[NeroASERCH]

Dear Thiru Nedunchezhian,

Eventhough theivam / eraivan have meaning as king all forefathers / the death people were worshipped for remembrance of their heroic deeds which would induce youngers to excell well in life. Later they were worshipped in "Nadukal vazhipadu". Tamils of Thiruvalluvar days had the belief that their ancestors would protect them in their hardships.

Apart from "Nadugal worship" there were natural god worshippers.
Inthiran(marutha nilam), Varunan (sea land),Mayon(now thirumal), Kotravai, Murugan were gods of 5 lands of tamil culture. I have already expressed this in "Tamil is elder to Sanskrit" column quoting (1250 BCE) Tholkappiam.

"Meen" word created from "Min" root. Things which had "Minnuthal" tendency was named as meen. Vinmeen is one of that word. And since tamil invented "marakkalam" they got stronghold of sea roots and they were called "thiraiyar". Thirai means "alai". You can observe in all meditaranean sea languages this word 'meen' introduced by tamils. Kindly visit "Some tamil words in world languages" column.

For 'three' evolution kindly visit 'Amateur etymology' column in English literature.

I have already talked about the word "Pakavan"- in "thinamum oru vaarththai" column. Pakavu means 'olirvu'. Pakattu is from this root turned pattu - a silk saree. Pakavan specifies 'Suriyan" a natural god of tamils. The earth is based on Pakavan. That is why valluvar talks about that. Suriyan in turn is tamil word from root 'Sur'. Suram,suraththal are from this root.

Dear Nedunchezhian, due to Atheist movement in tamilNadu this kind of queries came into your mind. Actually during valluvar time tamils worshipped natural gods. We have to take all the meaning of kurals in that perspective only. Not vedhic idol worship pattern.
Infact the Idol worship came into being later by the influence of tamil natural gods worshipping.

f.s.gandhi