காப்பியங்களில் பழக்க வழக்கங்களும், நம்பிக்கை மரபுகளும்

Customs, Practices, and Belief Traditions in Epics

Abstract

Sangam literature serves as an important source for understanding the Tamil society that existed in Tamil Nadu more than two thousand years ago. The Tamil word “practice” is derived from the root word “To become accustomed” and is used to denote the meanings of habit, practice, custom, and conduct. The customs, practices, and beliefs followed and contemplated by the Tamil people have evolved over time. These customs, practices, and belief systems constitute the subject of the present study. When such practices are studied across different human communities and comparatively analysed, it becomes possible to identify their distinctive characteristics, values, and emotional dimensions. In this context, the present study examines the customs, practices, and beliefs of the Tamil people, with the aim of bringing to light the cultural conditions of Tamil society, its development of civilisation, related social practices, variations according to time, place, and circumstances, and the emergence of new practices.