he Three Glorious Tamil Kings Who Protected the Translated Lands
he Three Glorious Tamil Kings Who Protected the Translated Lands
If Vānavan means “god” (Devan), then by shortening the long vowel tē in Tēvan one obtains Tevan. The Tamil suffix -an cannot be represented directly in Prakrit because Prakrit does not possess this suffix. Instead, the letter naserves as its equivalent. Thus, the Tamil word Tēvan (“god”) becomes Devana in Prakrit.
The word piya means “beloved” or “dear.” Therefore, the expression “one who is beloved of the god” (Devanukku priyamāṉavan) becomes Devanapiya in Prakrit.
This Prakrit language was a regional language that had evolved through translation from Tamil. The lands in which this translated language was spoken were ruled by our ancient Chera, Chola, and Pandya kings. Sangam poems refer to them as “the three illustrious Tamil rulers who protected the translated lands.”
Furthermore, when we search for Sangam-age Tamil rulers who bore names equivalent to Devanapiya, we find Chera kings who carried the divine titles Vānavan and Vānavarampan.
Among them were:
- Vānavan, who held Kolli Hills within his kingdom.
- Vānavan, who attacked Āmūr but was defeated by Kodumudi, the ruler of Āmūr.
- Vānavan, the cavalry commander who patronized and protected the Kodiyar, the lute-playing bards.
- Vānavan, who destroyed fortress battlements.
- Vānavan, identified with Imayavaramban Nedunjeralathan, who was defeated by the Chola king Killivalavan of Kulamutram.
- Vānavan, identified with Senguttuvan, who conducted maritime trade by sailing his ships across the western seas and preventing rival vessels from entering those waters.
All of these rulers were distinguished by the title Vānavan.
There are also literary usages in which Vānavan refers to Indra, the king of the gods. Examples include:
- “The southern king who broke the crowned head of Vānavan.”
- “The festival of Vānavan,” meaning the Indra Festival.
- “The observance of Vānavan’s festival.”
Similarly, Chera kings were honored with the title Vānavarampan. This was a historically significant royal epithet granted to Chera rulers during the Sangam period. The title has been interpreted in several ways, including:
- “One whose boundary is the sky.”
- “One who is dear to the celestial beings (the gods).”
Examples include:
- “The people of the good land of Vānavarampan” (to which Tamils traveled in search of wealth).
- Adukotpattu Cheralathan, the hero of the Sixth Decad ofPathitrupathu.
- Senguttuvan, who destroyed enemy fortresses and sailed beyond the seas.
- The Chera king who ruled Veliyam.
- Cheraman Perunchotru Uthiyan Cheralathan.
These rulers were praised as Vānavarampan. These are honorific titles borne by the Chera kings. Sangam literature informs us that the rulers of the Chera country possessed the distinguished titles Imayavarampan and Vānavarampan.
The poet Mamulanar mentions a Vānavarampan (Akam 359:6). The poet Vellivithiyar mentions a Vānavarampan (Akam 45:17). The poet Nakkirar also refers to a Vānavarampan (Akam 389:16).
Vānavan and Vānavar were general titles applicable to all members of the Chera royal lineage. According to this interpretation, these titles correspond to the Prakrit form Devanapiya, meaning “one who is beloved of the gods” or “beloved of the deity.”
Translation by Hari
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