Which one of the following explains the practice of 'Vattakirutal' as mentioned in Sangam poems?
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Answer: D. Vadakkiruttal (Vattakirutal) in Sangam poems is the practice of a defeated or dishonoured king sitting facing north and fasting until death. The Chola king Kopperuncholan is a famous example.
Watch for: The unfamiliar Tamil word tempts guesses; link it to 'facing north and fasting to death'.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Wrong because women bodyguards are a different practice, not vadakkiruttal.
- B. Wrong because that describes learned assemblies, not this ritual.
- C. Wrong because girls guarding millet fields is a separate Sangam theme.
Source to check: Purananuru (Sangam anthology) poems on Kopperuncholan; Tamil Virtual Academy (tamilvu.org) Sangam literature resources
Answer from the official UPSC key. Written and fact-checked by AI against the official key. Spotted a mistake? Report it.