Vēl Pāri
Encyclopedia
Vēl Pāri was the title of the line of Tamil
Vēlir Kings who ruled Parambu nādu and surrounding regions in ancient Tamilakkam
. The most famous among them lived towards the end of the Sangam
era and was the patron and friend of poet Kapilar
. He is extolled for his benevolence and for his patronage of art and literature. He is remembered as one of the Kadai ēzhu vallal (literally meaning, the last of the 7 (lines) great patrons). He was the master of the hill country of Parambu nādu and held sway over 300 prosperous villages. The Parambu nadu covers the modern day cities of Gobichettipalayam
and parts of Coimbatore
and Erode
. Pariyur, named after Pari himself is home to the great temples Sri Kondathu Kaliamman Temple
, Sri Amarapaneeswarar Temple and Sri Adhi Narayanaswamy Temple.
, song 107 by Kapilar
:
But his favorite was poet Kapilar
who was his close friend and life long companion.
kings were in the process of expanding their kingdoms and turned the other independent Vēlir Kings into subordinates or eliminated them and assimilated their kingdoms. When they finally lay siege to the heavily fortified country of Parambu, Vēl Pāri would refuse to give in and the war would drag on for years. On one occasion, Kapilar
would approach the three crowned kings and describe his patron as an unconquerable warrior and ask them to turn around(excerpt from Purananuru
: song 109):
, song (112) of Pāri's daughters on his death:
would become their guardian and the three of them would leave Parambu. Kapilar
would unsuccessfully approach different Vēlir kings in order to find suitable grooms and in the end leave them in the care of Brahmins. Kapilar would then take his own life by vadakirrutal, one of the Tamil
ways of committing suicide. Later, poetess Auvaiyar
takes them and successfully marries them off into the family of another Vēlir king Malaiyamān Thirumudi Kāri
. Pari's clan still continues across generations as a part of the Kongu Vellalar
community.
Tamil people
Tamil people , also called Tamils or Tamilians, are an ethnic group native to Tamil Nadu, India and the north-eastern region of Sri Lanka. Historic and post 15th century emigrant communities are also found across the world, notably Malaysia, Singapore, Mauritius, South Africa, Australia, Canada,...
Vēlir Kings who ruled Parambu nādu and surrounding regions in ancient Tamilakkam
Ancient Tamil country
The Sangam period is the classical period in the history of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and other parts of South India, spanning about the 3rd century BCE to the 3rd century CE...
. The most famous among them lived towards the end of the Sangam
Sangam
The Tamil Sangams were assemblies of Tamil scholars and poets that, according to traditional Tamil accounts, occurred in the remote past. Three assemblies are described...
era and was the patron and friend of poet Kapilar
Kapilar
Kapilar was a Sangam poet. He was a contemporary of Karikala Chola, Irunkōvēl and Vēl Pāri. He was the close friend and confidant of Vēl Pāri, one of the Vēlir kings.-Life:He was born into a Brahmin family in Tiruvadavur in the Pandyan Kingdom...
. He is extolled for his benevolence and for his patronage of art and literature. He is remembered as one of the Kadai ēzhu vallal (literally meaning, the last of the 7 (lines) great patrons). He was the master of the hill country of Parambu nādu and held sway over 300 prosperous villages. The Parambu nadu covers the modern day cities of Gobichettipalayam
Gobichettipalayam
Gobi or Gobichettipalayam is a Municipality in Erode District of Tamil Nadu state, India. A major part of present Gobichettipalayam was previously known as Veerapandi Gramam, and documents and records still use that name. Gobichettipalayam is an important city in the North- Western part of Erode...
and parts of Coimbatore
Coimbatore
Coimbatore , also known as Kovai , is the second largest city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is a major commercial centre in Tamil Nadu and is known as the "Manchester of South India"....
and Erode
Erode
Erode is a city, a municipal corporation and the headquarters of Erode district in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu.It is situated at the center of the South Indian Peninsula, about southwest from the state capital Chennai and on the banks of the rivers Cauvery and Bhavani, between 11° 19.5"...
. Pariyur, named after Pari himself is home to the great temples Sri Kondathu Kaliamman Temple
Pariyur Kondathu Kaliamman
Arulmigu Kondathu Kaliamman Temple is one of the famous Amman temples located in Pariyur near Gobichettipalayam in Erode District of Tamil Nadu state, India. There are also other temples namely Sri Amarapaneeswarar Temple, Sri Adinarayana Perumal Temple and Sri Angalamman Temple nearby. Pariyur is...
, Sri Amarapaneeswarar Temple and Sri Adhi Narayanaswamy Temple.
Patron of bards
Such was his reputation for the patronage of arts and literature that bards thronged his court, competing with one another for his attention. From PurananuruPurananuru
Purananuru is a Tamil poetic work in the Pathinenmaelkanakku anthology of Tamil literature, belonging to the Sangam period corresponding to between 200 BCE – 100 CE. Purananuru is part of the Ettuthokai anthology which is the oldest available collection of poems of Sangam literature in Tamil....
, song 107 by Kapilar
Kapilar
Kapilar was a Sangam poet. He was a contemporary of Karikala Chola, Irunkōvēl and Vēl Pāri. He was the close friend and confidant of Vēl Pāri, one of the Vēlir kings.-Life:He was born into a Brahmin family in Tiruvadavur in the Pandyan Kingdom...
:
But his favorite was poet Kapilar
Kapilar
Kapilar was a Sangam poet. He was a contemporary of Karikala Chola, Irunkōvēl and Vēl Pāri. He was the close friend and confidant of Vēl Pāri, one of the Vēlir kings.-Life:He was born into a Brahmin family in Tiruvadavur in the Pandyan Kingdom...
who was his close friend and life long companion.
Siege of the three crowned Kings
During this period, the three crowned TamilTamil people
Tamil people , also called Tamils or Tamilians, are an ethnic group native to Tamil Nadu, India and the north-eastern region of Sri Lanka. Historic and post 15th century emigrant communities are also found across the world, notably Malaysia, Singapore, Mauritius, South Africa, Australia, Canada,...
kings were in the process of expanding their kingdoms and turned the other independent Vēlir Kings into subordinates or eliminated them and assimilated their kingdoms. When they finally lay siege to the heavily fortified country of Parambu, Vēl Pāri would refuse to give in and the war would drag on for years. On one occasion, Kapilar
Kapilar
Kapilar was a Sangam poet. He was a contemporary of Karikala Chola, Irunkōvēl and Vēl Pāri. He was the close friend and confidant of Vēl Pāri, one of the Vēlir kings.-Life:He was born into a Brahmin family in Tiruvadavur in the Pandyan Kingdom...
would approach the three crowned kings and describe his patron as an unconquerable warrior and ask them to turn around(excerpt from Purananuru
Purananuru
Purananuru is a Tamil poetic work in the Pathinenmaelkanakku anthology of Tamil literature, belonging to the Sangam period corresponding to between 200 BCE – 100 CE. Purananuru is part of the Ettuthokai anthology which is the oldest available collection of poems of Sangam literature in Tamil....
: song 109):
Death
After a long drawn out war, Vēl Pāri would be killed by treachery. PurananuruPurananuru
Purananuru is a Tamil poetic work in the Pathinenmaelkanakku anthology of Tamil literature, belonging to the Sangam period corresponding to between 200 BCE – 100 CE. Purananuru is part of the Ettuthokai anthology which is the oldest available collection of poems of Sangam literature in Tamil....
, song (112) of Pāri's daughters on his death:
Family and Legacy
Vēl Pāri had two young daughters. Upon his death, his friend KapilarKapilar
Kapilar was a Sangam poet. He was a contemporary of Karikala Chola, Irunkōvēl and Vēl Pāri. He was the close friend and confidant of Vēl Pāri, one of the Vēlir kings.-Life:He was born into a Brahmin family in Tiruvadavur in the Pandyan Kingdom...
would become their guardian and the three of them would leave Parambu. Kapilar
Kapilar
Kapilar was a Sangam poet. He was a contemporary of Karikala Chola, Irunkōvēl and Vēl Pāri. He was the close friend and confidant of Vēl Pāri, one of the Vēlir kings.-Life:He was born into a Brahmin family in Tiruvadavur in the Pandyan Kingdom...
would unsuccessfully approach different Vēlir kings in order to find suitable grooms and in the end leave them in the care of Brahmins. Kapilar would then take his own life by vadakirrutal, one of the Tamil
Tamil people
Tamil people , also called Tamils or Tamilians, are an ethnic group native to Tamil Nadu, India and the north-eastern region of Sri Lanka. Historic and post 15th century emigrant communities are also found across the world, notably Malaysia, Singapore, Mauritius, South Africa, Australia, Canada,...
ways of committing suicide. Later, poetess Auvaiyar
Auvaiyar
The Avvaiyars "respectable women" was the title of more than one poet who was active during different periods of Tamil literature. The Avvaiyar were some of the most famous and important female poets of the Tamil canon. Abithana Chintamani states that there were three female poets titled...
takes them and successfully marries them off into the family of another Vēlir king Malaiyamān Thirumudi Kāri
Malaiyamaan Kaari
Malaiyamān Thirumudi Kāri was one of the kings of the Tamil royal house clan Velir of the Malaiyamān dynasty.. He is one of Kadai ezhu vallal, literally the last of the seven great patrons of art and literature. The Malaiyamān chiefs ruled over the Tirukoyilur area also known as Kovalur...
. Pari's clan still continues across generations as a part of the Kongu Vellalar
Kongu Vellalar
Gounders also known as Kongu Vellalars are Kshatriyas native to the western region of Tamil Nadu known as Kongu Nadu. They were known as a noble, feudal and land owning caste of Tamil Nadu from the Sangam age...
community.