தொல்காப்பியம் உணா்த்தும் இல்லறவொழுக்கம்

Domestic Life Virtues Expounded in Tolkappiyam

Abstract

Just as a mother is profoundly important to every individual, the mother tongue is equally cherished with utmost significance. In this regard, Tolkappiyam is the most ancient among the grammatical texts available to us in Tamil today. While all world languages have formulated their own grammars, Tolkappiyam brings unparalleled prestige to the Tamil language. It is a classical, ancient text that elucidates the culture of the Tamil language, the antiquity of Tamil literature, and the excellence of its civilization.

Generally, in the present era where readers who appreciate grammatical texts are becoming scarce, the reason many still seek out Tolkappiyam is that, although it is a great grammatical treatise, it does not stop at prescribing rules merely for letters (orthography) and words (morphology). Rather, it also establishes the grammar for literature rooted in the lifestyle of the Tamils. Beyond formulating a comprehensive grammar for the entirety of the Tamil language, Tolkappiyam also reveals the Agam (inner life/love) and Puram (outer life/valor and society) of the people of its time. Tolkappiyar naturally and authentically documented the exact lives of his contemporaries within his grammatical framework. Furthermore, he beautifully captured their lifestyles, presenting them as a picturesque grammatical masterpiece. Moreover, a country's inscriptions, copper plates, architectural structures, coins, and its ancient literature serve as vital tools to understand the ancient history, lifestyle, and civilization of its people. Born from the ancient clan that "originated even before stones and soil appeared," the literary treasure for discovering the history of the Tamils is Tolkappiyam—a foundational text that shines as an eternal guiding lamp for our classical Tamil language. The rare Tamil elements found within it serve as essential aids in articulating the magnificent civilizational history of the people. Accordingly, the primary objective of this research is to analyze the domestic virtues (Illaravolukkam) as indicated in Tolkappiyam.