சங்க அக இலக்கியங்களில் விலங்கு, பறவைகளின் உணவு மேலாண்மை: Food Management of Animals and Birds in Sangam Akam Literature

Abstract

Sangam literature serves as a vivid portrait of human life lived in perfect harmony with nature, where the boundaries between the domestic and the wild are often blurred by shared ecological realities. In accordance with the ethical principle that "the world begins with food" (Undi Mutatre Ulagu), food remains the fundamental necessity for all living beings, ranging from those with a single sense to those with six. This biological imperative serves as the connective tissue between the human protagonist and the surrounding fauna.

This study analyzes the "Food Management" techniques of animals and birds as described within the Sangam "Akam" (Interior) landscapes. By examining the five distinct eco-zones—Kurinji (mountains), Mullai (forests), Marutham (agricultural lands), Neithal (seashore), and Paalai (wasteland)—we uncover sophisticated poetic observations of foraging, hunting, and communal sharing among wildlife.

Keywords

• Sangam Literature
• Akanthinai
• Food Management
• Eco-Aesthetics
• Fauna in Literature
• Precision Hunting
• Sustainable Storage