Marital Life in Ettuthogai

எட்டுத்தொகையில் கற்பு வாழ்க்கை

Abstract

Maheswari notes: "When lovers who lived secretly in the kalavu stage get married and live together, it becomes karpiyel. If kalavu customs conclude in marriage, it is called good conduct. The conclusion of kalavu being karpu is the foremost among the virtues emphasized by akathiṇai."¹ All Sangam texts speak of domestic life as the most excellent. All texts that speak about inner themes (akapporul) are those that praise domestic life. Only when there is peace and good governance in the country can each family live well. Ancient Tamils lived excellently as individual families. The fact that there is no sweeter life than conducting household life skillfully and in an orderly manner is shown by the truth in these lines:

"If domestic life is lived skillfully like a creeper, Is there anything sweeter than that?"²