Paranar

Paranar (Tamil: பரணர்) (c. 1st century CE) was a poet of the Sangam period, to whom 84 verses of the Sangam literature have been attributed, besides verse 6 of the Tiruvalluva Maalai.

Biography

Paranar belonged to the Paanar caste. He was the friend of Kapilar and Nakkirar I. He has sung various kings, namely, Kadal Pirakkottiya Senguttuvan, Cholan Uruvapatrer Ilanchet Senni, Cheraman Kadalottiya Velkelu Kuttuvan, Kudakko Neduncheralaadhan, and Cholan Verpatradakkai Perunarkilli.

Contribution to the Sangam literature

Paranar has written about 85 verses, including 17 in Kurunthogai, 12 in Natrinai, 32 in Agananuru, 13 in Purananuru, 10 in Pathitrupathu, and 1 in Tiruvalluva Maalai.

By praising the Chera king Senguttuvan, Paranar received Udambarkaattu Vaari and his son prince Kuttuvan Cheral as 'present'.

Views on Valluvar and the Kural

Paranar opines about Valluvar and the Kural text thus:

Māl (Vishnu) in his Cural (or dwarfish incarnation) measured the whole earth with his two expanded feet; but Valluvar has measured the thoughts of all mankind with his (stanza of) two short feet. [Emphasis in original]

See also

• Sangam literature
• List of Sangam poets
• Tiruvalluva Maalai

References

• Kowmareeshwari, S., ed. (August 2012). Kurunthogai, Paripaadal, Kalitthogai. Sanga Ilakkiyam (in தமிழ்). Vol. 2 (1 ed.). Chennai: Saradha Pathippagam. p. 442.
• Kowmareeshwari, S., ed. (August 2012). Agananuru, Purananuru. Sanga Ilakkiyam (in தமிழ்). Vol. 3 (1 ed.). Chennai: Saradha Pathippagam. p. 243.
• Vedanayagam, Rama (2017). Tiruvalluva Maalai: Moolamum Eliya Urai Vilakkamum (in தமிழ்) (1 ed.). Chennai: Manimekalai Prasuram. p. 17.
• Edward Jewitt Robinson (2001). Tamil Wisdom: Traditions Concerning Hindu Sages and Selections from Their Writings. New Delhi: Asian Educational Services.