DOCSLIB.ORG

A Breif Survey on Pali and Tamil.Pdf

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
A Breif Survey on Pali and Tamil.Pdf Course:B.A.History Semester: B.A.2nd Semester Paper Code:203 Topic: A brief Survey Pali ,Prakrit and Tamil languages. Prepared By: Dr Sangeeta Saxena, Assistant Professor Department: History,Patna WomensCollege Patna,Patna E.Mail: [email protected] Contents: 1.Prakrit 2. Pali 3. Tamil Prakrit:The term Prakrit is a derivative from Prakrut (original, Natural).Prakrit language was colloquial language of the Indian sub-continent, out of many such languages such as Magadhi,Gandhari,Ardhmagadhietc. These are much easier and simpler than Sanskrit and were in practice in India between 600BCE-1000CE among the lower castes before the inception of Sanskrit. Most of the Jain Texts in general were written in Prakrit.The word Jain is derived from root ji (to conquer) and signifies the religion of those who have conquered the lust for life. Jain canonical literature by Jain Saints, and a number of works of lexicography and Grammar by Hemchandra,is well known. However, Prakrit iswell known forGathasaptshati( 700) verses),by Hala.(300AD),best example of erotic literature. It is a compilation of 700 verses along with his own contribution of 44 poems . It is interesting to note that quite a few poetess like Pahai, Mahavi, Reva, Roha and Sasippahaare included in the Anthology.The vast Katha literature in Prakrit, written with conspicuous religion overtone, even by Jain saints, is full of erotic elements. The author of the Vasudevahindi ascribes this changed approach of the jain authors to the fact that it is easy to teach religion cloakedby erotic episodes, like sugar coated medicines. The Characteristics of Prakrit: Poetry is its Subtelty;the inner meaning is its soul. Jain literature is available in Sanskrit also. The sacred texts ( Siddhanta or Agama),of the two main sects of the Jains employed three type of Prakrit. The oldest Sutras of the SvetambaraSectas are written in Ardh-Magadhi The sacred Books of Digambara Sects are written in Savraseni. An important source of knowledge of Prakrit is the Sanskrit Drama. Kalidas ,is included among many dramatists who order to obtain a realistic approach , had the common people in his Drama speaks in Prakrit. N.Singhania wrote: An important stage in the development of Prakrit was Paisachi and the last stage of the development of prakrit laid to the establishment of Apbhramsha. So the Prakrit always remained close to common man because of its simplicity and because a famous colloquial language for everyone. Pali: Pali and prakrit both were the spoken languages of Indian people after the Vedic Period. Pali isArchaic Prakrit. In fact,Pali is a combination of various dialects. The term Pali denotes a set of sacred texts of the Buddhists. LORD Buddha (500BC) used Pali to give his sermons.The The very foundation of Buddhism contained Buddhist Literature:All the Buddhist canonical literature in pali includes Tripitika (Three Basket). First Basket: Vinaya pitika- It contains the monastic rules of the order of Buddhist monks. Second Basket:Sutta Pitika:It is the collection of speeches and dialogues of Buddha. Third Pitika: AbhidhammaPitika: It elucidates the various topics dealing with ethics, psychology and theory of knowledge. Jataka Katha: They are non-canonical Buddhist literature where the stories related to the former births of the Buddha ( Bodhisatvas or would be Buddha) are narrated. These stories narrates Buddhist religious doctrine and are available in Sanskrit and Pali. As the Jataka tales grew in bulk, they assimilated popular tales, ancient mythology, stories from older religious tradition,etc. Jatakas are ,in fact, based on the common heritage of the Indian masses. Buddhavachan: The 2500 year old Theraveda traditionis carefully presented and preserved in Pali, popularly known as Buddhavachan. The very foundation of Buddhism is contained in these texts. Pali is very refined and pure language that was spoken during the early years of 600- 200BCE. This was the time period of Indo-Aryan Era in the continent. It was widely spoken by the people of India, but in neighboring countries as well. Though it has lost it value with the passage of Time, and not spoken in the contemporary world, it has left behind a rich heritage of literature in India, Thailand, and Sri Lanka, and other neighboring countries. Dravidian Languages: The indian people speak language belonging to major four distinct speech families: The Austric,,Dravidian, Sino-Tebetan and Indo European.Their influence was visible in the grammer of Sanskrit and Prakrit. It also forms the possibility of some link with the Harappan civilization. A form of Dravidian Language might have been in practice before the arrival of the Aryans. These Dravidian Languages are practiced in south India, also in eastern and central part of India along with Afghanistan,Nepal, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Malyasia and Singapore. Four Dravidian Languages: 1.Tamil: Tamilnadu, Andaman and Nicobar, Pondicherry, Karnataka,Kerala and few foreign nations. 2.Kannada: Karnataka, Kerala,Maharashtra,Andhra Pradesh, Telengana. 3.Malyalam: In Kerala, parts of Pondicherry,Karnataka, Lakshwadeep. 4.Telugu:Andhra Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Tamilnadu, Maharashtra,M.P.. Odissa, Karnataka. Oldest Tamil Literature:(300BC-700AD) The earliest known Classical Tamil Literature is known as Sangam literature, dated back to 500BC. Sangam means Fraternity, indicating mainly two schools of poets: 1.Aham: They were mainly subjective love poems, 2.Puram:They were objective, public and heroic poetry. The Sangam Classic consists of 18 works ( eight anthologies and 10 long poems), written by 473 poets among whom 30 were women, famous poetess Avvaiyar,being one of them. In 102 poems, the poets are unknown. Tamil Grammar Tolakappiyamwhich indicates five landscapes or types of love, and outlines their symbolism. Another famous work was Thirukkural by Thiruvalluvar, it explained secular moral and practical attitude towards life. Two epics-i-Silappadhikaram(the story of Anklet),by Ilango-Adigal and ii-Manimekhalai ( the story ofManimekalai) by Chattanar. One striking feature of Tamil literature was the promotion of Vaishnavism-Vaishnav Bhakti poetry in Tamil-speaking South India 12 Alvars saint poets , and Shaivism by Nayanars ,tamil saint poets. Medieval Tamil Literature (700-1200AD):In 7th century Shaiv Tamil writer Manikkarvachakar wrote poetry Tiruvachkari,it became the language of common people. Also Ettutokai (Eight Anthologies) and Pattupattu. Modern Literature 1600-present): Tirumuraigal by Panniru (a collection of 12 volumes of songs in praise of Shiva in Tamil). Seerapuranam by Umarupulavar, a Tamil Muslim Poet. All these are the clear indication of development of Tamil language in South India. The greatest contribution in this field was Kamba Ramayana, in Tamil, an adaptation from Valmiki's Ramayana, which is the most famous epic of Tamil Literature Tamil vs Sanskrit: 1. Sanskrit forms the mother of Tamil culture, if not language. 2. Tamil may be older than Sanskrit. 3. Agastya Rishi who migrated from North to South, is regarded as the Father of Tamil language. 4. There is no version of Tamil which is totally disassociated with Sanskrit. 5. Aryan invaded India, but Dravidian were originally Indians. 6. Aryans used Sanskrit while Dravidian speak Tamil. Thus, no comparison can be made between the two classic languages, just as Sanskrit captured North Indian literature, Tamil language dominated South Indian literature. Questions frequently asked: 1. Give a brief note on Pali. 2. Throw light on the development of Tamil. 3. Give a brief sketch of Pali and Tamil. 4. Write a short note on the contribution of Pali in enriching Buddhist texts. 5. Give a brief survey of Pakki, Prakrit and Tamil. All these works in :.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • “Lost in Translation”: a Study of the History of Sri Lankan Literature
    Karunakaran / Lost in Translation “Lost in Translation”: A Study of the History of Sri Lankan Literature Shamila Karunakaran Abstract This paper provides an overview of the history of Sri Lankan literature from the ancient texts of the precolonial era to the English translations of postcolonial literature in the modern era. Sri Lanka’s book history is a cultural record of texts that contains “cultural heritage and incorporates everything that has survived” (Chodorow, 2006); however, Tamil language works are written with specifc words, ideas, and concepts that are unique to Sri Lankan culture and are “lost in translation” when conveyed in English. Keywords book history, translation iJournal - Journal Vol. 4 No. 1, Fall 2018 22 Karunakaran / Lost in Translation INTRODUCTION The phrase “lost in translation” refers to when the translation of a word or phrase does not convey its true or complete meaning due to various factors. This is a common problem when translating non-Western texts for North American and British readership, especially those written in non-Roman scripts. Literature and texts are tangible symbols, containing signifed cultural meaning, and they represent varying aspects of an existing international ethnic, social, or linguistic culture or group. Chodorow (2006) likens it to a cultural record of sorts, which he defnes as an object that “contains cultural heritage and incorporates everything that has survived” (pg. 373). In particular, those written in South Asian indigenous languages such as Tamil, Sanskrit, Urdu, Sinhalese are written with specifc words, ideas, and concepts that are unique to specifc culture[s] and cannot be properly conveyed in English translations.
    [Show full text]
  • Religion, Ethics, and Poetics in a Tamil Literary Tradition
    Tacit Tirukku#a#: Religion, Ethics, and Poetics in a Tamil Literary Tradition The Harvard community has made this article openly available. Please share how this access benefits you. Your story matters Citation Smith, Jason William. 2020. Tacit Tirukku#a#: Religion, Ethics, and Poetics in a Tamil Literary Tradition. Doctoral dissertation, Harvard Divinity School. Citable link https://nrs.harvard.edu/URN-3:HUL.INSTREPOS:37364524 Terms of Use This article was downloaded from Harvard University’s DASH repository, and is made available under the terms and conditions applicable to Other Posted Material, as set forth at http:// nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:dash.current.terms-of- use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
    [Show full text]
  • Indian Hieroglyphs
    Indian hieroglyphs Indus script corpora, archaeo-metallurgy and Meluhha (Mleccha) Jules Bloch’s work on formation of the Marathi language (Bloch, Jules. 2008, Formation of the Marathi Language. (Reprint, Translation from French), New Delhi, Motilal Banarsidass. ISBN: 978-8120823228) has to be expanded further to provide for a study of evolution and formation of Indian languages in the Indian language union (sprachbund). The paper analyses the stages in the evolution of early writing systems which began with the evolution of counting in the ancient Near East. Providing an example from the Indian Hieroglyphs used in Indus Script as a writing system, a stage anterior to the stage of syllabic representation of sounds of a language, is identified. Unique geometric shapes required for tokens to categorize objects became too large to handle to abstract hundreds of categories of goods and metallurgical processes during the production of bronze-age goods. In such a situation, it became necessary to use glyphs which could distinctly identify, orthographically, specific descriptions of or cataloging of ores, alloys, and metallurgical processes. About 3500 BCE, Indus script as a writing system was developed to use hieroglyphs to represent the ‘spoken words’ identifying each of the goods and processes. A rebus method of representing similar sounding words of the lingua franca of the artisans was used in Indus script. This method is recognized and consistently applied for the lingua franca of the Indian sprachbund. That the ancient languages of India, constituted a sprachbund (or language union) is now recognized by many linguists. The sprachbund area is proximate to the area where most of the Indus script inscriptions were discovered, as documented in the corpora.
    [Show full text]
  • Trichirapalli.Pdf
    Contents TITLE Page No. Message by Member Secretary, State Planning Commission i Preface by the District Collector iii Acknowledgement v List of Boxes vii List of Figures viii List of Tables ix Chapters 1. DistrictProfile 1 2. Status of Human Development 11 3. Employment, Income and Poverty 29 4. Demography, Health and Nutrition 45 5. Literacy and Education 75 6. Gender 105 7. Social Security 113 8. Infrastructure 123 9. Summary and Way Forward 133 Annexures Technical Notes A20 Abbreviations A27 References A29 TIRUCHIRAPPALI DISTRICT HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2017 District Administration, Tiruchirappali and State Planning Commission, Tamil Nadu in association with Bharathidasan University Contents TITLE Page No. Message by Member Secretary, State Planning Commission i Preface by the District Collector iii Acknowledgement v List of Boxes vii List of Figures viii List of Tables ix Chapters 1. DistrictProfile 1 2. Status of Human Development 11 3. Employment, Income and Poverty 29 4. Demography, Health and Nutrition 45 5. Literacy and Education 75 6. Gender 105 7. Social Security 113 8. Infrastructure 123 9. Summary and Way Forward 133 Annexures Technical Notes A20 Abbreviations A27 References A29 Dr. K.S.Palanisamy,I.A.S., Office : 0431-2415358 District Collector, Fax : 0431-2411929 Tiruchirappalli. Res : 0431-2420681 0431-2420181 Preface India has the potential to achieve and the means to secure a reasonable standard of living for all the sections of its population. Though the economy touched the nine per cent growth rate during the Eleventh Five Year Plan (2007-12), there are socio-economically disadvantaged people who are yet to benefit from this growth.
    [Show full text]
  • GRAMMAR of OLD TAMIL for STUDENTS 1 St Edition Eva Wilden
    GRAMMAR OF OLD TAMIL FOR STUDENTS 1 st Edition Eva Wilden To cite this version: Eva Wilden. GRAMMAR OF OLD TAMIL FOR STUDENTS 1 st Edition. Eva Wilden. Institut français de Pondichéry; École française d’Extrême-Orient, 137, 2018, Collection Indologie. halshs- 01892342v2 HAL Id: halshs-01892342 https://halshs.archives-ouvertes.fr/halshs-01892342v2 Submitted on 24 Jan 2020 HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access L’archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est archive for the deposit and dissemination of sci- destinée au dépôt et à la diffusion de documents entific research documents, whether they are pub- scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non, lished or not. The documents may come from émanant des établissements d’enseignement et de teaching and research institutions in France or recherche français ou étrangers, des laboratoires abroad, or from public or private research centers. publics ou privés. GRAMMAR OF OLD TAMIL FOR STUDENTS 1st Edition L’Institut Français de Pondichéry (IFP), UMIFRE 21 CNRS-MAE, est un établissement à autonomie financière sous la double tutelle du Ministère des Affaires Etrangères (MAE) et du Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS). Il est partie intégrante du réseau des 27 centres de recherche de ce Ministère. Avec le Centre de Sciences Humaines (CSH) à New Delhi, il forme l’USR 3330 du CNRS « Savoirs et Mondes Indiens ». Il remplit des missions de recherche, d’expertise et de formation en Sciences Humaines et Sociales et en Écologie dans le Sud et le Sud- est asiatiques. Il s’intéresse particulièrement aux savoirs et patrimoines culturels indiens (langue et littérature sanskrites, histoire des religions, études tamoules…), aux dynamiques sociales contemporaines, et aux ecosystèmes naturels de l’Inde du Sud.
    [Show full text]
  • Values in Leadership in the Tamil Tradition of Tirukkural Vs. Present-Day Leadership Theories
    International Management Review Vol. 3 No. 1 2007 Values in Leadership in the Tamil Tradition of Tirukkural Vs. Present-day Leadership Theories Anand Amaladass Satya Nilayam Research Institute, Chennai, South India [Abstract] It is useful to keep in mind the present-day discussion on leadership theories from the Western traditions before looking at an ancient Indian text from a leadership perspective. The purpose is not to seek parallels, but to juxtapose them. In this way the reader will evocatively perceives the underlying value system found in the Indian text discussed here. Obviously, historical contexts and present day worldviews are different. But wisdom embedded in ancient Indian tradition has perennial values that transcends time and space; is applicable to every period of history and has cross-cultural appeal. The research shall briefly sum up what “leadership” means in today’s management sectors. The theme of the paper is ‘Values in Leadership.’ This presentation will be based on this ancient Tamil text Tirukkural, which discusses administration and management by a ruler in his country. [Keywords] Leadership; Tamil tradition; Tirukkural; administration; management; Indian ruler Introduction Western traditions concept of Leadership has a history of development (Bernard M. Bass). In the early days, prophets, priests, chiefs, and kings were models of leadership. The Greek concepts of leadership were illustrated by the heroes in Homer’s epic Iliad. The qualities admired by the Greeks are justice and judgment (Agamemnon), wisdom and council (Hector), shrewdness and cunning (Odysseus), valor and activism (Achilles). Philosophers like Plato looked for an ideal leader to rule the State with order and reason.
    [Show full text]
  • English 710-882
    AN ETHNOMUSICOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE ON KANIYAN KOOTHU Aaron J. Paige This paper will analyze some of the strategies by which Kaniyans, a minority com- munity from the Southern districts of Tamil Nadu, use music as a vehicle to negoti- ate, reconcile, and understand social, cultural, and economic change. Kaniyan Koothu performances are generally commissioned for kodai festivals, during which Kaniyans sing lengthy ballads. These stories vary locally from village to village and recount the adventures, exploits, and virtues of gods and goddesses specific to the area and community in which they are worshipped. While these narratives are en- tertaining in their own right, they also serve as springboards for subjective compari- son and interpretation. Kaniyans thus, transform mythological legends into modern social commentary. In a world perceived to be growing increasingly complicated by globalization and modernization, these folk musicians openly voice in performance both their concern for the loss of traditional values and their trepidation that Tamil culture, tamizh panpaadu – particularly village culture, gramiya panpaadu – are gradually being displaced by foreign principles, products, and technologies. In con- tradistinction to this conservative rhetoric, the Kaniyans, in recent years, have made major reformations to their own musical practice. Using specific textual examples, the first part of this paper will look at the ways in which musicians’ semi-improvised narratives foster solidarity under the rubric of a shared Tamil language and cultural identity. The second part of this paper, by way of musical examples, will attempt to illuminate how these same musicians are engaged in redefining and reformulating their musical tradition through the appropriation and integration of rhythmic models characteristic of Carnatic drumming.
    [Show full text]
  • The Phases of Flower in Sangam Tamil Literature
    SHANLAX s han lax International Journal of Arts, Science and Humanities # S I N C E 1 9 9 0 The Phases of Flower in Sangam Tamil Literature M. Anbarasu OPEN ACCESS Post Doctoral Fellow, Department of Agronomy (Farm) Agricultural College and Research Institute, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India Manuscript ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7970-4454 ASH-2020-08013161 D. Udhaya Nandhini Volume: 8 Post Doctoral Fellow, Centre of Excellence in Sustaining Soil Health Anbil Dharmalingam Agricultural College and Research Institute, Trichy, Tamil Nadu, India Issue: 1 Abstract A flower is the reproductive part of flowering plants. Within the flowering stage of flower had Month: July different phases like Arumbu / Bud, Mottu / Tender flower Bud, Mugai / Opening bud, Malar / Flower blossom, Alar / Full-blown flower blossom, Vee / Flower drying and Semmal / Faded flower Year: 2020 in Sangam Tamil literature. The Sangam Tamil literature was accompanied of Tamil scholars and poets that, according to phases flower are indicated in Thirukkural, Narrinai, Purananuru, P-ISSN: 2321-788X Kuruntokai, Silappatikaram, etc., This review is more useful to researchers for understanding the floral scent properties relation to phases of flower and associated with releasing dynamics for fragrant / scent out of flower. E-ISSN: 2582-0397 Keywords: Phases of flower, Sangam literature, Flower, Flower fragrant and floral scent. Received: 22.04.2020 Introduction A flower is the reproductive part of flowering plants (Angiosperms). The Accepted: 16.06.2020 first step of the transition is the transformation of the vegetative stem primordia Published: 02.07.2020 into floral primordia. This occurs as biochemical changes take place to change cellular differentiation of leaf, bud, and stem tissues into tissue that will grow Citation: into the reproductive organs.
    [Show full text]
  • Tiruvalluvar.Pdf
    9 788126 053216 9 788126 053216 TIRUVALLUVAR The sculpture reproduced on the end paper depicts a scene where three soothsayers are interpreting to King Śuddhodana the dream of Queen Māyā, mother of Lord Buddha. Below them is seated a scribe recording the interpretation. This is perhaps the earliest available pictorial record of the art of writing in India. From: Nagarjunakonda, 2nd century A.D. Courtesy: National Museum, New Delhi MAKERS OF INDIAN LITERATURE TIRUVALLUVAR by S. Maharajan Sahitya Akademi Tiruvalluvar: A monograph in English on Tiruvalluvar, eminent Indian philosopher and poet by S. Maharajan, Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi: 2017, ` 50. Sahitya Akademi Head Office Rabindra Bhavan, 35, Ferozeshah Road, New Delhi 110 001 Website: http://www.sahitya-akademi.gov.in Sales Office ‘Swati’, Mandir Marg, New Delhi 110 001 E-mail: [email protected] Regional Offices 172, Mumbai Marathi Grantha Sangrahalaya Marg, Dadar Mumbai 400 014 Central College Campus, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Veedhi Bengaluru 560 001 4, D.L. Khan Road, Kolkata 700 025 Chennai Office Main Guna Building Complex (second floor), 443, (304) Anna Salai, Teynampet, Chennai 600 018 First Published: 1979 Second Edition: 1982 Reprint: 2017 © Sahitya Akademi ISBN: 978-81-260-5321-6 Rs. 50 Printed by Sita Fine Arts Pvt. Ltd., A-16, Naraina Industrial Area Phase-II, New Delhi 110028 CONTENTS Introduction 7 The Times and Teachings of Tiruvalluvar 11 Translations and Citations 19 The Personality of Tiruvalluvar 25 Interpretation of the Kural 33 Word-worship 37 Sensual Love 41 Architectonics of the Kural 47 Some Glimpses of Tiruvalluvar 54 Valluvar at the World Vegetarian Congress 71 Valluvar’s Blue Print for the Evolution of Man 73 The Bard of Universal Man 98 APPENDIX Transliteration of Tamil words with diacritical marks 105 Bibliography 106 1 INTRODUCTION Though Tiruvalluvar lived about 2000 years ago, it does not seem he is dead.
    [Show full text]
  • Poetics of Place in Early Tamil Literature by Vangal N Muthukumar
    Poetics of place in early Tamil literature by Vangal N Muthukumar A dissertation submitted in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in South and Southeast Asian Studies in the Graduate Division of the University of California, Berkeley Committee in charge: Professor George L. Hart, Chair Professor Munis D. Faruqui Professor Robert P. Goldman Professor Bonnie C. Wade Fall 2011 Poetics of place in early Tamil literature Copyright 2011 by Vangal N Muthukumar 1 Abstract Poetics of place in early Tamil literature by Vangal N Muthukumar Doctor of Philosophy in South and Southeast Asian Studies University of California, Berkeley Professor George L. Hart, Chair In this dissertation, I discuss some representations of place in early (ca. 100 CE - 300 CE) Tamil poetry collectively called caṅkam literature. While previous research has emphasized the im- portance of place as landscape imagery in these poems, it has seldom gone beyond treating landscape / place as symbolic of human emotionality. I argue that this approach does not ad- dress the variety in the representation of place seen in this literature. To address this the- oretical deficiency, I study place in caṅkam poetry as having definite ontological value and something which is immediately cognized by the senses of human perception. Drawing from a range of texts, I will argue that in these poems, the experience of place emerges in a di- alogic between the human self and place - a dialogic which brings together sensory experi- ence, perception, memory, and various socio-cultural patterns; place, in these poems, is not as much an objective geographical entity as it is the process of perception itself.
    [Show full text]
  • Sangam-Age-1.Pdf
    Sangam Age drishtiias.com/printpdf/sangam-age-1 Introduction The period roughly between the 3rd century B.C. and 3rd century A.D. in South India (the area lying to the south of river Krishna and Tungabhadra) is known as Sangam Period. It has been named after the Sangam academies held during that period that flourished under the royal patronage of the Pandya kings of Madurai. At the sangams eminent scholars assembled and functioned as the board of censors and the choicest literature was rendered in the nature of anthologies. These literary works were the earliest specimens of Dravidian literature. According to the Tamil legends, there were three Sangams (Academy of Tamil poets) held in the ancient South India popularly called Muchchangam. The First Sangam, is believed to be held at Madurai, attended by gods and legendary sages. No literary work of this Sangam is available. The Second Sangam was held at Kapadapuram, only Tolkappiyam survives from this. The Third Sangam was also held at Madurai. A few of these Tamil literary works have survived and are a useful sources to reconstruct the history of the Sangam period. Sangam Literature: Major source giving details of Sangam Age The Sangam literature includes Tolkappiyam, Ettutogai, Pattuppattu, Pathinenkilkanakku, and two epics named – Silappathikaram and Manimegalai . Tolkappiyam was authored by Tolkappiyar and is considered the earliest of Tamil literary work. Though it is a work on Tamil grammar but it also provides insights on the political and socio-economic conditions of the time. Ettutogai (Eight Anthologies) consist of eight works – Aingurunooru, Narrinai, Aganaooru, Purananooru, Kuruntogai, Kalittogai, Paripadal and Padirruppatu.
    [Show full text]
  • The Tamil Concept of Love
    The Tamil Concept Of love First Edition 1962 Published by The South India Saiva Siddhanta Works Publishing Society, Tirunelvely, 1962 2 Manicka Vizhumiyangal - 16 The Tamil Concept of Love 3 PREFACE I deem it my sincere duty to present before the scholars of the world the noble principles of Aham Literature whose origin is as old as Tamil language itself and whose influence on all kinds of Tamil literature of all periods is incalculable. An elementary knowledge of Aham is indeed essential even for a beginner in Tamil. Without its study, Tamil culture and civilisation will be a sealed book. Love is no doubt the common theme of any literature in any language. The selective nature of the love-aspects, the impersonal and algebraic form of the characters and the universal and practical treatment of the subject are the differentiating points of Ahattinai. What is the impulse behind the creation of Aham literature? The unity of the family is the bed-rock of the unity of the world. The achievement of that conjugal unity depends upon the satisfaction of the sexual congress between the rightful lovers in youthhood. Dissatisfaction unconsciously disintegrates the family. There will be few problems in society, religion and politics, if family life is a contented one and the husband and wife pay high regard to each other’s sexual hunger. Therefore sex education is imperative to every young man and woman before and after marriage. How to educate them? The ancient Tamils saw in literature an effective and innocent means for instructing boys and girls in sexual principles and sexual experiences and with 4 Manicka Vizhumiyangal - 16 that noble motive created a well-defined literature called Ahattinai with inviolable rules.
    [Show full text]