Kunjali Marakkar – 400 Years, 2000 - First Day Cover

“Marakkār” is a title given by the then Hindu King Zamorin (Sāmūtiri in Malayalam language) of Calicut (Kozhikode in Kerala) to his naval chief Kuñhāli. There were four with the same name who played a part in the Zamorin's naval wars with the Portugese from 1502 to 1600 (Courtesy: Wiki).

 

The Sanskrit slogan beneath the logo on the Kuñhāli Marakkār FDC reads: "सत्यं वद, धर्मं चर" (satyaṃ vada, dharmaṃ cara) which is a famous dictum culled out from the Vedic convocation address delivered by the Ācārya (teacher) of the Taittirīya Upaniṣad, Śikṣāvallī (1.11). The meaning conveyed in this exhoration -- "Speak the truth. Practice Dharma."