Vatakkiruttal (Tamil: வடக்கிருத்தல், Vaṭakkiruttal, 'fasting facing north'), also Vadakiruthal and vadakiruttal, was a Tamil ritual of fasting until death. The Tamil kings pledged a martial vow (Tamil: நோன்பு, nōnpu, 'vow') to meet their death "facing north", refusing to turn their backs in battle. Fasting was either performed alone or as a group among the supporters of the captured king. The practice was especially widespread during the Sangam age.
Examples
- Poet Kapilar fasted at Kabilar Kundru following the death of his friend King Vēl Pāri in battle.[1]
- King Kopperuncholan and his friend, the poet Pisiranthaiyar, committed suicide by Vatakkirruttal together.[2]
References
- ↑ "Book excerptise: The Four Hundred Songs of War and Wisdom: An Anthology of Poems from Classical Tamil, the Purananuru by George L. (tr.) Hart and Hank Heifetz (tr.)". Department of Computer Science and Engineering, IIT Kanpur. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
Kapilar for King Pari #107 — When Vel Pari is killed in battle, Kapilar is supposed to have committed suicide by vadakirrutal - facing North and starving.
- ↑ "From the annals of history". The Hindu. 25 June 2010. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
Further reading
- George L. Hart; Hank Heifetz (2002). The Four Hundred Songs of War and Wisdom: An Anthology of Poems from Classical Tamil, the Purananuru. Columbia University Press. ISBN 0-231-11563-6.
- Thapar, Romila (1996). Tradition, dissent and ideology: essays in honour of Romila Thapar. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-563867-0.
- Richards, John F. (1978). Kingship and Authority in South Asia. University of Wisconsin--Madison.
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