Abstract

The Marutham landscape of Sangam literature documents a traditional ecological knowledge system that integrates soil, water, climate, crops and human society, and many elements of this knowledge persist in the agricultural practices of farmers in Erode District. This study selects agriculture-related poems through purposive sampling from Ainkurunuru, Kuruntokai, Natrinai, Akananuru, Purananuru, Pattinappalai and Porunaratrupadai, along with Tolkappiyam and Thirukkural, and compares them with the local agricultural knowledge of the Cauvery, Bhavani, Noyyal, Lower Bhavani and Kalingarayan irrigation regions. The Marutham poems document five components of resilience knowledge: fixing sowing periods from seasonal indicators; storing and distributing water through tanks, ponds and canals; choosing crops and manure according to soil characteristics; a diversified agro-ecosystem integrating fields, ponds, fish and trees; and shared responsibility between the state and communities for protecting water resources. These elements connect directly with contemporary practices in the Erode region, including canal irrigation, mixed cropping, the revival of millets, the Korangadu grazing system and local seasonal forecasting. The study argues that Sangam ecological knowledge should be viewed not merely as historical information but as a knowledge framework that offers valuable insights for climate-smart agriculture. By examining the continuity, transformation and applicability of this knowledge in Erode and its surrounding regions, it highlights the potential of traditional ecological practices to contribute to sustainable agriculture and climate resilience.

Keywords

References

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How to Cite

Hemalatha, T., Kavitha, N. M., & Muthuramya, D. (2026). சங்க இலக்கியச் சூழலியல்: மருதத்திணையின் நிலைத்த வேளாண்மை அறிவும் காலநிலைத் தாங்குதிறனும் – ஈரோடு மற்றும் சுற்று வட்டாரப் பகுதிகளை மையமாகக் கொண்ட ஓர் ஆய்வு: Sangam Literary Ecology: Sustainable Agricultural Knowledge and Climate Resilience of the Marutham Landscape – A Study Focusing on Erode and Its Surrounding Regions. KALANJIYAM - International Journal of Tamil Studies, 10(05), 25-44. https://ngmtamil.in/kalanjiyam-tamil/index.php/kalanjiyam/article/view/993
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