தொல்காப்பியத்தில் அறிவியல் சிந்தனைகள்: Scientific Thoughts in Tolkappiyam

Abstract

Tholkappiyam, the earliest extant text of the distinguished Tamil language, transcends mere linguistic and literary definitions; it is a seminal work that encapsulates the lifestyle and scientific insights of the ancient Tamils. This article aims to demonstrate—based on the sutras (aphorisms) and commentaries of Tholkappiyam—that Tamils had attained intellectual heights at a time when other world civilizations were merely beginning to develop.

The article compares Tholkappiyar’s theory of the five elements (pancha-bhuta) regarding the origin of the universe with the theories of cosmic evolution proposed by Western scholars. Furthermore, it examines the "healers" (both male and female) who diagnosed ailments affecting the body and mind, as well as the "Vayurai" medical practices that utilized medicinal herbs such as neem and kadukkai (haritaki). The article also elucidates physiological insights—such as how stress and mental agitation induce high blood pressure and lead to heart disease—and highlights the mathematical precision of ancient scholars who accurately calculated the female fertile period as twelve days.

In conclusion, the article affirms that long before literature laid the foundation for modern scientific advancement, Tholkappiyam—a grammatical treatise predating such literature—beautifully documented scientific elements like natural phenomena, medicine, and mathematics, thereby serving as the philosophical and scientific foundation of ancient Tamil civilization.

Keywords

• தொல்காப்பியம்
• உலகத் தோற்றம்
• ஐம்பூதங்கள்
• நோய் மருங்கறிஞர்
• கணக்கியல்