It can be said without doubt that Kongu Region, comprising the western districts of Tamil Nadu, has contributed much more to Tamil than other areas.
Of the seven Sanga Kaala Vallalgal (seven famed philanthropists of Sangam age), except Paari and Kaari the others were from this region.
They are Adhiyaman, Ori, Began, Aai and Nalli. Also from this region were Kumanan, Pazhaiyan, Panni and other Panniru Vaeleer (another set of philanthropists mentioned in Sangam literature).
And they enjoy the reputation of having been praised by various poets. This region also has the distinction of being the birth place of Perunthalaich-Sathanar , Anthi-Ilangkeeranar , Kollik-Kannanaar , Kudavayil Keerathanar , Karuvoork-Keezhar and 20 other Sangam Age poets. Of those Avvaiyyar and Ponmudiyaar were women.
Translation
The author of the first translated work in Tamil, Kongu Vaeleer, hailed from Vijayamangalam. He translated Perunkathai , a translation of Ganga King Dhurvi Neethan's Bruhatkatha , in A.D. 7.
Thiruthakka Thevar, who wrote Seevaga Chinthamani – one of the five great epics of Tamil ( Aimperum Kappiyam ), hailed from Peruvanchi, now called Dharapuram. To Thevar goes the credit for producing a work in Vruthap-pa style when writing poetry in Aasiriyappa and Venba styles were the norms.
Vruthap-pa is a four-line poem. He was Kambar's senior.
Kongu Region is associated with Bavananthi Munivar, whose grammatical treatise Nannoo l is being read for ages by all those interested in Tamil.
He hailed from Seenapuram, near Perundurai, and belonged to 12th Century.
Another Tamil savant, Gunaveera Pandithar, also hailed from this region – Kalanthai, near Pollachi. In 9th Century he came up with the grammatical work, Neminatham and the work on poetry, Vachchanandi Maalai . Authors Kangayen and Andip-pulavar of ancient lexicons Urichchol Nigandu and Aasiriya Nigandu respectively hailed from Kadayoor, near Kangayam, and Mallasamudram, near Thiruchengode.
Sadayappa Vallal, who patronised Kambar in authoring Ramayanam , and Kongarkula Varapathiyatkondan who supported Villiputhur Azhvar to write Baaratham were also from Kongu Region.
Emperuman Kaviraayar, who wrote Thakkai Ramayanam , which is sung using a percussion instrument, and later day poetesses Poongothaiyar, Chinnamaiyar, Valliammai and Azhagunachi also hailed from this part of the country.
Kongu Region prides itself for having Kuravanji, Pillaith-Tamizh , Thoothu , Aatrup-padai , Sathagam , Andhadhi , Ula , Kaathal , Pathigam , Maalai and hundreds of other types of works that have been written eulogising donors, deities, etc.
Poet Nanjayappap-Pulavar has penned several poems on Thingalur Arulmalai. Of those some are yet to be published. There are three works of 100 verses each – Sadhagangal – that sing paeans on the richness of Kongu poetry, poets, Tamil development, history, etc.
Karmegak-Kavignar, Vaalasundarak-Kaviraayar and Kambanaatha Swamigal have authored those Sadhagangal . To highlight the significance of several temples of the region, there are Sthala Puranangal as well.
There have been contributions to Tamil also from Koonampatti Maanikkavaasagar Madam, Perur Santhalingar Madam and Saravanampatti Koumara Madam. Of those the Perur and Saravanampatti Madam representatives continue to perform temple rituals, consecration, yagam (ritual with fire) and social functions in Tamil, thereby rendering their service to the language.
Thirukural training has been going on a large scale only in Kongu region. For example, in a cave in Ponserimalai hillock, near Mallur in Salem, a Thirukural couplet highlighting the philosophy was inscribed in 14th Century. The couplet: Thannoon perukkarkuth thaanpiranthu Oonunbaan ; Enganam aalum arul.
Thirukural commentaries written by Parithiyar, Pariperumal, Kaalingar and Mallar have all been found in Kongu Region. So much was the impact of Thirukural in the Region that kings and chieftains here have ruled as per Valluvar marabu or Valluvar uraitha mup-paal , while others elsewhere followed Manu dharma sasthram . This is in addition to a number of Kongu inscriptions bearing Thirukural.
In Kongu Region, Tamil dramas were enacted for the benefit of the public. Theatre person Sanjeevi enacted Muthuk-karupan's work, Pallunadagam , on Erode Ayyanaarappan temple. Avinashi Pulavar wore anklets while acting out his drama, Arulmalai nondi nadagam .
This happened about 200 years ago.
Patronage
The patronage to most of the Tamil poets of the region came from Samathur Vanavarayar, Uttukuli Kalingarayar, Perurk-Kangeyar, Kaadaiyurk-Kangeyar, Kangayam Pallavarayar, Pazhaiyakotai Sarkarai Marabinar, Sangarandampalayam Venaadudaiyar and Puravipalayam Kopana Mandradiyar – all landlords and chieftains (Paalayakaarargal and Pattakaarargal).
They were responsible for the poets composing great works.
On Pazhaiyakotai Pattakaarargal alone 50 poets have sung paeans. In Kongu Region the following are the Saivite centre on which a few songs of Thevaram were composed – Karur, Vengsamangkoodal, Kodumudi, Thiruchengode, Bhavani, Avinashi and Thirumuruganpoondi. This part of the country is also host of very many Tamil Muslim scholars: Fakir Sahib (Sathyamangalam), Qasim Pulavar (Jambai), Madarsha Raavuthar (Ambarampalayam), Nainar Muhammad (Udumalpet), Abdul Sukhur Sahib (Kaniyur) and Kamaludeen (Erode).
Of those Qasim Pulavar has composed verses on Harichandra Nadagam , Abdul Sukhur Sahib on Nallathambich-chakkaraiyar Naanmanimaalai and Madharsha Raavuthar on Sulakkal Maariamman.
These are examples of religious harmony. In the past couple of centuries too there have been a number of persons from this area who have served the cause of Tamil. Palani Maambazhak-Kavich-singa Naavalar was patronised by Navalar Veluk-kurichi Vallar Velappa Gounder.
He has composed poems on several scholars, including Velappa Gounder on whom he wrote Chandiravilasam .
Saravanampatti Kandasamy Swamigal has composed 7,375 verses on 103 Vaishnavite leaders under the title, Baktha Maanmiyam . Kovai A. Krishnasamy Naidu has composed the 4,030-song Thiruvalluvar Kaaviyam .
C.K. Subramanya Mudaliyar has written a commentary on Periyapuranam. Namakkal Kavignar Ramalingam Pillai was the court poet of Madras Presidency. Ve.Ra. Deivasigamani Gounder, who dedicated his life to retrieve manuscripts, brought to light and printed Panjamarabu , an Isai Tamil work authored by Arivanaar.
Ma.Pa. Periyasamy Thooran not only compiled Bharathiar's works but also gave Tamil's first encyclopaedia. Pulavar Kuzhandai, who authored the 3,100-song Ravana Kaaviyam is from this part of the country.
And so are Muthusamy Konar of Tiruchengode, who printed many manuscripts, Kovai Keezhar, C.M. Ramachandran Chettiar, Ki.Va. Jagannathan, S. Ayyamuthu, Ku. Nadesa Gounder and Thudisaikeezhar Chidambaranar.
And this contribution continues to date.
