொழுது காண்கையர் தோன்ற வாழ்த்தி
எறி நீர் வையகம் வெலீஇய செல்வோய் நின்
குறு நீர்க் கன்னல் இனைத்து என்று இசைப்ப (55 – 58)

Poḻutu'aḷantu aṟiyum poyyā mākkaḷ

toḻutu kāṇkaiyar tōṉṟa vāḻtti

eṟi nīr vaiyakam velī'iya celvōy niṉ

kuṟu nīrk kaṉṉal iṉaittu eṉṟu icaippa

 

பொழுது அளந்து – calculating time, அறியும் – knowing, பொய்யா மாக்கள் – unfailing men, தொழுது – worships, காண் கையர் – men with hands that can be seen (கூப்பிய கையினர்), தோன்ற வாழ்த்தி – praised greatly, எறி நீர் – ocean with splashing waves, வையகம் – earth, வெலீஇய – to win, செல்வோய் – O one who goes, நின் – your, குறு நீர் கன்னல் – bowl with little water (water clock), இனைத்து – what time it is, என்று இசைப்ப – they utter]

 

[குறுநீர்க் கன்னல் எண்ணுதல் அல்லது 
கதிர்மருங்கு அறியா அஞ்சுவரப் பாஅய் 

Kuṟunīrk kaṉṉal eṇṇutal allatu

katirmaruṅku aṟiyā añcuvarap pā'ay

 – AKANĀṈŪṞU43.6-7

[குறு நீர்க் கன்னல் எண்ணுநர் அல்லது – AKANĀṈŪṞU 43.6 - without those who count time with a small-bowl water clock, ]

 

 

(Here the author says that  even in those days when the sun is hidden by clouds or blocked by rain etc.  our ancestors could determine the time and know the time with water clocks) ]

 

Prof. G.MARIA JOSEPH XAVIOR