Justice As Shown in Tamil Literature

1. Justice As Shown in Tamil Literature P.SENTHIL KUMARAN RESEARCH SCHOLAR SCHOOL OF TAMIL PONDICHERRY UNIVERSITY PONDICHERRY-14 senthill732@yahoo.com

2. Introduction • Tamil Language is one of the classical and oldest languages in the world. The literature in Tamil has the tradition of more than 3000 years • There are lots of ethical principles like “love everyone, justice, doing no harm, protect the animals etc.,” that are discussed in Tamil Literature. • This article tries to point out how the ethical principle “Justice” has been upheld in some of the dynasty referred in Tamil Literature.

3. Justice – Definition Justice can be defined from the sources of Tamil Literature as “ One should try to uphold the principles of justice in any circumstances, and ready to sacrifice oneself to protect the codes of justice at any cost”.

4. Chera’s Dynasty • A Chera king called Maantharan Cheral Irumporai had rolled over by the codes of justice.The people in his country had lived with joy and safe, because of the king’s just rule and military power. This can be referred in Puranaanooru, • Ambu thunju kadiyaranaal Aran thunju chengkolaiyae

5. Chola Dynasty • One day Chibi, a chola king had sat in the garden of his palace. Suddenly a dove had fallen down on his thighs with wounds. He gave the dove to the servants and ordered them to give treatment to the dove. • After some minutes a hunter came into the garden and he searched the dove, which has wounded by him. He came to know the king has kept that dove. • He came in front of the king and asked him to give the dove. But king Chibi did not want to give the dove. The hunter told that the meat of the dove was the only source of food for that day.

6. King Chibi decided to save the dove and to change the hunting mentality of the hunter. So, he cut his own flesh equal to the weight of the dove and gave it to the hunter. • The hunter saw all these things and felt ashamed. Then he regretted himself for his violent actions. This can be referred in Cillappathikaram as, Ellaru cirappin imaiyavar viyappa Pulluru punkan theerthon (51-52)

7. The above-mentioned incident also can be referred in the following literary works, • Puranaanooru (37,39,43,46) • Kural (72, Parimaelalagar commentary) • Kambaramayanam (65:7 & 7:355) • Kalingathupparani (93) • Rajaraja Cholan Ulaa (5-6) • Kulothunga Cholan Ulaa (17) • Vikirama Cholan Ulaa (10-11)

8. A young Chola Prince son of king Manuneethi Cholan went around the city by a chariot. The people of the city gave him a warm welcome by beating drums and pipes. • A calf threatened by hearing this huge sound, jumped and ran here and there. Finally it had fallen down under the wheel of the Prince’s chariot. The wheel had crushed the calf. • King Manuneethi Cholan came to know, that the carelessness of his son has caused the death of the calf. So, he wanted to punish his son for the convict of the calf’s murder. • He killed his son by the same manner how the calf was killed. This can be referred in Cillappathikaram as, Aavin kadaimani uhuneer nenjusudath thaan than Arumperar puthalvanai aaliyin madithon (20:54-55)

9. The above-mentioned incident also can be referred in following literary works, • Manimegalai (3:22) • Kural (547, Parimaelalagar commentary) • Palamoli (3) • Rajaraja Cholan Ulaa (3) • Kulothunga Cholan Ulaa (2) • Vikirama Cholan Ulaa (3-4)

10. Pandiya’s Dynasty • Pandiyan Neduncheliyan, one of the Pandiya’s emperors, has wrongly punished (killed) a man namely Kovalan for the theft of Queen’s anklet. • After the death of Kovalan, his wife Kannagi came to the court of the king. She argued her husband tried to sell her anklet only and not the Queen’s one. • The king compared the anklet of Kannagi and the anklet, which was taken from Kovalan. He felt that the two anklets are of the same pair.

11. He thought that, he had wrongly punished the victim Kovalan.As soon as King Pandiyan Neduncheliyan felt his wrong judgment, he suddenly fell down from the king’s throne and died. • This can be referred in Cillappathikaram as, Poncey kollan than corkaetta Yano arasan yanae kalvan Manpathai kakkum thenpulan kaaval Enmuthal pilaithathu kedugaven aayul (74-77)

12. Whenever the warriors go for war, they made an announcement to the people before the commencement of the war. • The announcement reads like this, “Cows, priests, animals, couples who have no child, ladies, patients, and aged peoples are asked to go the safe places, because the war will be commencing on such and such day”. • This can be referred in Puranaanooru, Aavum aaniyar parppana maakkalum Pendirum piniyudai yeerum paeni Thenpulan vaalnark karunkadan irukkum Ponpor puthalvarp peraatheerum Yemmambu kadividuthum – nummaran cerminena (9)

13. Conclusion • The following points can be derived from this article, • Justice is common to all living beings. • One should uphold the principles of Justice in any circumstances. • Each and every person should be given equal and fair chances to prove him or herself.

14. We try to highlight the ethical principle “justice” from the background of Tamil literature and Tamil culture that will help the students of Tamilnadu to develop their own “Codes of Justice” on the basis of their culture and tradition and others to take the best from it.

15. THANK YOU