Prelims 2023 · Q44
Mediumनिम्नलिखित में से कौन-सा एक, संगम कविताओं में यथावर्णित ‘वटकिरुतल’ की प्रथा को स्पष्ट करता है?
Read this question in English
Which one of the following explains the practice of ‘Vattakirutal’ as mentioned in Sangam poems?
(a) Kings employing women bodyguards · (b) Learned persons assembling in royal courts to discuss religious and philosophical matters · (c) Young girls keeping watch over agricultural fields and driving away birds and animals · (d) A king defeated in a battle committing ritual suicide by starving himself to death
उत्तर और व्याख्या · explanation in English
Answer: (d) युद्ध में पराजित राजा का आमरण अनशन कर आनुष्ठानिक मृत्युवरण करना
Vattakirutal (Tamil vaṭakkiruttal, literally sitting facing north) was the Sangam-age practice of fasting until death, chiefly by a king or hero who felt disgraced, for instance by defeat or a wound in the back. It is described in Puṟanāṉūṟu poems.
- ✓ (d) The Tamil Virtual Academy notes that the Chera king Perum Cheralathan, hurt in the back in his battle with Karikala, thought it a disgrace and starved himself to death, and calls this act vatakkiruttal. It also records that the poet Pisiranthaiyar died with his friend King Kopperuncholan when Kopperuncholan died this way.
- ✗ (a) Women bodyguards have nothing to do with the term; it names a form of voluntary death.
- ✗ (c) Girls guarding fields is a scene from love poetry, not the meaning of this word.
- ✗ (b) Scholars debating in a royal court is not what the term means; vatakkiruttal is a fast unto death.
Remember · Vatakkiruttal: Sangam-age ritual fast unto death facing north, by a king or hero who felt disgraced; Perum Cheralathan and Kopperuncholan are the famous cases.
Sources
- Purananuru, Tamil Virtual Academy (Government of Tamil Nadu), Perum Cheralathan and Venni battle ↗ · reference work “இது இழிவு என்று கருதிய அந்த வீரன் உண்ணா நோன்பிருந்து ( வடக்கிருத்தல் என்று பெயர்) உயிர் விட்டான்.”
- Special divisions of Sangam literature, Tamil Virtual Academy (Government of Tamil Nadu) ↗ · reference work “அரசன் கோப்பெருஞ்சோழன் மேல் நட்புக் கொண்டிருந்த காரணத்தால், அவன் வடக்கிருந்து உயிர் துறக்கும் நேரத்தில் புலவர் பிசிராந்தையாரும் அவனுடன் உயிர் துறந்தார் எனவும் செய்தி உண்டு.”
Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2023, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). Permalink ·