Elelasingan

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Elelasingan (

Valluvar.[1]

Biography

It is said that Elelasingan is mentioned as Elaela and Alara in Ceylon history, who lived between 144 BCE and 101 BCE.[2] M. S. Purnalingam Pillai cites that, according to Mahavamso tradition, Elelasingan ruled Lanka as Ellalan with his capital at Annuradhapura between 205 BCE and 161 BCE.[3] However, given the fact that Elelasingan was a contemporary of Valluvar and with the date of Valluvar remaining dubious, it is still under debate whether Elaela of Cylone was the same person as Elelasingan. According to T. S. Srinivasan, Elela Singhan was a prince who lived in the first century CE and was a friend of Valluvar.[4]

Elelasingan belonged to the

Ceylon.[5][7] He also sold thread to Valluvar, who earned a living by engaging in his occupation as a weaver.[8][9] Over the years, Elelasingan became a close friend and a disciple of Valluvar.[10]

Elelasingan and his wife had been without a child for years. One day when visiting the local

Kural text.[12] Elelasingan, along with other friends, advised Valluvar to travel to Madurai and present his work at the Pandiyan King's court.[12] When Valluvar did so and returned triumphantly, Elelasingan and others welcomed him and celebrated the happening.[6]

According to legend, at the point of Valluvar’s death, Elelasingan expressed his intention to place Valluvar's corpse in a golden coffin and place it in a monumental grave.[13] Valluvar, however, politely refused and instead requested Elelasingan to tie his corpse with cords and throw it among the bushes outside the town so that scavenging animals can feed on it.[13][14] Elelasingan obeyed and soon observed that the crows and other animals that fed on his corpse "became beautiful as gold."[13] He soon built a temple on the spot where Valluvar's corpse had lain and instituted worship. It is believed that the present temple of Valluvar at Mylapore is built on the site of this ancient temple.[13]

Legacy

Elelasingan is traditionally remembered for his faithful following of the philosophy of Valluvar.

work songs of "Elelo elavali" and "Elelo aylasa", which are traditionally sung by hard laborers of the Tamil land during their toil at work to mitigate their drudgery, remain embedded in the Tamil culture as the sole surviving legacy of Elelasingan.[15][9]

See also

Citations

  1. ^ Periyanna, 1968, pp. 17–19.
  2. ^ Desikar, 1969, pp. 128–130.
  3. ^ Pillai, 2015, p. 90.
  4. ^ Manavalan, 2009, p. 232.
  5. ^ a b Manavalan, 2009, p. 40.
  6. ^ a b Robinson, 2001, p. 29.
  7. ^ Pillai, 2015, p. 89.
  8. ^ Robinson, 2001, p. 17.
  9. ^ a b c Pillai, 2015, pp. 89–90.
  10. ^ Robinson, 2001, pp. 17–18.
  11. ^ Robinson, 2001, p. 18.
  12. ^ a b Robinson, 2001, p. 20.
  13. ^ a b c d Robinson, 2001, p. 32.
  14. ^ Manavalan, 2009, p. 43.
  15. ^ Sundaramoorthi, 2000, p. 43.

References

  • C. Dandapani Desikar (1969). திருக்குறள் அழகும் அமைப்பும் [Tirukkural: Beauty and Structure]. Chennai: Tamil Valarchi Iyakkagam.
  • A. A. Manavalan (2009). Essays and Tributes on Tirukkural (1886–1986 AD) (1 ed.). Chennai: International Institute of Tamil Studies.
  • P. E. Periyanna (1968). திருவள்ளுவர் வாழ்க்கை வரலாறு [Life History of Tiruvalluvar]. Chennai: Vanathi Pathippagam.
  • M. S. Purnalingam Pillai (2015). Tamil Literature. Chennai: International Institute of Tamil Studies.
  • Edward Jewitt Robinson (2001). Tamil Wisdom: Traditions Concerning Hindu Sages and Selections from Their Writings. New Delhi: Asian Educational Services.
  • I. Sundaramoorthi (2000). குறளமுதம் [Kuralamudham]. Chennai: Tamil Valarcchi Iyakkagam.
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