TAMILBOOKS
KNOW WHERE TAMILNADU IS LOCATED KNOW ABOUT TAMIL LANGUAGE
India is one of the colourful countries of the world. In the southernmost part of this country, you can see TAMIL NADU.
Tamilnadu is the repository of Indian culture, dance, music and places of worship. It has a lovely beach on the eastern side called MARINA - one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.This State, which is part of the Union of India has a population of 50 million people speaking TAMIL which is one of the ancient languages of the world.


 		Tamil language is more than 5000 years old and its literature is vast and varied. There are several classics in Tamil language covering every gamut of man's life - family,children,love,State administration,war,morality, ehics etc. The language follows a threefold classification of writing called IYAL,ISAI and NAATAKAM - prose,music and drama. It has an excellent grammar codified 5000 years ago. Tamil kings had patronised literature,dance,drama and music and built massive marvellous
temples in stones which are in good shape even today.They are standing examples of scientific architecture and fine sculpture.Tamil language is easy to learn and pleasant to speak. There are several good Tamil books on a variety of subjects - Astrology,Medicine,Novels,Poems,Cookery,Yoga etc.

HISTORY OF TAMIL LITERATURE
( COURTESY : intamm.com )


SANGA KAALAM (B.C. 3000 - A.D. 100)

The period of the three Academies of Tamil( SANGAMS - MUDHAL SANGAM, IDAI SANGAM
and KADAI SANGAM)covering a period of roughly 1700
years upto 250 A.D. This is considered to be the Golden Age of Tamil Literature.
The literature, predominantly poetry is fresh, born out of fertile imagination
takes the briefest of forms to present a picturesque panorama of the lives and
times. War and love happen to be the subject matter. The serenity and chastity
in love amply match nobility and greatness in war. What began as a supreme
effort of the most civilized people proceeds through steady progress to be
mercilessly ended by the heartless sides of the rising oceans which are reported
to have swallowed thousands of miles of the abode of this great people.
However zealous kings and patriotic poets have preserved whatever was possible
to the benefit of the succeeding generations.

SANGAM MARUVIA KAALAM : ( A.D. 100 - 500)

This period witnesses the growth of Buddhism and Jainism in the now shrinked
Tamil country. Consequently the Northern concepts and ways of life start
stamping their imprints on the Tamil Community. The origin charm of the early
Tamil Literature starts wearing Puram costumes. First long poem 'Sillpathi
Karam'. This epic is to remain unparalled and unexcelled in conception and
grandeur till the advent of the Kamba Ramayana in the 9th century A.D.
Besides this, Thirukkural which is certainly more ancient than silappadigaram
and some of the other works on ethical way of life were written during this period.

THE DARK AGE OF THE KALABHRA INTEREGGNUM

While the march of the mighty oceans have destroyed the early Tamils and their
way of life, the Kalabhra invasion during 250 A.D. decidely alters the shape of
Tamil leterature and Tamil way of life. Kalabharas, having been the sons of the
Kannada soil did not have the necessary love of Tamil to ensure its growth.
Instead the pronounced Jainist fanaticism of these rulers have more or less
destroyed the acts and literature of the Tamil people to the point of extinction.

However various treatises on Poetics began to be written along with some of the
ethical works which are grouped in Pathinen keezh kanakku - 18 literary works. The most illustrious
flower of the Dark Ages is probably the 'Muthollayiram' 900 songs each on the
Chera, Chola and the Pandya Kings.

BHAKTHI OR THE PALLAVA PERIOD (A.D. 500 - 800)

The severe austerity in matters practised by the Kalabrahs, a band of alien
wanderers who overran the Pandiya kingdom in the 3rd century suppressed
all vestiges of Tamil art and letters. The valuable contributions like music,
dance and drama of the Sangam period were suppressed. This strangling sway
had practically obliterated the Tamil way of life of the legendary past. Most of
the literary works of the Sangam period might have been destroyed.

The supression of the alien Kalabhra clan by Pandiyan Kadumkon by the end of
the 6th century had helped a revival of the ancient orthodox religions of the
land. Great spiritual perception both in Saivism and Vaishnavism towed the
entire Tamil country, sanctifying the temples by their songs, and directing the
people, the masses and the elite, towards a higher and godly way of life. The
sway of these perceptions held sway for about 13 centuries. This is called the
Bhakthi movement. The literature of this period reflects the ennobling qualities
which have come to characterise the arts, architecture etc. The simple songs of
the Bhakthi movement in elegant musical Tamil won over all the people high and
low.

CHOLA PERIOD OR THE EPIC PERIOD (A.D. 800 - 1200)

The culmination of the Bhakthi Movement can be found in the materialisation of
the Chola empire. A new golden era of political supremacy which was synonymous
with religous culture and temple buildings was thus ushered in.

Greatest of Tamil epics Kamba Ramayanam was born in this period. The
quinteseance of the entire Tamil culture of the preceding years, the broad span
of literary excellence which have been evolving through the millenia, the peak of
religious fevour which has been embracing people in all their walks of life and all
that is noble in the land and life of the Tamil as a people find their happy fusion
and exemplary delineation in Kamba Ramayanam. Other epics preceding and
following this great poet's pale into insignificance by compassion.

Another noble offspring of this period is Periapuranam. The work is in a sense a
national epic of the Tamil people, because it treats of the lives of the Saints who
lived in all the different parts of Tamilnadu, and belonged to all classes of
society, men and women, high and low, educated an uneducated. We have
among the saints princes from all the ruling dynasties of the land, as well as
men from the harijan classes; but they are all equal in the devotion and service
to God and godlymen. Sekkizhar transcends the limits of time and space and
comprises within the fold of his spiritual democracy even people who lived earlier
and who will be living later, in all the distant climes. New literary forms begin to
take shape during this period which were going to keep the literary tradition alive
for many more centuries to come.

NAYAKKAR PERIOD

The History of Tamil literature during the Chola period has recorded glorious
achievements. The Pandya period which follows does not exhibit such literary
excellence mainly because of the political instability. The end of the 13th and
the begining of the 14th century witness the capturing of power by the
Mohammedians. For about the next two hundred years, until the spread of the
Vijayanagara empire in the deep south practically there was no literary creations
but for a few commentaries on Sangam literature including Silappadhikaram and
Thirukkural. Philosophical treatises on Saiva religion were also written in poetry.
These were known as the 'Siddhantha Saastirangal'.

Although 'epic' literature of the grand scale did not appear in the literary horizon
several glittering stars started appearing and adorning the field of Tamil
Literature, known as 'Small Prabandams' or 'Sitrilakkiyangal'. These new literary
works varied in their content and structure from the earlier works. Some scholars
opine that the literature of this period reflects the lives of the common people
much more than those of the previous periods. The love of Tamil language in an
alien political atmosphere can be very much seen in some excellent poets whose
metre and rhythm have enriched our language. In fact the grand old musical
tradition can be said to have been carefuly guarded, and be said to have been
carefully guarded, and handed over to the succeeding generation by them.
Mention must be made of Arunagirinathar and his Thiruppugazh (The Diving
greatnes) and of Kumaragurupara Swamigal whose musical stanzas are still
being sung in temples with vigour and devotion.

The range and variety of the Prabandams of the period covering nearly 350 years
are quite extensive and astounding. Though same repetitions mar the guarded
literary landscape, much of trendsetting literature is born during this long period.
Common people and their way of life including their harmless pursuits and their
exemplary contentedness find happy expression in these works. The simple
lives and the special featuers of the hill tribes (Kuraver) are recorded in the
lovely lyrics of the Kuravanji literature. The common features of the agravian
society are found in the delightful pages of Pallu literature. March of war and
deeds of valour form the basis of the Bharani Literature which contains myths
and the supernatural elegantly interwoven in musical and rhythmic verses. A
variety of verses speaking of war, love, humour, valour, season, charm etc. are
cleverly compiled in Kalambagam poetry. The stages of a child's growth upto 3
years forms the subject matter of 'Pillai thamil' poetry which generally adopts
God and greatmen as the 'children' to be sung. The puranic fevour, religious
charms and astounding imagination found in these poems are unmatched by
any poetry of the world literature. A damsel sending even an inanimate object to
present her case to her lover forms the subject matter of 'Thoodhu'. It is quite
common to see even birds and animals praised to dizzy heights in these
resounding verses which succeed in portraying the lyrical longings of the love
born lady. The different emotions stirred at the sight of a Grand Procession
taken in honour of an Exemplary individual are beautifully presented in ULA.
Seven stages of a girl's growth into womanhood and the corresponding feelings
of awe, infactuation, unfulfilled love and longing associated with their
behavioural patterns are studied in minute detail in the Ulas.
Thirukkutralakkuravanji, Mukkoodal Pallu, Meenakshiammai Pillaithamil,
Kalingathu parani, and Moovar ula are glittering works in that they excel in their
poetic excellence and uncurtailed imaginary excesses. The visible thread of
religous underlining symbolises almost all the works of this period.

This period has also produced some outstanding poets like Kalamegam,
Irattaiyargal (Twins), Pugazhendhi, Paranjothiar, Villiputturar, Arunagirinathar,
Kumaraguruparar, Thayaumanavar, Andagakkavai (Blind) Veeraraghava
Mudaliar, Siva prakasa swamigal, Pattinathaar and Padikkasuppulavar. The
literary history of the Nayak period wil be incomplete if the contributions of these
greatmen are not mentioned and acknowledged. The double meaning verses of
Kalamegam speak volumes of his command of the language as well as his
unparallelled observatory skills. The songs of the Irattaiyargal mingle poems
and humour to the eternal delight of the readers. The Musical excellence and
rhythmic conformity of Arunagiri are matched only by his own store of abundant
knowledge of our epics, the puranas and the philosopical treatures of the Saiva
canon where Sivaprakasa excels by his unusual similees and original
imagination. The sense of detachment in Pattinathaar's verses are at once
thought provoking and saddening as they deeply explore the meaning of life in
meaningful verses. Thayumanavar sets the trends for universal love and
brotherhood to be able followed by Ramalingar and Bharathi during the next
century.

Though an attempt has been made to present a bird's eye-view of th literary
history of the Nayak period, many religious and ethical forms of literature like
Andathi and Satagam are not mentioned for want of space as well as the
absence of literary excellence in most of these works to come. Famous Saiva
mutts (monastries) like Thiruvavaduthurai Adeenam, Dharmapura Adeenam,
Thiruppananthal Kasi Madam, Madurai Thirugnana sambandar Thirumadam and
a host of over Veera Saiva Madams have rendered immense help in preserving
various palm leaf manuscripts in their zealous guarding and have willingly
handed them over to great publishers like Dr. U.V. Swaminathaiyer but for whom
Tamilians might not have been privileged even to see a simple verse of the
ancient Sangam and medievel period literature.

FOREIGNERS' CONTRIBUTION TO TAMIL LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE

THE CONTRIBUTION BY MOHAMMEDIAN OR ISLAMIC TAMIL POETS

Tamil people have been associated with Arabs even from the Sangam Age. But
significant presence of Islamic elders among us starts from the 12th century A.D.
Islamic literature has been enriching our language since the 17th century. The
greatest among them is Poet Umar (Umaruppulavar) whose 'Seerapuranam'
describes the valiant life of Prophet Mohammed in 5026 verses in the 'VIRTTA'
metre. . This work is known for its high imagination, sweet description and
touching dramatic excellence on the life of the great Kambar. Others like
Gunangudi Mastan Sahib, Sheik Thambi Pavalar were known for humanitarian
and devotional verses.

THE CONTRIBUTION OF THE CHRISTIAN MISSIONARIES

The saying that Tamil can immerse those who dive deep in it has been proved
beyond a shadow of doubt by the Christian Missionaries whose contribution to
Tamil can never be fully appreciated. Trade of the western countries with
Tamilnadu which has been spoken of as the treasure house of wealth brought
among traders, a host of great minds who set their foot in this soil to spread
their religion. However as they started learning Tamil their love for this language
had made them master its grammar and literature. Their contribution to the
growth and development is very more than their service to their religion. The
service of Veerama munivar to Tamil language is unparallelled. The structure
and shape of Tamil letters, exclamation and other macks for breaking sentences
into simple entities were his singular service to the cause of Tamil.

Tamils can never forget the noble service of Robert-de-Nobili (ThatvaBodagar)
Pope, Dr. Caldwell, Ziegen Balg, Francis Whyte Ellis and Iranius besides Tamil
Christian poets like Mayuram Vedanayagam Pillai and H.A. Krishnapillai. The
simplicity, social concern and the conern for women in the elegant verses of
Vedanayagam Pillai and his being the first Tamil Novel writer in the form of
'Pratapa Mudaliar Charitram' are unforgettable. The Rakshanya yatrigam by
Krishna Pillais akin to Ramayana in its poetic excellence and emotional fervour.
No doubt he is called Christain Kambar.

JAIN CONTRIBUTION TO TAMIL

Inscriptions in Shravanabelgola confirm the glorious presence of Jain ascetics in
Tamilnadu. For five centuries (A.D. 300 -A.D. 800) Jainism had deep roots in
Tamilnadu. The earliest Tamil epic Silappathikaram confirms the presence and
popularity of Jainism. In 5th century A.D. Vachanandhi established Dramila
Sangham in Madurai. Jainism was at its peak during the early reign of the
Pallavas. Mahendra Pallava and Nindra Seer Nedumaran were devotees of Jain
way of life and its principles.

Jain contribution has its negative as well as positive aspects. Their pronounced
austerity had been the cause of destruction of musical, dance and dramatic
treatises which were in high esteem during the Sangham Age. The slant towards
Sanskritisation starts with the Jains and the Buddhists whose philosophy were
introduced in that language. Epics, ethical works, grammatical works, lexicons,
Puranas, Prose etc. were the fields where Jains have made significant
contributions. Sangham poets like Ulochanar, Kalaikottu Thandanar, Kanian
Poongundranar were all Jain poets. Naaladiyar, Naanmanikkadigai, Siru
Panchamoolam, Elaadi, Pazhamozhi (Proverb) of the Padinenkilkanakku anthology
are Jain contributions. Kavyas like Jeevaka Chintamani, Valayapathi, Neelakesi,
Choodamani, Udayanakumara Kauya, Perunkadai etc. are their gifts to Tamil
grammer. Versified dictionaries called 'Nikandu' were the unique contribution of
Jain ascetics to the varied development of Tamil Poetry.

BUDDHIST CONTRIBUTION TO TAMIL :

Close on the heels of Jainism, Buddhism spread over Tamilnadu from the times
of Asoka the Great. Buddha temples were built with monastries in
Boothamanpalam, Podimangai, Poompuhar, Uraiyur, Ponpatri, Nagai and
Madurai. Poets like Podiyar and Sattanar were famous during the Sangham
period. Aravana Adigal of Manimekalai and Mani mekalai herself were staunch
followers of the Buddhist doctrine. Seethalai Chattanar, Sangamitrar,
Dharmapalar, Dighnagar, Nagakuttanar, Buddha devar etc. were famous
Buddhist poets. Manimekalai and Kundalakesi were the two epics which teach the
Buddhist way of life.

THE LAST TWO CENTURIES

After the advent of the Christian Missionaries and the development of the
Printing Press, Tamilnadu had the singular honour of getting a book in print in
the entire Asia, though it was a book on Christian Religion. Low cost books on
religion were the early service by the Christian fathers. As a first reaction Hindu
Religious works and epics in prose style started coming out. The period
represents the dawn, development and modernisation of Tamil prose. Western
literacy types like Novel, Short story, Short play, Literacy criticism, Essay etc.
began crowding the Tamil landscape. The period can be called the Age of Prose.

However the Tamil prose of this period had lot of Sanskrit and English words.
Maraimalai Adigal started the pure Tamil Movement. Vulgarism and
adulterations of alien languages were carefully reduced to bring in an era of pure
Tamil prose writing. However the style was very hard. This was followed by Sri.
Arumuga Navalar and Sri. C.V. Damodaran Pillai of Jafna in ceylon. Navalar had
done yeoman service to Saiva religion and Tamil language by his matchless
writings in Tamil Sri. Damodaram Pillai was a pioneer in finding and publishing
ancient Tamil works. But for his self-less toil we would not have had the benefit
of enjoying great old Tamil works like Kalithogai, Choodamani, etc. and the
renowned commentaries of Nachinarkiniyar Senavaraiyar on Tolkappiam,
Irayanar Kalaviyal urai etc.

This was followed by the 'Great old grand father of Tamil' Dr. U.V. Swaminatha
Iyer. As long as Tamil lives, Dr. U.V.S.'s name will remain in our memory. But
for his ceaseless toil which involved tiresome travel, unenviable toil needs the
crumbling palm leaf manuscripts of yesteryears, careful study of each script
and nothing down the various emendations after repeatedly cleaning them
without damaging the brittle little palm leaves etc. none of the Sangam Age
Poetry and medieval poetry including the great commentaries would have been
brought to print. Even in publishing Dr. U.V.S. showed unique originality and
sincerity by simplifying the meanings, providing a brief account of the author and
the content, writing clearly about the person on whom the poem was sung,
adding relevent quotes from other paralled works etc. He had the unique
distinction of having been crowned by the imortal Mahakavi Bharathi various
prose writers like Thiru. Vi. Kalyanasundaranar, Ka. Su. Pillai, R.Raghava
Iyengar. Kalyanasundaranar and a band of his followers have simplifiied the
prose style. Even Tamil dailies and weeklies carried on the torch of simplicity
and novelty brought forth by Thiru. Vi. Ka. as he is affecitonately called.

Nineteenth century poetry presents interesting contrasts. We have the toughest
poetry of Meenakshi Sundaram Pillai along with the simple poems of Vallalar
Ramalinga Swamy. His devotional poems will melt even stones. The sense of
profound humanism characterises Vallalar's poetry which seeks solace for every
poor being. Religious tolerance and integration of all people of all caste's and
creeds in his Samarasa Sanmarga Neri is a fore runner to the great leaders like
Gandhi.

The beginnings of the Nineteenth Century witnessed great musical dramas like
Nandan Charitra Keerthanai by Gopalakrishna Bharathi. The great tradition of the
previous centuries where giants like Muthu Thandavar, Marimutta Pillai and
Arunachala Kavirayar, which in turn followed the musical dramatic legacy of Pallupattu,
Kuravanji Paattu and Nondi nadayam of the earlier decodes. These songs of the
musical drama have gone into the folklore of the Tamils and they are
immensely popular even today.

Short stories and Novels excel each other during the beginning of this 20th
Century. Amidst this new trends, the towering presence of Subramanya Bharathi
adorns own literary horizon. The one poet who forged a link between the past
and the present and the future, who excelled in prose as well as in poetry, and
who exploited journalism to higher literary purpose with considerable success,
was Subramanya Bharathi. The rise of this genius synchronised with the freedom
fight and in him, we have perhaps the greatest national poet of all times. Much
of his writing was prophetic and for ahead of his times.

THOLKAPPIAM - THE OLDEST TAMIL BOOK

The oldest Tamil book available to us is the Grammatical treatise Tolkappiam.
Only through this book we can know the extent of Tamil literature prior to this
work which are not available to us now, complete perfection. Intellectual depth,
unlimited fertility, excellent classification etc. mark this great work of
Tolkappiyar. Just as oil is extracted from the oilseed, Grammar is churned out
from literature. Accordingly many literary works must have preceded
Tolkappiyam. This is further confirmed when thte author uses terms like' it is
said so', 'they say so' etc.

Tolkappiam deals with Iyal Tamil. It is divided into three books - Eluthu
(orthography), Sol (etymology) and Porul (Subject matter). While other
languages like Sanskrit have grammer for the first two, the concept of Porul
happens to the most original in conception, classificaiton and elaboration.

The first book deals with letters. The class of lettters, the place of the origin of
the sounds, and the coalescence of letters when words come together form the
subject matter.

The second book deals with words. Its nine sections deal with the class of words
(denoting higher or lower beings or things) gender and conventions, the cases
and their import, the vocative case in particular, exceptions, then words of
action, the particle and adjectives and adverbs, the last section hereof deals with
four kinds of words - the common or national words, borrowed words,
indigenous literary words and words of Sanskrit origin and their significance 12
sen - Tamil territories and their ruling dynasties are also referred to.

The third book is Porul adhikaram. Of its nine sections five deal with Aham one
with puram, one each with similes, proxidy and idioms. The Tamilian
classifications of Physiographical regions as the four - Kurinji, Mullai, Marudham
Neidal and Paalai and specifying the people who live there, their general pursuits, the
seasons and the daily hours which are special to each region, the emotions of
love that is most applicable to each reigon, the natural setting, animals and
birds and the tutelary deities - starts from Tolkappiyam. The author does not
consider Paalai desert region - as the fifth region; its classification as the fifth has
been adopted much later. Though Tolkappiar held the regions as only four he
held the conventional conduct in love poetry, tinai to be five. Along with there 5
aintinai, he added two more one sided love (Kaikkilai) and improper love
(Perumtinai). These floral symbols signify the following : Kurinji -union of the
lovers, mullai - separation; marutham - lover's, neidal - waiting on account of
separation, Paalai separation.

Just as aham means a house and a domestic life, its external counterpart
puram means mostly war in the ancient part. The activities connected with was
are also grouped under seven categories or tinai. War is not only fought on level
grounds but on certain decent codes which are singularly unique in character.

Tolkappiam opens up for us magic fields of life and thought and language and
literature, the richness and variety of which are the products of our own proud
legacy of thousands of bygone years even before the adve


TAMIL BOOKS ARE RICH AND VARIED - READ THEM
There are more than 100 publishers in Tamil nadu.More than 200 Tamil writers have produced excellent writings enriching the language,in addition to the classics in existence for several centuries.Some of the classics are:
1.THIRUKKURAL -
2.SILAPPADIKAARAM -
3.KAMBA RAMAAYANAM -
4.MAHAA BHARATHAM -
5.MANIMEKALAI -
6.PURANAANURU -
Some of the modern writers in Tamil are : 1.JAYAKANTHAN 2.BALAKUMARAN 3.SAMUTHIRAM 4.SUJATHA 5.SIVASANKARI 6.VAIRAMUTHU 6.ABDUL RAHMAN 7.MEERA
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