Vaiyāvik Kōpperum Pēkan

Vaiyāvik Kōpperum Pēgan was a Tamil Vēlir king and one of the kadai ezhu vallal of arts and literature during the Sangam era. He was the lord of the Āviyar clan of Vēls, a contemporary of poet Paranar, and was known for his lavish gifts and kindness. The Āviyar line of Vēls ruled over the area around Palani hills and bore the title Vēl Āvi.

An act of kindness

According to tradition, once when Pēkan was going around his country, he sees a peacock shivering in the rain and cloaks it with his gold laced silk robe; (Purananuru, song 145 of Paranar):

Squanderer of wealth but a warrior nevertheless

Pēkan was a patron of not only bards but was known to bestow lavish gifts on just about anyone who visited his court. This incited his court poet Paranar who mocks that his patron was ignorant to the point of being foolish when it came to giving away gifts but at the same time was not so ignorant in battle; (Purananuru-song 142):

Purananuru, an excerpt of song (147) by PerunkunrurKilār:

Even though tradition paints a rosy picture that Pēkan finally came to his senses, in reality there is no evidence that the king corrected his erring ways and returned to his virtuous queen.