[Raj_Copi_Jin]

Dear Friends,

What is Nan Marai in Sangam Lit.

Puram166. ¡Óõ ¦ºø§Å¡õ! À¡ÊÂÅ÷: ç÷ ãÄí ¸¢Æ¡÷.
À¡¼ôÀ𧼡ý : §º¡½¡ðÎô âﺡüê÷ô À¡÷ôÀ¡ý ¦¸ª½¢Âý Å¢ñ½ó¾¡Âý. ¾¢¨½: Å¡¨¸. ШÈ: À¡÷ÀÀÉ Å¡¨¸.

¿ý È¡öó¾ ¿£û ¿¢Á¢÷º¨¼
ÓÐ Ó¾øÅý Å¡ö §À¡¸¡Ð,
´ýÚ ÒÃ¢ó¾ ®Ã¢ ÃñÊý,
Ú½÷ó¾ ´Õ ÓÐáø this Song, in subsequent line refers the Presence of different belief groups. Now Painkat Parppan(Brahahmin- Siva continuously says- ®Ã¢ÃñÊý- 2 x 2 = 4Vedas, which has 6 Braches and are 1.Siksha, 2. Chandas 3. Viyakarnam 4. Niruktham 5. Jothisham and 6. Kalpam. Are perfectly referred in the above song and these names are given in detail in Mankmekhalai
'¸üÀõ ¨¸ ºó¾õ ¸¡ø ±ñ ¸ñ ,
¦¾ü¦Èý ¿¢Õò¾õ ¦ºÅ¢ º¢ì¨¸ ãìÌ
¯üÈ Å¢Â¡¸Ã½õ Ó¸õ ¦ÀüÚî
º¡÷À¢ý §¾¡ýÈ¡ ý §Å¾ìÌ
¾¢ «ó¾õ þø¨Ä «Ð ¦¿È¢' ±Ûõ
§Å¾¢Âý ¯¨Ã¢ý Å¢¾¢Ôõ §¸ðÎ

Now Vedics are split as 6 Philosophies-
1. Vaiseshikam - Ganathar(Author)
2. Niyayam - Gouthamar
3. Sankiyam - Kapilar
4. Yogam - Pathanjali
5. Mimamsaa - jaimini
6. Vethantham - Vetha Viyasa now all these have been referred with few author names in Manimekhalai.
À¢È÷ ¦º¡Äì ¸Õ¾ø þô ¦ÀüȢ «Ç¨Å¸û
À¡íÌÚõ ¯§Ä¡¸¡Â¾§Á ¦Àªò¾õ
º¡í¸¢Âõ ¨¿Â¡Â¢¸õ ¨Å§ºÊ¸õ
Á£Á¡ïº¸õ õ ºÁ º¢Ã¢Â÷ , 27-080
¾¡õ À¢Õ¸üÀ¾¢ º¢É§É ¸À¢Äý
«ì¸À¡¾ý ¸½¡¾ý ¨ºÁ¢É¢
¦ÁöôÀ¢Ãò¾¢Âõ «ÛÁ¡Éõ º¡ò¾õ
¯ÅÁ¡Éõ «Õò¾¡Àò¾¢ «À¡Åõ
þ¨Å§Â þô§À¡Ð þÂýÚ ¯Ç «Ç¨Å¸û'
±ýÈÅý ¾ý¨É Å¢ðÎ 'þ¨ÈÅý ®ºý' ±É
¿¢ýÈ ¨ºÅ Å¡¾¢ §¿÷ÀξÖõ Athisankarar says that Thol kapilar's Sankiya, Oha & lokayuta are against of Vedhas. These three were called as 'Anviski' in Prahrit and 'Iynthiram' in tamil.

Vedhicism is one kind of Poosariyam that was accredited as religion during Manimekalai period. Soodamani Nikandu never accept Vedhicism as religion.

Six branches that you specify are only Akamas. Not different beliefs specified in Manimekalai.

"Eer Erandu"- is Aram, Porul,Enbam & Veedu - Next line clearly informs "Oru Muthunool" (One) that contains this four. Tholkappiam & Nannul specify these four 'vitues' shall be in a 'Nool'. I have already refered in my last post. This is tamil Iynthiram tradition.

Various forms of ‘Poosariyam’ were followed by Poosaris and their various names specify the nature of Poosariyam they adapted. “Parpan, Poosari, Pulayar, Kurukkal, Potri, Uvachchan, Nambi, KudiParayar, Ambattan, Valluvan, Kaniyan” were various Poosaris. (1)

“Karuman, Thatchan,Katrachchan,Kannaan,Porkollan” were five segments of “Kammalars” and they called themselves as “Iynkollar”/ Visuwa karuma Parpanar” and they never invited Vaduku Poosaris for their rituals.

Valluvans were priests to the early pallava kings before Vaduku Poosaris came into being. A tamil Vattelzhuththu inscription of Pallava (800 ACE) shows that Valluvan Puvanan, the Uvachchan of this temple will employ daily six men for doing temple service. (2)

‘Varuna system’ is highlight of Vedhic Religion. ‘Manusmirithi’ Organised it. Then it was inserted in ‘Rig Vedha’ s last paragraph. Infact, Rather, Before common era four type of ‘Varna system’ were followed.

Tholkappiam type (1250 BCE) was Tamil Parpar-Arasar-Vanikar-Velalar. In this Velalar can become arasar (Kings). Divisions were based on Occupation.

“VENTHU (king) vidu Padayum Kanniyum”

“Villum Velum Kazhalum Kanniyum
Tharum Aramum Therum Mavum
Manperu marabin Enorkku Uriya” (3)

The Tholkappiam system is documented in Chanakiyan’s (Thramila – a tamil Parpan-who went from Kanchipuram) Artha sastra (300 BCE) which was written in Prahrit and translated into Sanskrit during 150 ACE.

Chanakya classified the studies that men have to study as,

1. Anviksiki (Equivalent to tamil Iynthiram-Sankiya,Yoha, lokayitha)
2. THIRAIe (Four varna system & Tharma)
3. Varththa (Agriculture)
4. Thanda Needhi ( Laws) (4)

As per Arthasastra, ‘Thiraie’ specifies the Four Varna system & their customs. It explains the Occupation nature of these four Varna men. There also no ‘caste by birth’ is specified. No mention of Vedhas in that. ‘Thiraie’ seems to be direct tamil world to specify ‘Hide’ – marai. Thirai in tamil means ‘Marai’.

Some north Indian scholars mean the word ‘Thiraie’as Trayi (Triple Vedhas) ! (5) Here only three Vedhas ! What about the fourth one ?- Totally meaningless.


Before common era, Poosariyam scattered with their various forms in Chera,Chola,Pandiya & Mahatham kingdoms.

The Vedhas were organized by Vaduku Poosaris in Kanchipuram after common era. Such kind of ‘Bramanocracy’ was made by ‘Parasuraman’ in Southern Kerala Thiruchur.(6)

The words like Othu,Oththu,Nambi, Kalakam, Cheraman Perumal, Kovil (tamil) specify that Tamil Poosariyam was the base of such Bramanocracy.

“ Valluva Kone” was head of the Brahmin conferences. Kerala ‘Parayar’ were said to be brothers of such Parpans.(7) Brahmins relied Valluvans for writing their horoscope & predictions.(8)

Parasuraman made ‘Konkanis’(fisherman) also as ‘Parpans’ by giving holy thread and so later Nampuri / Namputhiri marriages had the ritual of ‘catching fish’. Nampuri was derived word from Nambi (9)

When Vaduku Poosaris occupied the positions of tamil poosaris they called the Western Coast (between Kokaranam & kanyakumari) as ‘Karuma Poomi’.(10)

In Rig Vedha, Tamil ‘Otthu, Potri’ combinedly is called as ‘Hotri’ (11)

Manusmirithi says such kind of “Brahmavartham” (Cloning) was there in between Saraswathi & Thirustavathi rivers (12)

Knana Vettiyan Poems says as,

“POONOOL Piranthathu Enkae ? – siva siva
PIN KUDUMI Anathu Enkae ?.....
…………………………………
Veenila Othu Kintra VETHIYAR KALAE !
VETHAM pirantha EDAMUM Cholveer kaan !

THEVARAM piranthathu enkae ? THIRUVUM (Thiruvasakam) enkae?
THIRUMANTHIRAM piranthathu enthen PARAYIL Ulaae ! (13)

It conforms Poonool, Kudumi, Vetham all organized in tamil land. Thevaram, Thiruvasakam & Thirumanthiram were written by Tamil “Parayar / Parpan”.

Thirumanthiram (500 ACE) also conforms that Vedhas were organized in tamil land.

“Erana KANYA KUMARIYAE Kaveri
Vera Nava Theertham Mikkulla Verpu Ezhul
Perana VETHA AKAMAMUMAE Piraththalan
Maratha THEN THISAI Vaiyakam SUTHTHAMAE. (14)

When I write about Rig Vedha in separate thread I may write more about this.


Jains (500 BCE) who were non-believers of fate , destiny & caste by birth accepted Brahmin-Shattriyan-Vaisiyan-Sudran Varna in which anyone can become any form depending on their profession.

Buddhists(550 BCE) accepted the system where Kings were placed first. Shattriyan-Brahmin-Vaisiyan- Sudran was their pattern. Buddhist also rejected destiny and caste by birth.

In tamil Ezham (300 BCE) Arasar-Velalar-Parpar-Vanikar pattern was followed. Caste by birth was not followed.

Soodamani Nikandu (Dictionary ) won’t accept this Vedhicism as separate religion.

“ARU SAMAYANKAL Avana NAIYAYIKATH thodu
Urayum VAISADIKAM Melulavu LOKAYUTHAM thaan
KUYILUM. MEEMANCHAM entru kuriththavai yantri Nalla
Neriyula ARUKKAM, BUTHTHAM neethi yentru othumantrae” (15)

Six religions were kniyayam (Knayam), Vaisadikam (sirappiyam), Lokayutham (Ulakaiyutham), Meemaanchai,Arukkam (Jains) & Buddham.

Hence ‘Vedhi Age’ had not existed at all and if it existed It would be only after common era. (150 ACE to 900 ACE). Chathur Vedhas classification is the very latest one.

References :

1) Oppian Mozhinool, Pavanar, Page 40.
2) Castes and Tribes of Southern India. Vol VII, Asian Educational services, Page 303-304, by Edgar Thurston And K. Rangachari.
3) Tholkappiam, Porulathikaram, 9:82 & 9:84
4) Arthasastra, I : II : 6.
5) Ibid, I : II : 1
6) Francis Day, Op.Cit., Page 40-41
7) Gustave Oppert, Op.Cit., page 69
8) The Dravidians, Gustave Oppert, page 68
9) Francis Day, Op.Cit., Page 309
10) Glossary of Madras Presidency, Page 411.
11) Vinsulo, Tamil-English Dictionary, Page 830, Oppian Mozhi nool, page 39.
12) The Ordinance of Manu, Transulated by Arthur Coke Burnell II : 17.
13) Knana Vettiyan poems 1500, 35-40
14) Thiru molar : Thirumanthiram 2709
15) Soodamani Pannirandu Nikandu, 12 : 51, Mayilam Subramaniya sami explanatory note


f.s.gandhi