War in Ancient India c15.47

c15.47

6. If the men of the Tamil land were heroes, their women were heroines. There are interesting passages in the *Puranānūru* where poetesses have sung in praise of the heroism of Tamil women, mothers who had given birth to heroic sons. Okkūrmāsāttiyār, a poetess, praises a certain lady who gave birth to only one son and who sent him to the field of battle when there was the country's call for it. Born in a family of heroes, this lady dresses the hair of her only son (it may be noted here that the wearing of tuft was an ancient Tamil practice) and gives him the armour to get ready for action in the field of battle. She encourages him by saying that both his father and grandfather gave up their lives heroically in battle, and it was but proper that he a young fellow should follow the example of his dear and near forbears.13