Poetic Excellence of the Women Poets in Kurunthogai

குறுந்தொகைப் பெண்பாற் புலவர்களின் கவியாற்றல்

Abstract

Sangam literature not only portrays the lifestyle of the Tamil people who lived several thousand years ago but also reflects the life and sensibility of the poets who created those works. The literature reveals that the women poets of the Sangam period possessed remarkable poetic talent. This article focuses on exploring the poetic excellence of the women poets in Kurunthogai. In the social context of the Sangam period, economic activities and participation in warfare were primarily considered men’s duties. Men often lived in external or public environments, while women mostly belonged to the inner or domestic sphere (agam). Hence, the poems of women poets in Kurunthogai are deeply rooted in the emotional dimensions of family, relationships, community, and personal experience. The emotions expressed in these poems still resonate with readers today, stirring a profound sense of empathy and sensitivity. Compared to male poets, women poets were able to record the emotional and psychological states of women with greater depth and authenticity.