Shilapaddikaram - Exposing Lies of Dravidian Supremacists through analysis of Sangam Era Literature, Part -2

Via: Poornachandra Upadhya

PART-2

Dravidian tall tales about brahmanism.

One theme that dumeels of TN regurgitate often is that Brahmins are responsible for all their miseries. To examine this hypothesis and many other such dumeel hypotheses, I have undertaken this study of Tamil Sangam era classic - Shilapaddikaram - an evergreen romantic tragedy involving Kovalan & Kannagi. This post specifically aims at providing my observations on the role of religion in Tamil Nadu during the time of Pandyas.

There was never a more tolerant time in Tamil Nadu. It was a time where only Indic religions were pursued by Tamilians - Vaidiks, Jains, Buddhists and Ajeevaks (a lesser known Indic religion today ). There were also no predatory Abrahamic religions like Christianity and Islam.

Followers of these Indic religions used to accord exemplary respect towards one another. Brahmins who learnt all the four Vedas were held in high esteem by everyone, including Buddhists and Jains. Learnt Brahmins used to similarly accord greatest respect to Buddhist and Jain monks for their detachment and single minded pursuit of the ultimate knowledge. Common folk would approach any of the wise men from any of these Indic religions for counsel or blessings ; they wouldn't think twice about entering ANY place of worship.

In this romantic tragedy, Kovalan and Kannagi after a brief stint of happy married life separate when Kovalan strays and has an affair with a danseuse called Madhavi. Kovalan realizes the error of his ways and unites with Kannagi as a pauper. Both then leave their city, Puhar and go to Madurai. They are led by a Jain nun, Kovandi and a learned Brahmin from Mankadu. At Madurai, Kovalan is falsely accused of thievery by a jeweler and is promptly murdered by King's guards. The King dies upon realizing his folly, so does his queen. Kannagi curses Madurai, which turns into ashes.

When Kannagi curses Madurai, it is interesting to note that, even in her sorrow, she requests the fire God - ‘Spare Brahmins, good men, cows, truthful women, cripples, old men, children. Destroy evildoers.’ THINK WHY BRAHMINS NEEDED TO BE SAVED IN TAMIL NADU AND IF KANNAGI CONSIDERED THEM EVIL.

Next, once the news of her demise reaches Puhar, her father in law enters the seven fold monastery of Indra. As I had mentioned in my earlier post, Indra was quite a popular God during the Vedic era and it appears that there may have been some vaidik schools devoted to Indra. Meanwhile Kannagi's father enters the order of the Ajivakas, in which men of wisdom lead a life of fasting and penance. Madhavi shuns courtesan's life and turns into a Buddhist nun. Isn't it amazing to see the kind of freedom individuals from both genders possessed in terms of pursuing Indic religions. I need to stress here that no one here became a predatory Abrahamic - that is a Muslim or a Christian, saying theirs is the only true path and others will rot in hell. My guess is that this freedom was ubiquitous across Bhaarathakhanda during those times.

Let me list down a couple of paragraphs from the epic just to show how the Brahmins were revered -
> Brahmins, with offerings from the temple of Adakamadam where the god Vishnu sleeps in yogic trance, drew near and blessed the king: ‘May victory ever follow in the path of Kuttunadu’s king, lord of the western land.’
> We are on holy pilgrimage to the Malaya hills where learned Brahmins dwell. To protect them is your sacred duty.’
> A most learned Brahmin named Parashar had heard of the magnificence of this Chera, who, it was said, had with his saber opened the gateway of heaven before a great Tamil poet of Brahmin blood. Parashar thought: ‘I must go to meet this Chera, renowned for his valour and the power of his lance.’ This Brahmin was born in the peace-loving and fertile country of Puhar, whose kings bear a virtuous sceptre and a victorious sword. You know that one of them gave his own flesh to save a humble dove, and that another avenged a cow that had been wronged. Parashar set out on his journey. He passed through the hills of Malaya, deep jungles, countless villages and cities. He was a great master of dialec tics, an art greatly appreciated by the twice-born, who, seeking unity with infinite good, light the three sacred fires ordained by the four Vedas, perform the five rituals of sacrifice, and never fail in the six duties of a priest. ‘Parashar defeated all opponents in philosophical debates and thus won from the king the title of Parpanavahai, Sublime Scholar. As he was returning homeward, laden with gifts, he reached the village of Tangal, in the Pandya kingdom, where noble Brahmins lived.
>‘You were near the happy Madhavi, giving gold coins to everyone with your beautiful hands. A Brahmin, bent under the weight of age, who had attained the highest peaks of wisdom and virtue, came leaning on a staff to receive your presents. As he was approaching, an angry elephant, throwing off his mahout, ran furiously about. Warning drums were sounded. The elephant knocked down the elderly Brahmin. Then, generous hero, you jumped up with a gasp, and saved the noble man. Disentangling yourself from the beast’s trunk and seizing its tusks, you jumped up on its neck and mastered its fury. You looked like an angel of wisdom standing on a mountain of sin.
>They could hear the Vedas being chanted by the learned Brahmins and the prayers being recited by the monks, filling the morning air with their holy murmur.

The list goes on and on about how Brahmins are exalted and how they should be revered.

After I read about 88% of this book, I am thinking - what happened to Tamil Nadu. What the fuck have Tamilians done to Brahmins of Tamil Nadu post Indian Independence ? If Kannagi were alive today, she would have cursed the wretched land of Tamil Nadu to be burnt to ashes again for shabbily treating it's Brahmins.

As a Brahmin, I curse the Dravidian dumeels a thousand lifetimes of misery. And Dravidian Dumeel Bastards, I've just started.

Courtesy: Poornachandra Upadhyay, https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1106776156132024&id=100003989518451