The Pandyan Kingdom from the Earliest Times to the Sixteenth Century c7.34

c7.34

The *Maduraikkāñji* which is a long poem of nearly 800 lines contain many little pen-pictures of great interest to the student of the social life of the age. We cannot do more than draw attention to a few of these here. The descriptions of fights and fortifications (e.g. ll. 64-7) show evidence of a fairly advanced stage in the art of warfare. It is interesting that the Parathavar are mentioned as specially noted for their heroism in war (ll. 139-144) and they perhaps supplied good recruits to Neḍuñjeḷiyan’s forces. The account given of the port of Śaliyūr (in ll. 75-88) and its commercial activity strongly reminds us of similar accounts in the *Periplus* and of the mention of Yavana guards in the fortress of Madura in the *Śilappadikāram* and the frequent references to the use of imported foreign wines by kings and chieftains.² Korkai is referred to as the centre of pearl fishing (ll. 131-8). The long description of Madura with her ditch, walls and gateways, her crowded bazaars more than usually busy on a festival day, her temples and her debating halls defies reproduction and is best enjoyed in the original. Courtesans played an important part in social life and were then, as in later days, the custodians of the arts of music and dancing (ll. 570-83). But family life is also depicted at its best in a tender sketch of the daily routine of matronly duties which shows few traits that cannot be recognized in family life at the present day. And the contrast between the gay and voluptuous courtesan and the faithful and loving wife cannot be better drawn than in the portraiture of Mādhavi and Kaṇṇaki in the Śilappadikāram. Some women were also known as poets while others followed a life of religious seclusion. Brahmins chanted the Vedas early in the morning and the musicians practised on their favourite instruments much as they do now.