Abstract
The central finding of this study is that the Aintiṇai (five landscapes) theory of Sangam literature presents the landscape not merely as a backdrop to human life but as an active ecological environment that shapes habitation, occupation, food, water resources, human–animal relationships and seasonal adaptation. Through the tripartite framework of mutaṟporuḷ, karupporuḷ and uripporuḷ formulated in Tolkappiyam, the five landscapes – Kurinji, Mullai, Marutham, Neithal and Palai – reveal a continuous relationship among land, resources, occupation, habitation and social relations. Integrating the human-ecology and ecocritical approaches, the study analyses selected poems from Kuruntokai, Natrinai, Ainkurunuru, Akananuru, Kalittokai, Purananuru and Pattuppattu, and reads their ecological elements comparatively with the present-day geography of Erode District: the Sathyamangalam–Thalavadi–Bargur hills and forests, the Cauvery–Bhavani–Noyyal riverine plains and the interior lands subject to seasonal drought. Because Erode is landlocked, Neithal is approached only as a comparative framework. Sangam society shows elements of sustainable living – a local-resource economy, seasonal shifts of occupation, dietary diversity, livestock–agriculture integration and habitation sited by water – expressed not in the modern vocabulary of "environmental conservation" but as practices of living in accordance with particular ecological conditions. This traditional ecological knowledge offers a comparative perspective on Erode's present challenges, including water scarcity, human–wildlife conflict and changing cropping patterns.
References
13 references- Baskaran, N., Sathishkumar, S., Vanitha, V., Arjun, M., Keerthi, P., & Bandhala, N. G. (2024). Unveiling the hidden causes: Identifying the drivers of human–elephant conflict in Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, Western Ghats, Southern India. Animals, 14(22), Article 3193. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14223193
- Caṅka ilakkiyaṅkaḷ: Kuṟuntokai, Naṟṟiṇai, Aiṅkuṟunūṟu, Akanāṉūṟu, Kalittokai, Puṟanāṉūṟu, Patiṟṟuppattu, Kuṟiñcippāṭṭu, Mullaippāṭṭu, Malaipaṭukaṭām, Paṭṭiṉappālai, Perumpāṇāṟṟuppaṭai [Sangam literature]. (2004). New Century Book House.
- Erode district. (n.d.). In Wikipedia.
- Ilampuranar (Commentator). (2001). Tolkāppiyam: Poruḷatikāram [Tolkappiyam: The book on subject matter]. South India Saiva Siddhanta Works Publishing Society.
- Johnpaul, V., Govindaraj, V., & Mohanarathinam, A. (2024). The ecological crisis of the Noyyal River: A comprehensive analysis. Asian Journal of Water, Environment and Pollution, 21(6), 143–149. https://doi.org/10.3233/AJW240081
- Palanisamy, G., Subramaniyan, A., Ragothaman, V., Chinnappillai, V., Ramu, S., Venkatachalam, S., Ramasamy, R., Thiruvenkatachetty, H., & Ramasamy, S. (2026). Comparison of non-linear growth models for indigenous Bargur cattle calves. Ruminants, 6(3), Article 46. https://doi.org/10.3390/ruminants6030046
- Ramasubramaniam, V. T. (Ed.). (2025). Cilappatikāram (4th ed.). Poompuhar Pathippagam.
- Rasu, S. (2007). Īrōṭu māvaṭṭa varalāṟu [History of Erode district]. Kongu Aayvu Maiyam.
- Shameer, T. T., Routray, P., Udhayan, A., Ranjan, N., Ganesan, M. G., Manimozhi, A., & Vasanthakumari, D. (2024). Understanding the patterns and predictors of human–elephant conflict in Tamil Nadu, India. European Journal of Wildlife Research, 70. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10344-024-01848-6
- Suresh, R., Suresh Kumar, D., Venkatesa Palanichamy, N., Duraisamy, M. R., & Maheswari, M. (2023). Economic impact of industrial water pollution on agriculture and rural households in Bhavani River basin of Tamil Nadu, India. Asian Journal of Agricultural Extension, Economics & Sociology, 41(7), 129–134. https://doi.org/10.9734/AJAEES/2023/v41i71954
- Tamil Nadu Tourism. (n.d.). Erode district. https://www.tamilnadutourism.tn.gov.in/index.php/tamil/destinations/erode-district
- Tirukkuṟaḷ. (1952). Gnanasambandam Pathippagam, Dharmapuram Adheenam.
- Venkatasamy, M. S. (1974). Paḻaṅkālat tamiḻar vāṇikam (caṅka kālam) [Trade of the ancient Tamils (Sangam age)]. New Century Book House.
How to Cite
Kavitha, N. M., Muthuramya, D., & Maheshwari, B. (2026). சங்க இலக்கிய ஐந்திணைகளில் மனிதச் சூழலியல்: குடியிருப்பு, வாழ்வாதாரம், தகவமைப்பு மற்றும் நிலைத்த வாழ்வியல் – ஈரோடு மாவட்டப் பகுதிகளை மையமாகக் கொண்ட ஓர் ஆய்வு: Human Ecology in the Five Landscapes of Sangam Literature: A Study of Habitation, Livelihood, Adaptation and Sustainable Living with a Focus on the Regions of Erode District. KALANJIYAM - International Journal of Tamil Studies, 10(05), 89-111. https://ngmtamil.in/kalanjiyam-tamil/index.php/kalanjiyam/article/view/996
