Cosmic Symbolism Found at Various Rock Art Sites in Tamil Nadu

The19^th Congress of

Rock Art Society of India

Held at Pondicherry.

(December4^th - 6^th, 2014 )

Papers Presented

By

K.Balakrishnan

ARIVOM ARIVIPPOM CENTRE

Bharathi Coaching Centre,

Indian Bank Colony,

K.K.Nagar Main Road,

Tiruchirapalli -620 021

Phone number: 0431- 4050144

email: arivomarivippom@gmail.com

K. Balakrishnan

 Founder, ArivomArivippomCentre,

Tiruchirapalli-620 021

Cosmic Symbolism

Found at Various Rock Art Sites in Tamil Nadu

            This paper presentation discusses in detail about the Rock Art related to Cosmic Symbolism found at various sites in Tamil Nadu, India.

            The Rock Arts found in Tamil Nadu are ventilating the knowledge of the sky watchers lived in Tamil Nadu.  In which particularly their knowledge on astronomy has to be emphasized. 

Knowledge

            The sky watchers knew that the Knowledge has to be shared with others.  The knowledge which is not shared with others is not at all Knowledge.  By knowing the importance of the knowledge, they have chosen the safest place to preserve and also to convey to the future generation in the form of symbols and signs. They named it as “Chittrakkal Pudavu”.   This is spelled as “Rock Art” in English.

Chittrakkal Pudavu

            There is a Rock Art named “ChittrakkalPudavu”.  It is at Arughaveli village, which is very nearer to MayiladumParai, and KadamalaiKundu in Theni District, Tamil Nadu in India.

            This particular Rock Art site was identified by shree. P. Balamurugan of Pondicherry University, India.  Prof.  Dr. Rajan interprets the  word - ChittrakkalPudavu as; Chittra – drawing or art, Kal – Rock and Pudavu- Shelter.  

Symbolism

            Symbol means the Marks or Characters taken as the conventional sign of some objects or idea or process, e.g. the astronomical signs for the planets. Symbolism means an Artistic Style using symbolic images to express the knowledge.

Constellations

            A group of stars seen as forming a figure or design in the sky is called constellation. There are 88 different officially recognized constellations.  The prominent constellations are Orion, Ursa-major, Scorpio, etc.

Cosmic Symbolism

            The Cosmos is a complex and orderly system, such as our universe. The sky watchers identified the Star or Group of Stars as Constellations in the shapes of their own imagination and also comparing with the earthly beings and non-beings.  BimanBasu* said; “They also named those constellations after Mythological Gods, Heroes, Living Creatures or Common objects”. (*The joy of star watching; Published by National book trust, India. P. 13.)

           

            The ancient sky watchers lived in a land presently known as Tamil Nadu, registered their observation of those constellations as Rock Arts.  Among those “the Milky Way Galaxy, and the Orion Constellation,” are to be noted.

The Milky Way Galaxy

            The Milky Way galaxy is drawn in the form of Petroglyph  at Yerbet, Nilgiri District, and Tamil Nadu in India. This site was found by Mr. K.T.Gandhirajan and others. ‘This Petroglyphconsists of symbols such as a Serpent, a Human like figure and also a Scorpio like figures.

Almost similar Rock Art without Scorpius is also found in Wardaman painting in Australia*. In which the human figure said to be sky boss and the Serpent at the bottom said to be the Milky Way. (Thanks to Bill Yidumduma Harney for the picture).* Ray P.Norris and Duane W Hamacher, Astronomical symbolism in Australian Aboriginal Rock Art, Accepted in Rock art Research (2010) p.2.

During December and January months the Milky Way Galaxy can be seen at the tail side of Scorpius Constellation. In this Petroglyph the Milky Way is drawn like a Serpent below the Scorpio.       

The Orion

            The Orion is a prominent Constellation located in the celestial equator and visible in the entire world.   It is one of the most commonly visible and recognizable constellation.

The distinctive pattern of Orion has been recognized in numerous cultures around the world, and many myths have been associated with it. It has also been used as a symbol in the modern world.

At Narthamalai there is a Pictograph of a Hunter and other Pictographs of three different human figures as single group are drawn in white color.  It is drawn on celling of the Shelter, which is underneath of a hill known as Aalurutimalai.

            Narthamalai is located at 10.51 degree N and 78.76 degree E.  The Orion is clearly visible in the night sky from December to June,and it will raise at different location from east to west an altitude of + or – 10 degree with refer to celestial equator.  

Figure -1

            Figure -1 has to be compared with, “One of the most splendid of all constellations in sky is Orion, the Hunter (Kaalpurusha)*.  Visible in the night sky all through the winter months, it is one of the easiest to identify. Its seven main stars, two of which are the first magnitude, make up the distinctive figure of a man the hunter wielding a club in his right hand and a shield in his left hand. He has a sword hanging from his belt.”   (* BimanBasu, The joy of star watching; 1999, Published by National book trust, India. P. 36.)

            The seven figures are found in a rock art drawn in black color in Kozhiyuthu, near Palani, Dindigul district, Tamil Nadu, India.

Figure-2

            Figure -2 has to be compared with “One of the symbol of Jainism* is a standing human figure with both hands rested on the hip”.

  

  (Thanks to : *The 18th Century A.D.,  Jaina diagram of Puruuskarayantra- Philip Rawson, The art of Tantra, 1973-1978,  published by Oxford University Press, New york and Toronto, ps. 152-153)

Figures – 3 and 4

          The figures-3 and 4 is appears to be representing the hunter. Figure -3 is the Mrigasirus or Lambda Orionis which marks the hunter’s head as an animal.

The  Hunter (Kaalpurusha) or Orion

            The word “Orion” is appears to be originated from a Tamil Word “Orai”.  According to ancient time measurement - 2.5 naligai is equal to one Orai *. The Naligai and Oraiare the unit of time measurement of time “Kaal or Kalam”.  (*Ramalingagurukal, JothitagrahaChindamani(Periyavarushathinool, 2000,  published by B.RathinaNayakar and sons, Chennai.79, p. 5)

Time Measurements*

2 Kannimai              =                      1 Nodi (Kai Nodi)

2 Kai Nodi                 =                      1 Maattirai

2 Mattirai                 =                      1 Guru

2 Guru                       =                      1 Uyir

2 Uyir                         =                      1 sanigam

12 Sanigam             =                      1 Vinadi

60 Vinadi                  =                      1 Naaligai

2.5 Naaligai                        =                      1 Orai (Hour)

3.75 Naligai             =                      1 Muhuurtham

2 Muhuurtham       =                      1 Caamam

2 Caamam               =                      1 Poludu

2 Poludu                   =                      1 Naal (day)

15 Naal                     =                      1 Pakkam

2 Pakkam                 =                      1 Maadam (month)

6 Maadam               =                      1 Ayanam

2 Ayanam                =                      1 Aandu (year)

60 Aandu                 =                      1 Vattam (Circle)

* Tamil EluthiyalPairchi” - Dr.K.Balasubramanian, Published by Sarasvathi Mahal Library, Tanjavur. P. 19.

Comments of Gary A David

          “I am the Author of “The Orion Zone” and four more books on Archaeo-Astronomy, concentrating on the southwestern area of the United States. I have also have been featured on international radio interviews and on U.S. television programs.

          Since 1997, I have studied Orion and various man-made structures and Rock Art that represent this Constellation. All over the globe, Orion- pattern in the sky is frequently reproduced by certain megalithic constructions on the ground. (Mega- means “large” and lithic means “stone.”) In essence, the earth structures mirror the pattern in the sky.

          In addition, the rising and setting of Orion- stars are sometimes lined up with certain astronomical markers. Various cultural sites in Peru, Mesoamerica, North America, Great Britain, Ireland, Europe, Africa, and Egypt, along with other locations across the world, concentrate on this particular constellation with an archetypal intensity.

            Now we have a solid proof of the “Orion archetype” found in the pictographs (rock paintings) of Narthamalai, Tamil Nadu, dated to 1500 BC or earlier. Painted in white, a human figure is seen with the typical upraised right arm as well as the left arm holding either a shield or club or spear. Associated with this figure is a representation of two triangles with their apexes touching.

          This type of figure is also found in Rock Art of the Americas and Africa. In North America it signifies warfare between Native American tribes. For the Igbo tribe of Nigeria it signifies the Great Mother Goddess called Mbari. In  India this double-triangle may represent the Female- Male complex. It may also represent the ‘hurglass drum’or ‘dumroo’,a two-headedsacred drum of Lord Shiva.

Shree T.L.SubashChandiraBose - Archaeo-Symbolist, K. Balakrishnan and    V. Kannan have discovered a number of important Rock Paintings with a great astronomical, mythological, and spiritual significance. It is my wish and hope that in the future the cultural heritage of India and the world be further explored and documented.”

Gary A. David- author of “The Orion Zone” P.O. Box 4282,

Chino Valley, AZ 86323 USA,

www.theorionzone.com

email:garydavid52@hotmail.com

Conclusion

            The above Rock Art findings and the study of the pictograph drawn in white color and incised as Petroglyphs at various places in Tamil Nadu in India proves that these are related to “the Milky Way Galaxy, and the Orion,” constellation and dated back to 1500 B.C., and ancient people of India are “the masters of sky watchers”.

The detailed study of Indian Rock Art in the view of Astronomical backgrounds may reveal the hidden meaning of the unknown Rock Art. 

By which, the missing link between known – knowledge – knower will be found and linked firmly.  By doing so the knowledge; will be made readily available for our future generation forever.