Journal of Tamil Culture and Literature

எட்டுத்தெகையில் அரசமைப்பு

2025-02-25T10:03:48+00:00

During the Sangam period, just as there were various officials to implement the king’s orders, there were also ministers. Their primary duty was to advise the king on governance matters and provide guidance in situations of uncertainty. When the king deviated from righteous governance, it was the ministers’ responsibility to correct him. In the political structure, ministers held the highest authority next to the king. Court poets and scholars in the Sangam period played a crucial role in emphasizing ethical governance. Their praises and proverbial sayings served as moral guidelines for rulers to ensure good governance. In this way, the Sangam-era kings who ruled over Tamil lands, the citizens of that time, wise intellectuals, poets who documented historical events through their literary works, and influential figures in royal courts and warfare all contributed to shaping the political framework. The political principles that various individuals were expected to adhere to in governance have been highlighted in different places within Sangam literature through the works of poets. This research paper aims to analyze and explain the political structures reflected in the Ettuthokai literary collection, based on these insights.

நெடுநல்வாடையில் கலைகள்

2025-02-25T10:19:47+00:00

Sangam literature holds global significance and has a rich heritage of over two thousand years, standing as a classical literary masterpiece that has withstood the test of time. It provides profound insights into the antiquity and excellence of the Tamil language. This research article, titled Arts in Nedunalvaadai, explores various aspects such as an introduction, definition of art, architecture, carpentry, rainwater harvesting in palaces, sculpture, technical aspects of palace facades, the craftsmanship of Queen Pandimadevi’s bed, and painting. The article concludes with a summary of the findings.

பழங்கால இலக்கியங்களில் தமிழர்களின் வாழ்வியல் அறங்கள்

2025-02-25T10:28:29+00:00

In life, “Aram” (virtue) signifies the fundamental principles, ethical norms, and structured guidelines that ensure well-being. It encompasses morality, justice, and righteous conduct in both personal and social life. The lifestyle of Tamils is deeply rooted in socio-economic production and is a fundamental aspect of their cultural framework. This way of life has shaped essential social institutions such as family, marriage, virtue, education, art, the philosophy of love, and science. The Tamil language and literature serve as reflections of this cultural structure. The Tamil society, with its diverse goals, flourished two thousand years ago, displaying literary richness and a well-defined ethical framework. The literary heritage of the Tamils reveals that they lived with exemplary moral values, bringing glory to the world. They considered it dishonorable to refuse alms to those who came to them seeking help. Sangam literature highlights charity as a supreme virtue, as expressed in the words of poet Ezathu Bhoothan Devanar: “Uthavi Aaanmai” (Generosity is the greatest virtue). When an individual extends their thoughts beyond themselves and considers others, they come to realize their rightful place in society. The Tamil way of life was closely linked to their natural surroundings, categorizing land into five divisions - Kurunji (mountainous regions), Mullai (forests), Marutham (agricultural lands), Neithal (coastal areas), and Paalai (deserted lands). Regardless of their geographical setting, Tamils adhered to virtuous principles such as truthfulness, gratitude, self-restraint, discipline, charity, hospitality, and the dignity of household life. Sangam literature provides profound insights into how the Tamils maintained these ethical values without deviation. Their way of life was structured within a defined framework where customs and moral values were protected and revered.

திருநாவுக்கரசர் & திருமங்கையாழ்வார் பாடல்களில் மந்திரங்களின் விழுமியங்கள்

2025-02-25T10:40:50+00:00

The hymns of Thirunavukkarasar and the verses of Thirumangai Alvar are composed in a way that enriches the lives of people in society. Thirunavukkarasar’s pathigams (hymns) played a crucial role in his liberation from the hardships inflicted by Jain monks, with the divine support of Lord Shiva. The sacred five-letter mantra “Namah Shivaya” was his spiritual refuge. Similarly, Thirumangai Alvar received direct initiation of the name “Narayana” from Lord Vishnu himself, with the divine presence of Goddess Lakshmi, at the sacred site of Thirumanankollai. Inspired by this divine experience, he composed numerous verses in devotion. Thus, this article aims to explore and analyze the significance of the mantras found in the hymns of these two revered saints.

உ.வே.சா.வின் சங்க இலக்கிய உரைகளின் வழியாக அறியலாகும் உரிச்சொல்

2025-02-25T10:44:53+00:00

Grammatically, words are divided into four categories namely noun, verb, interjection and adjective. Among these, the noun and the verb are independent active morpheme. Interjections and adjectives do not function separately.. Tolkappiyar writes as morpheme which depend on the interjection, adjective, noun and verb. Although interjections and adjectives are not stand-alone adjectives, they can be considered as adjectives that change the general meaning of nouns and verbs in some places. We can identify some significant grammatical elements through the narrators of Sangam literature such as Tolkappiyam. Also, we can learn the grammatical elements of some words only through commentaries. In this way, this article highlights the arrival of adjectives found in the of Commentator U. V. Saminathaiyar’s Kurunthogai, Iynkurunooru and Purananooru commentaries, and their method of finding meaning.

நான்மணிக்கடிகை காட்டும் சமூகம்

2025-02-25T11:11:05+00:00

There are various forms of literature that accompany classical Tamil. Among them, modern literature is considered as the song of today’s society. Changes, development and beliefs can be seen in the social space from the time when man came together to live. The ancient living habits were evidence of the progress of the society. Moral literature is the literature that can show the morals of a good society. Eighteen books have been published mainly on social order and individual order. These works have revealed how the individual constructs his own virtue from social virtue, and how individual virtue becomes social virtue.
Originated during the Sangam Maruviya period, when the Kalapras built their power, these books rejected some of the life values that the Sangam lifestyle practiced. Similarly, they made the people stay under the imperial authority. In the alms books formed on this basis, the clock has an important place.

சித்தர்கள் மறுக்கும் சிலை வழிபாடு

2025-02-25T11:15:12+00:00

This study explores the worship philosophies in Siddhar literature, focusing on their views regarding idols and their outright rejection of idol worship. Siddhars, also known as Siddhadhis, emphasized the idea that divinity should not be sought elsewhere but within oneself. Their compositions strongly advocate this belief. The article delves into their novel ideologies, revolutionary thoughts, and opposition to superstitions.

சிலம்பிலும் ஆங்கில இலக்கியத்திலும் காணப்பெறும் நடையியல் உத்திகள்: ஓர் ஒப்பாய்வு

2025-02-25T11:19:21+00:00

In all great writers style is as important as the vision. Moreover, in all great writings what is said is inseparable from how it is said. This research article attempts to analyze how the ideas are expressed to convey the message. In the writings of the different writers, one can come across the different kinds of style. Every writer’s style will have its own characteristics. Yet, when one reads the texts of silappathikaram and the selected English poetry, it is obvious that various writers had used similar stylistic devices in order to decorate or to enlighten the ideas they wanted to emphasize. For instance, Elango and various English poets have used simile, metaphor, pathetic fallacy, hyperbole, inversion, apostrophe, repetition, rhetorical questions and alliteration in order to add beauty to their works. This comparative work is only a parallel study.

ஜி. நாகராஜன் சிறுகதைகளில் பெண்ணிய நோக்கு

2025-02-25T10:54:52+00:00

The emergence of fiction in Tamil literary history significantly expanded the readership of literature. Among the two major divisions of fiction, short stories played a crucial role in transforming the literary landscape. The length, style, narrative techniques, and adaptability of short stories to the fast-paced modern world have contributed to keeping this literary form vibrant. G. Nagarajan is a distinctive writer in modern Tamil literature. From the late 1950s to the 1970s, he wrote novels and short stories. His uniqueness lies in portraying the lives of marginalized individuals—those often overlooked or ignored by society—through his narratives. His works stand out for capturing the essence of these lives in a realistic manner. The purpose of this article is to analyse the depiction of female characters from a feminist perspective in select short stories chosen from his 36 short stories.

சங்கத் தமிழர் பண்பாட்டு அடையாளங்களில் தனிமனிதப் பண்புநலன்கள்

2025-02-26T08:14:11+00:00

The Sangam Tamils lived with a deep understanding of life and upheld high standards in individual virtues. They embraced good qualities, adhered to them in their daily lives, and safeguarded both themselves and their communities while living in harmony. They acquired only what was necessary, worked diligently for it, and remained steadfast in their duties. They fulfilled their responsibilities without evasion. These traits are well-documented in the historical sources of Sangam-era literature. Originating from a communal society where people lived together in cooperation, Sangam literature reflects the cultural identities of individuals and highlights their personal virtues. This research article aims to analyze and illustrate the individual virtues in the Cultural Identity of Sangam Tamils embedded within these literary works.