Christian Living

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This incident is found in the Tamil literature, Purananooru. This explains the futility of battles and wars.

Avvaiyar was a Tamil poetess. She volunteered to maintain peace among the petty kingdoms of Tamil Nadu. Once, Thondaiman and Adhiyaman, chieftains of two neighboring kingdoms were on the verge of war for the possession of a certain embankment near the River Kaveri which was disputed by them.

They prepared huge armies and were ready to begin the battle. Avvaiyar seeing the kings and their armies ready to fight with their shining weapons requested them to tell her the cause of their battle.

Having heard the complaints from both sides, Avvaiyar said, “I understand that the embankment has some value for some of your people. But what is the ultimate benefit of your battle?”
“Though it has no value on its own, our prestige has value,” was their reply.

Avvaiyar continued, “Now when you go for a battle what will be result? Is it not sure that most of your men will be killed and also that you yourselves, chieftains, are liable to lose your lives?”
And both of them said: “It is sure that many will be slain and our own lives will be at great risk.”

“So do you think that the blood of men, however,” said Avvaiyar, “has less value than a mound of earth?” “No,” both of the kings agreed, “The lives of men, and above all the lives of kings, are surely priceless.”

Then Avvaiyar concluded: “So you are ready to lose your lives for no valid reasons. Not only your lives, but lives of innocent people?”

Silence for sometime made all of them think.

The anger for mere prestige of the two kings abated, and they came to a peaceable settlement.

When you are angry, just hold for a moment. The result will be different!

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