Thiruvalluvar's kingdom found, say researchers
A historical research centre here has claimed to have identified and located the ancient territorial unit, believed to have been ruled by Tamil saint-poet Thiruvalluvar.
A historical research centre here has claimed to have identified and located the ancient territorial unit, believed to have been ruled by Tamil saint-poet Thiruvalluvar, who lived 2000 years ago, in the hilly tracts of Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu.
A three-member team of the Kanyakumari Historical and Cultural Research Centre, headed by its General Secretary Dr S Padmanabhan, had discovered a hill named after the poet and recorded several facts from a tribal leader, which are reflected in 'Thirukkural', a treatise authored by Thiruvalluvar.
A release from the Centre said that the 'Valluvanadu' had appeared in a copper plate inscription of the ninth and 10th century AD. The recent field research undertaken by the team confirmed that Thiruvalluvar was born in Thirunayanarkurichi in the erstwhile Valluvanadu and not Mylapore in Chennai or Madurai.
The team interviewed the head of the Kaani tribes, named 'Kaliyan Kaani' and locally known as Moottukaani, aged about 105, and recorded several new facts, which are reflected in the Thirukkural, it said.
The Moottukaani said that Thiruvalluvar was their King who ruled Valluvanaadu and he used to visit the hilly tract with his wife and consume honey and 'thinai' (little millet) flour.
"The study of Kaani settlement reveals that their lifestyle and mode of worship reflects Thirukkural. It also confirmed the existence of four kinds of land as classified by Tholkappiyar, another ancient poet," the release said.
Dr Padmanabhan has requested the state government to protect the Valluvan Hill and also include in textbooks, "the fact that Thiruvalluvar was born in Kanyakumari district."