தொல்காப்பியரின் வழி திணை மற்றும் பால் கோட்பாட்டை உணர்த்தும் தொன்னூலார் / Thonnular’s Thinai and Pal Kotpadu in the Perspective of Tholkappiyar

Abstract

Tamil is a language rich in literature and grammar. Many grammar books have appeared in Tamil in the 20th century. Literature is based on language. Grammar helps explain the structure of the language. Among such Tamil grammar books, “Tholkappiyam” is the oldest grammar book composed by Tholkappiar and one of the five essential Tamil books is “Tonnul Villakam” from the eighteenth century written by the Italian Tamil scholar Costanzio Giuseppe Beschi. In it, while talking about the two divisions, Tolkappiyar says that the Uyirinai (Man) is of the highest division and the (Agrinai) other beings are of second importance. Thonnular contradicts himself by stating that God and Hell are included in the supreme division. As a standard procedure to categorise Thinai according to Pal (gender), Thonnular did not explain the masculine gender (pedi) from the higher division (Uyar Thinai Pal). He points out that both thinais are the same. Moreover, Thonnular depicts them as Uyarthinai Pal and Agrinai Pal and confusingly gives explanations while delineating singular and plural without depiction of gender. However, Tholkappiar has handled many verses to depict the perspectives of gender. The Tholkappiya renditions estimate the Vinai Viguthigal as eleven but the Thonool verses did not explain it deeply. At some places, Thonoolar is witty. Hence, the article decodes the nuances and the in-depth details of Thinai and Pal Kotpadu from the viewpoint of Tholkappiar.

Keywords

• tholkappiam
• thonnool vilakkam
• thinai
• pal kotpadu.