குறுந்தொகைப் பாடல்களில் சூழலியல் சிந்தனைகள்

Ecological Thoughts in the Poems of Kurunthogai

Abstract

Sangam literature serves as a cultural treasure trove reflecting the ancient Tamil way of life and their intimate relationship with nature. Among them, Kurunthogai, one of the Eight Anthologies (Ettuthogai), primarily contains love poetry (Akam), yet the natural landscapes, geography, seasons, flora, fauna, birds, water bodies, mountains, seas, and agricultural fields depicted in its background reveal the ecological awareness of that era. In Kurunthogai, nature is not merely an aesthetic object; rather, it is intricately intertwined with human life, emotions, occupations, food, settlements, travel, and economy. The Ainthinai (five land types) system—Kurinji, Mullai, Marutham, Neithal, and Palai—clearly demonstrates how living organisms, occupations, and lifestyles adapt according to the land.

In the poems of Kurunthogai, natural elements such as rain, waterfalls, red soil, the sea, sand, flowers, trees, elephants, deer, and birds are seamlessly blended with human emotions. This highlights the Sangam thought process, which viewed nature not as an external object, but as an integral part of human life. This study analyzes the natural elements present in Kurunthogai from an ecological perspective, explaining the human–nature relationship, land–organism connection, hydrological thought, biodiversity, and ecologically oriented lifestyle. This research is conducted using literary analysis and the framework of ecocriticism.