| Tamil literature has a rich and long literary tradition that is more than 2000 years old. The documents recovered from various places, have revealed the existence of this language even before this period. The main contribution has been made by Tamil people from Tamil Nadu but the name of some European authors can not be neglected while describing the development of Tamil literary history |
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| Tamil literature saw a significant progress during late nineteenth century when works of religious and philosophical nature were written in a style that made it easier for the common people to enjoy. The contemporary Tamil literature is very rich with the development of prose, poetry, short stories and novels. The popularity of Tamil Cinema has also provided opportunities for modern Tamil poets to emerge |
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| The Sangam literature is a remarkable literature produced by the Sangam Tamils.The Tamils were the first to produce literature in India, barring Sanskrit and some kinds of Prakrit. The Sangam literature belonged to the six centuries between the 3rd century B.C. and the 3rd century A.D. |
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| There are different views by different scholars regarding the composition if the Sangam literature. The most orthodox view holds that the Tolkappiyam, Ettutogai (eight anthologies), Pattuppatu (an anthology of ten long verses) and most of the eighteen (minor) works known as the Padinenkilkka-nakku as well as the Tagadur Tattirai and the Muttollayiram along with the two epics Silappadikaram and Manimckalai constitute Sangam literature. A more restricted view is that only the Ettuttogai and some of the Pattupattu belong to this age. According to them even Tolkappiyam, the Tirumurugatrrupadai (a devotional song on Murugan by Nakkirar, the famous Sangam poet), the Paripadal and the Kural belong to later times. The twin epics, Silappadikaram and Manimekalai are wrongly assigned to a later date. But it is undeniable that the Sangam Tamils produced a body of literature, which is creditable by any standard of criticism. |
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| Nearly 600 poets have contributed to the Sangam literature. Among these the more important were the Brahmin poets Kapilar and Nakkirar, the Brahmin grammarian Tolkappiar and royal poets like Nedum Seliyan, Nalluttiran etc. Vaisya poets like Sattanar of Madurai, poetesses like Auvaiyar, Vellividiyar and many others belonging to different castes and from both sex contributed to this literature. Epics like the Silappadikaram crowned the literary efforts of the Sangam Tamils. The Tagadur Tattirai was an unusual piece of literature, which narrated the historical events pertaining to the storming and reduction of the fortress of Tagadur by the Chera king Perum Serai Irumporai. Perunjjadai, an adaptation of Gunadya`s Brihatkatha, originally written in the Paisasi Prakrit was written by Kongu Vel, a prince. It can be classed among the greatest of Tamil epics. Perhaps it was composed during the fag end of the Sangam period or the dawn of the Pallava age. |
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| The tradition of art and architecture in that society can be gauged only by inference through mention in literature. Architecture, secular and religious, was known to and practiced by them as evidenced by the Silappadikaram, Manimekalai, Patinappalai and Maduraikkanchi. Music of a fairly high order as well as the sister art of dancing reached fairly high levels of perfection as can be seen in the Arangetrrukkadai of Silappadikaram. Sangam painters to guide their artistic efforts used Oviya Nul, a manual of painting. Their sculptures were in the medium of plaster and the architectural tradition should have begun with the brick and timber prototype of the Pallava stone architecture. |
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| Modern Era in Tamil literature |
| Modern era in Tamil literature basically is counted from the eighteenth and the nineteenth centuries, which very much was into a maturity phase, looking towards a glinting future, as the genres had passed their considerable phases from ancient times. In this context, the 18th and 19th centuries of Tamil Nadu had remained witness to some of the most intense changes in the political scenario. The traditional Tamil ruling clans were ruthlessly replaced by European colonists and their well-wishers. The Tamil society was passing through a profound cultural shock with the infliction of western cultural influences. The Hindu religious organisations solemnly attempted to halt this tide of change and to uphold ancient Tamil cultural values. Notable amongst these organisations were the Saiva monasteries at Tiruvavaduthurai, Dharmapuram, Thiruppananthal and Kundrakudi. Meenakshisundaram Pillai (1815-1876) was a Tamil scholar who taught Tamil at one of these monasteries. He practically had authored over eighty books consisting of more than 200,000 verses. Meenakshisundaram Pillai is however more respected for tremendously boosting U.V. Swaminatha Iyer to go in a serious quest for Tamil books that have been lost for centuries. Gopalakrishna Bharathi, another notable from the modern era of Tamil literature, had existed during the early nineteenth century. He had composed numerous poems and lyrics set in tune with Carnatic music. |
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| Tiruvalluvar, Tamil poet |
| Finest of all Tamil classics and immoral Tamil work, Tirukkural is authored by Tiruvalluvar, or Valluvar the great poet. The birth date of Tiruvalluvar is little bit blurred among scholars. While some say that he lived in the 2nd century B.C. others date him much later, even as late as the 8th century A.D. However, it is accepted by all that the Kural, which preaches a code of ethics, is a book for all places and all times. |
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| Whether Valluvar was a Jain or a Hindu, the caste he belonged to, etc., is a matter of raging controversy. The fact that all sections claim him as their own is proof enough about the greatness of the author and the outstanding book written by him. The word kural means short and is a variation of a metre in Tamil known as venba. Therefore the book is named after that metre and the prefix `tiru` is to indicate its sacred nature. The first chapter of the Kural is an invocation to God, but Valluvar does not mention any particular deity.This work consists of three books in 133 chapters with each chapter having ten verses. This book is divided into many sections - the first is Aratuppal consisting of thirty-eight chapters including the preface with consists of four chapters; the second is Porutpal with seventy chapters and the third is Kamattuppal with twenty-five chapters. The first section is concerned with arani or dharma, the next with polity and administration and the third and last section with love themes. |
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| Tolkappiyam |
| Tolkappiyam is the most ancient Tamil grammar, ascribed to a poet called Tolkappiyar of the first century BC, and of great importance in tracing the history of Tamil theatre. It contains three chapters, of which the one on pond has a section called meyppattiyal. This chapter deals with eight emotions that could be built up in the body and mind. Each of these emotions has four different aesthetic appeals. From them, we can therefore derive thirty-two different expressions. This is the section most relevant to performers in dance and theatre. |
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| Chintamani, A Tamil Epic Poem |
| Chintamani is an epic poem in Tamil Literature. Chintamani has considerable merit and it is regarded as the highest classical authority in that language. Chintamani contains the heroic story of a king named Jivagan. Chintamani is supposed to be founded on a similar story found in the Maha Purana, a sacred work of the Jains written in Sanskrit Literature. |
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| Chintamani is a compound of two Sanskrit words. `Chinta` means thought or reflection and `mani` means a jewel. It is generally applied to a fabulous gem which is supposed to yield its possessor whatever may be required. The design of the Chintamani is to represent the Jaina system in an attractive form. |
