CH8. Sangam Age

• The Sangam Age is an important chapter in the history of South India.

• According to Tamil legends, there were three Sangams (Academies of Tamil poets) known as Muchchangam.

• These Sangams flourished under the royal patronage of the Pandyas.

• The first Sangam, held at Then Madurai, was attended by gods and legendary sages, but no literary work from this Sangam is available.

• The second Sangam was held at Kapadapuram; all literary works perished except Tolkappiyam.

• The third Sangam was held at Madurai, founded by Mudathirumaran, attended by many poets who produced extensive literature, though only a few works have survived.

• These Tamil literary works serve as important sources to reconstruct the history of the Sangam Age.

Sangam Literature

• The Sangam literature corpus includes Tolkappiyam, Ettutogai, Pattuppattu, Pathinenkilkanakku, and two epics – Silappathigaram and Manimegalai.

• Tolkappiyam, authored by Tolkappiyar, is the earliest Tamil literary work; it focuses on Tamil grammar and provides information on the political and socio-economic conditions of the Sangam period.

• Ettutogai or Eight Anthologies consists of eight works: Aingurunooru, Narrinai, Aganaooru, Purananooru, Kuruntogai, Kalittogai, Paripadal, and Padirruppattu.

• Pattuppattu or Ten Idylls consists of ten works: Thirumurugarruppadai, Porunararruppadai, Sirupanarruppadai, Perumpanarruppadai, Mullaippattu, Nedunalvadai, Maduraikkanji, Kurinjippattu, Pattinappalai, and Malaipadukadam.

• Both Ettutogai and Pattuppattu are divided into two main groups: Aham (love) and Puram (valour).

• Pathinenkilkanakku contains eighteen works mostly dealing with ethics and morals, with the most important being Tirukkural authored by Thiruvalluvar.

• The epics Silappathigaram by Elango Adigal and Manimegalai by Sittalai Sattanar provide valuable information on Sangam polity and society.

Other Sources

• Greek authors like Megasthenes, Strabo, Pliny, and Ptolemy mention the commercial contacts between the West and South India.

• Asokan inscriptions refer to the Chera, Chola, and Pandya rulers located south of the Mauryan empire.

• The Hathikumbha inscription of Kharavela of Kalinga also mentions the Tamil kingdoms.

• Excavations at Arikkamedu, Poompuhar, Kodumanal, and other sites reveal the overseas commercial activities of the Tamils.

Period of Sangam Literature

• The chronology of Sangam literature remains disputed among scholars.

• A key point in Sangam chronology is that Gajabhagu II of Sri Lanka and Cheran Senguttuvan of the Chera dynasty were contemporaries.

• This fact is confirmed by Silappathigaram, as well as the Dipavamsa and Mahavamsa.

• Numerous Roman coins issued by Roman emperors of the first century A.D. have been found in various places in Tamil Nadu.

• Based on literary, archaeological, and numismatic evidence, the probable date of Sangam literature is fixed between the 3rd century B.C. and 3rd century A.D.

Political History

Cheras

• The Tamil country during the Sangam Age was ruled by three dynasties: Chera, Chola, and Pandyas.

• The political history of these dynasties is traced from literary references.

• The Chera dynasty ruled parts of modern Kerala with their capital at Vanji.

• Important Chera seaports were Tondi and Musiri.

• The Cheras used palmyra flowers as their garland.

• The Pugalur inscription of the 1st century A.D. mentions three generations of Chera rulers.

• Padirruppattu also provides information about Chera kings.

• Famous Chera rulers include Perum Sorru Udhiyan Cheralathan, Imayavaramban Nedum Cheralathan, and Cheran Senguttuvan.

• Cheran Senguttuvan belonged to the 2nd century A.D. and his younger brother was Elango Adigal, author of Silappathigaram.

• Senguttuvan’s notable military achievement was his expedition to the Himalayas, defeating many North Indian monarchs.

• He introduced the Pattini cult or worship of Kannagi as the ideal wife in Tamil Nadu.

• The idol stone of Kannagi was brought by him after his Himalayan expedition.

• The consecration ceremony of the Kannagi idol was attended by many princes, including Gajabhagu II of Sri Lanka.