Previous Year Question

Which one of the following explains the practice of ‘Vattakirutal’ as mentioned in Sangam poems?

Kings employing women bodyguards

Learned persons assembling in royal courts to discuss religious and philosophical matters

Young girls keeping watch over agricultural fields and driving away birds and animals

A king defeated in a battle committing ritual suicide by starving himself to death

Correct Answer: D

Detailed Solution

Vattakirutal/Vadakkiruthal was a practice described in Sangam literature in which a person sat facing north and gave up life by fasting. The Tamil Virtual Academy records that several poems of the Purananuru refer to this practice.

A famous example is associated with the Chera ruler Peruncheralathan. He fought the Chola ruler Karikala and received a wound that extended to his back, which he regarded as dishonourable for a warrior. He subsequently sat facing north and fasted to death. The Tamil Virtual Academy associates this episode with Purananuru 65–66.

However, an important fact is that Vattakirutal was not restricted only to a king defeated in battle. For example, the Chola king Kopperuncholan undertook Vattakirutal in the context of a rebellion by his sons, and his friend Pisirandaiyar also followed the practice. Its core meaning is therefore voluntarily fasting to death while sitting facing north.

Vattakirutal → facing north → fasting unto death → voluntary ritual death

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