சங்க இலக்கிய ஐந்திணைகளின் பாரம்பரியச் சூழலியல் அறிவும் ஈரோடு மாவட்டத்தின் உள்ளூர் அறிவுமரபுகளும்: மண், நீர், பருவநிலை, தாவரங்கள் மற்றும் விலங்குகளை மையப்படுத்திய இலக்கிய–கள ஆய்வு: Traditional Ecological Knowledge in the Sangam Aintiṇai and Local Knowledge Traditions of Erode District: A Literary–Field Study of Soil, Water, Climate, Flora and Fauna

Abstract

This study presents a comparative analysis of the Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) embedded in the five landscapes (Aintiṇai) of Sangam literature – Kurinji, Mullai, Marutham, Neithal and Palai – and the contemporary local knowledge traditions of Erode District, Tamil Nadu. Drawing on literary evidence, the ecological elements of the Sangam texts, including soil, water, climate, flora and fauna, are systematically categorised and analysed to understand human–nature relationships and their practical applications in ancient life. Concurrently, a field-oriented approach is adopted to document soil types, water resources, biodiversity, climatic variation and indigenous knowledge across the diverse ecological zones of Erode District, encompassing mountainous, forest, agricultural, riverine and dryland regions. Field sites such as Sathyamangalam, Thalavadi, Asanur, Bhavani, Gobichettipalayam, Perundurai and Anthiyur are evaluated against the ecological frameworks of the five landscapes. The traditional knowledge is validated by combining literary sources with oral histories, field observations, soil and water testing, floristic and faunal documentation, and rainfall data. The findings illuminate the holistic socio-ecological nexus of land, water, flora, fauna, climate and people in the Sangam era, while highlighting its continuity, adaptation and degradation in the modern context. The study demonstrates the potential of integrating traditional ecological wisdom into contemporary conservation strategies, natural resource management and sustainable living practices.

Keywords

• Sangam literature
• Aintiṇai (five landscapes)
• traditional ecological knowledge
• soil and water
• flora and fauna
• Erode District