Yalpana Vaipava Malai
Encyclopedia
Yalpana Vaipava Malai is a book written by a Tamil poet called Mayilvagana Pulavar 1736 AD. This book contains historical facts of the early Tamil city of Jaffna
. The book which may have been written around 1736 during the Governorship of Jan Maccara, the then Dutch
Governor of Jaffna. It was translated from Tamil by C. Brito, and was first published in 1879. The work is looked upon as one of great authority among the Tamils of Jaffna.
The author says that he referred the books Kailaya Malai, Vaiyai Padal and Pararajasekaran Ula for his work. It is said that these books are composed not earlier than the fourteenth century AD, contain folklore; legends and myths mixed with historical anecdotes. Today, except the Kailaya Malai which has been printed, and a few manuscript copies of Vaiya Padal, the other works are very rare and hardly procurable. The only manuscript of Yalpana Vaipava Malai itself was destroyed by the United National Party
in May 1981.
. It starts with The King Vibeeshana who ruled Sri Lanka after the Rama Ravana war according to the hindu
epic of Ramayana
. Then it refers the Mahawamsa and states about the bengali prince Vijaya and his son Panduvasan, the rulers from north India. Chronicles such as the Yalpana Vaipava Malai and stone inscriptions like Konesar Kalvettu recount that Kulakkottan, an early Chola
king and descendant of Manu Needhi Cholan
, was the restorer of the ruined Koneswaram temple
and tank at Trincomalee
in 438 AD, the Munneswaram temple
of the west coast, and as the royal who settled ancient Vanniyars in the east of the island Eelam
. According to Yalpana Vaipava Malai the history of Jaffna starts with a blind musician called Panan or Yalpadi. He received a land called Manatri from the ruler of Sri Lanka. Manatri was renamed as Yalpanam by Panan.
Then it comes with the Koolangai Chakravarti who was the ruler of Jaffna after Panan. It further states about the Formation of Nallur, arrival of tamils, and other kings of Jaffna.
According to Yalpana Vaipava Malai, during the eighth century Ugrasinghan, a prince of the dynasty of the legendary Vijaya, coming with an army from India, descended upon Sri Lanka and captured one half of the Island. He established his capital first at Katiramalai, known now as Kantarodai, and then shifted it to Singhai Nagar, a town on the eastern coast of the Jaffna Peninsula. Though the story of Ugrasinghan has generally been rejected by scholars," some are of the view that this story is "based on a historical fact", namely that Ugrasinghan has been confused with Manavamma who was helped by the Pallava King Narasinghavarman.
After stating facts about the Potugese rule the history ends with some facts of the Dutch rule.
Jaffna
Jaffna is the capital city of the Northern Province, Sri Lanka. It is the administrative headquarters of the Jaffna district located on a peninsula of the same name. Jaffna is approximately six miles away from Kandarodai which served as a famous emporium in the Jaffna peninsula from classical...
. The book which may have been written around 1736 during the Governorship of Jan Maccara, the then Dutch
Dutch Empire
The Dutch Empire consisted of the overseas territories controlled by the Dutch Republic and later, the modern Netherlands from the 17th to the 20th century. The Dutch followed Portugal and Spain in establishing an overseas colonial empire, but based on military conquest of already-existing...
Governor of Jaffna. It was translated from Tamil by C. Brito, and was first published in 1879. The work is looked upon as one of great authority among the Tamils of Jaffna.
The author says that he referred the books Kailaya Malai, Vaiyai Padal and Pararajasekaran Ula for his work. It is said that these books are composed not earlier than the fourteenth century AD, contain folklore; legends and myths mixed with historical anecdotes. Today, except the Kailaya Malai which has been printed, and a few manuscript copies of Vaiya Padal, the other works are very rare and hardly procurable. The only manuscript of Yalpana Vaipava Malai itself was destroyed by the United National Party
United National Party
The United National Party, often referred to as the UNP ), , is a political party in Sri Lanka. It currently is the main opposition party in Sri Lanka and is headed by Ranil Wickremesinghe...
in May 1981.
Contents
The book is one of the rare books which contains facts about the Ariyachakravsrtis who ruled Jaffna and some parts of what is now north Sri LankaSri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
. It starts with The King Vibeeshana who ruled Sri Lanka after the Rama Ravana war according to the hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
epic of Ramayana
Ramayana
The Ramayana is an ancient Sanskrit epic. It is ascribed to the Hindu sage Valmiki and forms an important part of the Hindu canon , considered to be itihāsa. The Ramayana is one of the two great epics of India and Nepal, the other being the Mahabharata...
. Then it refers the Mahawamsa and states about the bengali prince Vijaya and his son Panduvasan, the rulers from north India. Chronicles such as the Yalpana Vaipava Malai and stone inscriptions like Konesar Kalvettu recount that Kulakkottan, an early Chola
Early Cholas
The Early Cholas of the pre and post Sangam period were one of the three main kingdoms of the ancient Tamil country. Their early capitals were Urayur and Kaveripattinam...
king and descendant of Manu Needhi Cholan
Manu Needhi Cholan
Manu Needhi Cholan or Manuneedhi Cholan was a legendary Chola king believed to have killed his own son to provide justice to a Cow, following Manu Needhi or Manu's law. Legend has it that the king hung a giant bell in front of his courtroom for anyone needing justice to ring. One day, he came out...
, was the restorer of the ruined Koneswaram temple
Koneswaram temple
Koneswaram temple of Trincomalee is an Hindu temple in Trincomalee, Eastern Province, Sri Lanka venerated by Saivites throughout the continent...
and tank at Trincomalee
Trincomalee
Trincomalee is a port city in Eastern Province, Sri Lanka and lies on the east coast of the island, about 113 miles south of Jaffna. It has a population of approximately 100,000 . The city is built on a peninsula, which divides the inner and outer harbours. Overlooking the Kottiyar Bay,...
in 438 AD, the Munneswaram temple
Munneswaram temple
Munneswaram temple is an important regional Hindu temple complex in Sri Lanka, a predominantly Buddhist country. It has been in existence at least since 1000 CE, although myths surrounding the temple associate it with the popular Indian epic Ramayana, and its legendary hero-king Rama...
of the west coast, and as the royal who settled ancient Vanniyars in the east of the island Eelam
Eelam
Eelam also spelled Eezham, Ilam or Izham in English is the native Tamil name for the South Asian island state of Sri Lanka. Eelam is also a name for the spurge , toddy and gold. The exact etymology and the original meaning of the word are not clearly known, although there are number of...
. According to Yalpana Vaipava Malai the history of Jaffna starts with a blind musician called Panan or Yalpadi. He received a land called Manatri from the ruler of Sri Lanka. Manatri was renamed as Yalpanam by Panan.
Then it comes with the Koolangai Chakravarti who was the ruler of Jaffna after Panan. It further states about the Formation of Nallur, arrival of tamils, and other kings of Jaffna.
According to Yalpana Vaipava Malai, during the eighth century Ugrasinghan, a prince of the dynasty of the legendary Vijaya, coming with an army from India, descended upon Sri Lanka and captured one half of the Island. He established his capital first at Katiramalai, known now as Kantarodai, and then shifted it to Singhai Nagar, a town on the eastern coast of the Jaffna Peninsula. Though the story of Ugrasinghan has generally been rejected by scholars," some are of the view that this story is "based on a historical fact", namely that Ugrasinghan has been confused with Manavamma who was helped by the Pallava King Narasinghavarman.
After stating facts about the Potugese rule the history ends with some facts of the Dutch rule.
External links
- http://noolaham.org/wiki/index.php/யாழ்ப்பாண_வைபவ_மாலைProject NoolahamProject NoolahamProject Noolaham is a project to digitize, archive, and distribute cultural works related to Tamils. As of end of 2008 it has over 2500 items digitalized. It in multi – national effort, which focus on preserving and sharing Tamil publications primarily from Sri Lanka. It is a non profit effort,...
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