Kopperuncholan

Kopperuncholan (கோப்பெருஞ்சோழன்) was a Tamil king of the Early Cholas mentioned in Sangam Literature. We have no definite details about this Chola or his reign. The only information we have is from the fragmentary poems of Sangam in the Purananuru.

Friendship with Poets
Kopperuncholan is the subject of a number of poems in Purananuru. Himself a poet, he is credited with a few poems in the Kuruntokai collection (Kuruntokai – 20, 53, 129, 147) and Purananuru (song 215). He was an intimate friend of many poets, the most notable among them being, Picirāntaiyār, Pullārrūr Eyiŗŗiyaņār and Pottiyār. Picirāntaiyār was a native of the Pandya country while the latter two were natives of Chola country. Pullārrūr Eyiŗŗiyaņār is renowned for his advice to the Chola king. Kopperuncholan’s friendship with these two poets became a classic example in later literature like that between Damon and Pythias.

Andayar’s poems reflect the happy and joyful nature of the poet. Asked once why though old, his hair had not turned gray, he gave this answer:
 * My years are many, yet my locks not grey:
 * You ask the reason why, 'tis simply this
 * I have a worthy wife, and children too;
 * My servants move obedient to my will;
 * My king does me no evil, aye protects;
 * To crown the whole, around me dwell good men
 * And true, of chastened souls with knowledge filled.
 * (Purananuru –191)

Kopperuncholan’s Suicide
There are a number of poems in Purananuru in sequence describing the sad end of this king.

Kopperuncholan and his two sons had a serious quarrel. His two sons vie the throne and raise an army against their father. As Kopperuncholan prepares for war, Pullārrūr Eyiŗŗiyaņār, a poet and a friend reasons with him that if he slays his own sons and wins the war then the country would be left without an heir, and on the other hand if he loses then they would become victors. So he advises the king to take his own life thereby leaving an heir to his kingdom and at the same time denying them all glory. The king would commit suicide by the rite of vadakiruttal, a Tamil act of committing suicide, where the victim sits facing north and starves himself to death. (Excerpt from Purananuru, song 213):

In the thick of the battle you show your strength, your white umbrella shines, king of victories. In this vast world, encircled by its roaring waters, two men have risen against you. They are not your old enemies with their established power..If they lose to whom will you leave your wealth? And if you lose, your enemies will be happy..Oh lord of furious battle, put down your weapons and quickly rising, show your courage. The shadow of your feet that helps the suffering must not lose its fame. You must do what is right. You must become a guest welcomed happily by the gods in that world so hard for men to attain

Kopperuncholan takes the advice of the poet and takes his own life by vadakirruttal along with those closest to him. But before he sits facing north with the sword by his side he informs his men of his desire to see his friend Picirāntaiyār, a poet in the neighboring Pandya kingdom. His men send word but then tell him that Picirāntaiyār may not come. To this the king replies, (excerpt from Purananuru, song 215):

..in the southern land of the Pandyan king, where they say Picirōn lives. I cannot die without him. He may have stayed away in good times but he will not fail me now.

Picirāntaiyār arrives and joins his friend in his desire to quit this world (Purananuru, the song (218) of Kannakanār as he saw Picirāntaiyār taking his seat and facing north). Another poet, Karuvūrp Peruñcatukkattup Pūtanātanār is distressed that the king forgot to invite him and sings thus: (Purananuru 219):

On an island in a river, in spotted shade, you sit and your body dries up. Are you angry with me, warrior, who has asked so many to join you here?

After the king's death, Pottiyār another poet, unable to bear the loss of his patron, sits facing north amidst the heroes' stones and commits suicide by vadakirruttal. He reasons that the spirit of the dead king has given him permission to do so: (Purananuru - song 223);

You gave shade to many, the world praised you. And yet you could not finish your reign but had to reduce yourself to this small space, where you have become an undecaying stone. And the other stones surely will be kind and give me space, for I come to them with an old love that holds me to them like life to the body.