Athiyamān Nedumān Añci
Encyclopedia
Athiyamān Nedumān Añci was one of the most powerful Tamil
Vēlir
kings of the Sangam era. A famous royal of the Athiyamān family dynasty, he was the contemporary and the patron of poetess Auvaiyar
of the Sangam period. Athiyamān was a dynastic title of the Vēlir line who ruled over the Dharmapuri
, Salem and surrounding areas with their capital at Tagadur (now known as Dharmapuri
). The most famous of their line were the father-son duo: Nedumān Añci and Elini (the son). They were one of the Kadai ezhu vallal (7 great patrons) of arts and literature in ancient Tamilakam
.
visited the court of Athiyamān Nedumān Añci, he liked her so much that he deliberately delayed in giving her gifts to prolong her stay. The poetess at first not realizing the game, got angry and condemned him and then later when she realized the true motive, became so fond him that she decided to stay and became his close friend. On another occasion, he gave her the gooseberry (nelli) fruit to the poetess with the hope of improving her life expectancy.
describes her patron as a hardened warrior, Purananuru
, song 87:
In 118
CE, another Velir king Malaiyamān Thirumudi Kāri of the Kadai ezhu vallal waged war on Thagadoor
against Athiyamān Nedumān Añci. It was an attempt fuelled by his longtime desire to become an emperor equivalent in power to the Cholas. After a fierce battle, Kāri would lose Kovalur to Athiyamān and would only regain it much later after Peruncheral Irumporai sacked Tagadur.
and the Cholas. He would send Auvaiyar
as an envoy to the court of Ilantiraiyan of Kanchi who was a viceroy of the Chola sovereign and later ally himself with the latter to deter the Chera
king. Auvaiyar
is given a grand welcome by Tondaimān who then goes on to proudly show her his archery. Though impressed, Auvaiyar
refuses to give up her patron by subtly hinting that the king's weapons sparkled as they were probably never used whereas the arsenal of her patron were all worn out as they had seen numerous wars.
emperor, Peruñcēral Irumporai who finally arrives and sacks Tagadur. In spite of his small army, Nedumān Añci, will lead from the front and valiantly go down fighting in the battle field. AricilKilār, the war bard of Peruñcēral Irumporai, pays due homage to the opponent of his patron as he eulogises his king in Tagadur-Yāttarai.
Upon his death, a distressed Auvaiyar
would sing a number of elegies:
in Tirukkoyilur
taluk have been discovered which help us identify the Satyaputras of the Ashoka's
edicts:
These put to rest any speculation regarding the identity of Satyaputras as being non-Tamil
and goes on to show the greatness of this line as they are mentioned on par with the other three Tamil
kingdoms.
Tamil people
Tamil people , also called Tamils or Tamilians, are an ethnic group native to Tamil Nadu, India and the north-eastern region of Sri Lanka. Historic and post 15th century emigrant communities are also found across the world, notably Malaysia, Singapore, Mauritius, South Africa, Australia, Canada,...
Vēlir
Velirs
Velirs were a royal house of minor dynastic kings and aristocratic chieftains in Tamilakkam in the early historic period of South India. Extolled in Sangam literature for their charity and truthfulness, they were the ancestors and head of the modern Tamil Vellalar caste...
kings of the Sangam era. A famous royal of the Athiyamān family dynasty, he was the contemporary and the patron of poetess Auvaiyar
Auvaiyar
The Avvaiyars "respectable women" was the title of more than one poet who was active during different periods of Tamil literature. The Avvaiyar were some of the most famous and important female poets of the Tamil canon. Abithana Chintamani states that there were three female poets titled...
of the Sangam period. Athiyamān was a dynastic title of the Vēlir line who ruled over the Dharmapuri
Dharmapuri
Dharmapuri is a town and the administrative headquarters of Dharmapuri district in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. It is located 65 km north of Salem. Dharmapuri is a part of the Kongu Nadu an ancient division of Tamilakam. It is one of the ancient towns of Tamil Nadu and a rapid developing...
, Salem and surrounding areas with their capital at Tagadur (now known as Dharmapuri
Dharmapuri
Dharmapuri is a town and the administrative headquarters of Dharmapuri district in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. It is located 65 km north of Salem. Dharmapuri is a part of the Kongu Nadu an ancient division of Tamilakam. It is one of the ancient towns of Tamil Nadu and a rapid developing...
). The most famous of their line were the father-son duo: Nedumān Añci and Elini (the son). They were one of the Kadai ezhu vallal (7 great patrons) of arts and literature in ancient Tamilakam
Ancient Tamil country
The Sangam period is the classical period in the history of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and other parts of South India, spanning about the 3rd century BCE to the 3rd century CE...
.
Patron of Auvaiyar
When poetess AuvaiyarAuvaiyar
The Avvaiyars "respectable women" was the title of more than one poet who was active during different periods of Tamil literature. The Avvaiyar were some of the most famous and important female poets of the Tamil canon. Abithana Chintamani states that there were three female poets titled...
visited the court of Athiyamān Nedumān Añci, he liked her so much that he deliberately delayed in giving her gifts to prolong her stay. The poetess at first not realizing the game, got angry and condemned him and then later when she realized the true motive, became so fond him that she decided to stay and became his close friend. On another occasion, he gave her the gooseberry (nelli) fruit to the poetess with the hope of improving her life expectancy.
A warrior
AuvaiyarAuvaiyar
The Avvaiyars "respectable women" was the title of more than one poet who was active during different periods of Tamil literature. The Avvaiyar were some of the most famous and important female poets of the Tamil canon. Abithana Chintamani states that there were three female poets titled...
describes her patron as a hardened warrior, Purananuru
Purananuru
Purananuru is a Tamil poetic work in the Pathinenmaelkanakku anthology of Tamil literature, belonging to the Sangam period corresponding to between 200 BCE – 100 CE. Purananuru is part of the Ettuthokai anthology which is the oldest available collection of poems of Sangam literature in Tamil....
, song 87:
In 118
118
Year 118 was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Hadrianus and Fuscus...
CE, another Velir king Malaiyamān Thirumudi Kāri of the Kadai ezhu vallal waged war on Thagadoor
Dharmapuri
Dharmapuri is a town and the administrative headquarters of Dharmapuri district in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. It is located 65 km north of Salem. Dharmapuri is a part of the Kongu Nadu an ancient division of Tamilakam. It is one of the ancient towns of Tamil Nadu and a rapid developing...
against Athiyamān Nedumān Añci. It was an attempt fuelled by his longtime desire to become an emperor equivalent in power to the Cholas. After a fierce battle, Kāri would lose Kovalur to Athiyamān and would only regain it much later after Peruncheral Irumporai sacked Tagadur.
Friendship with the Cholas
Athiyamān Nedumān Añci lived in one of the most turbulent periods and was looking at an imminent invasion by the CherasChera dynasty
Chera Dynasty in South India is one of the most ancient ruling dynasties in India. Together with the Cholas and the Pandyas, they formed the three principle warring Iron Age Tamil kingdoms in southern India...
and the Cholas. He would send Auvaiyar
Auvaiyar
The Avvaiyars "respectable women" was the title of more than one poet who was active during different periods of Tamil literature. The Avvaiyar were some of the most famous and important female poets of the Tamil canon. Abithana Chintamani states that there were three female poets titled...
as an envoy to the court of Ilantiraiyan of Kanchi who was a viceroy of the Chola sovereign and later ally himself with the latter to deter the Chera
Chera dynasty
Chera Dynasty in South India is one of the most ancient ruling dynasties in India. Together with the Cholas and the Pandyas, they formed the three principle warring Iron Age Tamil kingdoms in southern India...
king. Auvaiyar
Auvaiyar
The Avvaiyars "respectable women" was the title of more than one poet who was active during different periods of Tamil literature. The Avvaiyar were some of the most famous and important female poets of the Tamil canon. Abithana Chintamani states that there were three female poets titled...
is given a grand welcome by Tondaimān who then goes on to proudly show her his archery. Though impressed, Auvaiyar
Auvaiyar
The Avvaiyars "respectable women" was the title of more than one poet who was active during different periods of Tamil literature. The Avvaiyar were some of the most famous and important female poets of the Tamil canon. Abithana Chintamani states that there were three female poets titled...
refuses to give up her patron by subtly hinting that the king's weapons sparkled as they were probably never used whereas the arsenal of her patron were all worn out as they had seen numerous wars.
Valiant opponent of Peruñcēral Irumporai
But this congregation of Nedumān Añci with the Chola and Pandya does not deter the CheraChera dynasty
Chera Dynasty in South India is one of the most ancient ruling dynasties in India. Together with the Cholas and the Pandyas, they formed the three principle warring Iron Age Tamil kingdoms in southern India...
emperor, Peruñcēral Irumporai who finally arrives and sacks Tagadur. In spite of his small army, Nedumān Añci, will lead from the front and valiantly go down fighting in the battle field. AricilKilār, the war bard of Peruñcēral Irumporai, pays due homage to the opponent of his patron as he eulogises his king in Tagadur-Yāttarai.
Upon his death, a distressed Auvaiyar
Auvaiyar
The Avvaiyars "respectable women" was the title of more than one poet who was active during different periods of Tamil literature. The Avvaiyar were some of the most famous and important female poets of the Tamil canon. Abithana Chintamani states that there were three female poets titled...
would sing a number of elegies:
- an excerpt from PurananuruPurananuruPurananuru is a Tamil poetic work in the Pathinenmaelkanakku anthology of Tamil literature, belonging to the Sangam period corresponding to between 200 BCE – 100 CE. Purananuru is part of the Ettuthokai anthology which is the oldest available collection of poems of Sangam literature in Tamil....
, song 235:
- an excerpt from PurananuruPurananuruPurananuru is a Tamil poetic work in the Pathinenmaelkanakku anthology of Tamil literature, belonging to the Sangam period corresponding to between 200 BCE – 100 CE. Purananuru is part of the Ettuthokai anthology which is the oldest available collection of poems of Sangam literature in Tamil....
, song 231:
Inscriptions
A good number of inscriptions in JambaiJambai
Jambai is a panchayat town in Erode district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.Jambai is also a village in Tirukkoyilur Taluk, Viluppuram District.-Demographics:...
in Tirukkoyilur
Tirukkoyilur
Tirukkoyilur is a panchayat town in Viluppuram district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.-Etymology:'Tiru' + 'Kovil + 'oor' = holy temple village/place in Tamil....
taluk have been discovered which help us identify the Satyaputras of the Ashoka's
Ashoka
Ashok Maurya or Ashoka , popularly known as Ashoka the Great, was an Indian emperor of the Maurya Dynasty who ruled almost all of the Indian subcontinent from ca. 269 BC to 232 BC. One of India's greatest emperors, Ashoka reigned over most of present-day India after a number of military conquests...
edicts:
These put to rest any speculation regarding the identity of Satyaputras as being non-Tamil
Tamil people
Tamil people , also called Tamils or Tamilians, are an ethnic group native to Tamil Nadu, India and the north-eastern region of Sri Lanka. Historic and post 15th century emigrant communities are also found across the world, notably Malaysia, Singapore, Mauritius, South Africa, Australia, Canada,...
and goes on to show the greatness of this line as they are mentioned on par with the other three Tamil
Tamil people
Tamil people , also called Tamils or Tamilians, are an ethnic group native to Tamil Nadu, India and the north-eastern region of Sri Lanka. Historic and post 15th century emigrant communities are also found across the world, notably Malaysia, Singapore, Mauritius, South Africa, Australia, Canada,...
kingdoms.