> Dr.JB aiya started some very interesting threads in agathiyar on > this - I think he did'nt conclude them nor wrote all he knew. There > he wrote about the 100+ people who participate with a king (pandiya) in a "virundhu" and who declare that they will live and die with the king. For this, they enjoyed certain privilages.
Dig what Marco Polo had to say about this:
"...they ride with him, and always keep near him, and have great authority in the kingdom; they are called the King's Trusty Leiges. And you must know that when the King dies, and they put him on the fire to burn him, these Leiges cast themselves to be burnt along with him..."
K.A.N says these are the velaikkaarar - (also known as Thennavan - aabathudavigal in Pandyan Inscriptions).
Hafta say, Marco Polo makes for delightful reading:-)