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.