ஈழம்/Eelam/Eezham/Izham

 ஈழம்/Eelam/Eezham/Izham: ancient name of the island now known as Sri Lanka. Sound 'zh'/ழ is unique to Tamil (& Malayalam) & for Sinhalese to now claim it's a word that's their origin, their theory hence debunked.

Island IS a Tamil nation. History shows that it was after King Vijayan's arrival, we are introduced to Sinhalese. Till then, it was ruled by Tamil kings: Ravana, Kuweni. Sangili Pandian, Ellalan, & the list continues. These are not made-up facts like the ones you see in Mahavamsa but proven facts from scriptures and stone inscriptions. Till this migration took place, this island was ruled by all Tamil kings.

The earliest use of the word 'Eezham' was found in a Tamil-Brahmi inscription as well as in the Sangam literature.

Tirupparankunram inscription (found in Madurai  & dates to 1st century BCE) read as such:

"erukatur eelakutumpikan polalaiyan "Polalaiyan, (resident of) Erukatur, the husbandman (householder) from Eelam"

Transl.: refers to a person as a householder from Eelam 

In Pattinappalai [from Sangam literature], we see mentions 'Eelattu-unavu', which translates into 'food from Eelam'. 

Eelattu Poothanthevanar, a prominent Sangam poet: his name means the following: 

Eelam - his land of origin

Poothan-thevan - his name

(Akanaṉūṟu: 88, 231, 307; Kuṟuntokai: 189, 360, 343; Naṟṟiṇai: 88, 366)

Inscription [Pictures below] from Abhayagiri Vihara in Anuradhapura in Tamil & Ashoka Brahmi indicates that "it's a Tamil home built by Monk Eela Bharatha"

This was misread (on purpose?) initially & later corrected by academic and historian, Dr. Velupillai. 

This further proves Eezham referred to the entire island & also teaches us the importance of Tamils working towards historical academic research. 

From Chola time to 11th-century inscriptions found in Thirukoneshwaram, we continue to see the usage of the word 'Eezham' to denote the entire island.

Linguistic evidence proves that Sangam predates Sinhala.  

Eezham translates into 'homeland'.

This island of Eezham is the homeland of Tamils. 

From migration to invasion to forced colonization,  Tamil homeland shrank:  pic 1: map by British to now...forced colonization and land grabbing in full swing.  Before we know it, Eezham to Tamil Eelam to fully Sinhala land is what we will have.

Brief history of Eezham

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