Vol. 5 No. 02 (2026): Special Issue - Kalanjiyam March 2026

சங்க இலக்கியம் மற்றும் தேவாரத் திருமுறைகளில் பல்லுயிர்ச் சூழலியல், தத்துவப் பரிணாமம் மற்றும் யாப்பமைதிகள்: ஒரு பன்முக ஆய்வு

Special Issue Editor:

முனைவர் அ. ஆத்தீஸ்வரி, இணைப் பேராசிரியர், தமிழ்த்துறை., மதுரைக் கல்லூரி (தன்னாட்சி), மதுரை-11.

Dr. A. Atheeswari, Associate Professor, Department of Tamil, The Madura College (Autonomous), Madurai -11, Tamilnadu, India.

* Correspondence: Email: sumasumathi930@gmail.com

DOI: https://doi.org/10.63300/tirjts05sp022026

Published: 26-02-2026

Articles

தமிழ்ச் செவ்வியல் மற்றும் பக்தி இலக்கியத் தலங்களின் பின்னணியில் உயிரினங்கள்: ஒரு விரிவான சூழலியல் மற்றும் பண்பாட்டு ஆய்வு Fauna in the Context of Tamil Classical and Bhakti Literature Sites: A Comprehensive Ecological and Cultural Study
Dr. A. Atheeswari Associate Professor, Department of Tamil, The Madura College (Autonomous), Madurai -11, Tamilnadu, India. India
- Full text PDF
The Tamil literary tradition spans a continuous history of over two thousand years. Throughout this history, nature does not exist merely as a backdrop but thrives as a living force intertwined with human life and emotions. This article extensively examines the descriptions of living organisms in Sangam literature and medieval Bhakti literature, particularly the Devaram hymns, through the lenses of Ecocriticism and Biodiversity Conservation.

The study explains how the Sangam-era 'Thinai' theory aligns with modern biomes, and how animal behaviors were transformed into human ethics. Furthermore, it provides a detailed analysis of the precision with which the Devaram Trinity categorized organisms while singing of the natural beauty of sacred sites. It also explores how mythological legends involving animals—such as the elephant and spider at Thiruvanaikaval—have influenced architecture and spiritual culture. Finally, this research reveals how biological data found in Sangam poems serves as foundational data for modern wildlife conservation studies.

Pages: 1-12

DOI: https://doi.org/10.63300/tirjts05sp0220260101

Views: 0 Downloads: 0
Dr. A. Atheeswari (1)
- (1) Associate Professor, Department of Tamil, The Madura College (Autonomous), Madurai -11, Tamilnadu, India.
1-12

DOI: https://doi.org/10.63300/tirjts05sp0220260101
0 0
சங்க இலக்கியம் மற்றும் தேவாரப் பாடல்களில் பல்லுயிர் ஓம்புதலும் உயிரினச் சித்தரிப்புகளும்: ஒரு சூழலியல் மற்றும் குறியீட்டியல் ஆய்வு Biodiversity Conservation and Faunal Depictions in Sangam Literature and Devaram Hymns: An Ecological and Symbolic Study
Dr. A. Atheeswari Associate Professor, Department of Tamil, The Madura College (Autonomous), Madurai -11, Tamilnadu, India. India
- Full text PDF
This study provides a detailed analysis of how living organisms have been utilized as literary devices across two distinct periods of Tamil literature: the Sangam and Bhakti eras. In Sangam literature, fauna are employed through symbolic techniques such as Ullurai Uvamam (implied metaphor) and Iraichi (inferred meaning) within Akathinai (interior/love) poetry. The behaviors of parrots, peacocks, elephants, and tigers serve as potent symbols to illustrate the romantic nuances between the hero and the heroine.

In the Devaram hymns, natural descriptions are leveraged to showcase the sanctity and fertility of sacred landscapes (Thiruthalangal). Furthermore, the study describes the symbolic significance of mythical creatures, such as the Yali, found in temple architecture and sculptures. Ultimately, this research synthesizes the necessity of preserving the biodiversity recorded in these texts and explores the solutions offered by ancient Tamil literature for addressing the modern ecological crisis.

Pages: 13-22

DOI: https://doi.org/10.63300/tirjts05sp0220260102

Views: 0 Downloads: 0
Dr. A. Atheeswari (1)
- (1) Associate Professor, Department of Tamil, The Madura College (Autonomous), Madurai -11, Tamilnadu, India.
13-22

DOI: https://doi.org/10.63300/tirjts05sp0220260102
0 0
தேவார இயற்கை வருணனைகளின் நிலைப்பாட்டியலில் பரம்பொருள் தத்துவங்கள்: ஒரு விரிவான ஆய்வு Divine Philosophies in the Situational Context of Devaram’s Natural Descriptions: A Comprehensive Study
Dr. A. Atheeswari Associate Professor, Department of Tamil, The Madura College (Autonomous), Madurai -11, Tamilnadu, India. India
In the history of Tamil literature, the Bhakti Movement is regarded as a monumental social, religious, and literary renaissance. Specifically, within the Panniru Thirumurai—the foundational texts of Saivism—the first seven volumes, known as the Devaram, represent a pinnacle of both poetic and philosophical excellence. These hymns, graced by the Moovar Mudhaligal (St. Thirugnanasambandar, St. Thirunavukkarasar, and St. Sundaramurthi Swamigal), do not merely approach the Almighty as an abstract philosophical entity but perceive Him as the very essence of nature and the foundation of the universe.

This research paper deeply analyzes how the natural descriptions recurring in the Devaram hymns illustrate the attributes of the Param-porul (Supreme Being). It explains in detail how the Saiva Thirumurais internalize the 'Ullurai Uvamam' (implied metaphor) technique inherited from Sangam literary tradition, transforming natural elements into symbols that explain spiritual truths.

The study focuses on the beauty of the Lord’s form, the philosophical symbolism of His ornaments, the experience of Sivanubhava expressed through the actions of animals and birds, and the ritualistic significance of flowers. Furthermore, it describes—with supporting data—how the three core truths of Saiva Siddhanta (Pathi - God, Pasu - Soul, and Paasam - Bondage) are interwoven into descriptions of nature, and how these hymns were systematized during the Chola period to become a definitive social identity.

Pages: 23-34

DOI: https://doi.org/10.63300/tirjts05sp0220260103

Views: 0 Downloads: 0
Dr. A. Atheeswari (1)
- (1) Associate Professor, Department of Tamil, The Madura College (Autonomous), Madurai -11, Tamilnadu, India.
23-34

DOI: https://doi.org/10.63300/tirjts05sp0220260103
0 0
பாடாண்திணையின் வகைமை நோக்கில் தேவாரம்: பக்தி இலக்கியப் பரிணாமம் மற்றும் புறப்பொருள் மரபுகளின் மீள்வாசிப்பு Devaram through the Lens of Padan Thinai: The Evolution of Bhakti Literature and a Rereading of Purapporul Traditions
Dr. A. Atheeswari Associate Professor, Department of Tamil, The Madura College (Autonomous), Madurai -11, Tamilnadu, India. India
- Full text PDF
In the history of Tamil literature, the transition from the Sangam era to the Bhakti era represents a monumental journey from land-based human praise to transcendental divine glorification. At the heart of this evolution lies the 'Padan Thinai' (the genre of praise), a tradition of Purapporul (heroic/external themes).

Attributes such as fame, strength, philanthropy, and grace, which were attributed to kings and patrons in Sangam literature, were transformed in the 7th and 8th-century Devaram hymns into tools to extol the supreme power of Lord Shiva. This article extensively investigates how the sub-themes (thuraigal) of Padan Thinai—defined by Tolkappiyam and Purapporul Venba Maalai—deeply influenced the hymns of the Trinity (Thirugnanasambandar, Thirunavukkarasar, and Sundaramurthi Nayanar). Specifically, it examines themes such as Kadavul Vazhathu (invocation), Poovai Nilai (comparing a deity to the kaya flower), Iyanmozhi Vazhathu (extolling natural virtues), Parisil Thurai (seeking gifts/grace), and Kadavul Maattu Maanida Pendir Nayandha Pakkam (divine bridal mysticism).

Furthermore, this textual analysis aligns the Ashta Veerata (eight heroic deeds) of the Lord with the bravery depicted in Purathinai, and the pleas of devotees with the Parisil Thurai (the poet's request for patronage). This paper establishes that Bhakti literature is a direct continuation of the Sangam tradition and illustrates how it functioned as a catalyst for social and spiritual transformation.

Pages: 35-44

DOI: https://doi.org/10.63300/tirjts05sp0220260104

Views: 0 Downloads: 0
Dr. A. Atheeswari (1)
- (1) Associate Professor, Department of Tamil, The Madura College (Autonomous), Madurai -11, Tamilnadu, India.
35-44

DOI: https://doi.org/10.63300/tirjts05sp0220260104
0 0
தேவாரத் திருமுறைகளில் யாப்பமைதிகள்: ஓர் ஆழமான பனுவல் ஆய்வு Prosodic Structures in the Devaram Hymns: A Deep Textual Analysis
Dr. A. Atheeswari Associate Professor, Department of Tamil, The Madura College (Autonomous), Madurai -11, Tamilnadu, India. India
- Full text PDF
In the history of Tamil literature, the Bhakti period is considered a golden age for both linguistic development and the evolution of prosodic structures. Specifically, the Devaram pathigams (hymns) that emerged in the 7th century provided a new dimension to Tamil poetry.

This article extensively analyzes the various prosodic structures utilized in the Devaram. Through a textual study, it explains how complex poetic forms such as Idaimadakku (interstitial repetition), Egapatham, Ezhukutrirukkai (seven-tiered arrangement), Chakkaramatru, and Maalaimatru (palindromes) function in harmony with devotional sentiment.

Furthermore, it highlights the close relationship between Isaitamil (musical Tamil) and prosody, illustrating how saints like Thirugnanasambandar masterfully employed intricate poetic techniques like Chithirakkavi (visual/pattern poetry). The structure of the Devaram hymns is subjected to critical scrutiny against the backdrop of grammatical treatises like Yapparungalakkarigai. This paper explains the link between ancient Tamil musical traditions and prosody, while also discussing the contributions of modern Devaram scholars.

Pages: 45-56

DOI: https://doi.org/10.63300/tirjts05sp0220260105

Views: 0 Downloads: 0
Dr. A. Atheeswari (1)
- (1) Associate Professor, Department of Tamil, The Madura College (Autonomous), Madurai -11, Tamilnadu, India.
45-56

DOI: https://doi.org/10.63300/tirjts05sp0220260105
0 0

Vol. 5 No. 02 (2026): Special Issue - Kalanjiyam March 2026

Articles

தேவாரத் திருமுறைகளில் யாப்பமைதிகள்: ஓர் ஆழமான பனுவல் ஆய்வு Prosodic Structures in the Devaram Hymns: A Deep Textual Analysis

Journal Info

Information

ADDITIONAL MENU

Contact Address

Publisher