Cultural Update of ‘Mullaippaattu’

Abstract

Listening to good omens was a custom of that time. It means hearing good words. There is faith in this, even in this age. The woman regretted the separation of her man. Elderly women asked ‘Good Omen’ to find out if the man would come soon to console their woman. They sprinkled rice and flowers and worshipped the god in the evening. At that time, one of the shepherdesses said to the calf that was grieving for parting with the mother cow, ‘Soon mother comes’ and hoped that the departed man would return soon. They told the woman this good news and blessed her. There was an employee who was called Time Clerk to keep track of the time. Those who calculate the time correctly with the help of a tool called Hour disk are called as Time clerks. It is said that there was a time clerk in the ‘Mullaipp Paattu’ army camp. There were maids to light the lamps in palaces and army camps. These women wore bandeaus. Their hands were adorned with bangles. These women were the wielders of the luminous sword that could turn night into day. They were heroic women. They were body guards for the King. They will wrap themselves in cloth. There were strict Yavanars, who wore shirts, in the palace jobs. The Yavanas are people from Greece and Rome. Thus, it is possible to understand the relationship Tamil Nadu had with those countries during the Sangam period. Mullaipattu says that the Mlecchas who could not speak were also on duty for the King. Such non-verbal people supported the king in keeping secrets. The account of Mullaipattu gives a clear picture of the manner in which the army camps were set up on the battlefields. Separate accommodations were set up for the king and separate rooms for other soldiers. The king's accommodation consisted of many rooms. People wore ornaments like shell bangles, and small bangles. We understand that the musical instrument "harp" and the hour-measuring instrument "Time" were used. Musical instruments like the harp and arched harp were played when the king's armies returned victorious.