Not only is the Sangam Literature a literary masterpiece, it is one of the most valuable source of the society at that time. Elaborate. (250 Words)
Question on Sangam Literature
Difficulty Level: Moderate
The Sangam Age was the age of three Sangam in the Ancient Tamil Nadu called Muchchangam. The Sangams flourished under the patronage of the Pandyan rulers.
Sangam as a Literary Masterpiece
- Tolkappiyam, Pattupattu, Ettutogai form the crux of the Sangam Literature.
- Silapadigaram and Manimekalai were two prominent epics of the times.
- Tolkappiyam was a work on Tamil Grammar, but it also contained information on the socio-economic and political conditions during the Sangam Age.
- Pathinenkilkanakku had eighteen minor lessons dealing with various aspects of morality and ethics.
- Tirrukkural was an imporant written by Thiruvalluvar.
- Pattupattu consisted of 10 poems, divided into Aham and Puram.
Sangam as a Source of Information
- Example – Tolkappiyam talks about five fold division of the lands – Kurinji (hilly tracks), (hilly tracks), Mullai (pastoral), Marudam (agricultural), Neydal (coastal) and Palai (desert).
- Tolkappiyam also refers to four castes namely arasar, anthanar, vanigar and vellalar.
- Arasar – Ruling Class
- Anthanars – Sangam Polity & Religion
- Vanigars – Trade and Commerce
- Vellalars – Agriculturists
- Position of Women – Some literary sources like the poems written by female poets like Avvaiyar, Kakkaipadiniyar showed that there was respect for women.
- Poems mention a hereditary form of government during the times.
- Trade was well organized and there was high demand of foreign clothes, as talked about in Sangam Literatures.
Sangam Literature gives us a vivid picture of the polity, economy, and hierarchy in the society.