தொல்காப்பிய மெய்ப்பாட்டியல் கோட்பாட்டின் அடிப்படையில் நற்றிணை அகப்பாடல்கள்: ஓர் விரிவான வாழ்வியல் மற்றும் இலக்கியத் திறனாய்வு

Narrinai Akam Poems Based on Tholkappiyam’s Theory of Meyppattiyal: A Comprehensive Life and Literary Criticism

Abstract

Narrinai, which is counted first among the Sangam literature, is an unparalleled Tamil literary treasure that vividly depicts the subtle emotions and states of love in human inner life ($Akam$). Tamil grammatical tradition defines ‘Meyppadu’ (physical manifestation of emotion) as the expression of deep emotions arising within the minds of the characters ($Akamaandhar$) through their outer bodily organs and behavior.

In his Poruladhikaram, Tholkappiyar established a dedicated chapter called ‘Meyppattiyal’, where he detailed the eight primary emotions ($Enbehar\ Meyppadugal$), their source contexts ($Nilaikkalangal$), and the psychological states ($Avathai$) appearing in love characters, applicable to both theatrical Tamil ($Naadaka\ Thamil$) and literary Tamil ($Iyat-Thamil$).

Based on the theory of Meyppattiyal formulated by Tholkappiyar, this research paper comprehensively analyzes how emotions are employed with poetic finesse and psychological vitality across the 400 $Akam$ poems in Narrinai. It analyzes with evidence how the eight primary emotions—Laughter ($Nagai$), Sorrow ($Azhugai$), Disgust/Inferiority ($Ilivaral$), Wonder ($Marudkai$), Fear ($Acham$), Pride ($Perumidham$), Anger ($Veguli$), and Joy ($Uvagai$)—along with their corresponding 32 source contexts, align with the landscape-based backgrounds ($Thinai$) and the speeches/monologues of the characters.

Furthermore, by comparing Tholkappiyar’s Meyppattiyal with the Wheel of Emotions theory proposed by modern Western psychologist Robert Plutchik, this paper establishes the excellence of Sangam poets in portraying human emotions as well as their underlying life values.