Society and Virtue in Sangam Literature
சங்க இலக்கியத்தில் சமூகமும் அறமும்
Abstract
In Sangam literature, poets vividly depicted the scenes they observed and their personal experiences. The so-called Sangam Ilakkiyangal—the Ettuthokai and Pattuppattu—play a crucial role in illustrating the life and values of the ancient Tamils. These literary works showcase kings who ruled with virtue, poets with refined aesthetic sensibilities, and the culture of hospitality where guests were honored, even if they were destitute, bringing prosperity to otherwise meager lives. Themes such as gifts, valor, love, fame, and education form the foundation of Sangam literature. Sangam poems thus serve as a treasury of knowledge, reflecting the lifestyle, principles, and societal norms of Tamil communities during the Sangam period.
References
Hart, George L., Poems of the Tamil Sangam, Columbia University Press, New York, 1975.
Ramasubramaniam, M.A., Pathinen Kaanakku Collection, Chellappa Publications, Madurai, 1999.
Mudaliar, P. Viswanatha, Sangam Literature and Tamil Society, University of Madras Press, Chennai, 2005.
Pillai, S. Venkatesan, Sangam Poetry: Society, Culture, and Morality, Annamalai University Publications, Chidambaram, 2008.
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