Phoenicians: The Missing Links of Tamils (2015)

Exciting Secrets on The Tamils Civilization, History, Kings & Dynasties
(History of the Taala-Vamsis/ Panayans)

By

Dr. M.Immanuel
DIRECTOR: CHLIRO-INDIA
(Cultural Historical Linguistic Indigenous Research Org. India)

Introduction

The Tamils are a Saintly race in South East Asia. They have a great aptitude for religion and search for the supreme god. They had no “Caste System” among them. “Yethum uurre, Yavarum Keliir” (where ever I go is mine; all are my brethren” was their basic motto. They have given rise to many Poets, Philosophers, Sages and Saints. They have contributed to the growth of philosophical and literary growth of the world civilization. They are a refined people away from natural barbarianism like some of the other races of the world. This sagacity of ‘mildness’ has caused the invading races like the Aryans to take the Tamils as ‘Non-resisting, weak people’ and called them as “Dasas” or ‘Slaves’. The liberal hospitality of the Tamils has been taken as ‘weakness’ by the invading ‘guests’. As the local Tamils were physically undefeatable, the invaders took a tactful strategy of ‘Religious’ approach taking advantage of the natural aptitude of ‘Spiritualism’ in the Tamils. By and by, the Tamils were so to say, ‘Enslaved’. This tactful enslavement has, in due course, caused the glory of Tamils to be hijacked.

History Reviewed

Slowly and slowly, the invading Aryans took over the valuable treasures of knowledge and symbols of civilization of the Tamils to themselves and pretended as if it were theirs and claimed ownership to it. For quite a long time this went unnoticed. But, in 1951, after the independence of India, a Social Research group instituted by government of India, initiated by Jawaharlal Nehru revealed the real facts. It was a research study done by more than sixty Scholars in a variety of subjects, under the guidance of Dr.K.M.Munshi of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. There, in its first Volume “The Vedic Age” it is said: “In Culture, speaking in the Indian way, one may say that over twelve annas of Indian Rupee is of Non-Aryan origin…” That means to say that, as analyzed in 1951, in the context of Indian Culture and Civilization, more than 75 % of Indian Culture is of non-Aryan. That is to say it is Dravidian or of the Tamils.

A Grand Palmyrah-Culture

Herodotus (408 BC), the first historian of the known world, in his voluminous book stated that the Tamils were the earliest race that invented letters, the art of writing, and numerical numbers to keep accounts of their trade and communications. He said that Tamils, especially, from the South most parts of India, from Kerala (present Kanyakumari district), were men of letters. They were big warriors and able Navigators. They were based on a Palmyrah Culture with knowledge of well organized Martial Arts, Medicine and other Arts, and were engaged in inter-Continental Trade. They were the pioneers to spare the art of writing to the Greeks, Ionians, Egyptians and many other people of the world. In Rome they established a city named “Palmyrah”. Because of their connection with the Palm-trees, these people were called “Palm-Asians”. This term, in due course, had become popular as “Phoenicians”. History reveals that these people were responsible for the making up of the Hittites Empire. In Egypt they established a Ruling Dynasty called Marakara Dynasty, in 2250 BC. These facts are endorsed by the works of Fr. Heras, S.J, also. Another branch of the Palmyrah based people (Toddy Tapers) had established in 2220 BC, at Goa, a city called “Chandorepuri” (Chandropore). A Goan author suggests an antiquity of 10000 BC, to these people. In the early 16th century, the Portuguese invaded Goa. They have erected a Museum at Goa and have installed a huge Model (item NO.20) of the city “Chandorpuri”. They have also erected a huge statue of a Portugal Poet, (Luiz De Camoes), who described the battle of their invasion. He inscribes there, a poem about the strong, valiant Palmyrah men attacking them with torches, jumping down from the Palm-trees like moors, unmindful of their life and how the land has fallen into the hands of the invader with modern war weapons. In a nearby Museum at ‘Panaji city’ (the word originates from “Panai= Palm tree), there is installed the strong statue of a Toddy tapper, with the sickle for curing the palms-flower stalk for extracting ‘Amrit’-the elixir from the palm-tree). [incidentally, in many of the Copper-plates given by Tamil Kings to the Brahmin settlers, it is seen that the pictures of these instruments of the toddy tappers are inscribed]. The Phoenicians are also called by the name: “Ponis=Panaies”. Historian Alfredo Froilano de Mello dates the city of Chandropore, around 2220 BC-2000BC These Phoenicians had connection with the Sumerians, even around 1775 BC, and the Goans were called by the name: “Gubio”, represented by the present “Gaud”, a toddy tapping community like the Nadars of today . A pathetic part to be mentioned here is that the author has seen and referred the original book (manuscript : 1 X 1.5’ ft size) of ‘Herodotus’ in the ‘Queens Library ‘ of New York, in 2009, but in 2014, it was forbidden for reference due to Socio-political cultural restrictions.

City of Santor / Chandor-puri

Same way, in the year 2010, I could see the marking on the Model –Plan of ‘Chndorpuri’ marked as 220 BC. From 2011- 2013, the model of Chandor-puri, went missing, and in 2014, when it appeared on registering a complained, it came back with the ‘New Edition changed by the Brahmanical Archaeological Department: that the dating of the city was around 4th century AD’ defecting the earlier record of 220/ 2220 BC, against the original version of the Researcher, veteran, Fr. Heras S.J, who gave a dating of 2220 BC . Such wantonly done archaeological crimes are many in Indian history, like that one in an ancient Nadar temple, near Eraniel Palace, in Kanyakumari district. The original inscription found therein is now changed by some vested interests. Even when this article was being written, one item in today’s news stuck me heavily: “Central University’s decision to cancel a Session on ‘Buddhism’ raises eyebrows…part of a National Conference scheduled for Wednesday, apparently without giving a ‘Convincing Reason’ to the speaker A. Marx, retired professor and social activist, who was invited in the capacity as an author of books on the religion…. This is a very ‘Mild’ example among many thousands of ‘Cruel, Parochial’ methods adapted by biased religious and linguistic enthusiasts to bury, dilute, divert and hijack true history and culture of the land to satisfy the invading mind of the Aryanism.

Tamils patrons of Jainism/ Buddhism

The broad mind of the Tamils was tender and willing to explore and experiment any of the spiritual goodness preached by any religion of the world to attain peace and salvation for liberating the soul, as could be seen from the Edicts of Sambrat Asoka (273 BC). Buddhism and Jainism had great following among the Tamils, not only in Tamilnadu, but all over India also. Tamils were even patrons of these wonderful religions of Peace and non-violence. As a matter of fact, it was through Buddhism and Jainism that the whole world was attracted towards India by many of the Nations of the world like China, Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Java , Jakarta or Singapore, Africa, etc. Excitedly, it is worth mentioning here that one of the very valuable icons found from Java, in around the 5th century BC is the Icon depicting the Palmyrah-Palm pictured entwined with the sacred “Bodhi-Tree” of Sri Buddha of ancient times, connecting the Palm-culture portrayed by Herodotus with the still important religion of Buddhism, a symbol of Universal Peace. Historically, Buddha is connected to the Tamil “Kozhiyar, Moriyar related to the ‘Sakyas or even to the ‘Mallas’’. Incidentally history connects “Mahavira” the promoter of Jainism, and says that he was the “son of a Nata (Nada) of ‘Kundagrama’ from the ‘Naya’ Clan, called as Jnatrika, (in Pali language. Pali is a modification of Tamil language developed on times). It is not any wonder that the early Jain centers in Kanyakumari district at ‘Chitaral’ and Nagercoil (Nagaramman Koil) have the statues of the Jain Saint “Mahavira”, as a continuity of the early Tamil history (here the great University of the Tamils functioning from Chitaral , is worth mentioning. It was known even to the Chinese). This Chitaral Jain centre was ‘Hinduised by the Aryanized 18th century Travancore rulers, but given back in the 21st century, because of Tamil and Jain activists).

Aryanization of Tamil Culture

All these things indicate that there is nothing wrong with the Tamil and the Tamils, but, something was going always against them ever since the course of Aryan invasion happened. The antiquity of Tamil was so remote that things went ‘de-linked’ centuries after centuries and nations after nations. This could be understood only from a thorough research from works of Herodotus or scholars like Fr. Heras. Sanskritisation of Indian Culture, had, to a great extent, misled Indian history, making a vacuum for the Tamils, even to South Indian history. In assessing the ‘Linguistic Period of origin for world languages’ it seems, a ‘Just-Scale’ has not been maintained. It can be noticed from the following few languages and their periods of origin are not correctly judged:

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Here, the first one: Afro-Asiatic language seems to be justifiable, but need more ‘comparative explanations’. Its ‘Base-Link of a Lamurian Origin’ of language is missing here. Origin of Phoenician language is given 1000 BC, but that of the Hittite language was given 1700 BC., whereas, it was the Phoenicians who had established the Hittites empire. The origin given to Tamil is only 200 BC. But the origin of Malayalam, a Dravidian language which came out from Tamil, visually, in front of our eyes, in 16th century AD, is given 9th century AD. There are many such reasons to declare this chart is improper and biased.

Tamil word Panai and Phoenician the Missing Links

The main reason for this inadequacy is that the scholars were not able to analyze or to have a proper connection with the ‘Missing links’ of terms and phonetics between the earliest Tamil of Phoenicians and the modern series of languages. In between they made lots of missing and mistakes. Historians like George Rawlison who wrote History of Phoenicians; and Sabatino Moscati who wrote World of Phoenicians, and many others are seen ‘struggling’ to link up the word: “Panai” or Pana (Panii or Poni), which the Phoenicians used. They mistook the word for a Cannanite or Spanish product. Ages have gone detached from the original usage. So they miss the root-meaning as ‘the tree’. But, all seem to remember a “Sea-People” who handled the Panai. They are unable to analyze who were the original sea-people. They try to connect them only with the local “inter island traders, not the ‘far off’ Sea-voyage groups”. They could not think of going beyond Sicily or Italy, to connect the word “ Poni (panai) or the word “Purple” that the Phoenicians traded – a sort of high ranking red-silk). Charles River Editors or Eric H. Cline, or even Sabatino Moscati, etc, have translated only from the Italian versions, not the original of Herodotus. Regarding “Poni or Po-ni-ki-jo”, Sabatino says: “This adjective may already have contained an ‘Ethnic Value’ particularly, since a ‘noun’: “Po-ni-ki-jo, is used to denote a herb which could be ‘Herba-Phoenicia mentioned by Plini” (Sabatino). Here lies all the secret clue to the real fact, for those who understand the language, culture and Botany of the Science of the Tamil Santors of India. In Medicinal Science of Santors, Poni, ie., Panai (Palm-tree) is considered only as a ‘Herb’ not as a Tree, because of its botanical construction of the Crest and Core, the ‘Soft part’ being inside its body. Even Sanskrit translators of early times (4th century AD) also treated it as a Herb or even as a Creeper.

The ‘Ethnic Value’ of Panai/ Poni

The word has got an “Ethnic value” denoting a people. The toddy tappers who went in ‘long voyages’ on intercontinental trade for selling “Purple” were called Panais (Poni) = Panayar, panai-Asiyer= Palm-Asiyer= Phoenician. In the 11th century AD the inscriptions by Rajaraja Chola, given in “Thanchai Peru-Udayar Koil Inscriptions” these Tamils are written as “Panayan” (men of Palm-tree, or men who has the banner of Palm-tree; like ‘Bhishmar’ of Epic time-heroes. (incidentally, Palm-tree is the National tree of Tamilnadu). But the modern scholars of west and Italy were unable to connect the culture and the link-words of “Palm” and so have missed the meanings and went astray. Instead of identifying the real product, “Purple” traded by the Phoenicians, they (the modern researchers) gave definition to it, and the term as a ‘Dye Industry’ of Italy. Unfortunately the deep ‘Aryanization’ of India has suppressed the truth and did not give scope for further explanation of the matter. Herodotus and Fr. Heras, like some other few, only have clarified this. V.S.V.Ragavan who translated Herodotus into Tamil, also knows about this. But, the onslaught of Sanskritisation in India added up with gross Aryanization has shut his prospects of clarifying the original meaning to the world.

Sanskritization misleads Noboro Karashima

Japanese scholars even like, Noboro Karashima of Taisho University of modern times also was misled by such Aryanization, in his work: Ancient and Medieval Commercial Activities in the Indian Ocean : Testimony of Inscriptions and Ceramic Sherds (1997-2000). In explaining the ancient merchant Organizations, Karashima defines the term: “Padinenvishayam” as “the eighteen countries”. There is no dispute about the term: “Padinen”. It is the numerical number: 18 (eighteen). But, the key term is: “Vishayam”. This term is entwined with the History, Culture, and Language of the earlier Tamils before the invasion of the Aryans. Especially, this term is much attached to the royal ruling class of the Tamils. This is attached with the earliest royal group of the Santors, the Nadalwars who had their deity of Kalika or Bhadra Kali or Kottravai as their war-goddess. The term applies to the 18 secret weapons and methods of ‘warfare’ of the goddess who is believed to have taught the art of war to the Santors. The term Vishayam also indicated ‘administration or organization of the merchant guilds, much popularized by the Chera, Chola, Pandyas. Although the Cheras, as Panais, had started this, it was the Cholas who had popularized it in the later stage and as they had surrendered to the French and British around 1807 AD, they had control over 360 trading points over the world. All these facts, history and linguistic links have been marred by the worst Aryanization where certain groups have worked in favour of the invaders betraying their own benevolent hosts. In the Kanyakumari Bhagavathy Amman Temple, there is an inscription to indicate these eighteen bunch of People of the ‘Casteless’ Society of the Tamils. It includes ‘Chedis and Assaries’ including the Santors. Another term partly misunderstood by veteran Karashima is: “Korrakkudai-panmai-300” He gives the meaning as “the 300 victorious men”.

Clarification given in Ancient Palm-Leaf Text, Valamkaimaalai

Yes. But, there is something much more than that which indicates in the history of Santors explained in a very old Palm-leaf Text called: Valamkai Maali. It says about the history of the ruling class, the Ndalwars (Santors- as given in the State Manual of Travancore-Nagam-Aiya), their deity, the wars they fought, and their mercantile guilds etc. Among them, the “Three Hundreds”is a group like the Ainootruvar (500-s), Ezhunootruvar (700-s), Manigramakkar ( royal merchant guilds), etc. Unfortunately the meaning of almost all these terms have gone upside down, with the Aryanization process as the ruling class has been thrown out of power and Sanskrit took the place of Tamil almost in many parts of Indian kingdoms for administration, a process continued for centuries, as that of the ‘corruption’ of Tamil to form new language, supporting the Sanskrit, called “Malayalam” in later Kerala of 16th century AD. There are many more words, hundreds of them like: Valamkaiyer, biraru, Lala-malayala-Nanadesigal, Makanmai, Alvar, Virakkodiyor, Perumakkal, Nattavar, Billa-300, Valakararu, Padinen-bhumi-viirar, Emitu-Nada-Padinaruvar, Bira-vanigaru, etc., etc. The lingo-socio-political changes occurred in India for the Tamils had camouflaged their earliest links of language, history and culture. The researchers have to make compensating deductions for their conclusions.

Antiquity of Tamils given in literatures

On the evidences of literary and archaeological data, the following chart can be made to indicate human inhabitation in India and certain other historical incidents:

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(*given by Veer Bahu Pillai. But, Aryans have diluted this and fixed the whole Sangam period around BC400-AD 400 or so)

Antiquity of Tamils on Genetic Analysis

But, the fact remains that the modern genetic analysis of Tamils (through DNA tests) go in tune with the Africans and such Mediterranean stocks of people going up to 1,50,000 - 1,70,000 years of antiquity (reported by modern American scientists on Perumalai kallar of the Tamils and Kottavila Nadachi of Kanyakumari district . Taking up this antiquity revealed by the Tamils, the 1st Sangam period seems to be too short to their existence and growth of culture in the globe. If so, the people of ‘Asia-Minor’ might have, probably, spoken Tamil ,some 1,00,000 years ago (this could be proved if we can straighten all the missing links with the help of Tamil literature and proper analysis of all the linguistic links found on the pictorial writings found all over the world).

Discussion of Indus-Valley Dates

Scholar and Historical researcher, Rev. H.Hers. S.J., checking up on the probable dates of the Indus Valley Civilization wrote: “what was, therefore, the date of the Mohanjo-Daro civilization, if it is to be placed before the beginning of Sumerian history? Sumerian history commences from the fourth millennium BC. Mohanjo-Daro, therefore, must belong to the beginning of this millennium or to the fifth millennium BC. Prof. Pirenne pointedly says in this connection: ‘the cities of the Indus seem more progressive, and consequently, more ancient than those of the Mesopotamian delta. Perhaps the latter were born out of the contact with the former. Some of the astronomical observations recorded in the inscriptions of the Indus Valley will help us to determine the date with a greater degree of certainty” . This unbiased statements and conclusion go in tune with the other information that we have gathered about the Hittites, Sumerians and Egyptians from various other sources. Such conclusions are seen contradicted, disputed and tried to be diluted to a negative level by Indian promoters of Aryanism, as they did in the case of ‘Goan Chandorpuri’ or even to the Indus Valley itself by trying to change the ‘cow’ into a ‘horse’ through many ‘back-door’ methods, in order to establish an ‘Aryan supremacy’ as they have tried in a “Mouth born Brahmin or a god-born Deva-bhasha’ for Sanskrit. Rev. Heras does his research scientifically with all sincerity and honesty without any bias. In order to confirm the date of Indus Valley, he further goes to study the matter on the basis of astronomical data observed in the positions of the stars pictured in the seals got from the Valley. This is a serious study. He goes to record: “In point of fact, according to the astronomical system of the ‘Chaldeans’ the year begins when the Sun enters the first point of the constellation of the Ram…Thus in the 26h century BC, the Bull became the first constellation of the year…God Enlil was supposed to have his residence in the house of the Ram…The Sun god, Stanu, of the Hittites is depicted on the rocks of Iasily Kaya, accompanied by Ram. In Egypt Ram was the animal sacred to the first god of the triad of Thebes… Herodotus narrates that according to the Egyptians when Jupiter appeared to Heracles, he covered his face with the skin of a Ram…Since ecliptic moves one degree every 72 years, it will move 30 degrees, the space of the constellation every 72 years, multiplied by 30, i.e, every 2,160 yrs….” From such deductions he assumes 6,594 BC as the period of Indus Valley . He continues to say: “Now, after having deciphered one thousand and eight hundred (1800) inscriptions of Mohanjo-Daro, I am reconfirmed in my views as regards the Indian origin of the Sumerian writing” (SPIMC, Heras, p, 251). The above strong statement of the Spanish scholar-researcher, Heras, gives us a firm conclusion to our views on evidential merits of a Palmyrah based, Poni (Panai) Poni-ki-jo- Phoenician-Hittite ‘Palm Asian’ connection to the world of civilization in the earliest periods of ages beyond the historical times. This undisputedly goes with the ancient untold history of the Santors, being ridiculed since the times of Sanskritisation (4th / 7th century AD) and much more in the 19th century as ‘Channars’ whose history constantly been tried to be hidden and hijacked by the Aryan chauvinists. Scholar, R.Madhivanan, as back as 1995, who tried to work on the Indus Valley seals is also tempted to be attracted by the ‘sweet Aryanization’ process, in certain terms, like ‘Thamizhi, Brahmi, etc. He says:

Hijacking ‘Thamizhi into Brahmi

“The Brahmi script is known as Tamizhi in Tamilnadu. Brahma is the base of the word ‘Brahmi’. Brahmam means the first, the foremost. For example, ‘Brahmakula’ means the ‘Brahmin’ caste which occupies the first place in the four fold divisions of Hindu Caste system. Brahma Muhrta means the first auspicious moment. Brahmacarya means the first stage of worldly life for a Brahmin among the four stages namely ‘Brahmacarya, Grahasta, Vanaprasta and Sanyasa”. Just read the above passage with a simple serene heart, without any bias. One can very easily understand that how much deeply, even a scholar, that too, a specialized scholar of ‘Linguistic Study’ engaged in such a serious study of ‘analyzing a very remote culture’ comparing it with others to find the truthful nature, is ‘grossly influenced’ by such Aryan mythical superstitions !! Introduction of ‘Caste System’ in India is a very later development in comparison to the antiquity of Indus Script or its Civilization. These superficial mythical thoughts came only after the entry of the Aryan invasion. The ‘Caste system’ was introduced by the ‘Adi Sankara’ of 8th / 9th century AD, to take advantage to a set of people of a country, especially of the invaders. Tamils did not have a ‘Caste System’. There was no ‘first-place Brahmin’ for them. But, the system was introduced and we see that it has created a greatest impact on the ‘thought process’ of the people, even to the scholars of ‘Research Repute’. This makes things ‘Biased’ to a great limit in research. Dr.Madhivnan has not gone ‘defected’, but, the Indian context has created ample choices for such defect-process and it is reflected in the history of India. The researchers are warned to be aware of this fact. Madhivanan says: “The Tamils are the first people who reduced the syllabic writing into alphabetic order in history and hence it was named Brahmi by others “(Madhivanan, p, 18). He places the period of Brahmi around 1500-1800 BC., (p, 19). This is partly advantageous to the Aryan concept. But, he gives an Egyptian, Phoenician, Greek, Sematic, connection to it, from Indus Valley (p, 21). The newly introduced Caste System of Aryans has gone so much rotten that they made divisions not only among the people lived in India as Brahmana, Kshatriya, Vaishya, Sudra, but also even to certain animals like snakes and identified them that ‘this is a Brahman Snake, this one a Kshatriya snake, and this a Chetti-snake’ etc. In order to emphasis their ‘motive’ they also created a new linguistic myth that ‘Sanskrit was a Deva-Bhasha’ (Language of Gods) !! This is the same kind of their ‘myth’ that Brahmin came from the mouth of god and Sudra came from the feet of god….etc. The idea was only to ‘Pollute the very thought process’ of the Indian people subjugated by them, so that they will ever remain divided and would not come up to higher levels. So, in historical or linguistic researches, we should take caution not to fall prey to the cunning traps of the Aryan designs, but should be ready to call a spade a spade. We are to keep the serenity of the research subject.

Antiquity of Tamil Grammar Book

Grmammar: is one of the key-factors in deciding the quality and antiquity of any language of the world. Analyzing all the languages of the world, it is found that Tamil language has got the earliest and the highest Standard-quality for its Compact Grammar pattern. The genius applied to the formation of the Tamil Grammar is ‘novel’ unique and incomparable with any of the world languages. First of all, to have a grammar for a language, it is necessary that the language should have letters, varieties of literature and the society that handled it must have gone through a series of stages of linguistic development and growth to demand for a systematic code of grammar. Unlike the other languages of the world, the Tamil grammar book, Tolkappiyam, deals with not only the required codes for a strictly chalked out laws of linguistic requirements, but, it also, in addition to its various other subjects applied to human life, like ‘Feelings, Character, State of Mind, Emotions, Love, Physical and moral interactions, dealings of materials, sources, wealth, life-style, politics, Army and a diversified subjects’. Such a type of a ‘Vast Sphere’ of application for a linguistic grammar is seldom found, or rather, not found at all, in any of the world languages. I do not know whether this special super-grade level superiority’ of Tamil Grammar System is ever discussed and sufficiently projected by the linguistic experts of the world. This quality of ‘Grammatical Format’ is deserved only by Tamil for which that language should have gone through stages of evolvement and growth with a vast literary treasures in a vast span of time. The world famous ‘Tamil Grammar Book is called Tolkaappiyam. It is said to be written by “Kappiyanar” of ‘Kaappukkadu’ a place in the present Kanyakumari district, almost three k.m, away from the famous ‘Athen Code’ near the banks of the river “Tambra-varni” where the great Grammar book was subjected for Masterly Discussions, in the Chair of “Athen-cottu Assan” another stalwart from Kanyakumari district of Tamilnadu. The first man who wrote ‘comments’ and critique of ‘praise’ for it was “Panam-Paranar” of the age old Po-ni-ki-jo (Poni or, Panaya) –Phoenicia, or ‘Palm-Asian’ breed from the same place of ‘Panampazhanji’ (a place) of Athen-code (Of course, there are some controversies about this, but now things are almost settled on modern research of history done by unbiased scholars). This place, ’Athen-code’ is less than three k.m, from ‘Parthipasekarapuram’ where, even in the 9th century AD, thrived an University, controlled by the Aye-King, ‘Ko-Karunthadakkan’. Again this place ‘Athen-code’ is only about ten k.m away from the world famous University at ‘Chitharal’ a well known Jain Centre known to the ancient Chinese. It is understood that President ‘Chou-En’Lai’ enquired on this centre to Jawaharlal Nehru (then Indian Prime Minister of India) in the sixties when he visited China, after independence. There too was thriving a large university in those days (Elamkulam Kunjan Pillai). All these places are within the reach of the early Aye Capital of “Vizhinjam” some 23 k.m away, from Athen-code, towards Thiruvananthapuram of Chera-nadu, part of the early “Villava Country” of Ptolamy’s period (a traveler 119-161 AD, born to a Roman in an Egyptian Lady).

Reason why South India is much known among Continents

Here is something to think and ponder upon. Why is India, especially, South India and the Chera Nadu is so much well known and able to attract world travelers like: Magasthanese (302-296 BC); Sterapo (BC 64-24 AD; Pliny (23-79 AD); Periplues (50-80AD); Ptolamy (119-161 AD); Pa-Hiyan (399-414 AD); Yu-Van-Suang (629-645 AD); Mar-Co-Polo (1254-1324AD) ? The answer to this bewildering question is that the ancestors of the people of ‘Chera-Nadu’ as Poni, Po-ni-ki-jo, Ponai, Panai, Panayar, Panayan, Palm-Asiayer, Phoenicians were in true physical contact with these intercontinental people on trade and heroic voyages centuries ago (much before Sanskrit was formed by Aryans), and even made strong settlements there, parting with their art of writing, culture and communication skills. In many places, it is said that they had even established settlements as they did in Italy building the “City of Palmyrah” in Rome . Although many of the travel-reports are destroyed and tarnished, (there are numerous documentary and entertaining films produced by Aryan agents to camouflage their history, dominated with a colour of ‘insertion of Aryan-Priests’ in them), still there are many ‘Rudiments’ left for the researchers to pick up one by one to link up the Tamil history. Now, regarding the period of this great grammar book, Tolkappiyam, Elampooranar, the critique, is of the opinion that it could be some 10,000 years ago. But he claims it might have been written in the period of the Middle Sangam, i.e, around BC 5550-1850 BC. But he says it was discussed and acknowledged in the great royal Sabha of King Nilam Tharu Thiruvir Pandyan. Historians do not seem to have shown any interest in demarking his period of royal rule. Information from the Travancore StateManual reveals that he was from the “Villava tribe of Vanavans” ruling the suburbs of ‘Athen-Code’ wherefrom Athen-cottu Assan presided the meeting of acknowledging the text: Tolkappiyam. But the exact period is not mentioned.

3102 BC, the first Bharata –war of India

*Palm-tree/ Panai/ Poni , its importance in the Coronation Ceremony of Kings Author of Travancore StateManuel, T.K.VeluPillai, 1940, says: “The rulers of Travancore trace their descent from the great dynasty of Chera Kings, whose exploits are recorded in the literary monuments of India, the Ithihasas, and the Puranas and the works of the Sangam period of ancient Tamil literature (p, 10). Venadu is derived from Vanava-nadu. The title ‘Vanavan’ denoted the Chera King, in ancient Tamil Literature (Puranaanooru and Silappadikarm). The Chera King is mentioned in Mahabharata, as having participated in the battle of ‘Kurukshetra, ‘more than three thousand years before Christ’ (i.e., above 5000 years ago). King ‘Perumchottru Udayan Cheral Athan’ is said to have served food for the soldiers of war”. This means that the King during the time of Bharata war was ‘Perum Chottru Udayan Athen, and he was the native of Athen-Code (in present Kanyakumari district). Near Athen-code, there is an ancient place called “Ko-Kudi-Vilai” (King’s Square). According to “Aihole Inscription” the period of Bharata war is 3102 BC, even before the Persian invasion of the Aryans. K.A.Nilakanta Sastri mentions of one Chera King, who had extended his kingdom up to the northern lands like Himalayas. This king was “Kalangai Kanni Naar Mudi-Cheral”. He had his Crown made of “Palmyrah-Fibre” for some specific reasons. The Crown also was studded with Rubies, Pearls and very valuable Stones. Sastri gives AD 175 for this King: “Klangai Naar Mudi-Cheral” whereas M.Immanuel fixes the period: 90-115 AD. Sastri, referring to “Kalangay: a dark berry” sarcastically asks: “ why he has to wear this insignia,…that somehow the proper crown and festoon were not on hand at the time of his coronation…”. Nilakanta Sastri, as well as his guru, M.Raghava Aiyangar, both being inclined to ‘Sanskritic thought process’ are either unable to understand what “Kalangai” is or what is the important significance behind it. For a famous King, would it not be possible for him to fetch such valuable materials required for his most important ceremony of “Coronation”? It is only ridiculing of the serene Tamil Culture and negligence to understand the important ‘tradition behind it’ to be specific to have the “Palm-Fibre” for making the Crown. This important factor is missed by the ‘Western scholars’ and it is surprised to see that even the ‘Sanskritised’ scholars of India too have missed it, on many occasions. Was it done wantonly?

Botanical name and structure of Panai/ Poni

First of all: “Kalangey” is not a “Black berry”. The Botanical name for Palm-tree is “Kalai= a pole or even as a herb. In early Sanskrit, it is described as a “Herb”. The other important point to be noted is “Palm-tree” is supposed to be the ‘abode’ of their war-goddess “Maha-Kalika” (Bhadrakaali), the ‘Mother-goddess’ which the Ponis= Po-ni-ki-jo= Phoenicians had taken all along with them wherever they went Here it is felt to have another opinion of a scholar historian about Palm-tree and Chera-tradition. According to him:

Palm-Tree in Inscription of 1st century BC

“Palm-tree is the insignia of the Chera Dynasty…Palm-gur’ unrefined sugar’ molasses occurs in the Alagarmalai Tmil-Brahmi Inscription NO.7 of 1st century BC. There are names of villages bearing the word ‘Panai’. In Tolkaapiyam the word Panai (Palm-tree) gives to mean ‘a-measure’, denoting the length (a pole). Tiruvalluvar, the wise man par-excellence, uses the term: Panai ‘abstaining from evil’. Chera King Chenkuttuvan is known to have used to have worn ‘the Palm-Leaf Ear-Ring’. Sangam poems make mention of the Chera Kings attaching immense value and honour to the Palmyrah-tree in royal etiquette. “One Chera King ‘Kalangai Naar Mudi-Cheral’ is said to have worn a Crown made of rough frame and festoons of precious stones on the occasion of Coronations. It is found from the Sangam Classics, the Chera Kings, as a rule, wore the garland of the Palmyrah-flowers and offered such garlands to their royal elephants, also wore the crown of the Palmyrah-fibre and ear-ring of Palmyrah-leaves, as a mark of their respect to their tutelary tree”. In the Kuthirai Maligai of Sri Padmanabaswmy Temple Museum, at Thiruanandapuram, there is a ‘Sample’ of the “Palm-Leaf Crown” made in Raw Palm-Leaf, as a ‘Model’ to the ancient phenomenon of the Sangam Age. This model Crown is given in the said book: Forgotten dynasty behind the biggest Hoards of India (P, 9). This was specially shown to the Heritage Study group of INTACH, to which I too was a member, in 2012 by the assistant of late ‘Utradam Tirunal’with his special instructions. Utradam Tirunal was the younger brother of the last King of Travancore, Sri Chitirai Tirunal (1931 - 1991). This justifies the confirmed tradition and the importance attached to it with the Travancore original dynasty and the Palm-tree of the Po-ni-ki-jo = the Phoenicians.

Change of Palm-tree based Coronation to Hiranyagarbham

This close affinity to the ‘Palmyrah-Culture’ during the Coronation Ceremony of the Chera Kings, seems to have continued at least partially, till the 19th century AD. But, there are some references and some ‘misquotes’ to believe that after the formation of the Malayalam language in the 16th century AD, there has been strong pressure by the Aryan Brahmins, overpowering the indigenous Gurukkal or Naden King-Priests, to change the old Palmyrah system by introducing a new system for Coronation called “Hiranyagarbham” (immersing in the water in a drum) probably in the 18th century AD. By this New system, the ‘would be King’ is asked to go through the Mouth of a huge ‘Golden Cow and come through its Genital/ Anus, followed with an immersion of the person into a big Drum with water for ‘purification or so to say, Aryanisation’ of the person. After this the enormously huge Golden Cow is to be given as “Gift to the Brahmins followed by a big feast for thousands”. This Brahmanical system was introduced to plunder the wealth of the Tamils in the name of religious ritualistic pattern of Brahmanism and eventually, the age old Palmyrah tradition is slowly faded away and even ‘ridiculed’ in the long run. It was a plan of Aryan design. This great inner Plan is well exposed in the ensuing ousting of the ‘local ruling class’ out of the temples and the priesthood, in the early 19th century. This, followed by the historical Revolution of the Temple Entry Movement, of the Nadalwars initiated by Vellaiya Nadar in 1854 to 1937, when a royal proclamation was issued making the entry of temples free for all classes of societies. It is to be re-instated here that it was only in 1810 that the Santor King Udayamartanda Kulasekara Perumal was poisoned and killed by the socio-political plan of the period by a combination of designs explained in the book: Forgotten dynast Behind the biggest Hoards of India.

Period of Tolkappiyam Grammar and Phoenicians

Now coming back to the period of Tolkappiyam: Veteran researcher, R.Madhivanan says: “The Tamil word Eluthu (letter) means ‘drawing a figure’. This is a proof that the ancient Tamils had passed the stages of writing system namely, Pictograph and syllabic and had finally reached the present alphabetic method…The third Tamil Academy (2000 BC to 1700 BC) should have reformed the Tamil writing system reducing it to the syllabic to alphabetic”. But, surprisingly, Madhivanan too seems to be influenced by some sort of Aryan thought process and tries to support the artificially made theory of ‘Aindra school of grammar’ designed by the Aryans and he says: “Valmiki Ramayana mentions that Hanuman was well versed in Aindra school of grammar. Valmiki Ramayana period is definitely earlier to 1000 BC. The Brahmi script must have spread in north India at least before 1500 BC. The first formation of the script which spread from South to the North must be prior to 1800 BC at least” (p, 19). He continues: “The Phoenician merchants who had their first settlement at Carthage in North Africa followed a writing system in 1500 BC to suit their language using 22 consonants as alphabets. This phonetic script spread all over the Mediterranean regions and turned to be the Semitic writing system…changing according to their requirements…”.

Influence of Sanskritic Myth and Tamil Grammar

The matter to be pondered and given serious thought is that our scholars, that too, linguistic scholars are forced to believe that even the ‘Monkeys’ are expert Grammarians than human beings. Hanuman, a Monkey god designed by the Aryans to ridicule the South Indians in order to establish the Aryan superiority, was created to know “Aindran” a grammar-book which was said to be existent even before Tolkappiyam, whereas there was none like that, except the sole myth, and our so called scholars believed it. But, our scholars are hesitant to believe the Phoenicians, a human beings who propagated the art of writing to the rest of the world in the yonder ages!! The whole analytical history favours the Phoenician theory. Instead of making grass-root studies from the huge Palm-leaf texts available in the home land of the Phoenicians, the Kanykumari and South Kerala regions, the scholars are adamant to ignore them for unilateral reasons only known to them. Luis de Assis Correia, an honoured scholar of Goa was courageous enough to declare the truth of 10,000 BC for the existence of the heroic Tamil Phoenicians of yonder ages whereas our scholars are scared to call out the truth because of fear-stricken Aryanism, without which the age of the scriptural Tamil might go well beyond 30,000 BC, in consideration of the dynastic list of the Cheras we got from A. Chithambaranar’s, Cherar Varalaru.

Confusions in the Date of ‘Panini’

There are section of scholars who want to promote Sanskrit very enthusiastically say that author of Tolkappiyam has taken or copied everything from “Aindran or Sanskritic Panini”. But they forget the fact that Sanskrit was never had been the ‘Spoken Language or the Mother tongue’ of any people, even till today. It was artificially created around 2nd or 4th century AD to copy down the secret knowledge of the Tamils of South India. There are ample proofs to substantiate this statement: K.M.Munshi states that “Panini is of the age of around 4th century BC (p, 317). ...To explain this curious fact, it cannot be reasonably argued that though the white Yejurveda was considerably older, yet Panini , had no personal knowledge of it for the good reason that it was produced in eastern India; for the Panini certainly knew the Taittireya Samhita, a product of the South, though he himself was at home in the north. His apparent ignorance of the white Yajurveda therefore must be regarded as a proof of the latter’s comparatively later origin”. Again he says regarding Vyakarna (grammar): “The only representative that has come down to us of this Vedanga is Ashtadhyayi of Panini, which belongs to later period” (481). Once again Munshi continues to conclude: “Panini mentions coins like Pana, Adhaka, Patra, Drona, and Prashtha. But, as noted above Panini’s date is uncertain, and he probably belonged to a period later than 600 BC”. All these show us for sure that something is wrong and everything is not right. The Aryans coming to India had acquired with a great greed to grasp whatever possible for them to grab and copied all of them in their newly coined language, Sanskrit and maintained a great secrecy to utilize all of them in proper timings to their advantage. In the process, they had missed many of the ‘Santor science’ like the Vrma Sastra which is termed by them as ‘Santor Marrai (the Religion of the Ruler=Santors). This they could get only in the 21st century of the modern days from Tamil Santor Asans. But, the author mentions of a Chandogya Upanishad with the Valuable Codes of the Ruler (Santors). About this the author, K.M.Munshi says:

Talavakara and Chandogya Upanishad of ‘Santors’

“For the Samaveda, the only Aranyakas are the first Aranyaka like section of the Chandogya Upanishad, which belongs probably to the Tandya Maha Brahmana and the Jainimeya Upanishad Brahmana, which is nothing but Aranyaka of the Jainimeya or Talavakara school of the SV and comprises of the well-known Kena (or Talavakara) Upanishad . Here we find lots of Tamil words. In their art of writing, Aryans have maintained and kept some secrets. But, sometimes they were unsealed. Chandogya is the codes of administration for Santors to rule. Aranyaka is the secrets which are to be learnt secretly in the Jungles, specially during nighttime, as it belongs to the codes of Adharvana Veda consisting of lots of critical Mantras. And finally, the main section attributed to this branch is the “Talavakara” of the real Phoenicians (poni, Poni-ki-jo) which the Thanjore Peru Udayar Inscriptions refer to as “Panayan” and in north Indian language, it is Tala or Talavakara= People of Palm, attached to the Palm-tree, the Phoenicians.

Grammar of a Sanskritic Monkey god a Myth

To sum up all these together, the point to be underlined is that, either Panini (his Ardhasastra) or the Sanskritic grammar, all are of a very later period, later than 6th century BC, or even still later. The imaginary Aindran said to be known by the monkey-god Hanuman was only a myth (or a camouflaged substitute to mislead) created to confuse the Southern antiquity of literary prowess of the Tamils of South India. As a matter of fact, the antiquity of Tolkappiyam must go beyond 1800-2000 BC, or even 5000 BC (compared to the Sematic language) compared to the connection of Tamils with the Hittites, Egyptians, Chaldeans, Greek, Spain and such people of ancient times whom the Ponis (Phoenicians) had enlightened and educated (Ref. Raghavan who translated the Herodotus -408 BC). An epigraphic and Linguistic Researcher of our times, who was awarded many recognitions and a cash award of Rs.2, 50,000, by the Central Institute of Classical Tamil, Ma. So. Victor says: “In the yonder ages, people of the globe talked only one language and that was the Tamil language popularized from the Lamurian Continent thousands of years ago and the findings of many Tamil words in many of the world languages induced the Western scholars to think that it developed from the Sematic groups of languages and the Babylonians, Hittites and Phoenicians were one and the same people of yonder ages and in the earlier stages, the cultural link was extended from Nile to Indus and the most popular civilized people known then were of the Indus and the Babylonia. Scholars gave almost 5000 BC for such a Sematic language, but failed to assess the antiquity of the Tamil which was responsible for the growth of such a Sematic language and its roots. This is evident from the hundreds and thousands of Tamil words found in the root-words of the world languages’. The point to be observed here is that the scholars who are willing to give 5000 BC for the Sematic language is seen ‘hesitant’ to allot a fittest period for its mother language because of the overshadow of the unilateral attitude of camouflaging the original Indian civilization of the Tamils by their socio-political invaders who wanted to claim all of the merits of the country that they tried to invade and subdue. That is the real Aryan cultural onslaught on the Indian civilization. Scholars need to be critical and duly analytical in this regard.

The Brahmanic Claim of Tolkappiyam

It is no wonder that, as usual, the Aryans have claimed ownership even to this great grammar book: Tolkappiyam and said that the book was composed by a Brahmin called “Trinathoomagni, a son of another ‘Agni’ called ‘Samathakkiniyar’ (Tolkaappiyam- Porul Athikaram, Urai: Ilam Pooranar-1969, p6 (Munnurai). Few years back the Brahmins published a book: The Brahmins of India where they have claimed almost all the good writers, works and all good subjects, as if written by Brahmin authors. It is their nature. Only the researcher can find out how much truth lies down in such statement by doing the genuine research work.

Aryans help Western invaders to Copy down indigenous Secrets

From the year 1678-1703, such enthusiasts have helped a Dutch Admiral, Van Rheede, to copy down a huge quantity of the Medicinal secrets of the Chera-Nadu and take it to Amsterdam and preserved it in 794 huge Copper-plates to be used by their country. In the present Kanykumari district, which is a part of the ancient Lamurian Continent, it is observed that almost every house in the region were, and even now, are having scores of ‘Palm-leaf Texts’ in a variety of subjects like, Medicine, Arthasastra, Ganitham, Tharka Sastra, Astrology, Animal husbandry, Herbal treats, Thachu Sastram, Stone and Wooden architects, Masionary…etc. There is a report from our Indian archaeological department that there are more than 2,70,000 Indian multi-subject records taken away from India, and still preserved in ‘London Museum’, during the British reign of India. Among these rare records, a huge number of them belong to South India, especially of Kanyakumari district and Kerala where heaps and heaps of bundles of ‘Palm-Leaf Texts’ were in abundance and still these are numerous in the Tamil regions of Kanyakumari and Neyyattinkara suburbs where thrive the originators of ‘Chera-Nadu’ with their famous ‘Palm-Culture’ which go in tune with the Sangam literature of the Tamils. It is learnt that the recent opening of the Sri Padmanabha Temple of Triandrum has revealed more than 30,0000 bundles of Palm-leaf records on a variety of subjects.

Tibet the Route of Transshipment

Analysis of Indian history indicates to us that 7th century AD was a very critical period in Indian events , socially and culturally, because it was in this period that the Aryans had made a pact with the ‘Chola rulers’ at Chandragiri in Andhrapradesh. Following this pact, the Aryans got liberal opportunities to procure the South Indian materials of knowledge and treasures of many Indian sciences. It was during this period that thousands of ‘Peace-Loving’ Jain and Buddhists Saints were wantonly killed and driven away (perhaps to snatch off their Texts and wealth). There are evidences to show that this period of ‘Havoc’ was utilized by the Aryan invaders to exploit the treasures of Indian knowledge to trade with other countries through the regions of Tibet *. Thousands of Medicinal treatises were exchanged for good money. It is learnt that those valuable records were published later in English by USA few years back. India was a rich and wealthy country with treasures of knowledge, gold and material treasures of the Tamils which was popularized by the earliest Ponis (Panais= Panayans) or Poni-ki-jo =Panai-makkal=Phoenicians= the people of the ‘Palms’. Such things have attracted the Greeks, Ionia and Egypt in or before 2250 BC, and Persians around 1000 BC, attracted Alexander the great (6th century BC) and the Arabs and Moguls in 10th/ 11th century AD. Then followed many invasions to South India to plunder the Indian treasures of knowledge and huge wealth. Scholar and historian ‘Kochu Krishnan Nadar’, in his historical book: “Nadar Chaitram” (History of Nadars, in Malayalam- written in 1956 writes:

Richness of Korkai Pandyas and Arab exploitation

“After the natural deluge and destruction of the great city of ‘Kavadapuram’ of the Tamil Pandyas, by the great flood, the Tamils established at “Korkai” as their Capital. In early days this city was termed as “Marogam- Maro-Agam” (city of Mara- Pandyas). Mar-Co-Polo, the Italian traveler who visited this city around 1291 AD had recorded that this city had 5000 big streets, filled with multi storied buildings. Its doors and walls were decorated with pure gold studded with many pearls and rubies. The King had in his stores 1200 Crores of golden Coins in addition to enormous quantity of Pearls, Rubies and other valuable stones. Even the villages were flourishing with great richness… (Nadar Charitram, K.Kochukrishnan Nadar, p, 142-43)… “This great city was attacked and plundered by Mali-Cauffer, the army chief of Alla-Ud-ddin, around - 1310-1313 AD. In order to transport the huge treasures of plunder, he had to use 700 oxen, pulling the carts, hundreds of Camels and several Elephants to carry the huge loads of gold and other ‘treasures of plunder’ got from that great city of Tamil Nadans”. This gives the great prowess of ancient city of the Tamil Pandyas which is still revealed in the present days in the new revilement of huge treasures that we observed in the capital of their brothers, at Thiruanandapuram, Sri Padmanabaswamy temple. Hindu temples were the ‘Store Houses of huge Treasures and royal Records ‘ of the Kingdoms, in India. Trust-worthy Brahmins were entrusted to keep watch of the Treasures, in the later stages, after the original ‘King-Priests’ ‘of the original royal tribes were expelled from the Palace due to political change of policies due to ‘Sanskritisations’. One Brahmin devotee, namely ‘Sundararajan’ got suspicious of certain royal members and certain Priests in the Sri Padmanabaswmy temple Trivandrum. In the year 2011, he registered a complaint to the Court about the existence of ‘Huge Treasures’ being hidden in the temple and it should be properly protected for the benefit of the people and the country. Following this, the Court instituted an enquiry and ordered to open the temple ‘Safe Rooms’ and found out enormous quantities of treasures. Many golden Crowns of the ancient Kings like Cheraman Perumal, Villavas with the royal emblem of ‘Vill’ (Bow) of the Chera Kings were found. In olden days, of 15th, 16th centuries, even in some part of 17th century, the main guards and the ‘in-charge’ of the Temple-Treasures were the royal ‘Nadalwars’ who were the King’s own relatives. But, later Brahmanical administration had changed the system and took power in their hand and the real owners were ousted out of the temple in a political revolt and upheaval in the country, especially after 1810 AD when the traditional Nadar King (Udaya Martanda Kulasekara Perumal) was poisoned and killed.

Padmansbhaswamy Temple Treasures of Trippapur Nadens

One investigation report dated 4.7. 2011, on the said Court Case, revealed that there were treasures worth of ‘one Lakh Crores’ hidden in the temple with huge loads of golden ornaments. There were more than 2000 golden chains, some going up to a length of about 10.5 feet. Many chains were studded with pearls and rubies, many bags of pearls, diamonds, four of the chains had 2.2 kg of weight, each. The Crowns were made up of pure gold studded with diamonds, rubies and pearls in the same fashion described by the poets of Sangam age. There were gold blocs in the form of ‘Palm-Gur’ (Karuppu-katty of Nadars). Some of them were studded with Pearls and Rubies, and diamonds demonstrating the age old tradition of the ‘Palmyrah-culture’. There were “Ankis” (Overcoats) each weighing above 30 kg, made in pure gold. Tons of gold and very rare treasures were found in “Narasimha Kshetra” of the vault representing Eraniel Palace in Kanyakumari district, which was the ‘Mother-Palace’ used for the Coronation ceremony of the Venadu Kings, in the early days (Eraniel Thai Kottaram-Tamil, M.Immanuel). There were golden Idols of gods like “Vishnu”. One news paper reported that “Padmanabaswamy temple treasures is the first in India” in its worth and value. But, the most unfortunate part of it is that its huge treasures of ‘Palm-leaf Texts’ are still kept unpublished from the public, probably, with an idea of ‘hiding the true history of the Tamils’ because it was ‘Sanskritised’ with Malayalam language after the 17th century AD. There were so many temples in India, most of them formed after 6th century AD, which are filled with huge treasures of the country. Most of the huge temples are in South India only. Such temples and many cities in South India were looted by foreigners, like this, without being kept of any detailed records. Looting of Tirupathy Temple of Vijayanagara Ediga Nadens The great “Tirupathy temple” of the Vijayanagara Ediga Nadans were looted in 1807 by the French/ British, and its historical link was changed to the northern ‘Sevadas set of people’ taken away from the original Araviidu dynasty of Ediga Nadans (the “Ettanat”-Ittanat Nadalwars who are described among the 9 branches of the royal Tiruppapu Nadans of Travancore, mentioned in the All India Census Report of 1901, and one among the 39 branches of the Rajputs). Such things lead to change the course of lineage and history of India. But, the histories of such exploitations are not recorded in full. This is a great loss to the true history of India and the Tamils.

History in Detail

Revision of History in independent India

After independence, scores of Indian scholars and social scientists joined together to write down the History of India. They were selected from all over Indian Peninsular; each one was expert in one field or the other. Although initiated by Dr.R.C.Mujamdar, the team was presided over by Dr.K.M.Munshi, as President of Bharatiya Vidyabhavan, under which the project was undertaken. It was highly supported by the then Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru. The first volume they did and titled was “The Vedic Age-1951”. The period they covered under that title was from ‘Pre-historic period to 600 BC’. In order to cover the ‘Pre-historic period’ they say, that they did not have any sources. There were split opinions that ‘there were many sources and all were almost totally destroyed or eradicated’. After the 12th century AD, (following the Mogul period) there were lots of sources available. Elsewhere, in the same Text they say that the earliest reference as inscription or writings in ‘Sanskrit’ language, they could not get before 2nd or 4th century AD.

Problem of South Indian Historians / North: the Ancient Southerners

Here starts the problem of the Tamil researcher to record whatever we have discussed on the history of the Tamils, the Poni-ki-jo =Phoenicians=Panai-makkal, the inscriptional ‘Panayan’ found referred to in the Thanchai Peru-Udayar Koil (11th century), or in Goa (220/ 2220 BC), or also in Egypt, in 2250 BC. Where have we ‘missed the road’? Or, someone has wantonly or unknowingly, misguided us? This is the problem of the historians of the Tamils and, even of the South India, which is mountainously overshadowed by a very prominent ‘North Indian History’ over it. The historian’ suffocates’. Let us hear and feel the ‘pangs’ of the historian K.M.Munshi: “In the course of my studies I had long felt the inadequacy of our so called Indian Histories. For many years, therefore, I was planning an elaborate history of India, in order, not only that India’s past might be described by her sons, but, also that the world might catch a glimpse of her soul as Indians see it. The Bharatiya Vidyabhavan, an educational society which I founded in 1938, took over the scheme. It was , however, realized only in 1944, when my generous friend, Mr.G.D.Birla, one of the India’s foremost Industrialists, lent me his co-operation and support of the Shri Krishnarpan Charity Trust of which he is the Chairman…” . Now, the question remains, what is history? The author of the book referred to gives us the answer: “History has been defined as ‘the study of man’s dealings with other men, and the adjustments of working relations between human groups’. The beginnings of the history of India, therefore go back to that remote period that man first settled in this country. We need not discuss whether he migrated from outside or emerged here by a process of evolution from his animal ancestors…”. Here, opinions may differ from person to person. If we do not try to find out that the man we see is a ‘Migrant, an invader or a predominantly inhabited one, the search is inadequate and history is incomplete.

Two types of History

In my ‘quest for history’ I have found that there is ‘Positive history’ as well as there is ‘Negative History’. Positive history is the story narrated in the same way it occurred, without adding colours to it. Negative history is the one which camouflage the truth and tries to over glorify or narrate the story to the advantage of one of the parties at the cost of its counterpart. History should be that, ‘Mirror’ which reflects the events of the past, as had happened between parties or human social groups for edification of the future generation in order to improve by learning lessons from the past for betterment of the future. It is a common practice to notice that everyone wants to be glorious. Everyone wants to be victorious and heroic. To accept ‘failure’ is, as a matter of fact, in the way of Indian philosophical concept, is an act of heroism. That was the character of the Tamils. Instead, if the victim, who has fallen at the hands of the victor, boasts himself and pictures himself as hero or does not yield to the truth, that is negative history, if it is recorded in the books of history. Such narrations, of camouflaged history, are possible to be noticed in the records of history of our age.

The Vedic Period

The “Vedic Period” in Indian history is considered to be a ‘Glorious Period’ in our history. But, if that period is not able to be corroborated with sources of evidences, that become a ‘Negative History’ instead of a Positive history. What we see among the Tamils’ is that evidences of archaeological and literary proofs to indicate a period of 2500 BC or even more to that, when compared to 600 BC, is unable to get due recognition. Non-recognition of that history or suppressing facts of such historical supremacy can be surely called ‘Negative History’ and such types of histories are plenty in India, especially, after the ‘Aryanisation’. These are made on the artificially created standards of “Caste or Religious” recognition, as it had happened to the history of Jains or Buddhism in India. Normally, when politics is mixed up with history, there are possibilities to go for these sorts of diversions. K.M.Munshi, in his ventures convincingly proves that the Jadavas or the Buddhist Texts are more reliable for historical contents than the Brahmanas of various types. Once, in the city of Athens, the great philosopher, Socrates, asked his friends: “do you think the unjust are superior in character and intelligence?”. The answer was : “yes, if they are the sort that can carry injustice ‘to perfection’ and make themselves masters of whole cities and nations…and ‘conceal their ill-doings’ under a veneer of decent behavior” . As a matter of fact, this type of history must come under the category of ‘Negative History’ on principles of truth, in spite of whatever the looks of decency of the ‘victor’ may try to reveal or flourish. The truth hides inside. In the mid 1950-s there lived a man. He was a well read scholar and historian of Kerala. He wrote several books of history in Malayalam and English. His name was ‘Elamkulam Kunjan Pillai’. He was an exceptionally different breed than his contemporaries and even of the other historians of Kerala. He did not hesitate to write the truth. Perhaps, following the methods of the Spanish scholar, Rev. Heras S.J, he adapted checking up dates and information following the astrological ways too. He does not seems to be biased.

Toddy Tapping a Royal Profession

As back as 1953/61, or, even before that, when the Santors were forced to be called ‘Channars’ in Malayalam and were engaged in the social revolution of Breast-Cloth Movement and the Temple Entry Movement, Elamkulam wrote: that “the job of Toddy tapping of the Santors was the most sacred and Royal Profession, because: Amrit (Sura or Palm-juice, an Elixir) was very necessary for offering to gods and goddesses like Maha-kalika. The Santors were engaged in collecting the elixir (palm-juice) from the Palmyrah Palm-trees. The Job was equivalent to the Royal Prince sitting in the royal house and conducting Priestly rituals”. Elamkulam, did not hesitate to hide the follies of his own Nair community. Whatever the truth, he just wrote and copied as if in a ‘Mirror’. During those years, although he was, probably, not aware of the terms like: po-ni-ki-jo, he was certainly aware of the historical background of the Poni (Panai Jati) or the Panayans. His writings are very attractive for Social Scientists and Progressive writers.

Earlier Tamil Social System

In the year, 2005, Dr. N. Sam, sponsored by the University of Kerala, for the International Centre for Kerala Studies, has brought out the first series of Elamkulam’s books. In this context, it is worthy of referring to certain passages to highlight such samples of ‘Positive History’ for the unbiased edification of our students of Indian history. To quote him: ‘One Shepherd (Yadava) King was ruling in Kerala’: “There was neither any untouchability nor any touchability among his subjects. The Chathur Varna Caste System of Casteism has not taken root there. The people who lived in Kerala were the tribes of: the Vedar, Paraya, Thudiya, Idaya, Kurava (hunter), Kadamba, Parava, Villava, Panas and all such groups. The people were recognized only on the basis of the jobs they were doing. Those who beat the drum for the god was ‘Parayan’ (para= a type of drum). Those who operated the instrument called “Thudi” was called Thudiyan. Those who inhabited in the green forest area were called Edaya (shepherd). The persons who stayed nearer to the Sea-shore were Paravan. Those who went hunting, or for war, with the ‘Vill” (Bow), were the Villava. These names were known only on the aspects of the jobs of the individuals and the nature of the place where they lived, like sea, mount, forest etc… “These were the state of affairs just before some 1500 years ago. The Tamil literary works Pura-Naanooru indicates only such types of four occupational people in those days. There were people living in mansions as well as people living in little huts. But, all were considered only as ‘Human beings’, without any differences. Anybody could acquire education. For example we know about ‘Thiru Valluvar and Perum Thalai Chthanar’ who came from lowly levels to top positions of famous poets. Because the Panas were in the forefront of education, they received more respects. There are references that the Chera Kings took care of the Pana poets. Kerala was in its pioneer position on the education of Women. The greatest of all Women poetesses of India, ‘Ouvvayar’, was living in those days. She was the Royal Poetess of the Chera King of Thagadur (present Dharmapuri). She used to stay in the Royal Court. Sometimes, the special elixir (Palm-juice) meant for the King, become in short supply. In such cases of ‘limited supply’ of ‘Palm-Juice’ it was observed that the ‘elixir’ (palm-juice) shall be given to the Poetess, even in preference to the King. That was the royal tradition of respect for the ‘Paana woman’. There was no discrimination or humiliation, that she was only a Paanathi woman. Numerous numbers of ‘Harijana women’ (Low-caste- on Present day’s standard) were decorating the royal palaces of the Chera Kings in those days?...”. From such a clear, uniform social system of excellence, how , then, we have reached to a system of divisional “Chathur-varna” system of parochialism? There are ‘Negative historians’ who had made an impression that the present Chatur-varna caste system was ‘sacred’ and existent from time immemorial, as the theory goes that ‘the birth of Brahmin’ was from the ‘Mouth of Brahma’ and that of the Sudra, from his feet. But, referring to the Buddhist and Jaina Texts, and narrations written in ‘Pali languge’ Elamkulm narrates the true history of transformation from the ‘Clear Social Order’ to the ‘Muddy, artificially created Clever and shrewd’ system of Brahmanic Chatur-Varna Dharma. To quote him: “There was no importance for ‘Caste system’ in the traditional Dravidian (Tamil) Culture. There were no Sudras in those days. It was almost in the 8th century AD that a large group of Aryans entered into Kerala. The vital essence of Arya-Dharma was the Chatur-varna Dharma of four caste-system. Those who had opposed this Caste system, either Buddha, or even Gandhiji, could not exist in India peacefully. Buddhism which was developed from the core-cultural assimilation of basic Indian culture, was driven away because of the great fight on this aspect of Chatur-Varna Dharma. Till 7th century AD, we had demarcation of people, only on the basis of the jobs that individuals did…” .

The Period of Confusion

“It is very difficult to say what had happened in the 7th and 8th century AD. A big group of Brahmanas had entered to Kerala from the Tulu-nadu. They had engaged in a ‘live or die’ fight with the Buddhists and Jains to make them accept the new Chathurvarna Dharma. Few of the priests entered into the fold of Buddhist groups in the pretext of Buddhist-priests, and did havoc to cunningly disintegrate and exterminate Buddhists from within. They destroyed the thousands of Buddha idols which were later recovered with broken hands, neck and feet in the later days. The Jaina women were encouraged and forced to be engaged in prostitution to demoralize the community. They did not hesitate to pull the teeth of those who had objected to the new formula. There were many who had been sent to gallows and butchered in different ways. Unfortunately, we had our own strong men like ‘Prbhakara and Shankara , from Kerla to lead these strange activities . Here, the important point to be impressed upon is that when a foreign force is at work, either through the influence of religion or through policies of Politics or political administration, the ‘gross-loss happens ’ is to the time old tradition of a people or their well cherished system which had been protected for ages. Here, history is lost, linguistic codes and symbols are lost and above all, the morale of a race is at tender hooks. Analysis of this factor explains the reasons for the so called “Absence of any Historical Evidence for the Sources of Ancient History’ is totally lost. The continuous negligence , ignorance and the dark impact of ‘times’ had brought the same fate to the history and cultures of the ancient Phoenicians=the Poni-ki-jo the Panai –Janam, the ancient Tamils. The researcher has to go striving all these odds to find out the roots of the Tamils to bring back their lost glory.

A ‘Hiccup’ for Indian history.

Once, in the great country of Vijaynagara, there was a big emperor. He ordered the high ranking members of his Court to draw a picture of his hilarious rule of his country, in praise of him. Great Gift-offers were made to the best of the performer. The Day came. Everybody presented their art of painting, presented to the Royal Court. There was a jovial man in the Court. His name was ‘Thennali Raman’. He too has presented his painting to the Royal Court. The whole royal Sabhai was alarmed. The Emperor got angry and ordered ‘Thennali’ to be hanged. First they ordered the painting to be brought and placed before the Court Official. It was placed. He had presented a great Horse, only its hind legs , with raised tails, and passing its stools in a running posture, on the side of a wall. Thennali was asked to explain his folly. Thennali went forward started explaining his painting: Thennali started explaining his painting to the Emperor. He said: “Your highness, this is the best horse that can be found in the whole world. Your highness is not able to see the other side of the horse because of that wall. The head of the horse is so beautiful with all the best gaits of the royal horses. Its head is decorated with thousand of pearls, Rubies and highly costly stones of the world. This is a Valourous horse that cannot be competed with any other horses of the world. It can help our emperor to invade any country of his enemies. This horse is the special gift from the heavenly gods to make victories to the emperor and king’s generations, and anyone who may possess this horse will be the most luckiest and victorious King of Kings, and now the horse is running at 128 k.m speed through the forests and it is turning left towards the castle of the most richest Kings of the west and… Before Thennali could finish off his magic narrations, the King was so pleased that he ordered the Court to honour Thennali with special gifts, whereas, there was only some picture of a tail of the hinder parts of a horse and some horse-dung. All had gone for the narratives, the ability to make believe the myths and things like that…So was the history of India made of the so called historians of our land. Kalhana Pandita, the recognized first historian of India wrote history for the ‘first time’ in 1148 AD. But, as evidence or sources, he had with him only the mythological stories for him to write the ‘History of Kashmir’ or of India, in his work: Rajatarangini, in Sanskrit, in the language of gods. There are numerous books on Indian history, written by Indian and foreign authors. Foreign writers were told, advised, instructed that only the Sanskritic writings are ‘reliable’ whereas the critiques of history say that the content in the Buddhists Texts in Pali language is more reliable than Brahmanical texts (HCIP). But, first they did not know that the Sanskrit language came to being only after centuries later than the South Indian languages. All of them those who have written the history of India have written glorious history where there was no South India, but a ‘wisdom filled’ North India, where the ‘Brahmin’ the special entity was there to control everything, even war and Peace !! But, the fact of matter remained a ‘never revealed secret’ that almost most of the materials that they used to decorate the North Indian history been taken from the South Indian store-house, even the ‘People’ whom they have Aryanized or Sanskritised as theirs. A student of history searches and searches ‘South India’ in India, and he sees only the Aryanised Indian, not the original Indian who had , in fact, made the real history with his wisdom and heroism.

Writing History without any Record

Even the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan who wanted to write the real history of India, after independence, had to confess facts and say: “The first thing to remember is that for the longest period of Indian history, viz., from the earliest time down to the Muslim conquest, in the 13th century AD, a period of about four thousand years, we possess no historical texts of any kind, much less such a detailed narrative as we possess in the case of Greece, Rome and China…”. Saying this, they start the history from ‘Pre-historic Period’ and the so called ‘Vedic Period’ say from 1000BC to 6th century BC-Alexander’s invasion. The Indus Valley civilization has been proved to be going beyond 4000-6000 BC (Heras S.J). There have been highly developed civilizations of Jains and Buddhists before 6th century BC and even 10th century BC, for their highly popular philosophy of human peace and co-existences. It would be foolish to think that those people have not kept any record of history of their life and philosophical teachings of civilization. It has been clarified that the Tamils had a highly developed language system which the rest of the whole world has never seen so far, and it had a fully grown up linguistic grammar system even beyond 11th -14th century BC. It has already been shown that the Tamils as international tradesmen, in the oldest remote period as Poinis, or Po-ni-ki-jo (Panai Janam) or Phoenicians had given the art of writing, in addition to several civilizational systems to the Greeks, Romans and China, and also to Egypt. Yet some arrogance is felt among the historians to make conclusions to declare that there had been no evidence of pre-existent history before the arrival of the Aryans to India. That is the reason why many scholars are of the opinion that such ‘Vast treasures of Evidences had been existent and all or most of them been converted for Aryan scope or been destroyed to humiliate the land and people which had been invaded’ (HCIP…).

The earliest of Kings, Heroes, Gods, Race, Dynasty Claimed by Aryans turns to be of Dravidian origin

The earliest man of ‘Aryan creation’ is “Manu” (Appendix –I, next to p, 322, ”Vedic Age). Most probably he was just an ‘imaginary’ creation. The next one to ‘Manu’ was the real one with a series of dynasties. He was “Ikshvaku”. He was real with blood and bones like all human beings. The generations continue from him. He was a ‘South Indian’. History says: “In the Madras Presidency the vast number of existing temples and inscriptions have observed the main attention of the Archaeological Survey. Although the number of sites of every period are numerous, excavations have so far been attempted only in some of the Buddhist sites in the northern districts and the well-known pre-historic burials at Adichanallur in the extreme South. Of the Buddhist sites the most important are those in the Krishna Valley in which the local rulers of the ‘Ikshavaku Dynasty’ seem to have patronized art in a large measure than any of their predecessors…” . These were the people of the Satavahana or related Race or sects which the Aryans boast of the North Indian heroes of history. The Archaeological and evidences of excavations establish these facts: “In portions of Karnatak district of Bijapur recent examination of the surface has brought to light the existence of several strata going back to the ‘pre-Mauryan Age’ Recent work on the ancient city of Kolhapur has also yielded considerable material of the “Satavahanas” and later periods, incidentally throwing light on contacts with Rome…”. The greatest Kings, heroes and Nobles that the North Indians boast and begin their history is based on personalities or roots like the Mauriyas, the Guptas, Bindusara, Ashoka the grandson of Chandra Gupta Maurya, the Sakyas; and the Mallas, Vajjis, Jnatrikas, Vaggas, Okkakas or the Talavakaras. These all are the basic South Indian Satavahanas (4th century BC) or their branched up roots. Only ‘Pushyamitra’ makes some confusion in the list, entering the scene around 187 BC. This fact is highlighted in the book: The Dravidian Lineages- the Nadars through the Ages. Their common root is the Talavakara = Panayans or the ancient Poni-ki-jo = Panai-Janam of the epic hero, Bhishmar who had the family symbol of Palm-tree as his own. This hard-core fact is re-established by historians not lesser than R.C.Mujumdar, A.D.Pulasker and also K.M.Munshi. For example in order to know who the Mauryas, let us see their comments: “Further we find Chandra Gupta, the Founder of the Maurya Dynasty, the first of the Kings of the Satavahana Family is represented in Indian tradition as a Vrishala, which is unfortunately an ambiguous term. It is used…also as a Hinduised or Aryanized foreigner or a Non Aryan i, e, eka-Brahmana…and Kshatriya–darpa-mana-mardhana (destroyer of the pride and conceit of the Kshatriya” . The origin of Mauryas (Moriyas) or the Satavahanas are further proved by the following words: “Kings of the Satavahna Family were styled ‘ Lord of Deskshinapatha’ (Southerners)….In the 1st century BC, two southern powers became predominant in trans-Vindhyan India, these were the Satavahanas of the Upper Deccan and the Chedis of Kalinga. The Power of the Chedis was short-lived, but the Satavahana power endured for nearly three centuries”. This clarifies the fact that the Mauryas are Satavahanas, who were originated in Sooth India. The other aspects indicated in the passage clearly shows that whoever had ventured to oppose or resist the Aryan supremacy had been treated as ‘Sudras, low born, Vrishala or of any of such terms. The term Vrishala has also the meaning of “King of Kings” or as even “Vrikshaka= Talavakara or Panayan or Po-ni-ki-jo, or the ancient Vrishni-kula, in which Yadava Krishna is known to have been born. In addition to all these, we observe that even the gods that the Aryans boast of are Tamils or of Dravidian origin. For example, Kaali = Mahakali= Kaalika, Bhadraka, Okkaka, Bhairava, Bhima, Shiva, Brahma, Hanuman, Vishnu, Varaha, etc., etc., are all are of black in colour, making a small allowance to lord Shiva as ‘Niilakantha=black necked. It has been already mentioned that there was no caste discrimination for the Tamils before the advent of the Aryans. Yet, it is surprised to see strange comments made by them to create confusions in history. For example: “About the close of the Vedic period, as a result of racial and cultural adjustment, Varnashrama Dharma was conceived as the ‘divinely ordained’ social framework. Chaturvarnya, the four fold order of society, ensured to some extent, the supremacy and purity of the Aryan way of life…”. It is said of “purity, divinity, supremacy”, etc. But, keeping the mirror of humanity, moral codes and all the essence of human norms of civilization, it would be a matter of ‘humiliation and shame’ in order to ‘boast’ something like this : ‘to invade a land, divide the people into the low born sudra, the white coloured as super-man, yet call the gods of the black, of the people invaded as their own gods, worship them, and yet call the subjects as slaves or low born’, resulting in the ultimate disintegration of the real history, identity, the breakage of linguistic continuity and culture of the people invaded. The resultant good and bad of the new evolution still continues as a dark dream among the vast majority of the people invaded.

Evidences on New Tamil Excavations

It is the conclusion of many geologists that South India was the first equatorial region of India which became fit for human inhabitation, and the North India was almost 5000 years younger in this aspect. The excavations done in Adichnallur, etc., are proved to be of the most remote regions of great antiquity. Indus Valley reports have come to us only around 1920. But the Aryans had tried even to hijack that too trying to change the icons of ‘Cow’ into ‘Horse’ by bringing hired scientists (so called) from Russia. Hence the northerners are hesitant to do excavation works in the South. In the early 1950-s, I happened to read a Tamil Palm-leaf Text called Valamkai Maalai. It is known that it was a kind of version of the great Text Mahavamsa. It was the story of the “Santors”, their birth, growth, their wars in Ujjaini, the far north, and even up to extreme south of Sri Lanka. They had the ‘Lion’ as their symbol as described in some of the Buddhists texts of Pali language, even described by the Jains. It is an interesting story. One eye-witness (an Ayya-vazhi devotee from Swmithoppu), told me that he has seen a copy of it , inscribed in huge Copper –plates, preserved in the great Meenakshi temple, Madurai. The story has many connections with the depiction in Madurai temple, Chithambaram temple, and many of the Indian temples which describe the goddess of the Po-ni-ki-jo = the Panai Janam, the Santors, the rulers and Intercontinental Traders of the Tamil community. In 1954, as an intuition, I felt like visiting the famous “Vaigai Dam” (where, it is said in the story, that two of the Santors, been killed) constructed by the then Chief Minister of Tamilnadu, Kamakshi Kamarj Nadar ( a man born in the Panayan race). Perhaps, he too might have constructed the Dam by such intuition or being visited by his goddess of the Palm-trees. In those days, it was an ‘abandoned place’, occasionally visited by a tourist bus. But, for those who want to use it as a ‘Picnic spot, it was wonderful place, because Kamaraj Nadar had provided the place , all over, with memorial Statues of the Vaigai Civilization, on the long banks of the river Vaigai. Today, very unexpectedly, I am thrilled to know the story of the Vaigai Valley Civilization excavated on the banks of Vaigai river, recently by the Archaeological department of Tamilnadu. The problems faced by the excavators of “Keeladi” in Tamilnadu, from certain quarter of the Central government, in recent times, is known to us. Here, it would be timely to give minor information what is known about the excavated results attained from “Keeladi”, as reported by The Hindu. T.K.Rohit reports: “Archaeologists have been busy digging the treasures buried in ‘Keeladi’. The fourth phase has established that the antiquities unearthed here could date from the 6th century BCE to the 1st century CE. The present phase has shed more light, particularly, on the advanced engineering techniques used then, ‘establishing that there was a Culture and Civilization in the region…They stumbled upon a closed bridge channel enclosed on four sides with bricks of various sizes”. “Among the findings is an ‘Orange Carnelian’ bead ‘engraved with the image of a wild boar’…the engraved bead could date back 2000, years. This is like a ‘signature bead’. The wild boar may be a totem symbol. We had found some bones, one of which was that of a wild boar. It is likely there is a connection….” . Here two points are note-worthy. One is the ‘Special Engineering skill of the people of that antiquity to have a ‘controlled flow of water inside the city quarters, that too, modulated by construction of bricks and paste technology. It could be developed by an experience of many, many centuries of many thousands of years since the race of people inhabited that area experimenting their projects repeatedly to reach that level of fool-proof level of success. Secondly, the most important matter is the finding of an ‘engraved Carnelian’ with the symbol of a ‘Wild Boar’. In history, it is understood that the great ancestors, the Okkaka or Vakatakas of ‘Vijayanagara Empire’ of ‘Date-Palm’ (Ittanat –branch of the Trippapur Nadans of Travancore) had the “Wild Boar” as their “Totem” of royal symbol which was used even as the ‘Trade symbol’ of them. The Vijayanagara emperors had 360 ‘Trade points’ all over the world. Although the modern ‘Vijayanagara period’ is 14th/ 15th century AD, their ancestors , the Okkaka or Vakatakas dates back to several centuries early to pre-historic times. The excavations must go together with pre-history research to connect the truth. Perhaps, the Po-ni-ki-jo (Panai Janam) with their remote antiquity, could help for it. Another report of the Keeladi excavation says as below: “The first round of excavation unearthed antiquities that may provide crucial evidence to understanding the ‘Missing Links’ of the Iron Age [12th century BCE to 6th century BCE], to the early historic period and subsequent cultural development. The second threw up strong clues about the existence of a Tamil Civilization that had Trade-Links with other regions in the country and abroad. This civilization has been described by Tamil poets belonging to the ‘Sangam Period’, who had their seat in Madurai in 4th century BCE “In the fourth round 5,820 antiquities were found. These included Brick-structures, terracotta, ring-wells, fallen roofing with tiles, golden ornaments, spindle whorls, figurines, black and red-ware, roulette ware and a few pieces of Arretine ware besides beads made of glass, terracotta and semi-precious stones”. “Keeled, an Urban settlement of ‘Sangam Age’ on the banks of river Vaigai, encountered in Iron Age sites of South India serve as the only residual links between the Indus Valley civilization and South India”. “Keeladi findings have led the academics to describe the site as part of the ‘Vaigai Valley Civilization. Some of the symbols found in pot shards of Keeladi bear a close resemblance to Indus Valley signs….The artifacts unearthed at Keeladi include: Seven gold ornaments, Copper articles, Gem beads, shell and Ivory bangles, and brick structures that point out to the existence of industrial units, structures that could have been used to convey molten metal, to filter liquid, strongly point to the existence of people who were involved in industrial work….Keeladi was indeed an urban inhabitation. Keeladi knew the art of rising the kiln temperature to 1100 degree centigrade to produce the typical black and red ware pottery...More than 10,000 artifacts had been collected from Keeladi”. The above information are really ‘thrilling’ on the backdrop of a ‘neglected and ridiculed South India’ by the historians of India, especially of Brahmanic historians. In the site, we have recovered Iron Age, Brass Age, glass Age and such varieties of culture and its periods. It was also reported that they could not so far, find out any form of ‘Idols’ of ‘worship-pieces’ a culture popularized by the earliest poets of Sangam literature for a ‘casteless / caste-free’ population which entirely differ from ‘Aryan Sanatana Dharma’ principles. Perhaps, the Keeladi ‘Vaigai Valley Civilization’ may be the fore-runner of the ‘Indus Valley Civilization’. These warrant for an ultimate revision of 1st, and 2nd Sangam periods. Another thing to be taken note of is the ‘Iron Civilization’ of South India is the most unique and earliest in the world. Ashoka’s Pillar is most famous in this respect, gone from South India, for a ‘Rust-free’ structure all these years. The ability to raise temperature over 1100 and above are a science in the ‘Medicinal Treatise and Varma Sastra’ (Santor Marrai) of Nadalwars, the Po-ni-ki-jo people of ancient time. This culture still continues in the Southern India. For medicine, they used to make ‘pasmam =powders of metals like gold, brass, iron, silver, lead etc. We need to do research in many of the ‘Neglected areas’ of South Indian history to find the truth.

Tamil Kings and Dynasties

The subject-matter discussed above, all have shown that the so called ‘Aryan Culture’ has been decorated as only a ‘Myth’ sitting over the real Tamil Culture, borrowing some, manipulating some, and fabricating the rest. All the so called ‘Aryan Kings’ been proved Dravidian or of the Tamils, including the gods. The Guptas (Koothar –old Dancers? Aryans have borrowed many local tribes like this, for their support by allurements. It is a subject for another research- as they did capture the Nairs-Sudrs, Mukkuvas, etc, of Kerala to use to their advantage), the Moriyas, the Chandellas, the Okkakas, the Okalikas, the Mallas, the Vagga, the Vajjis, the Sungas, the Nishadhas, the Naishadas, the Nahushas, the Pandus, the Kaurauvs, the Satavahanas, the Garudas, the Tivaras, the Chalukyas, the Manas, the Vishnukundins, the Vrishalas, the Vrishnis, the Sendrkas, the Rashtrakutas, Chulika, Talaka, Talakundins, Talavakara, Mahavamsa, Perma-Nadi, Tiruvadi, Trippapur, Aravidu, Ediga, Ittanat, Yaudheya, Lichchavis, Valamkaiyer, Chedis, Kalikas, Gauthamkas, etc., and etc., all these dynasties and their branches are of Tamil origin and it was the Aryan design to divide them to different linguistic styles and fabricate into Aryan fold. It is only a strong example of camouflaging history of India. The book: The Dravidian Lineages- deals very thoroughly all these aspects in full details. There are proof to establish a ‘One Race Rule’ in India with a ‘One Language-Tamil’ as its basic back-bone structure. The State of Haryana is a very good example to it of its ‘Linguistic Camouflage’ by the Aryans. Recent archaeological finds from the the present State of Haryana, has revealed many ‘Seals with the writings of the word: “Tamil” indicating similarity to a period of 4000 BC to 1800 BC. The Haryana people were talking Tamil language almost to the very recent date of our era. It was only around 2015 that they have passed resolution that they have to abandon the old Tamil words, because the language has been already been ‘polluted’ or corrupted with lots of Sanskritic words of ‘Hindi’ having faced almost an equal state of Kerala, of the 16th century AD. A report on this line was ssued in a publication in the recent ‘Front Line’ also in some of the News papers .

Evidence for Tamil Makkal-People, Po-ni-ki-jo (Panai-Janm)

Po-ni-ki-jo is the very ancient, and pre-historic term for its transformation through the sands of time from the original simple word: panai transformed to Palm, to Ponai to poni to po-ni. In the Itihasic period, ‘Panai’ or ‘Palm-tree’ was accepted as the ‘Family Tree’ of the Itihasic hero, “Bhishmar” (c.3102 B.C) who was a great master of Kalari or Martial Art. He was a man of great respect. Palm-Tree was the ‘abode of Kalika’ the war goddess of the Masters of Martial Art, who were, generally, the rulers of the country. Almost all the temples of India, and even the major religions of India vouch for it with multitudes of iconic depictions in the temples, either of the Jains, Buddhists, Hindus, or of the Chera, Chola, Pandyas, except the Islamic and Western rulers. They had a great culture and vast tradition. These people based on this tree were dependant on it for good food, as Amrit an elixir as ‘Palm-juice’, its fruits as Nongu, Panam-Kai, Panam Kizhangu, Thavinu, each with medicinal qualities as well as ritualistic characters in wars, attributed to different battalions like Niruthu Padai, Thoosi-pdai, Eruthi-ani-padai (as used by the Cholas) . As warriors, they were experts in Sea-voyages also. Ultimately, by traditions of centuries, they became masters of Sea and were engaged in ‘Inter-Continental Trade’. These ‘Palm-people’ or ‘Panai-Janam’ (Panai-Makkal) as expert Sailors and Masters of Martial Arts had engaged themselves in trade, especially, ‘International Trade’. They visited different continents in groups, with their trading materials of Elephant Tusks, Pepper, and chiefly of “Purple” a kind of highly valuable fabric of Silk used for rituals and royal dresses. The history of Italians, Rome, Egypt, Greeks, Ionia, China, etc., report their visits to them. Where ever they went, they taught the art of writing to the local people and also had shown them the way of ‘Burial systems’. In Rome they even established a city called “Palmyrah”. Many travelers have recorded these facts. But, most of the records were almost dissolved into the sands of time. However, one special record, preserved by the first historian of the world, Herodotus, has kept many copies of his ‘Manuscript’ in many countries. In the year 2007, this author has personally seen one such ‘Manuscript’ of Herodotus, in the Toranto Library of Canada, and one in the’ Queens Library’ of New York of U.S.A. I have made some references to it in my books. But, when I visited U.S.A, in 2011, 2014, those Manuscripts were ‘Missing’ for ‘Visitors’ . It seems there is restriction for propagation of true history, even world-wide’? Fortunately, V.S.V.Raghavan had translated the major portion of Herodotus, in Tamil, years back. So we have some consolation.

Opinion of Herodotus, the first historians of the world

It is the version of Herodotus that it is the Tamils, “Palm-People’ (Toddy tappers- which was a very respected profession in those days) who had gone in the Inter-continental Trade of Purple, and in due course, these people came to be known as “Palm-Asians” because they came from Asia. In some references they are addressed as “the Sea-People”. They were also called by the name ‘the People of Purple’ because they traded mainly on costly Indian fabrics of ‘Purple’ to the Royalties. In the long run, these ‘Palm-men or Palm-Asians’ were known by the name: “Phoenicians”. Slowly, the name “Palm” remained in its original form: “Panai”. These people became so important and vital that they had established even cities and also some royal dynasties in different parts of the globe, like that in Italy, Egypt (Marakara), Asia-Minor (Hittites), Greek, etc. Ultimately, the word “Panai” remained in records wherever they went and stayed. It is quite natural that in course of time, the word has been trans-diluted from ‘Panai to Pani, Poni, then, to Po-ni, and the related people (Janam) as, Po-ni-ki-jo, meaning, ‘Panai Janam= people of the Palm. They were casteless society, but with an identification of Palm-tree’ as their Cultural aspect or National Mark. It is a matter of unfortunate state of affairs that in the course of several centuries (perhaps, thousands of years), the original word remained only as “Po-ni), as in Italy, but, they could not identify the meaning and hence, when they translated in the later years, (as did the Italian author Sabatini Moscoti) they misinterpreted the meaning to some industrial equivalent (perhaps, because they knew that the name was connected with ‘trade’ or some economic industry). But, fortunately, the word ‘Sea-People’ remained intact to their rescue . In later years, the term: “Se-People” also had gone diluted to mean ‘people of local coast around Italy, Canaanite, or around Greece, etc’ forgetting the far-east coasts of India. So lots of confusions occurred for this misunderstanding supported by the later ‘Sansksritisation’ of Indian languages, nullifying the Tamil languages and its antiquity, based on the projection of Sanskritic language to the world, by Brahmanic forces. In these circumstances, an effort can be made to see any such root words or usage of phrases available in Tamil language, connected with history, linked up with “Panai”.

Po-ni – ‘Panai’ in Inscriptions and Documents

In the 11th century AD, Raja Raja Chola has given several gifts to his special warriors and men of valour and courage, and recorded the long list in the temple that he made in Tanjore (India). In the year, 1969, M.A. Nagasamy has taken prints of several inscriptions of the “Thanchai Peru Udayar Kal-vettugal” and brought out the list. In that the word “Panayan “is used repeatedly for people of valour and respects: “ Thanchavur Puram-paadi abimana pooshanam therintha Velathi- Irukkum IDAYAN PANAYAN CHANDANUM…” “Thanchavur puram-paaadi Uyyakondan therintha tiru- Manchanathar Velathirukkum IDAYAN PANAYAN thaniyanukum (NB: incidentally, the word/ title: Tiru-Manchanathar referes to royl tribe of Sasntors ) . Adutha pasu naarpathettinaal… (do, p, 185) “Thanchavur puram-paadi Madaipalli theruvil irukum IDAYAN PANAYAN Thettrikku… Ivan adai-kudi ivan udan pirntha PANAYAN VENKADANUM Thanchavur puram-padi Raja Vidyathara* (Vidyadhara also is an epithet for ‘Santors) theruvil irukum Idayan Uran Vempanum… (TPUKV, p, 163) An analysis of this gives us the social situation in those days of 11th century AD, shows that the Caste system has not taken a rough and crude critical mode as we see today, but very liberal. The Chera/ Travancore rulers have stayed in palaces of “Palm-grooves” (Panam-Kaavil Kottaram) respecting their war-goddess Maha- kaali . “Of all the professions of the country, Toddy Tapping from Palm-tree was the most Respected Profession” “Tamils were the rulers of ancient India”. “Santors”were the earliest rulers of Southern India, in the ‘Vaigai, Krishna Valleys’ ‘The major income of Travancore, till 1887, was from the Palm-Products of the country’ . ‘Panayans’ Artisans of Palm-Tree were the Rulers of Chera-nadu/ Travancore’ (Matilagom Recordugal, S.Parameswara Iyyar, published by Kerala govt.-1941, p, 10-12) Panayans were the custodians and Care-takers of the Huge Treasures of Travancore State (Matilagam Recordugal) Panayans= Po-ni-ki-jo= Santors= Channar, were the relations of the Travancore Rulers (Matilagom Recordugal) Raja Raja Chola was a Nadalwar (Tanjore inscription -105/1896) Nadalwars are Nadars= Channars=Santors= Nayanar= Udayar (State Manual of Travancore, Nagam Aiya- 1906) Nadars are one of the 39 branches of Ruling Trippapur branches of Travancore (Census Report of India, 1901; State Manual of Travancore- Nagam Aiya, 1906) Tamil Pandyas and Cholas have issued huge Copper-plates to Brahmins, with enormous gifts of landed properties (Karmapuram Copper-plates) . Proof of “Chera, Chola, Pandya Oneness” through Kanyakumari Temple Inscription NO. 41, issued by Rajaraja Chola . Kodungallur Pattayam issued by Sir.Madhav Rao and Venadu King proves the Tamil origin of Kings of Travancore, their relation with Kalika, their Right and Privileges, in 1885-1887 . Social Record of 1928, in the Malayalam rule, as Tamils as Kshatriya race irrespective of their religion as Hindu or Christian. Statement of an ex Chief-Minister of Tamilnadu that the Tamil Nadalwars were descendants of Korkai Kings . Inscriptions showing the Control over the Pillais and Vellala women and authority over Kallidaikurchi regional rule . Tamil title: ‘Naden’ was the original authority given to the State Ruler of the country, as the basic title of ‘Kingship’ which was changed by the Aryan Sanskritisation to the decorated title of “Kshatriya” probably after 7th century AD. (Sangam literature, Writings of Elamkulam Kunjan Pillai, The DravidianLineages- M.Immanuel) Tamils were a ’Casteless Society (Tamil Sangam literature) .

Conclusion

History and Culture of the Tamils are today in the Cross-roads of questionable civilization. This is because of the large Aryanization of the aboriginal Tamils through linguistic Sanskritisation. The divisions made to indigenous languages have largely affected the unity of the entire Tamils of India. Modern analysis of Tamils shows more than 600 branches of Tamil bifurcations divided by the Aryans forced through religious rituals, caste controls, regional divisions, dynastical divisions and ultimately cultural divisions. The Aryan invasion, known to have occurred around 1000-1500 BC, was a ‘slow and steady’ process of a sort of a ‘mixed attack’, much more by socio-political negotiation, rather than an open war, phase by phase. It seems, there are means to believe that the ‘invader’ was ‘calm, polite, negotiable’ with the local aboriginals, for quite a long period, perhaps, few centuries, until they were able to demonstrate some superiority over the locals, may be in their ‘colour, methods of approach, policies – not very aggressive- but, shrewdly captivating, as a ‘serpent’ on its prey and finally, gulping off the entire prey to take charge as the Mater. When we reach around 7th century AD, we find that the invader has attained more confidence in themselves, ensured confidence and even authority over the local and made even pacts of negotiation for mutual benefit (as was done at Chandragiri of Andrapradesh). By this time they had almost copied almost all the treasures of knowledge of the locals into their new language, the Sanskrit (except the great Varma Sastra (Santor Marrai of the Tamil rulers) and slowly the invaders have been widening their strength to various parts of India and waiting for opportune time for more ‘Masterly actions’, and in 8th century AD, they became successful to oust almost all the power of the Jains Buddhists, even sending to gallows 8000 Jain monks in a single day, and changing their history!! . Then came the next phase of foreign attack, (after Alexander), in the 12th/ 13th centuries, from the Islamic countries. There are ample scopes to believe that the Aryans have made many betrayals to their hosts (the local Indians) in favour of the new Islamic invaders, by parting with the many of the secret strategic aspects of the country favour of the invaders. Then there was a long gap of about 300 years by which the Aryans have well established in many places in the Southern India in temples and even in royal folds. The period of history came from 15th to the present 20th century saw lots of camouflage hiding the aboriginals, confusing the truth and mixing up of many historical facts. Even in this period, a thorough scrutiny reveals, almost all the royal dynastical records of Travancore was remaining intact, except in the end of 20th century. If fair and unbiased scholars of history were trying to unfold the truth, there were lots of scope to know ourselves the real history and culture of the Tamil people. But, the final deterioration of Tamil language, in the 16th/17th century, by making the new Malayalam language; and ousting of all the original owners and custodians of the temples of the land, made worst effect on the truthful narration of history in the 20th and 21 centuries. Destruction of thousands of records, diluting the truth, setting up temples to fire, mismanaging the temple treasures, hiding its treasures and all such activities in the last 200-300 years have brought the real history of the land to the muddy bottom of civilization. Many of the Jain and Buddhist centres have been looted, destroyed, buried and even war-stricken, as was done in south India and Sri-Lanka. False propagation in the form of new culture, new religion, new language etc., have taken place. Presently we have a new society filled with pleasure mongering, luxury loving, easy going youths who seldom care for their history or the glorious past. When there are hundreds of alluring opportunities for the present youth, who cares for such hard work of hard search and laborious works of re-construction of the lost culture or civilization? If some spirited group come forward, the abundances of thousands of piece of the ‘rudiments of history’ left out by the invaders and destroyer are still available for the serious student of history to bring back his lost culture of his civilization of his mother’s language, and father’s royalty of past history of the land. Such dedicated researchers are required in order to bring back the lost glory or camouflaged pride of the Tamil and the Tamils, for which the words like Po-ni-ki-jo , Phoenician, could form the linking thread.

Date : 22.11.2015.
Place : S.T.Mangad,
Copyright : This Article is originally written by Dr.M.Immanuel
Published originally in NadarIndia.com and eranielpalace.com