Family Information
Villavarayar Sinnathamby Pulavar
(1716-1760)
Villavarayar Sinnathamby Pulavar was a poet of great distinction, who lived in Nallur, Jaffna. His father Mudaliyar Villavarayar of Nallur was a highly educated person who was held in great respect by the people and the Government. Mudaliyar Villavarayar was a descendant of King Cinkai Arya Cakravarti Pararacacekaran, from the Royal Family of Jaffna.
He was one of those appointed by the Dutch Governor to compile and codify the Laws and Customs of the Tamils of Jaffna. This eventually became a proper Legal Act entitled the "Thesavalamai" in 1707. It is the Law of the Land even today and is applicable to the Tamils of Jaffna only. It has been said that Kulankai Thambiran, the reputed tutor, spent much of his time with the Mudaliyar.
Young Sinnathamby being the son of the Mudaliyar Villavarayar therefore grew up under the guidance and tutelage of Kulankai who was a strict disciplinarian. Sinnathamby Pulavar who started composing verses even when he was seven years old, unfortunately, he started playing truant and fell from grace. One day he took his father by surprise, by completing some verses, which his father had left incomplete. Thereafter he was reconciled with his father and turned a new life in his career. He commenced his life-task of composing celebrated poetical works on the traditional lore of the land.
Among his works are:
- “Paralai Pallu” composed in the form of narration among harvesting folks.
- “Kalvalai Anthathi” or the story of the Vinayagar Temple at Kalvalai in Sandilippay. It is popular with the devotees of the temple.
- “Marasai Anthathi” composed at the age of fifty, during a pilgrimage to Chidambaram and Vetharniam.
- “Karavai Velan Kovai” another temple history.