The Nadars in Early Sangam Period : 9990 to 5550 BC
There are great controversy in fixing up the Sangam periods of the Tamils. Three Sangams are recorded in Tamil literatures. Literary reports are found to indicate that there had been five major Uuzhies (Deluges) by which destructions took place to the Tamils and they had to shift their capitals to different places like Ezhuthenganadu, Ezhukurumpanai naadu, Kavaadapuram, Manavoor, Korkai, Then Madurai, Vada Madurai, etc. Tamils consider that Kumari Kandom which was once connected to the African Continent and a vast landscape, now lying submerged under the Oceans, was their ancestral home. The Tamils were lovers of songs and literature. There were several poets in the Courts of the Tamil Kings. In the Sangam period, there was no 'Caste system' as we see today. You could find poets of any tribal origin in the King's Royal Court. Only the land was divided into four types as Marutham (Plain land), Mullai (forests /gracing land), Neithel (Sea-shores) and Paalai (Sandy land). A mixed terrain, Kurunji, was occupied by Vedar or hunters. The land with people was called "Nadu". The Chief to protect the land was called Naden(Elangulam) Kaalai , Uuran, Kurumpara Naden, Chenon, etc(Elamkulam). When Kingdoms were formed 'Naden' was designated as Ko = the King or the 'Ruler' otherwise called "Naden"
In the Samgam period there was no such caste-systems. The people used to go for hunting deer, bull or wild animals. They used to go for fishing. They brought the prey into the community, baked it on fire made on 'Sandalwood' spreading its good smell all over the village; ate the meat with soft drinks got from short and tall Palm-trees. The strong and courageous used to tap the sweet juice of the Palmyrah palm and cherished it with the meat or other cooked food. The same man may go for hunting, or to catch fishes for his need. The children used to drink Palm-juice in the tender yellow leaf of the Palm-tree, folded as a cup. Their houses were roofed by dry leaves of Palmyrah-Palm or Coconut Palm. The children cherished the tender palm-fruits and later made little carts with them and played around, a practice till followed in the South. They used to climb over the heaps of Paddy stack or run behind the playing deers, or run to the nearby river, taking bath, jumping into the waters, singing songs, or playing flutes. The people were a happy jolly lot living life to its full. Agriculture too was known to them. We find the women folk take cooked rice or porridge for their husbands to the field and also they used to drive away the birds coming to spoil the seeds or crops. There was little difference between the hunter, or the man who ploughed the land, or the toddy tapper who brought the sweet Amrit from the tall heavenly tree or the man who looked after the cattle or the one who made the earthen pots. If they caught a big shark from the Sea, they would eat its meat and take its huge Bone, plant it in the open field and sing songs around it, and even worship it as their lucky god. It was a happy one community for quite a long time. Their 'Ruler' rather the 'Chief' was called "NADEN" (the present NADAR) or he was also addressed as "KALAI", all sons of the same soil of the Palmyrah-Culture.
This great Palmyrah-Culture is seen passing through the Ages, all over the globe. It is seen in the National Flag of Bhishmar (flag of Palm-Tree) one of the Martial Heroes (Asans) of the Indian Epics. It is marked in the life of Lord Rama. It is seen with the great god of Indians, the Vrishni-Kula Krishna. The Culture is found depicted in a number of temples of India. It is seen in one way or the other in several kingdoms of India in the South and also among the Rajputs, extending to the North. It is found marked in the Jaina and Buddhist Culture (Depiction found in Java: Art of Indian Asia). It was seen in the great paintings done by King Ravi Varma of Travancore, picturing Shakunthala (18th century AD - unfortunately this palm-tree from his original painting is being hidden in the later reproductions by the killers of history in the recent years - example: the painting now kept at Trivandrum Temple Museum). Even in the early 1700-s, the great Wooden Palace of the world, the Padmanabhapuram, (earlier name, Puthupparakkal Palace) of Kalkulam, in Kanyakumari district was roofed by good Palm-leaves. It was replaced by the modern 'Ceramic Tiled Roof' only in c.1870, by C.M.Vaidyanathan Asan (a Nadar) as the Palace Contractor. (Kanyakumari Aspects & Architects). In the ancient Indian Army of the Tamils and the Cholas, there were three Regiments based on the Palm-tree products (History of Cholas).
In the world history also there is a strong reflection of this Palm Culture. The ancient Israel had a settlement of Warrior Class called Palmachin and their commando units were called "Palmach Brigade" (Introducing Israel). They were dependant on the 'Date Palms' equivalent to the Ittanatt branch of the Nadars. According to Herodotus, the originators of the Phoenicians were The Purple trading Toddy Tapers from South Kerala(Herodotus- 408 BC). They were also called the "Palm-Asians". These Palmasians were responsible for establishing the 'Palmyra' city of Italy (Herodotus-400-408 BC). Symbolical to the 'Fish-Flag' of the Tamil Pandya Kings, early Israelites had a "Fish-Gate" for them. Moreover, early history of the Jews shows that along with the seven candle sticks and the Trumpet of their symbols, there was depicted a bifurcated 'Lulub' (Auluvachy - male) ie., the a small branch of the male flower-stalk of Palm-Tree, was attached to it (St. Thomas in India - A Critical View). So we see in history that the Palmyrah Culture of the great Sangam Period of the Tamils is spread over various Nations of the world and it is not to be ignored at all, whereas it deserves a deeper research in itself. A study of the present NADARS show that they were the Masters of this great Culture in a Multifaceted Arts and Sciences.
However, the Periods of Sangam Age is variably disputed. The Tamil enthusiasts take it even to 175,000(Prehistoric India) back from now, but the Aryan enthusiasts pull down it to the 1st century AD to 4th or even 8th century AD. We need 'True' researchers to settle this dispute of Age. But, the modern science of Genetic Studies have proved that the Age of NADARS, like the Parimalaikallars are about 150,000 to 170,000 years ago, and the archaeological finds of 'Human Inhabitation in Southern India' estimated to be around 60,000 years or more. If this factor is taken for good, we can assume that the argument put forward by the Tamil enthusiasts are gaining more percentage of acceptability than the other. If so, the Age of NADARS too will go many hundreds of years more than what now is considered, as Rulers or Chieftains. The SPECIAL alleles found in the blood group of the NADARS also vouch for this. If so, we can strongly, with scientific evidences, say that the Nadars had a very glorious time even before the great Sangam Periods of the Tamils.
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