Paranar: the Great Dalit Poet of the Sangha Period.

Paranar the Great Dalit Poet, who lived in Sangha Period, and was the poet laureate of the King Velkezhu Kuttuvan.who the son of the King Neduncheralathan, and the name of their clan was 'Kuttuvan'. King Nannan, who ruled Ezhimala, his son Uthiyan, Perumpekan, who ruled Nallor,and Eyinan who was a lord among Shepherd's clan, all were contemporary of Poet Paranar, the historical period of South India is known as Sangha Period, it has a grateful literary works called 'Sangha Sahithyasa'. These literature gives many valuable accounts of poets like Paranar among others.

One of the great work of Sangha Shithya, called 'Purananooru', in which Avvayar, another  singer poet and sister of the Great Thiruvalluvar, the creator of "Thirukkural", mentioned about Paranar. Udiyancheral, the first ruler of Sangha Period, his wife Nellini, was the daughter of Veliyan, one of the Shepherd's clan. North Malabar and Kasaragod district of Kerala were the part of their Kingdom. Nellini's brother Eyinan, also called 'Athikan' was famous for his kindness to others. Paranar mentioned Eyinan in many of his singsongs.  "One who praise Eyilan in his courtyard, who he would prized with elephants", was sung by Paranar. At that period there was a cruel fighter in Ezhimala kingdom, called Nannan. He fought with Uthiyancheral, the Chera King and occupied some part of the Chera kingdom. Eyinan lead army against Nannan, to help his sister and brother-in-law, but died in war. The tragic deth of Eyinar is also mentions in Paranar's singsongs. Nannan was a cruel ruler at their period. His penalties were more cruel  even small crimes too. He defeated many of neighbouring kings, at last killed by Narmudicheral, the son of Nedumcheralathan, in a port city of Vakaperumthurai.

Some of songs shows that Paranar was a depender in the court of the king Nallor Pekan, in a short period. Nalloor, the place was included in Kerala, but none could't know about where the  place was situated. Pranar remembering Peka as the 'goodness of rain' in Purananooru. Even he could't show kindness to his subjects, no unawareness in warfare. Paranar wrote many of songs to praise to Pekan.

Once king Nedumcheralathan fought with Peruviralkkilli, both were died in that war. At the battle field there was Paranar too. The son of Nedumcheralathan was Chemkuttuvan. Once Chemkuttuvan threw the spear and stopped the sea. After that he known as "Chemkuttuvan".(One who won the sea in battle) He was a skilful warrior, so historians realized this skill and it is caused to break the legendary story made around him.  But in all the song, Paranar mentioned Chemkuttuvan only as "Kuttuvan". Scholars said that another "Chenkuttuvan" in Chilappathikaram, written many centuries later to Paranar, but he is different from this "Kuttuvan". Paranar gives a great  atmospheric  account on that period, and beauties among Sangha's. The whole songs sung by Paranar is praising of Kings and geographical status, because, when  threre were no slavery and difficulties of Aryans invasion in their Sangha Period.

Poet Paranar came from the clan of 'Panar' , those who were the Singers and Poets in the Sangha Period. Now the clan Panar, became Dalits, one of the untouchable community in Kerala.The Basic Data Collection Report of Kerala State Government 2013 says that "The traditional occupation of Panan community differs from region to region. In Travancore they are tailors and associated with local 'Bhagavathy' temples. In Malabar area they are umbrella makers with palm leaves, messengers and sorcerers. In Plakkad they act as barbers of Ezhava community.The population is 38511 including 18733 males and 19778 females, registering sex ratio as 1000:1056. About 1.62 percent of the Scheduled Caste are Panan community.

*The image in the post is related to Sangha Period, not to Paranar, taken from internet.