Which one of the following explains the practice of ‘Vattakirutal’ as mentioned in Sangam poems?
- Kings employing women bodyguards.
- Learned persons assembling in royal courts to discuss religious and philosophical matters.
- Young girls keeping watch over agricultural fields and driving away birds and animals.
- A king defeated in a battle committing ritual suicide by starving himself to death.
Explanation
Option (d) is correct
- Poems within Sangam literature were composed on two broader themes of akam (love) and puram (mostly based on war but also included public poetry such as poems on good and evil, community and kingdom). The goal of the hero of the puram poems was pukal (glory, fame) and a heroic death was greatly valued. It was believed that the spirit of a warrior who died in battle dwelt in paradise.
- Practice of vattakirutal: The practice of vattakirutal was one in which a defeated king committed ritual suicide by starving himself to death, accompanied by those who had been close to him during his lifetime.
Option (a) and (c) are incorrect
- Important activities by women as mentioned in Sangam poems:
- There are also references to kings employing women bodyguards.
- Women were involved in cattle rearing and dairy farming. The terms ayichchiyar, kovichchiyar, and idaichchiyar were used for shepherdesses.
- Sangam texts refer to women spinners as parutti pentukal. However, there are no references to women weavers
- The viraliyar were women bards and dancers belonging to the panar community of wandering minstrels.
- Young girls kept watch over the agricultural fields and drove away birds and animals.
- Women are also mentioned in connection with the making and selling of toddy made out of fermented rice.
Option (b) is incorrect
- Sangam poetry shows the existence of a vibrant and sophisticated literary culture in ancient Tamilakam.
- A 2nd century CE inscription from Mannarkoil mentions the katikai. This term, derived from the Sanskrit ghatika, may refer to an assembly of learned persons, an institution of higher learning, or a place where such an assembly or institution was located.
