Sibi Sculpture in Borobudur, Indonesia
Did Tamil Chozas come from North?
Chera, Choza, Pandyas are the three great kingdoms of ancient Tamil Nadu. We know for sure they existed at least 2500 years ago. Valmiki, Vyasa, Bodhayana, Katyayana, Kautilya, Asoka, Karavela, Kalidas, Varahamihira, Dandi and others mention one or the other Tamil dynasties. All the Tamil kings claimed links with Surya clan of Sri Rama or Chandra clan of Pandavas. Some even claimed link with Agni clan. We find it more in later literature, inscriptions and copper plates. Some people thought they were all boasting to raise their profile. But the story of Sibi is found in the old part of 2000 year old Sangam Tamil Literature!
Chozas who ruled from the rice bowl of Tamil Nadu claimed that Sibi of North West India was one of their fore fathers. Story of Sibi is in Mahabharata and it gained currency in later literature. Sibi was son of King Usinara and queen Madhavi. He was a righteous king. Indra and Agni wanted to test his integrity and so they took the form of birds hawk and dove. The hawk chased the dove and it sought protection from Sibi. Sibi was ready to give the hawk anything except the dove. But the hawk (Indra) was so adamant demanded either the dove or equal measure of meat from the king. When the king cut his flesh and placed it on one pan and the dove on the other pan, it was never equal. The king himself mounted the balance to give himself for the sake of the dove. But Indra and Agni revealed themselves and blessed him. There is another story of Sibi’s eye donation in the Buddhist Jataka.
This story is sung by several poets and they are in Purananuru verses 37, 39, 43 46 and 228. Sibi’s wards were called Saibya in Sanskrit. Sangam Tamil poets Tamilized this word and called the Chozas Sembian. This word is in other Sangam books Aka Nanuru (36) and Natrinai (14).
Map of Sibi in Pakistan
The story of Sibi Chakravarthy is so famous that it was sculpted in the Barhut, Nagarjunakonda ,Amaravati bas-reliefs and Borobudur in Java,Indonesia.
Tamil epics Silappadikaram and Manimekalai gave more details about this link. Since the oldest part of Sangam Tamil literature mentions it no one can reject it. The link is confirmed with other stories as well.
Sibi ruled from the north west of India. There was a Sibi puram on the banks of river Chenab in Punjab. Sibi clan is mentioned in Rig Veda and Brahmanas. Panini referred one Sivapuram may be the same Sibipuram.
One of the Chozas known as Thodithol Sembian is credited with shooting down three flying forts. We have the same story attributed to Lord Shiva. Sage Agastya ordered him to install 28 day Indra Festival in Tamil Nadu. Another king Musukunthan, son of Mandhata, helped Indra to save his city from the attacks of demons. Indra gave him several magical gifts!One Choza king was said to have ruled the mythical paradise on earth Uttara Kuru. Manu Neethi Choza who followed Manu’s rules verbatim made his son to die under the chariot wheel because he killed a calf under his chariot wheel. The cow came all the way to palace and rang the bell to seek justice.
Sibi story was known to all the people in India. It is strange that the Chozas who ruled from the peninsular India claimed link with him. This raised the question whether Chozas had their origin in North West India. Anyone who argues they might have migrated from south to north must remember all the names are in Sanskrit and already in Hindu epics and Puranas (mythology).
This Sibi story in the old part of 2000 year old literature is another nail in the coffin of Aryan Dravidian race theory. All the three dynasties claimed close links with ancient Hindu dynasties of north. Sri Rama represented Surya clan and Pandavas represented Chandra clan. Famous tamil epic begins with a prayer to Sun (Surya), Chandra (moon) and Rains. It may represent Chozas, Pandyas and Cheras. Ancient Tamils considered the whole country as one and all were their brothers.
Please read my earlier posts: 1.Indra festival in the Vedas and Tamil Epics 2.Bull fighting: Indus valley to Spain via Tamil Nadu 3.Karikal Choza and Eagle shaped Fire Altar 4.Why do British judges follow a Tamil king? 5.Flags : Indus Valley- Egypt Similarity 6.Veera Matha in the Vedas and Tamil Literature 7.Tolkappian a Genius 8.Did Tolkappian copy Panini? 9.தமிழ் முனிவர் அகஸ்தியர் 10.வள்ளுவன் ஒரு சம்ஸ்கிருத அறிஞன் 11.கொடி ஊர்வலம்: சிந்து சமவெளி—எகிப்து அதிசிய ஒற்றுமை 12.வீரத் தாயும் வீர மாதாவும் 13.இந்திர விழா: வேதத்திலும் தமிழ் இலக்கியத்திலும்
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