Kabilar Kundru, Thirukkoilur, Villupuram
Kabilar Kundru or Kabilar rock is a hill
rock in the middle of the Ponnaiyar
River near Thirukkoilur in Villupuram district, Tamil
Nadu, India. It is known for Tamil poet Kabilar did Vadakirrutal (fast unto death) here, after his friend Vel
Pari killed in a battle. It is one of the protected monuments in Tamil
Nadu by the Archaeological Survey of India.
East of the Thirukkoilur has the Sivan Temple situated
on the banks of River Pennar. Near to the temple on the banks of the river,
there exists Kabilar (Saint) Kundru (tiny hill).
Thirukkoilur is one of the "Ashta Veeratanams"
[Ashta - eight Veeratanam - Place of Bravery].
Lord Shiva took various forms (incarnations) to destroy
evil and establish justice, of which eight Avatars (forms) are very famous and Thirukkoilur
is one of them.
Life History of Kabilar
Kabilar was a Tamil Sangam poet. He was a contemporary
of Karikala Chola, Irungovel and Vel Pari. He was the close friend and
confidant of Vel Pari, one of the Velir kings. He was born in Thiruvadhavur in
the Pandyan Kingdom. Initially a poet at the Pandyan court, he would leave at
an early age and show his talent at various places before finally ending up at
the court of Vel Pari.
Kabilar would hear about the generosity and virtue of Vel
Pari, a powerful Velir King who ruled over Parambu nadu, which is heavily
fortified kingdom that comprised about 300 villages, and pay him a visit. They
would go on to become the thickest of friends. He would be his confidant and
stay with Vel Pari until the latter's last breath.
During this period the three crowned Tamil kings were in
the process of expanding their empires and turned the independent Velir chiefs
into sub-ordinates or eliminated them. When the three crowned Kings besiege the
kingdom of Parambu, Vel Pari a warrior like no other will refuse to bow and
face them head on.
Kabilar would sing some of the most notable poems in
praise of his patron during this time. In the end, Vel Pari would finally be
killed by treachery after defying them for years.
Kabilar, a true friend, would then take the two daughters
(Angavai & Sangavai) of Vel Pari and go in search of appropriate grooms. He
would knock on the doors of the other Velir kings and unsuccessfully plead with
each before finally giving up. He would be let down each time as the other
Velirs would fear retribution from the 3 crowned kings. The most notable of
these encounters is when he sings to Irungovel and convince him to make his
sons to marry Vel Paari daughters.
The death of his friend will affect him so greatly that
he would perform Vadakirrutal, one of the Tamil acts of committing suicide. He
would sit facing north and starve himself to death. The place where Kabilar
committed suicide by starving is now called as Kabilar Kundru.
It is one of the protected monuments in Tamil Nadu by
the Archeological Survey of India.