சீவக சிந்தாமணியில் போர்க்கலைகள்

War-arts in Sīvaka Cintāmaṇi

Abstract

Seevaka Sinthamani stands supreme among the fully preserved epics in Tamil literature. Valour and warfare formed the core foundations of ancient Tamil life, with war being deeply intertwined with daily existence. Literary works such as Purananuru, Pathitruppathu, and Purapporul Venbamalai state that a man’s valour was identified by battle scars on his chest, whereas receiving a wound on his back was deemed cowardice, leading warriors to forfeit their lives in shame. Warriors fought courageously on the battlefield, making the smile of victory a natural outcome of bravery. Countless battles were fought during the Sangam period, and numerous poets have sung about the destruction of nations and the indescribable suffering endured by the people due to war. Seevaka was a warrior highly skilled in handling weapons; his mastery in archery is celebrated through the narrative that an arrow shot from his bow returned to his hand after plucking a fruit from a mango tree. He possessed such expertise in military tactics that he was capable of instructing others, including Visayan. Warfare was regarded as five essential martial duties critical to a nation's defense and combat, all of which Seevaka mastered. Valour served as the foundation of politics during the era of Tholkappiyar, where individuals and society established their lives around bravery as their prime principle, and morality was defined by the fame earned through victory in battle. Literature and mythology, which embody imagery, cultural markers, humanism, and aesthetics in Seevaka Sinthamani, enrich the mind in a timeless manner. This research paper highlights the martial arts, warriors and their battlefield practices, and how Seevaka's skills enabled him to achieve victory in war.