எண்வகை மெய்ப்பாடுகள் வழி புறநானூறு

Abstract

Emotion and intellect have existed since the very dawn of life. Through the course of evolution, humans refined their knowledge based on experience and their emotional expressions—termed Meippadu—based on their feelings. Tolkappiyar uses the term Meippadu to describe physical manifestations arising from internal states; etymologically, Mei signifies the body, and Padu signifies manifestation. Tamil dictionaries define Meippadu as the physical changes that occur in the body in response to mental emotions.

Tolkappiyar identifies eight specific types of emotions that humans express physically: Nagai (mirth), Azhugai (sorrow), Ilivaral (disdain/ridicule), Marutkai (wonder/awe), Achcham (fear), Perumitham (pride/valor), Veguli (anger), and Uvagai (joy). Tamils cherished love and valor as their two most vital attributes. Among the Ettuthogai (Eight Anthologies) of Sangam literature, Purananuru focuses on the theme of Puram—which deals with heroism and external conduct. Purananuru contains abundant references to these physical manifestations of emotion (Meippadu). Since Meippadu represents the physical expression of emotions unique to humans, this article examines how these eight types of manifestations are depicted within Purananuru.

Keywords

• Purananuru
• Meippadu
• Tolkappiyar
• Emotional Expression
• Valour