sangam literature in

Ancient Tamilakam

Prepared by
Sheeba.R
B.E.D
Second Semester
Mar Theophilus Training
college

INTRODUCTION
When north India witnessed the
emergence of developed as a distinct
language. The language of the ordinary
people was a form of Tamil. The
mainstream literature which grew up
parallel to common language of the
people ,is the most ancient of our literary
works. These ancient Tamil poems are of
great use for the study of the sangam
age.

Sangam literature

The megalithic monuments

and the ancient Tamil songs
belong to the same period.
The ancient Tamil songs
provide more information
about the human life in the
ancient Tamilkam.
The collection of these
ancient Tamil songs is known

Subjects of
Sangam
literature
Physiography
Food Habits
Dressing
patterns

Famous poets of
Ancient Tamilakam

Kapilar
Partaner

Mathurainakkee
rran

Few lines of
auvvaiyar.
O earth!
Whether you are
Plain or jungle
Hill or valley
You are good only if
the virtuous folks

Sangam Works
Category
Pathupattu

Ettuthokai

Pathinenkeezhkanakku

Major Works
Thirumurukatt
upadai
Mathurikanchi
Akanannuru
Purananuru
Patittupathu

Grammar text

Thirukkural
Muthumozhika
nchi
Tholkappiyam

Mahakavya

Chilappathikar

Sangam Works and Their

Authors
Sangam
Authors
works
Chilappathika Ilango Adikal
ram
Thirukkural
Thiruvallur
Akananuru
Rudravarman
Tolkapium
Jeevakachind
amani

Tholkapiar
Tiruthakka
devar

Thirukural
Learn carefully and thorouly.
Practicse
What has been learned. Imbibe it
and live
Accordingly.

Chilappathikaram
The difficulties of life faced by the
ordinary people and the
extravagent life led by the ruling
class during the Sangam age are
the evidence one gets from this
work. These works which remain
among our folklore even today
indicates how these poems had
influenced our daily life.

Ancient Tamil songs

The ancient Tamil songs are
classified into Akampattukal
and purampattukal. The theme
of Akampattukal is mainly
personal and family affairs.
The purampattukal treat
external affairs like war and
trade.

Kavithakal
Of the sangam works the
most important are the songs. They
were the songs of the Kurinji,
Palai, Mullai, Marutham, and
neythal. Based upon the
topographical differences, the
ancient Tamilkam was divided
into five regions called Tinas.
From the songs we can see
that
human life proceed forward in
unison with nature. In those

Summary
Sangam was the academy of
scholars who collected and
published the ancient Tamil
works .
Tolkapium was a
Tamil grammar.

work

on

The major source of information

on ancient Tamilakam is the
ancient Tamil songs .
The collection of these ancient
Tamil Songs is known as Sangam
literature.