சங்க கால ஐந்திணை உணவு வாழ்வியலும் உற்பத்தி முறைகளும்: ஓர் விரிவான சமூக-சூழலியல் புலனாய்வு

Food Ecology and Production Systems of the Five Landscapes (Ainthinai) in Sangam Literature: A Comprehensive Socio-Ecological Investigation

Abstract

Food serves as the fundamental bedrock of human civilization. The lifestyle of ancient Tamils, as reflected in Sangam literature, presents an exemplary model of ecological harmony closely attuned to the natural geography and seasonal dynamics of the region. Under the foundational tri-fold framework (Mutharporul, Karupporul, and Uripporul) codified by Tolkappiyar, food occupies a central position among the environmental elements (Karupporul). The Sangam people categorized Tamilakam’s landscape into five distinct eco-zones (Ainthinai): Kurinji (mountainous), Mullai (pastoral), Marutham (agricultural plains), Neithal (coastal), and Palai (arid wasteland). Each landscape developed unique subsistence strategies and production modes conditioned by local resource availability, climatic variables, and labor dynamics—ranging from foraging and slash-and-burn farming (Punam) in Kurinji, pastoralism and dairy production in Mullai, wet-paddy agriculture in Marutham, maritime foraging and salt panning in Neithal, to specialized arid survival strategies in Palai. Despite these distinct regional modes, a robust system of barter (Pandamattru) integrated these eco-zones into a cohesive economic network across Tamilakam. Drawing upon Sangam literary evidence, this paper provides a comprehensive socio-ecological investigation into the dietary sources, culinary technologies, exchange networks, and environmental impacts that defined the Sangam foodways.