Which one of the following explains the practice of 'Vattakirutal' as mentioned in Sangam poems?
AKings employing women bodyguards
BLearned persons assembling in royal courts to discuss religious and philosophical matters
CYoung girls keeping watch over agricultural fields and driving away birds and animals
DA king defeated in a battle committing ritual suicide by starving himself to death
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: D. A king defeated in a battle committing ritual suicide by starving himself to death
Answer: D. 'Vattakirutal' refers to a king defeated in battle committing ritual suicide by starving himself to death.
The Sangam Tamil tradition described 'Vattakirutal' as a kshatriya ideal in which a king who suffered defeat or dishonour would sit on rice husk or paddy straw and starve himself unto death (annapilukirutal) as a form of penance and to preserve royal honour. This ritual self-immolation by starvation is mentioned in early Tamil poems and was a recognized practice of ancient Tamil royal culture.
Similar honour-based ritual practices are also documented in classical Sanskrit literature (prayopavesha) where individuals fasted to death as religious atonement.
Distractors fail:
(A) Women bodyguards were called Kanichchi but not Vattakirutal.
(B) Discussion assemblies were 'avai' or 'kalam'.
(C) Birdscaring by girls had separate terms in Sangam poetry.
Source: Sangam literature anthologies (Ettuthokai, Pattuppattu) / NCERT Class 11 Themes in World History referencing ancient South India.
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