Sangam literature for the layman

Source: The post is based on the article “Sangam literature for the layman” published in The Hindu on 11th July 2023

What is the News?

Tamil Nadu Text Book and Education Services Corporation has released Patthuppattu, a collection of ten idylls, one of the earliest Sangam poetry collections.

Note: An idyll is a short poem descriptive of some picturesque scene or incident, mainly associated with pastoral life. 

What is the Sangam Age?

The Sangam Age constitutes an important chapter in the history of South India. 

According to Tamil legends, there existed three Sangams (Academy of Tamil poets) in ancient Tamil Nadu popularly called Muchchangam. These Sangams flourished under the royal patronage of the Pandyas. 

The first Sangam, held at Then Madurai, was attended by gods and legendary sages but no literary work of this Sangam was available. 

The second Sangam was held at Kapadapuram but all the literary works had perished except Tolkappiyam. 

The third Sangam at Madurai was founded by Mudathirumaran.It was attended by a large number of poets who produced voluminous literature but only a few had survived.These Tamil literary works remain useful sources to reconstruct the history of the Sangam Age.

Sangam Literature:

The collection of Sangam literature includes Tolkappiyam, Ettutogai, Pattuppattu, Pathinenkilkanakku and the two epics – Silappathigaram and Manimegalai. 

Tolkappiyam authored by Tolkappiyar is the earliest of Tamil literature.It is a work on Tamil grammar but it provides information on the political and socioeconomic conditions of the Sangam period. 

The Ettutogai or Eight Anthologies consist of eight works.The Pattuppattu or Ten Idylls consist of ten works.Both Ettutogai and Pattuppattu were divided into two main groups – Aham (love) and Puram (valour). 

Pathinenkilkanakku contains eighteen works mostly dealing with ethics and morals.The most important among them is Tirukkural authored by Thiruvalluvar. 

Silappathigaram written by Elango Adigal and Manimegalai by Sittalai Sattanar also provides valuable information on the Sangam polity and society.