A lot of dust has been raised, not by the bulls participating in Jallikattu, but by people who speak for and against this ancient sport. Those who speak in favour of the sport are more vociferous than those who support a ban. Rightly or wrongly, the many people in Tamil Nadu feel that their tradition, their culture are being destroyed.

This sport, of taming wild bulls, has been there for centuries in some parts of South India, notably Madurai, Sivaganga, Dindigul and Pudukottai districts of Tamil Nadu. What’s more, it may have been prevalent in ancient days in North India too. A seal belonging to the Indus Valley civilisation period, preserved in the National Museum in Delhi, shows a bull tossing a man, who was possibly trying to tame it. That is some evidence that some form of what is now called Jallikattu existed even 3,000 years ago.

Additional evidence is available in the Sangam literature of Tamil Nadu where there are details of what was then known as Eru Thazhuvuthal, hugging the bulls. From the ancient poetic literature of the Sangam period, which dates back to many centuries before Christ, there are several references to bull-taming as a sport used to measure men's valour. The era when these poems were composed is known the Sangam period. The poems from this period number about 2,381 and are said to be composed by about 473 poets.

It is obvious from the poems that money (salli) in small bags was tied (kattu) to the horn of a bull (Eru), and brave youth were required to hug (Thazhuvudhal) and hold on to the hump of the bull and untie the bag and take the money away as a prize. The sport which involved embracing the bull (Eru Thazhuvudhal ) was then known as Sallikattu. Over the years, it has come to be known as Jallikattu.

Many of the 2,381 poems of the Sangam period describe the strength, breed and colour of the bulls that took part in the sport. They also provide a graphic description of the attitude of parents and how the girls teased one another. They show that the girls desired that the youth they were in love with would emerge victorious in embracing the bulls.

Kuravaikooththu, a collection of folk songs sung by teenage girls, also has references to embracing the bull. Some songs urge the boyfriends to take part in embracing the bulls. Some others describe how the girls celebrated the victory of their lovers. Others depict how boys who succeeded in the sport were most sought-after by girls. Valour was much-admired.

The 102nd verse from Mullaikali – Ezhunthana thugal Ettranar maarbu Kavizhthana maruppu Kalanginar palar – describes a scene at a bull-taming contest, dust rising in the air, able physiques (of tamers), enraged bulls trying to conquer as well as excited and agitated spectators.

Kollerru Koduanju Vaanai marumayum

pullaalay Aayamagal

The Kalithogai verse mentions that a girl would not marry a youth, even in his next birth, if he hesitated to hug a bull.

In Silapathikaram, the Aayichiyar kuravai also gives a vivid description of the sport.

Kaari kadhanajaan paaidhaanai

Kaamuru miveri malar kodhai yaal

netri segilai adaithar kuriya pottrodi maadhraalthol.