புறநானூற்றில் நீர்நிலைகள்: வாழ்வியல், வேளாண்மை, நீரியல் மேலாண்மை மற்றும் சூழலியல் நோக்கு

Abstract

Sangam literature comprehensively records the nature-centric lifestyle and ecological values of the ancient Tamils. Purananuru, the foremost work among the Eight Anthologies (Ettuthokai), alongside themes of secular life (Puram) such as politics, warfare, and philanthropy, deeply describes various dimensions of nature including distinct types of water bodies such as cool streams (thanpunal), deep/long waters (neduneer), low-lying waters (thaazhneer), ponds (kayam), moats (akazhi), paddy fields (kazhani), large river landings (perunthurai), and oceans (kadal). Based on evidence of water bodies found in Purananuru poems, this paper analyzes ancient Tamil hydrological thought, agricultural production systems, defense security, biodiversity, maritime trade, and the social control values associated with water. Furthermore, the Purananuru poems are critically compared with archaeological and historical evidence, the engineering brilliance of Karikala Chola's Kallanai (Grand Anicut), chain-of-tanks networks, and eco-critical / Oikos theory frameworks. This paper establishes that water is not merely a consumable resource, but a fundamental force that maintains the equilibrium among humans, land, and nature.