Page:Gleaning Of Tamil Literature.pdf/70

 lucidly the meaning of the term 'Madu' which designates wealth. Gold and diamonds which are characterised as ordinary wealth may fade away but the value of the 'Madu' will not be such. Among the Aryans there prevailed the custom of the sacrifice of a cow during the celebration of Yagas and this convention lessen the importance of the value of the cattle as wealth to the Aryans. But the Tamilians have nothing but aversion to such a custom and a great Tamil literary poet by name Valluvar in his 'Kural' has condemned the custom of sacrificing animals during Yagas.

To the Tamilians the main source of income was agriculture. Since the development of agri- culture is closely connected with the proper up-keep of the cattlem the Tamilians protected the cattle. In the Saivite literary works like 'Theva- ram' and 'Thiruvasagam,' the word 'Madu' is familiarly and frequently used to designate the 'cattle' as wealth. One of the great Saiva Saints by name Appar has rightly asserted that people should not be actuated by any desire to possess worldly things. Materialistic outlook on life should be completely eradicated. This saint uses the word 'Madu' to indicate worldly riches. He says

"Mattal Thedi Mayakinil Veezhathae2