தொல்காப்பியப் பொருளதிகாரம் சுட்டும் வாழ்வியல் / Life as Evinced in the Chapter Porulatikaram of Tholkappiyam

Abstract

‘Tholkappiyam’ is one of the oldest grammar books available in the Tamil Language. This book serves as a time mirror and an encyclopaedia that explains the history, culture and civilization of the ancient Tamils. Tamil life was divided into two types. They are internal (Agam) and external (Puram) parts of life. ‘Tholkappiyam’ suggests both types of a life lived by the ancient Sangam people. In the Agam way of life, the love between the leader (Thalaivan) and the beloved (Thalaivi) becomes the gateway to married life. Until the acceptance of the parents, the love life of the love pair goes on secretly. When the leader has the will to marry the beloved and compromises the parents of the beloved, and when the one who has the right (parents) of giving the bride to the leader, the life of chastity begins (Karpuk Kadal). The marriage is also fixed. The marriage took place without the acceptance of the parents. It is called elopement (Udanpokku). In Tholkappiyam, certain evidence proves the life of the lover and beloved in a descriptive manner. Hence, the article finds a clear-cut way to know the life of the Sangam people in both stages such as hidden love (Kalavu Kadal) and chastity (Karpuk Kadal) in the Tholkappiyam perspective.

Keywords

• tholkappiyam
• life
• hidden love (kalavu)
• (karpu
• tirumanam
• matalerutal.