தமிழ்ச் செவ்வியல் மற்றும் பக்தி இலக்கியத் தலங்களின் பின்னணியில் உயிரினங்கள்: ஒரு விரிவான சூழலியல் மற்றும் பண்பாட்டு ஆய்வு

Fauna in the Context of Tamil Classical and Bhakti Literature Sites: A Comprehensive Ecological and Cultural Study

Abstract

The Tamil literary tradition spans a continuous history of over two thousand years. Throughout this history, nature does not exist merely as a backdrop but thrives as a living force intertwined with human life and emotions. This article extensively examines the descriptions of living organisms in Sangam literature and medieval Bhakti literature, particularly the Devaram hymns, through the lenses of Ecocriticism and Biodiversity Conservation.

The study explains how the Sangam-era 'Thinai' theory aligns with modern biomes, and how animal behaviors were transformed into human ethics. Furthermore, it provides a detailed analysis of the precision with which the Devaram Trinity categorized organisms while singing of the natural beauty of sacred sites. It also explores how mythological legends involving animals—such as the elephant and spider at Thiruvanaikaval—have influenced architecture and spiritual culture. Finally, this research reveals how biological data found in Sangam poems serves as foundational data for modern wildlife conservation studies.