Pearls and Pearls diving in Sangam Literature: Symbolism, Economy, and Cultural Imagination

Abstract

Pearls occupy a significant place in Sangam literature, functioning not merely as objects of ornamentation but as complex cultural symbols. This paper examines the multifaceted representation of pearls in major Sangam texts such as Akanānūru, Naṟṟiṇai, Pathitr̥uppattu, and Maduraikanchi. It explores how pearls operate across both akam (interior) and puram (exterior) traditions, symbolizing beauty, emotional states, political authority, economic activity, and ecological imagination. Special attention is given to the practice of pearl diving (muthu kulithal), as depicted in these texts, highlighting the labor, skill, and maritime knowledge of the Parathavar community, as well as the risks and rituals associated with the profession. The study also emphasizes the role of pearls in articulating feminine subjectivity, royal power, and coastal economies. By analyzing literary references and thematic contexts, this paper argues that pearls, together with the cultural practice of pearl diving, serve as a unifying motif that connects the inner emotional world with the outer material, social, and ecological realities of ancient Tamil society.