Alli Raani

Alli Raani
Alli Arasani
ReignSangam Period, Kudiramalai
CoronationMadurai
PredecessorNeenmugan
DynastyPandyan Dynasty

Alli Rani (Tamil: அல்லிராணி, lit. 'Queen Alli'), also known as Alli arasi , is a legendary Tamil queen of the Sangam period, who is thought to have ruled the whole western and northern coast of Sri Lanka from her capital Kudiramalai.[1][2] According to folklore, her fort, Allirani fort, is located in Mannar, Sri Lanka.[3] She is sometimes seen as an incarnation or multiform of Meenakshi and Kannagi.[4] Legends attribute her as an "Amazon" ruler, who had an administrative and an army of only women, with male being their subordinates and servants.[5]

There are references to her in several texts such as Alli katai, Alli Arasani Maalai, Pavazhakodi Maalai and Pulavendran Kalava Maalai.[6] She is also depicted in a popular dramatic compilation in Tamil language, entitled as Alli Arasani Nadakam.[7]

  1. ^ Kforkfkrkfk4kf (1956). Ceylon Labour Gazette. Department of Labour. p. 102.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ Skeen, William (1870). Adam's Peak: Legendary, Traditional, and Historic Notices of the Samanala and Srî-páda, with a Descriptive Account of the Pilgrim's Route from Colombo, to the Sacred Foot-print. W.L.H. Skeen & Company. p. 28. ISBN 9780598526236.
  3. ^ Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka. Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka. 2004. p. 87.
  4. ^ Shulman, David Dean (2014-07-14). Tamil Temple Myths: Sacrifice and Divine Marriage in the South Indian Saiva Tradition. Princeton University Press. pp. 124–126, 210, 211. ISBN 9781400856923.
  5. ^ Ramaswamy, Vijaya (2017-08-25). Historical Dictionary of the Tamils. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 50. ISBN 9781538106860.
  6. ^ Singh, Surinder; Gaur, I. D. (2008). Popular Literature and Pre-modern Societies in South Asia. Pearson Education India. pp. 210, 211, 213. ISBN 9788131713587.
  7. ^ Roberts, Joseph (1835). Oriental illustrations of the sacred Scriptures, collected from the customs, manners [&c.] of the Hindoos. London, United Kingdom. pp. 81.