Question map
Which one of the following explains the practice of Vattakirutal' as mentioned in Sangam poems?
Explanation
The correct answer is Option 4.
The term Vattakirutal (also known as Vatakkiruttal) refers to a unique and deeply rooted socio-political practice in the ancient Sangam Age. It describes a ritual suicide performed by a king who suffered a humiliating defeat in battle or faced a loss of honor. The defeated monarch would sit facing the North—a direction considered sacred and auspicious—and starve himself to death (fasting unto death) to reclaim his dignity and glory.
In Sangam literature (such as the Purananuru), this act was seen as a mark of extreme courage rather than cowardice. For instance, the Chola King Kopperuncholan is famously known for performing this ritual. While options 1, 2, and 3 reflect other social realities of the Sangam era (like women bodyguards or field watchers), they do not define the specific code of honor represented by Vattakirutal.
PROVENANCE & STUDY PATTERN
Full viewThis is a 'Term-Definition' Bouncer targeting specific Sangam martial customs. While basic NCERTs mention Sangam literature generally, defining 'Vattakirutal' (Vadakkiruttal) requires the TN Board Class 11 History textbook or Upinder Singh. It penalizes superficial reading—you must know the *content* of the poems (Puram tradition), not just the names of the books.
This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.
Sangam literature is described as a corpus that records social values, emotions and practices — implying it preserves specific technical terms for social/ritual behaviour.
A student could therefore look for the term in Sangam anthologies (or glossaries) expecting it to denote a culturally specific practice recorded in those poems.
Tholkappiyam is identified as the earliest Tamil grammatical text that deals with poetry and also the society and culture of the times, indicating specialized vocabulary and explanations may appear there.
One could consult Tholkappiyam or related grammatical/poetic treatises to find definitions or usage examples of the technical term.
The term 'Sangam' itself appears in later treatises (Iraiyanar Akapporul), showing that technical poetic terminology is discussed in post‑Sangam grammar/poetics as well as in the poems.
Hence search both Sangam poems and later explanatory works like Iraiyanar Akapporul for mentions or glosses of 'Vattakirutal'.
The thinai system shows Sangam poetry uses a systematic vocabulary tied to contexts (landscapes, lifestyles), suggesting other specific ritual or social practices are named distinctly in the corpus.
Using the pattern that poems pair terms with social/landscape contexts, a student might check contextual occurrences of 'Vattakirutal' (which region/type of poem it appears in) to infer its meaning.
Sangam‑period sources and later inscriptions record concrete rituals and royal practices, indicating literary sources often reflect ritual behaviours which can be cross‑checked with inscriptions.
A student could compare occurrences of 'Vattakirutal' in poems with inscriptional or ritual lists to see if it matches a known ritual practice mentioned elsewhere.
- [THE VERDICT]: Bouncer (for basic NCERT) / Sitter (for TN Board Class 11 readers). Source: TN History Class 11, Chapter 'Evolution of Society in South India'.
- [THE CONCEPTUAL TRIGGER]: Sangam Polity & The 'Puram' Tradition (War, Heroism, and Public Life).
- [THE HORIZONTAL EXPANSION]: Memorize these Sangam terms: **Nadukal** (Hero Stones), **Akam** (Love/Interior themes), **Puram** (War/Exterior themes), **Ulugu** (Customs duty), **Iravu** (Forced gift/demand), **Kodai** (Royal generosity).
- [THE STRATEGIC METACOGNITION]: When reading Ancient History, stop at every *Italicized Term* that describes a social custom. Don't just memorize 'Sangam poems exist'; memorize the *practices* they glorify (Suicide, Cattle Raids, Gift-giving).
Sangam literature is the corpus of classical Tamil anthologies that express personal emotions like love and social values such as heroism and generosity.
High-yield for UPSC history and culture questions: knowing what Sangam literature contains helps answer questions on literary sources, cultural values, and social norms of ancient Tamilakam. Connects to questions on literary genres, periodisation, and the use of texts as historical evidence.
- Exploring Society:India and Beyond ,Social Science-Class VII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 6: The Age of Reorganisation > THINK ABOUT IT > p. 130
- History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 5: Evolution of Society in South India > Classical Tamil Literature > p. 64
Sangam poems organise Tamilakam into five landscapes (Kurinji, Mullai, Marutam, Neythal, Palai), each with distinct occupational and cultural features.
Important for answering source-based and culture questions about regional social formations and ecological influences on literature. Links literary analysis to economic and social history and aids comparative questions on environment and society.
- History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 5: Evolution of Society in South India > Social Formation in 5.4Tamil Eco-zones > p. 68
Sangam poems are used to reconstruct the history and society of the Sangam period, including information about rulers like the Pandyas and social formations.
Vital for UPSC answers that require using literary texts as primary sources; helps in framing evidence-based arguments in essays and mains answers on South Indian polity, society, and cultural continuity.
- History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 11: Later Cholas and Pandyas > Sources > p. 165
- Exploring Society:India and Beyond ,Social Science-Class VII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 6: The Age of Reorganisation > THINK ABOUT IT > p. 130
Nadukal / Virakkal: The practice of erecting hero stones for warriors who died in battle or cattle raids. This is the 'sibling' custom to Vattakirutal in Sangam martial culture and is frequently mentioned in the same chapters.
Apply the 'Ritual Gravitas' heuristic. Options A, B, and C describe mundane, functional activities (guarding, debating, farming). Option D describes a dramatic **Ritual Event** (suicide for honor). Ancient literature preserves specific technical terms primarily for *rituals*, *taxes*, and *war*, rarely for generic farming tasks.
Link this to **Sallekhana/Santhara** (Jainism) in Indian Culture and the modern **Euthanasia/Right to Die** debates (Article 21) in Polity. It shows the historical nuance of 'ritual death' as an act of honor/agency versus the modern view of suicide.