Posts

Showing posts from March, 2026

Adichanallur Excavation

A brief introduction to Jean -Jacques Rousseau

Image
(I had gone to the KGS grocery store in Madagadipattu with Kandavel (it was Kandavel who knew of that Chettiar’s shop and took me there). A photograph of a man was hung on the wall of the shop. I glanced at the picture naturally; I had indeed bought goods from the Chettiar depicted in it. The image bore a resemblance to the French philosopher Rousseau. Seeing this, I wondered if a discussion regarding the article on our website was perhaps underway. (I had posted a note about Rousseau, along with a picture showing his head and shoulders, on my blog). That night, I dreamt of a large wedding hall. I saw many people lying down, sitting, and standing there. As I looked for a spot to lie down, Rousseau smiled and said something. I understood his words to mean, "Here is a space; lie down." In this dream, I encountered Rousseau, the voice for human rights. In many of my dreams, I understand what people say; even when foreigners appear and speak, I am able to comprehend them. It give...

The Village Gods of South India

Image
  தமிழக நாட்டுப்புற பாடல்கள்-ஒரு ஆய்வு.   எங்க ஊரு அய்யனார் கோவில் .  "களிமண்ணால யானை செல குதிர செல செஞ்சுவச்சா  ஒடஞ்சுபோயிடுதுன்னு,  கருப்பு கருங்கல்லால யானை செல குதிர செல செஞ்சுவச்சாக  எங்க முப்பாட்டன் பரம்பர" The Village Gods of South India The worship of village-gods is the most ancient form of the beliefs, customs, and practices of the primitive tribes prevalent in South India, as in the case of other similar ancient cultures in Western Asia, in the transition period from the nomadic to the pastoral and the agricultural phases of life. Most of the grama-devatas (village-deities) are con¬ ceived of not as supreme cosmic powers, but only as local deities with jurisdiction limited to the village concerned. The fertility-cult and the predominant role of women in an agricultural economy were perhaps responsible for most of these deties (except Ayyanar and some of the guardian deities) being regarded as female. Ayyanar (pi. 1-a), also known variously as Ary...

Let Us Learn About the Jain School (The Story Behind the Origin of the Tamil Ethical Text, *Naladiyar*)அறிவோம் சமணப்பள்ளி (தமிழில் நாலடியார் என்ற நீதி நூல் தோன்றிய கதை)

  There are countless Tamil literary works that have withstood the ravages of time. Many individuals, for various reasons, have visited this land where Tamil is spoken. Notable among these visitors are the Telugus, Jains, and Buddhists who arrived from the northern regions of Tamil Nadu, as well as travelers from Italy and China (including Marco Polo, Xuanzang, Faxian, and Yijing). Of these groups, the Jains arrived in the Pandya Kingdom and settled there after a famine struck the regions where they originally resided. Recognizing their intellectual eminence, the Pandya King invited them to his royal court and extended his patronage to them. Living as the King's guests,they led a simple, ascetic life. During their stay in the Pandya Kingdom, they dedicated themselves to mastering the Tamil language.   Eventually, the famine in their native land subsided. Consequently, they approached the King, informed him of their intention to return to their hometowns, and sought h...