Gajabahu Synchronism
Gajabahu Synchronism is the study methodology recommended by Tamil researcher V. Kanakasabai Pillai to mark the reigning period of the Sangakala Tamil Vendars. This was explained by Kanakasabai Pillai in his book “1800 aandugal mun Tamizhar '' (Tamilians 1800 years ago). Historians from the later years used the same method to predict the history of Sangakala Tamil Nadu.
Prediction of Time Period
According to this timeline system, The Srilankan Emperor Kayavagu who attended the Kannagi Festival hosted by Senguttuvan in Silapathikaram, and the King Gajabahu who reigned during the 2nd Century AD as mentioned in the Buddhist historical book ‘Mahavamsam’, is considered to be one. (‘Mahavamsam’ clearly defines Gajabahu’s time as 113-134 AD). The timeline of the Royalties mentioned in the Mahavamsam are accepted as reliable. According to this, the period of Silapadhigaram is deduced as 2nd century AD. This is the time of Cheran Senguttuvan. Moving back and forth from this point, V. Kanakasabai Pillai defined the history of Tamil Nadu.
The Silapathikaram verse which sings about the Kannagi Festival conducted by Cheran Senguttuvan says “பத்தினிக் கோட்டப் படிப்புறம் வகுத்து நித்தல் விழாவணி நிகழ்கென் றேவிப் பூவும் புகையும் மேவிய விரையும் தேவந் திகையைச் செய்கென் றருளி வலமுறை மும்முறை வந்தனன் வணங்கி உலக மன்னவ னின்றோன் முன்னர் அருஞ்சிறை நீங்கிய ஆரிய மன்னரும் பெருஞ்சிறைக் கோட்டம் பிரிந்த மன்னரும் குடகக் கொங்கரும் மாளுவ வேந்தரும் கடல்சூ ழிலங்கைக் கயவாகு வேந்தனும் எந்நாட் டாங்கண் இமய வரம்பனின் நன்னாட் செய்த நாளணி வேள்வியில் வந்தீ கென்றே வணங்கினர்” (Silapathikaram 151 - 163). Pathitrupathu says ‘கோடு நரல் பௌவம் கலங்க வேல் இட்டு உடை திரைப் பரப்பின் படு கடல் ஓட்டிய வெல் புகழ்க் குட்டுவன்’ (Pathitrupathu 46 - Sings the praises of Senguttuvan).
If the period of Cheran Sengkuttuvan coincides with the period of Gajabahu, then both Pathitrupathu and Silapathikaram belong to the 2nd century. They belong to the period after the Sangam period (Sangam Maruviya Kaalam). According to this estimate, V. Kanakasabai Pillai took the history of the Sangakala Tamil kings to before 250 AD. It is said that Senguttuvan met a king named Nutruvam Kannan in Silapathikaram. V. Kanakasabai Pillai guesses that it is a word meaning Satakarni. This incurs that Senkuttuvan met Satakarni, a Sadavakana king who may have lived in the 2nd century AD, thus further strengthening this method.
According to Mahavamsam, there were only two kings named Gajabahu. One reigned during the 2nd century while the other reigned during the 12th Century. During the 12th Century, stone inscriptions and charters of Cholas began to appear in large numbers. Hence, Senguttuvan is not likely to have ruled the Cheran dynasty during this period. Thus according to this method, the Sangam period is generally accepted to be dated before 250 AD by the Tamil scholars. S. Vaiyapuri Pillai says this is an optimal calculation method.
Acceptance and Rejection
This method has been hailed by Kamil Zvelebil, a linguist and a literary figure, as an anchor to help predict the history of Sanga Tamil. But Sri Lankan researcher Gananath Obeyesekere has claimed that this method is unacceptable. Researcher Herman Tieken, rejects this method stating that the data are just a testimony to one another with no proper evidence.
Quotes and References
- V. Kanakasabhai (1997). The Tamils Eighteen Hundred Years Ago. Asian Educational Services. International Standard Book Number:81-206-0150-5.
- Zvelebil, Kamil (1973). The smile of Murugan: On Tamil literature of south India. Brill Academic Publishers. Pg. 37-39. International Standard Book Number: 90-04-03591-5. "The opinion that the Gajabahu Synchronism is an expression of genuine historical tradition is accepted by most scholars today"
- Pillai, Vaiyapuri (1956). History of Tamil Language and Literature; Beginning to 1000 AD. Madras, India: New Century Book House. Pg. 22. "We may be reasonably certain that chronological conclusion reached above is historically sound"
- Gananath Obeyesekere in his The Cult of the Goddess Pattini (1984)
