Tamil Literature

There is a number of problems connected with the study and teaching of any Oriental literature in general and of Tamil literature specifically which have to date been mostly ignored, although they are indispensable for solid knowledge and correct interpretation and understanding of the literature in question. These include problems of authenticity and authorship, of transmission and tradition, writing tools and materials, of relationship of orality to literacy, of Sanskrit to Tamil, the prehistory of Tamil written literature, the numerous texts that have been lost, scholarly lineages and the rediscovery of ancient Tamil literature etc. The book deals with all these problems as well as with some specific Tamil cultural phenomena such as the concept of "threefold Tamil" or the relationship of literature ('marked') to grammar ('marker'), with the derivation of the term "Tamil" and with the history of Tamil literary historiography. It will be indispensable as an introduction to the study of the more than 2000 years of Tamil literary history. By addressing questions which have thus far been almost completely neglected, it has also decisive impact on the interpretative comprehension of Tamil literature and on the teaching of this very rich heritage of verbal art.

Sangam Tamil books are at least 2000-year-old; chronologically Tamil stands next to Sanskrit in India; though 6000 year old Vedas are still available and recited in all the temples and Vedic Schools, Tamils have lost many of their ancient works. But fortunately, we see the continuity of Vedic thoughts in Tamil Sangam books; they are 18 in number. There is another grammatical treatise Tolkappiam which is considered older than the 18 books. We see full-fledged Hinduism in it. The book mentioned Vedic Gods as the Gods of the Tamils. I have been writing about it from 2011. This book has some of the articles on this topic.

KALIDASA is one of the greatest poets in the world. He became famous because of his apt similes and imageries in his seven works. He was a playwright and poet. His age is still an unsolved mystery. He is dated between second century BCE and 4th century CE, that means any date in a range of 600 years! Foreigners placed him in Gupta period around 4th century CE. But great Indian scholars dated him around first or second century BCE. I wrote a thesis to get Ph.D.in this matter. But the Sanskrit University asked me to put it in Sanskrit and I am yet to do it. After reading all the 18 books of Sangam Tamil literature and all the seven dramas and poems of Kalidasa, I came to conclusion that Kalidasa lived in Pre-Sangam period. Indian tradition also links him with the greatest of the Indian Emperors, Vikramaditya. After the original Vikramaditya of first century BCE died, hundreds of Hindu Kings called themselves Vikrama or Aditya or Vikramaditya. The proof for my thesis lies in the Kalidasa’s 200++ similes found in Sangam Tamil literature. Sangam poets even used the same epithet to the Himalayas (Kaanchana Srnga- Por Kotu) ‘Golden Peaked’. The first ten slokas of Kumara Sambhava of Kalidasa are used by Sangam poets to describe Himalayas and sages.

Athiyaman, a hardened warrior, fearsome to his enemies and magnanimous to those he favoured. Kumanan, a king so benevolent that he was even willing to sacrifice his own life for another. The poet Pisiraandaiyar, who stood by his royal friend Kopperuncholan even in the worst of times. And Avvaiyar, a venerable woman poet, respected by rulers and subjects alike. This colourful and powerful cast of characters comes together in The Prince Who Became a Monk and Other Stories from Tamil Literature. Selected and translated by Sahitya Akademi award-winner M.L. Thangappa, the stories in this volume were originally poems written by famed Tamil poets belonging to a time when kings and poets equalled each other in authority and respect, and when valour and talent were considered the greatest virtues. These tales celebrate family, friendships and bonds that survive the tests of distance and time, bringing to the fore historical figures who depict faith, humility and kindness. Through delicately woven imagery and subtly imparted wisdom, this collection of more than 35 stories brings alive an era of glory, and the poets who immortalized it in their words.

This indispensable work for Tamil love poetry of South India deals with the relationship between the oldest grammar and poetics, "Tolk ppiyam," and the ancient literature ("Sangam" literature) of the 1-3 C. A.D., providing the original meanings and historical changes of many technical terms of love poetry.