Lesson 6

D02136 Nochi and Uzhinjai

    This lesson outlines the characteristic features
of 2 ‘tinais’- viz. ‘nochi’ and ‘ uzhinjai’.In ancient days
kings built huge fortresses to guard themselves
against enemy invasion. Besieging a fortress and
protecting a fortress that was under attack were a
regular part of war. ‘Nochi ozhukkam’ concerns the
act of protecting a fortress under siege while
‘uzhinjai ozhukkam’ deals with the dynamics     of
attacking a heavily guarded fortress. There are 8
‘turais’ in ‘nochi ozhukkam’. ‘Uzhinjai Ozhukkam’
consists of 29 ‘turais’.‘Nochi tinai’ describes in detail
the efforts of the ‘maravars’ or (soldiers) inside a
fortress to resist enemy invasion. ‘Uzhinjai tinai’
outlines the courage and skill of the soldiers who
lay siege to a fortress.The name ‘nochi’ and ‘uzhinjai’
denote the flowers worn by the soldiers. ‘Nochi tinai’
and ‘uzhinjai tinai’are direct parallels of ‘marutha tinai’
in ‘agam’ poetry. Tholkappiar considered ‘nochi tinai’
and ‘uzhinjai tinai’ to be two sides of the same coin.
Hence, he did not divide them into 2 separate ‘tinais’.
Iyanaarithanaar, however classifies them as 2 distinct
‘ tinais’.

    ‘ Maranudaipaasi’,‘Oorcheru’,‘Seruvidai Veezhthal’,
‘Kuthirai Maram’, ‘Eyir Por’, ‘Eilthanai Azhithal’,
Azhipadai Thaangal’ and ‘Magal Maruthu Mozhithal’
are the 8 ‘turais’ in ‘nochi ozhukkam’.

    ‘ Uzhinjai ’, ‘ Kudainat Kol ’,     ‘ Vaalnat Kol’,
‘Murasuvuzhinjai’, ‘Kottravuzhinjai’, ‘ Arasuvuzhuinjai’,
‘Kanthazhi’, ‘Muttruzhinjai’, ‘Kaanthal’, ‘Puratirai’,
‘Aareyil Uzhinjai ’, ‘ Tholuzhinjai ’, ‘ Kuttruzhinjai ’,
‘Purathuzhinjai ’, ‘ Paasi Nilai ’, ‘Eni Nilai’, ‘Eyir
Paasi’,‘Muduvuzhinjai’,‘Agathuzhinjai’, ‘Muttru Muthirvu’,
‘Yaanai Kaikol’, ‘Vettru Padai Varavu’, ‘Uzhuthu
Vitthiduthal’, ‘Vaal Mannunilai’, Mannumangalam’,
‘Magatpaal Igal’, ‘Thirai Kondu Peyarthal’, ‘Adipada
Iruthal’ and ‘Thogai Nilai’ are the 29‘turais’ in ‘uzhinjai
ozhukkam’.