Ethical Life Structure in Pathinenkilkkanakku

பதினெண்கீழ்க்கணக்கில் அற வாழ்வியல் கட்டமைப்பு

Abstract

Tamils have not lived thinking they could live any way, but have lived thinking they must live in this particular way. The ancient Tamil literatures of Patthuppattu and Ettuthogai serve as evidence for this. The songs and anthologies that arose during the Sangam period are called "Pathinenmelkanakku," and the eighteen texts that appeared in the post-Sangam period are called "Pathinenkilkkanakku." Melkanakku and Kilkkanakku are used considering the line count of the songs. The lifestyle of Tamils was structured into two parts - akam and puram - during the Sangam period, and into three parts - aram, akam, and puram - during the post-Sangam period. Most of the Pathinenkilkkanakku consists of ethical literature. Ethical texts that arose separately about moral conduct were first included in the Pathinenkilkkanakku. Therefore, examining the ethical life structure in Pathinenkilkkanakku is the aim of this research article.