Pettakam| Treasure box

ஆர மிவையிவை பொற்கலம் ஆனை யிவையிவை ஒட்டகம்
ஆட லயமிவை மற்றிவை ஆதி முடியொடு பெட்டகம்
ஈர முடையன நித்திலம் ஏறு நவமணி கட்டிய
ஏக வடமிவை மற்றிவை யாதும் விலையில் பதக்கமே. 334

Kalingattupparani 336

Pettakam is mostly means treasure box. It is found in many sizes. Each type of Pettakam is made for different uses. It is a safe with lock protection feature used by ancient Tamil people to store their valuables. Its use was more common in the homes of those who had the facility to store goods safely. People locks important items in it. The petttakam was in use in many places in Jaffna. Some of these treasure boxes was also used to store grains such as paddy. They found in the temples is with beautiful carvings.

The richest and rich peoples’ houses adorned with beautiful pettakams. They are kept in the hall, shrine rooms and varandahs of homes. In the Shrine rooms they keep pettahams with secret shelves to keep jewels and lingams, valampuri conch, elephant ivories, copper, brass and silver vessels used for pooja.

In the libraries, temples and some houses people keep (sacred Palmyrah leaves) olai suvadical ,rare books and other holy scripts.

Many Jaffna Tamils have acres of paddy lands. Therefore, people have nellu pettaham to keep paddy grains. That paddy is used to preserve and protect it from insects and rats.

Bavvatharani R

Nallur

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