Akol in the Epic Poem Seevaka Chintamani

Abstract :
In Tamil society, various perspectives can be seen regarding the practice of seizing cattle (aaṉirai kavartal – cattle lifting or raiding). This activity, which was evident during the times of Tolkappiyam and Sangam literature, continued even into the epic period, as revealed through the epic Civaka Cintamaṇi. It is observed that the tradition of ākōḷ (cattle raiding) persisted up to the 9th century CE. While in earlier periods this practice stemmed from poverty and hunger, in the epic period it evolved into an act that asserted a king’s valor or victory. Beyond that, it also became a strategic method to provoke or invite a king to the battlefield. The Civaka Cintamaṇi illustrates this through the character Padumukan, who seizes the cattle of his friend Jīvakan (Cīvakan) to draw him into action. This paper aims to explore and highlight this tradition of ākōḷ as depicted in epic literature.
Keywords: Epic, Civaka Cintamaṇi, Cīvakan–Padumukan, Ākōḷ, Drums (Timil), Hunters (Vēṭars), Viricci (a drum or signal instrument), Kāṟippaṟavai (predatory bird), Nimittikan (omen reader), War, Sound of marching armies, Cowherds (Āyar), Tudi (drum), Paṟai (war drum).