Prelims 2023 · Q44
MediumWhich one of the following explains the practice of ‘Vattakirutal’ as mentioned in Sangam poems?
Answer & explanation
Answer: (d) A king defeated in a battle committing ritual suicide by starving himself to death
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 ·