Dravidian Literature – UPSC Notes – Art and Culture
Dravidian Literature encompasses literary creations in four prominent Dravidian languages: Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, and Malayalam. Among these, Tamil is regarded as the oldest, displaying close linguistic ties to Sanskrit, especially in grammar and lexical borrowings. The Sangam literature, comprising classical works, holds significant prominence within the Tamil literary tradition. This article delves into notable literary works across diverse Dravidian languages.
Tamil (Sangam) Literature
The term ‘Sangam’ signifies a fellowship, and this literary tradition enjoyed widespread popularity among the general public. Comprising approximately 2381 poems attributed to 473 poets, along with a body of work from 102 anonymous poets, this collection spanned individuals from diverse social classes.
The literary legacy gained such immense popularity that the era between 300 BC and 300 AD, when the majority of these compositions were written and compiled, is commonly referred to as the Sangam period.
Sangam literature is characterized by two significant schools:
- Aham/agam – The ‘inner field,’ delving into abstract discussions of human aspects like love and sexual relations.
- Puram – The ‘outer field,’ exploring human experiences such as social life, ethics, valor, and customs.
The nomenclature ‘Sangam’ is derived from the fact that the kingdom of Pandya hosted assemblies known as ‘Sangamas.’ Poets, bards, and writers from across South India gathered at these events, and the literature produced during these assemblies is known as Sangam literature.
Over a span of 600-700 years, three Sangams were organized, contributing significantly to the rich tapestry of Tamil literary heritage.
Sangam Periods: Kingdom, Organization, and Contributions
- First or Head Sangam Period
- Kingdom: Pandya
- Place of Organization: Madurai
- Chairman: Agastya or Shiva
- Books: No surviving book; Grammar was Agattiyam.
- Second or Middle Sangam Period
- Kingdom: Pandya
- Place of Organization: Kapatapuram
- Chairman: Initially, Agastya; later succeeded by his disciple Tolkappiyar.
- Books: Tolkappiyam, comprising approximately 2,000 poems. It serves as a Tamil grammar textbook explaining the inflection and syntax of words and sentences, as well as the classification of habitats, animals, plants, and humans.
- Third Sangam Period
- Kingdom: Pandya
- Place of Organization: Madurai
- Chairman: Nakkirar
- Contributions: This period witnessed the creation of the majority of the existing Sangam literature corpus.
Key Developments in Tamil Literature Heritage
In the existing Sangam literature, about 30,000 lines of poetry are organized into eight anthologies called Ettuttokoi, which are further categorized into:
- Patinenkil Kanakku (eighteen lower collections): This older and historically significant group coexists with the ten songs known as Pattupattu.
- The revered Tamil saint, Thiruvallurar, contributed the timeless ‘Kural’ to Sangam literature.
- Another esteemed female saint, Avvaiyar, made significant contributions to Sangam literature.
- The creation of Tolkappiyam aimed to elaborate on the nuances of Tamil grammar and poetry.
In the sixth century AD, akin to the twin Sanskrit epics Ramayana and Mahabharata, Tamil boasts two major texts:
- Silappadikaram (Story of an Anklet) by Ilango Adigal.
- Manimekalai (Story of Manimekalai), the second text penned by Sattanar, explores societal, economic, and political changes during that era.
A pivotal shift occurred in the early medieval period when Vaishnava Bhakti sentiments permeated Tamil literature. Texts from the seventh to twelfth centuries were predominantly devotional, authored by the twelve Alvars or saint poets deeply immersed in God’s devotion. Among them, Andal, a woman, stood as a noteworthy Alvar saint.
On the flip side, the Nayanars, devoted to singing the praises of Shaivism, formed another significant Bhakti group. Additionally, two major poets known as Periya Puranam and Kambaramayanam gained prominence in secular Tamil writing.
Malayalam Literature
Malayalam, predominantly spoken in Kerala and its environs, has a rich literary tradition. Despite linguistic debates on its origin in the 11th century, the language rapidly evolved into an independent entity with a substantial corpus of literature within a mere four hundred years.
Major literary contributions from the medieval period include works such as Kokasandisan and Bhasa Kautilya, a commentary on Arthashastra. The 13th century witnessed the creation of the epic poem Ramacharitam by Cheeraman, adding significant depth to Malayalam literature.
A pivotal figure in Malayalam literary history is Ezhuthachan, hailed as the father of Malayalam literature. A devoted supporter of the Bhakti movement, Ezhuthachan’s contributions played a crucial role in shaping the cultural and literary landscape of the Malayalam language.
Telugu Literature
Linguists attribute the distinction of the first Telugu poet to Nannaya in the 11th century. While Telugu literature has seen various noteworthy works, its zenith was reached during the Vijayanagara period, renowned as the golden age of Telugu literary excellence.
One of the eminent court poets during this era was Nachana Somanatha, associated with King Bukka I, who crafted the highly successful work titled Uttaraharivamsam. The cultural milieu was vibrant, not only with court poets like Somanatha but also with royal figures like Krishnadevaraya (1509-1529), who produced remarkable poetry such as Amuktamalyada.
Krishnadevaraya’s court boasted the presence of eight erudite literary figures, collectively known as the ashtadiggajas. Notable among them were:
- Allasani Peddana (Andhra Kavita Pitamaha): Manucharitam
- Nandi Thimmana: Parijathapaharanam
- Tenali Ramakrishna: Panduranga Mahatmayam
- Ramaraja Bhushanudu (Bhattumurti): Vasucharitram, Narasabhupaliyam, Harishchandra Nalopakhyanam, Madayyagari Mallana: Rajashekharacharitra (depicting the love and war of King Rajasekhara of the kingdom of Avanti)
- Ayyalaraju Ramabhadrudu: Ramabhyudayam
- Akalakathasara
These literary luminaries collectively contributed to the rich tapestry of Telugu literature during this prolific period.
Kannada Literature
The initiation into Kannada literature was led by Jain scholars, with prominent works reflecting Jain influence. Notably, Madhava’s Dharmanathapurana, a fifteenth Tirthankara’s biography, stands as a prime example.
Kavirajamarga, composed by Nripatunga Amoghavarsha I in the tenth century, emerges as one of the earliest recorded Kannada texts. Nripatunga, a powerful Rashtrakuta king, played a dual role as both writer and ruler.
The pinnacle of Kannada literary excellence is embodied by the ‘ratnatraya’ or ‘three gems’: Pampa, Ponna, and Ranna. Pampa, revered as the “Father of Kannada,” penned masterpieces like Adipurana and Vikramarjuna Vijaya in the tenth century. He showcased profound mastery of poetic rasa while serving in the court of Chalukya Arikesari.
Ponna, the second gem, authored the renowned treatise Shanti Purana, while Ranna, the third gem, contributed Ajitanatha Purano. Both poets were associated with Rashtrakuta king Krishna III’s court.
Despite Kannada’s full-fledged linguistic status by the tenth century, its literary growth intertwined closely with the patronage of the Vijayanagara empire.
Remarkable figures like Sarvajna, renowned for his tripadi, earned the title of the people’s poet. Equally noteworthy is Honnamma, the first celebrated Kannada poetess, credited with writing Hadibadeya Dharma (Duty of a Devout Wife).
Several major works further enrich Kannada literature, including:
- Harishvara: Harishchandra Kavya, Somanatha Charita
- Bandhuvarma: Harivamshabhyudaya, Jiva Sambodhana
- Rudra Bhata: Jagannathavijaya
- Andayya: Madana Vijaya or Kabbigara Kava (first pure Kannada text without Sanskrit)
- Kesirja: Shabdamanidarpana (Grammar book)
- Mallikarjuna: Suktisudharnava
- Narahari: Tarave Ramayana (first Kannada story on Rama, inspired by Valmiki Ramayana)
- Lakshamisha: Jaimini Bharata (also known as Kamata-Karicutavana-Chaitra)
The Dravidian languages, notably Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, and Malayalam, boast a rich literary heritage dating back to the inception of the Christian era. The roots of Tamil Sangam literature may even stretch further into the centuries preceding the Christian era. Named after the Sangam academies, which thrived during this epoch under the royal sponsorship of the Pandya kings of Madurai, these literary gatherings attracted eminent scholars who served as discerning critics. The outcome of these deliberations was the creation of anthologies, representing some of the earliest examples of Dravidian literature.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Dravidian Languages:
1. What are the 4 Dravidian languages with the most speakers?
- Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam are the Dravidian languages with the most speakers, listed in descending order of the number of speakers.
2. What is the Dravidian language?
- Dravidian languages are a family of 24 languages indigenous to and primarily spoken in South Asia by over 214 million people. Major literary languages among them include Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam.
3. Is Sanskrit Aryan or Dravidian?
- Sanskrit is not a Dravidian language; it is associated with the Indo-Aryan culture. The Dravidian literary languages include Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam.
4. Which is the purest Dravidian language?
- Tamil is considered the purest and oldest language among the Dravidian family. It is the state language of Tamil Nadu.
5. Which is the oldest language of the Dravidians?
- Among the four literary languages in the Dravidian family, Tamil is recognized as the oldest, with examples dating back to the early Common Era.
6. Is Sanskrit older than Tamil?
- No, Tamil is older than Sanskrit. Records of the Tamil language date back to the third century BCE, while records of the Sanskrit language date to the second century BCE. Tamil is still in everyday use, whereas Sanskrit is primarily used for religious and literary purposes today and died out around 600 BCE.
For Daily Current Affairs Click Here
Join our Official Telegram Channel HERE
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel HERE
Follow our Instagram ID HERE
