பெருமாள்முருகன் நாவல்களில் மீவியல் காலம்

Surreal Time in Perumal Murugan's Novels

Abstract

The land inhabited by humans is referred to as 'space'. This inhabited space is categorized into 'natural space' and 'metaphysical space'. Ordinary time is termed 'time', while extraordinary time is termed 'metaphysical time'. Similarly, an ordinary location is called 'space', whereas an extraordinary location is called 'metaphysical space'. People believe that metaphysical energy is accessible during metaphysical time. They also believe that such energy becomes available at the juncture where two periods of time meet. Times when two periods of the day converge such as dawn, noon, evening, and midnight are regarded as liminal times. The people of the Kongu region attach great significance to these liminal periods, believing they can harness supernatural energy during them. In Perumal Murugan’s novels, these liminal times noon, evening, and midnight are not portrayed merely as ordinary times of day; rather, he depicts them as moments that bring suffering.