Define akam and puram poetry . Tamil, one of the classical languages of the world has a continuous history of literature for more than 2500 years. The earliest Tamil work, now extant is Tolkappiyam, a treatise on Tamil phonology, morphology, syntax and poetics. (300 B. C) The earliest Tamil literature that has come down to us is popularly known as Sangam literature.

Define akam and puram poetry.

The Pandya line of Tamil monarchs patronized three academies, one after the other, in their successive capitals namely Thenmadurai, Kapaatapuram and the temple city of modern Madurai. Sangam literature is believed to have been authored by the poets who were attached to the third Academy which flourished in Madurai from 300 B. C to 300 A. D. The poems were composed by poets drawn from almost all the sections of the ancient Tamil society and belonging to different villages and towns. These poems were later compiled and made into nine anthologies called Eṭṭuttokai and Pattuppāṭṭu.

The Akam poetry and Its Characters

The theme of love dealt with Akam is not in relation to any particular man or woman. It is love that is universal in its sweep. The ancient poets took care that even by suggestion the lovers are not to be identified. These love poems are dramatic monologues. In them, we don’t hear the voice of the composers. No poem is addressed to the reader. The characters of the Akam poetry are limited. The hero and the heroine are the main characters. The confidante of the heroine occupies the next place of importance. The other characters are the friend of the hero, the parents and brothers of the heroine, the charioteer of the hero, the aides, panan, patini, velan, hetaera, parappan, dancer, bystanders, village folk and other minor characters. Some of these characters are not vocal, but their ideas are referred to by other characters. The father and the brother of the heroine remain mute participants. There is almost no mention of the hero’s parents.

The Sevenfold Division of Akam Poetry

The Akam poems are highly conventional. They are based on well-established and strict literary tradition, the knowledge of which is a basic necessity to understand and appreciate the poems. The grammarian Tolkappiyar divides the Tamil country into four distinct geographical regions and each one of them is a world by itself. They are the pastoral, montane, riverine and littoral regions which are presided over by Lord Tirumal, Lord Murukan, Lord Indira and Lord Varuna respectively. There is also a fifth division, the wasteland, which is temporary in nature and it is presided over by Goddess Kotravai. These regions are denoted as Mullai, Kurinci, Marutam, Neythal and Palai in Sangam poems. The lands are named after the plants peculiar to the respective regions. These names, by extension of meaning also denote the Tinais, the love life of the people and the literature belonging to the Tinais.

According to Tolkappiyar, the theme of love is sevenfold. They are,

1. Kaikkilai

2. Kurinci

3. Mullai

4. Marutam

5. Neytal

6. Palai

7. Peruntinai.

Of these, Kaikkilai is unrequited love and Peruntinai is mismatched love.The other five are compositely called Aintinai (the five tinais) and Anpin Aintinai (the five structured on true love)

The Puram Poetry

The Puram division has seven Tinas or divisions corresponding to the seven divisions or Tinais of Akam. This theory is peculiar to Tolkappiyam. But in later ages, this seven fold division gave place to the twelve fold division. It is followed in the grammatical works like the Pannirupadalam and the Purapporul venba maalai. The compilers of the Sangam poems have adopted the later day classifications. According to the later tradition, the following will be the various divisions.

Vetchi – Stealing away of the cattle of the enemies
Karanthai – Redemption of the stolen cattle
Vanji – A king’s march against a foe with his armies
Kanchi – The defensive warfare by the attacked king
Uzhinai – Seize of a fort by an invader
Nochi – Defense of the fort
Tumpai – Heroic exploits and personal valour of kings and warriors
Vagai – Victory in war and excellence in other pursuits of every section of the community
Padan – Singing the glory of patrons and victorious kings and seeking rewards
Podhuviyal – Special themes dealing with higher values of life and experiences of loss and sorrow
Kaikilai – One-sided attachment
Perunthinai – Relationship between unequal people and its sorrows

Define akam and puram poetry . Every Tinai has anumber of subdivisions called Turais. Every Turai is an integral aspect of the corresponding Tinai which define the particular activity of war, the glorification of patrons, and other higher aspects of life.

The Puram poetry covers all areas of experience related to the socio-political life of ancient Tamils. Define akam and puram poetry . It also includes in it the ripe experience of wise men and saints. It ranges over vast thematic landscapes of praises of heroic exploits, just rule of kings and their munificent patronage of bards and poets and other groups of suppliants. The Puram poems form the main source of information for writing the social history of the Tamils.

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