சங்க இலக்கிய எட்டுத்தொகையில் குறிஞ்சி நில வாழ்வியல் கூறுகள்: Elements of Kurinji Landscape Lifestyle in Sangam Literature's Ettuthokai

Abstract

Sangam literature stands as rare literary evidence depicting the lifestyles, cultural elements, and close relationship with nature of the ancient Tamils. In particular, the Ettuthokai (Eight Anthologies) texts record the lifestyle, occupation, food, kinship, worship, romantic conduct, and social customs of the people of that era from various perspectives. The tradition of categorizing and explaining Tamil lifestyle into Ainthinai (five landscapes) based on land is found in Tolkappiyam. Among them, the mountains and the surrounding region are designated as Kurinji Thinai. The Kurinji land is not merely a geographical area; it also functions as a cultural space encompassing the occupation, food, worship, nature-based beliefs, and romantic lives of the people who lived in that region. Information related to the Kurinji landscape appears in numerous places across the Ettuthokai texts—namely Natrinai, Kuruntokai, Aingurunuru, Padirruppattu, Paripatal, Kalittokai, and Akananuru. Particularly in the interior (Akam) poems, the mountainous natural environment and the daily lives of the people are subtly revealed through the statements of the hero, heroine, and the heroine's companion. In this research, elements such as the natural setting of the Kurinji land, flora and fauna resources, economic livelihood, social structure, worship methods, interior tradition (Aka-marabu), cultural artifacts, and linguistic style are analyzed based on the songs of Ettuthokai.

Keywords

• Natrinai
• Kuruntokai
• Aingurunuru
• Padirruppattu
• Paripatal
• Kalittokai
• Akananuru