Sangam Essay

A country’s Literature is one of its greatest assets as it enables to relive the past, reflect the present and foretell the future. Tamil Literature is a granary of history, culture and society especially of the past dating even back to Pre-Christian era. Various nuances of culture, the people’s emotions and experiences are captured in time by its Literature. Tolkāppiyam is one such antique work that has dictated terms for the Literature of its time. Though ancient, its powerful presence is still felt in many works of Tamil Literature. Ponniyin Selvan, by Kalki.R.Krishnamurthy, though a phenomenal historical novel in every aspect among the Tamil readers, is no exception. The possible reason, for the traces of influence of the ancient treatise

The Sangam age had its inception from 600 B.C and the literature composed during this period is called Sangam literature which falls between 600 B.C and 300A.D. The term Sangam means ‘academy’ or ‘fraternity’ and it is said that there were three sangams altogether, wherein the material of the first Sangam is completely lost. One of the ancient works, probably belonging to the second Sangam, is Tolkāppiyam meaning ‘ancient book’ or the preserver of ancient institutions. The author of this work is Tolkāppiyanár also called Trinadhúmágni, a disciple of the popular Agastiyer (107) says Simon Cassie Chitty. He also adds that “This work, which is the oldest of the kind in existence, consists of 1276 sútras or rules in verse.” (107). The voluminous work is not merely a book on Tamil grammar of inflection and syntax but also sets the norm for the theme of works of art. In ancient days, poetry was the only known genre in Tamil literature. This treatise enunciates the style and theme of Tamil poetry giving a picture of the political, social and religious life of that period. It clearly and systematically treats of only one of the time-honoured divisions of Tamil- Iyal or Natural Tamil. The book is divided into three major sections or chapters of nine subdivisions. The three major divisions are ‘Eluthu’ meaning script or orthography, ‘Sol’ which means words or etymology and ‘Porul’ referring to the subject-matter

So is the case with the hero. They meet in the garden without anyone’s knowledge as it concerned state affairs. This secrecy is a trait of Kuṟinci, signifying lovers’ meeting. Moreover, the thoughts of Vandiyathevan are depicted as “Can a bee not like the flower? If it doesn’t, why does it buzz around the flower ceaselessly until it loses its mind and swoon?” (262). Bees and gathering honey are associated with kuṟinci tinai. Added to that, Kalki narrates a detailed story of how these lovers have already felt- that they have already met at the beginning of time on a mountain. Further, the novelist compares the singing of the girls who are with Kundavai, on the banks of the river Arisilar to that of nectar and he compares Kundavai to a peacock. On the other side, when Vandiyathevan heads towards the beautiful river, the scene described is that of peacocks calling to the peahens from rooftops. Peacocks, bees, gathering honey, mountains, mood of stealth portray lovers’s union, characteristics of the kuṟinci