The ancient Tamils excelled in culture and civilization. It is known through the literature that they were virtuous and exalted by following the individual and social discipline.
In this part we will learn about antiquity of Tamil culture through notes, archaeological evidence, inscriptions, coins, certificates by foreigners. And it also explains about news related to Tamilian’s internal family life and external social and business life.
Culture is the expression of consensus and behavior of the people living in the society.Culture is the lifestyle of people living in a particular land. Every human society has a culture. So it is vital to know the antiquity and the excellence of our culture.
Cultivate (பண்படு)is the root of the word culture பண்பாடு. Cultivate means refining and modifying. T.K. Chidambaranathanar first used the word panpadu. It is like the farmer who cultivate the soil to improvise the crop, human beings should refine their mind with great thoughts to improvise the humanity.
Tholkappiyam says that ‘World means civilized people’. Civilized people refers to those people who have good culture.‘ பண்பெனப்படுவது பாடறிந்து ஒழுகுதல்’ Means one should behave according to the behaviour of the people around him. According to Thiru valluvar the world is living due to the virtuous people only. Through this, it is clear that people should develop high qualities like love, affection, fame, get the support of elders and humanity to uplift themselves. So, the language, food, clothing, lifestyle, business, and thoughts of man are factors that express culture.
Tamil Culture refers to the unique cultural elements that are maintained through Tamil language, attachment to motherland, through Tamil traditions, history, values, arts and social, economic and political platforms.
Although Tamil culture has long maintained, revised, and improved elements, it is a dialectical culture that is constantly undergoing change.
Origin of Tamils
There are four types of views on Tamil origin. One hypothesis
is that Tamils lived in Kumarikandam. The second hypothesis
is that they the tribes of South India. The third
hypothesis is that they are the descendants of the people who
came to South India via Arabian sea from Africa in ancient
times. The fourth hypothesis is that they reached
South India over time from the Central Asia and North Indian
Territories. Whatever it is Tamilians are one of the archetypal
ethnic groups. Tamils, therefore, have embraced
cultural elements such as art, faith, customs, language and
values.
Evidence that reveals antiquity
Many evidences are there that Tamils excelled in culture from
the beginning. They can be classified as literary evidence,
foreigner's notes, and archaeological evidence.
Hospitality
Sangam literatures tells that hospitality is the foremost duty of husband and wife. Those who are travelling long distances, carrying food along with them is impossible. For those travellers the people in the houses in their routes provided food. In Sangam era people stood in the gate of the house to provide food to hungry people. Before closing the door at night they used to check the front of the house to confirm that no hungry people were there. We learned this quality of Sangam era from a Natrinai poem. (insert poem)
Even if the guests were late at night they provided food happily. Meat mixed and cooked with clarified ghee was usually given to guests at night. They never ate the food alone while hungry people were standing in their gate. This is called hospitality according to Tamils. They entertained the guests like the cow’s love to newborn calf, with smile, nice words and attention. They served food in a sparkled vessels to make the guests happy.
Tamil people had the habit of eating food only after serving the guests. We can learn from Avvayar poem that Tamilians served the guests with smile and patience even if they come daily alone or with some others. The shepherds when going out for grazing their cattle, carried food in a bamboo stick and had tied that in cow’s neck. If they met any hungry person on the way, they shared their food with them.
Madainul explains the way of cooking during ancient times. Food related news articles are found in sirupanatruppadai, perunkathai, Manimekalai. Can learn about food suitable for the land and time from those books.
Charity
Distributing wealth to needy one is called charity. This characteristic is an important quality for kings among other qualities like Education, valour/courage, music and helping tendency.
The ancient literature proudly tells that three famous kings of Chera, Chola, Pandya dynasty and under-kings kadaiezhu vallalgal gave enormous money and wealth to needy ones.
Kadaiezhu vallalgal ( The last seven patrons) Bestowers
link ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Kadai_ezhu_vallal)
Pekan – Palani – Gave blanket to Peacock
Pari – Parambuhills- Gave his chariot to Jasmine climber plant
Thirumudikari – Malayamanadu - Gave horses and elephants to whoever came to visit him
Aai
Kandiran – Podhiyamalai
- Received
a glowing clothing from a good blue
colour snake
and
he gave that to Lord Shiva.
Adhiyaman –
Thagadoor – Gave an auspicious gooseberry to Avvaiyar
Nalli – Kandira malai – Gave all the essential things to people living in mountains.
Valvil ori – Kollimalai – Gave gifts to panars.
Tamil Nadu’s contribution to Indian culture
Tamil people have best culture and civilization. It is unanimously acclaimed by world historians. Tamilians’s contribution to Indian culture is immeasurable.
Language contribution
We learned through Mohenjo daro, Harappa like places that centuries back Dravidians lived in highly civilized manner. Even today Tamil words are there in some of the North Indian languages and in all south Indian languages. The world knew the truth that beyond India the Indian language that spread with Indian culture is Tamil language only. Even in Vedic era Tamil words were there in Sanskrit language.
Temples
The sky-scrapping temples are the symbols of religious culture in Tamil Nadu. These were centres for arts and culture. Temples are filled with arts of sculpture, architecture and paintings.
During the eras of Pandya, Chola, Chera and Vijayanagara kings, these arts were given enough supports and temples were also built with these arts.These were contribution to Indian culture from Tamil people. Even in North India one can see these kinds of temples. The artistic tradition of Tamil Nadu is admired by the world. The religiously supported schools, temples and cave temples can be seen in all over Tamil Nadu. One can see the famous Hindu temples in these places.You translate these names ( திருச்சி, தஞழச, திருவாழனககாவல், சிதம்பரம், மதுழர, திருச்பசந்தூர், பதனகாசி, காஞசி, சுசீந்தரம், திருவரங்கம், திருககழுககுனறம், குடைந்ழத, கனனியாகுமரி, இராமமஸ்வரம் மபானற இடைங்களில் மிகச்சிறப்பு வாய்ந்த )
Speciality of temples
Lectures were held in temples to uplift man from animal mentality. Temples were like cultural centres as there were programmes held in temples regarding Tamil cultures.
Those who had realised that to uplift humanity, to do social works, to have the sense of sacrifice, love and devotion is necessary followed the best worshipping system.
Age is only for the body with life inside, and not for the soul. And Soul is trying to merge with the thing from which it came. This process is called (layam = rhythm). And temples are such places where souls get peace. So that is why it is called Aalayam.
Temples were the places where people performed, watched and enjoyed arts. So temple is a place to nurture fine arts. Thevaram and Thiruvasagam were recited in Siva temples and Nalayira Divya Prabandham was recited in Vishnu temples. Thirumuraikal were recited in temples.
Temples were the places of shelter to people during rain, flood and storm. Social gatherings like marriages and festivals were held in temple halls. So it is learned that temples were acting like community shelter and council for social work.
The life of Tamil people was combined with temple only. Avvayar said that Praying in temple is very good (ஆலயம் தொழுவது சாலவும் நன்று) And the famous proverb tells that don’t live in a town where there is no temple. Through these temples spirituality and unity of people increased and through that humanity also bloomed.
Sculptures
Temples of Tamil Nadu are great examples of arts of sculptures. The idol of gods and goddesses, the sculptures in the pillars and concrete sculptures in the tomb are beautifully designed. There are also sculptures depicting scenes and stories from mythologies and epics. When we see the exports or smugglings of Panchuloga (Made of 5 metals) idols from India to foreign countries, we realize that details about sculptures and arts from ancient Tamil people is a treasure to future generation.
Paintings
It can be said that the art of paintings is older than the language. Even today one can see the usage of painting like letters in Japan and Chinese language. Ancient Tamil people used to paint in rocks and temples and nurtured it. They painted colourful paintings in the walls and ceilings of the temples. Through these paintings they depicted stories and scenes from mythology and epics. Even today we can see the paintings depicting Raja raja chozhan’s historical dramatic scenes in the Big temple of Tanjore. These colourful paintings are immortal and unchangeable by time and weather is appreciated even today.
Dance
Ancient Tamilians were excelled in Dance. Dance is a form of combination music and drama.Silappathikaram tells about varieties of drama. Dance gives visible happiness. Dance is the mood elevator for physical and mental exhaustion. There were stages for dances in ancient times. Women performed dances with the sound of anklets under the shade of trees, streets, temple halls, palaces and halls. “கை வழிக்கண்களும் கண்வழி மனமும் செல்லஆடுதலே” The eye follows the hands and heart follows the eyes is the secret nuance of dance.
The dancing girl is called ‘virali’. And dancing man is called ‘kuthan’ valikuthu , Lord Murugan’s kundrakuravai, Thirumal-vishnu’s aychiyar kuravai, Women dancing with joined hands and dance kuravaikuthu, thunungikutu, kuralaikuthu, are the various names of kuthu mentioned in literatures. Sivan’s kuthu is called thandavam. Saivites refers sivan as dancing god, ambalavanan, adal vallan Nataraja and worshipped him. Vaishnavites also refers thirumal as kannan who is playing flute and dances with gopikas.
In the temples of Tamil nadu so many girls were performed dances. We came to know through the stone inscriptions that these dancing girls performed dances from the stories of god and entertained the people and made them happy. There are sculptures of these dancing girls in temples. Tamil people are seeing god as a dancing king. The leg lifting posture of Nataraja is an excellent example of dancing art. It is not an overstatement if we say that Bharatnatyam is the best gift/contribution to Indian culture.
Festivals
Tamil people considered labour/work as their wealth and lived. And also they earned money from overseas and accumulated wealth. There was no scarcity of festivals in the life of happy people. They worshipped the gods belonged to their lands and celebrated festivals. They happily involved in the lively profession of farming. They worshipped Surya (Sun god) who is responsible for crops and rain and celebrated pongal festival.
In North India pongal festival is celebrated as Sankranti. Tamil Nadu is pioneer to Indian nation as they follow the Tamil tradition of worshipping. To thank river Kaveri which is responsible for cultivation, Tamil people worshipped and celebrated Adi 18 and prayed for the wellness of their houses and country.
Village sports
Sports and valiance were together in the life of ancient Tamil people. Wrestling and archery were considered as courageous sports. Girl child played ammanai and usal and male child played sitril, siruparai, siruther. Their way of playing together with unity improved their patriotism love for language.
Hospitality
Sangam literatures tells that hospitality is the foremost duty of husband and wife. Those who are travelling long distances, carrying food along with them is impossible. For those travellers the people in the houses in their routes provided food. In Sangam era people stood in the gate of the house to provide food to hungry people. Before closing the door at night they used to check the front of the house to confirm that no hungry people were there. We learned this quality of Sangam era from a Natrinai poem. (insert poem)
Even if the guests were late at night they provided food happily. Meat mixed and cooked with clarified ghee was usually given to guests at night. They never ate the food alone while hungry people were standing in their gate. This is called hospitality according to Tamils. They entertained the guests like the cow’s love to newborn calf, with smile, nice words and attention. They served food in a sparkled vessels to make the guests happy.
Tamil people had the habit of eating food only after serving the guests. We can learn from Avvayar poem that Tamilians served the guests with smile and patience even if they come daily alone or with some others. The shepherds when going out for grazing their cattle, carried food in a bamboo stick and had tied that in cow’s neck. If they met any hungry person on the way, they shared their food with them.
Madainul explains the way of cooking during ancient times. Food related news articles are found in sirupanatruppadai, perunkathai, Manimekalai. Can learn about food suitable for the land and time from those books.
Charity
Distributing wealth to needy one is called charity. This characteristic is an important quality for kings among other qualities like Education, valour/courage, music and helping tendency.
The ancient literature proudly tells that three famous kings of Chera, Chola, Pandya dynasty and under-kings kadaiezhu vallalgal gave enormous money and wealth to needy ones.
Kadaiezhu vallalgal ( The last seven patrons) Bestowers
link ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Kadai_ezhu_vallal)
Pekan – Palani – Gave blanket to Peacock
Pari – Parambuhills- Gave his chariot to Jasmine climber plant
Thirumudikari – Malayamanadu - Gave horses and elephants to whoever came to visit him
Aai
Kandiran – Podhiyamalai
- Received
a glowing clothing from a good blue
colour snake
and
he gave that to Lord Shiva.
Adhiyaman –
Thagadoor – Gave an auspicious gooseberry to Avvaiyar
Nalli – Kandira malai – Gave all the essential things to people living in mountains.
Valvil ori – Kollimalai – Gave gifts to panars.
Tamil Nadu’s contribution to Indian culture
Tamil people have best culture and civilization. It is unanimously acclaimed by world historians. Tamilians’s contribution to Indian culture is immeasurable.
Language contribution
We learned through Mohenjo daro, Harappa like places that centuries back Dravidians lived in highly civilized manner. Even today Tamil words are there in some of the North Indian languages and in all south Indian languages. The world knew the truth that beyond India the Indian language that spread with Indian culture is Tamil language only. Even in Vedic era Tamil words were there in Sanskrit language.
Temples
The sky-scrapping temples are the symbols of religious culture in Tamil Nadu. These were centres for arts and culture. Temples are filled with arts of sculpture, architecture and paintings.
During the eras of Pandya, Chola, Chera and Vijayanagara kings, these arts were given enough supports and temples were also built with these arts.These were contribution to Indian culture from Tamil people. Even in North India one can see these kinds of temples. The artistic tradition of Tamil Nadu is admired by the world. The religiously supported schools, temples and cave temples can be seen in all over Tamil Nadu. One can see the famous Hindu temples in these places.You translate these names ( திருச்சி, தஞழச, திருவாழனககாவல், சிதம்பரம், மதுழர, திருச்பசந்தூர், பதனகாசி, காஞசி, சுசீந்தரம், திருவரங்கம், திருககழுககுனறம், குடைந்ழத, கனனியாகுமரி, இராமமஸ்வரம் மபானற இடைங்களில் மிகச்சிறப்பு வாய்ந்த )
Speciality of temples
Lectures were held in temples to uplift man from animal mentality. Temples were like cultural centres as there were programmes held in temples regarding Tamil cultures.
Those who had realised that to uplift humanity, to do social works, to have the sense of sacrifice, love and devotion is necessary followed the best worshipping system.
Age is only for the body with life inside, and not for the soul. And Soul is trying to merge with the thing from which it came. This process is called (layam = rhythm). And temples are such places where souls get peace. So that is why it is called Aalayam.
Temples were the places where people performed, watched and enjoyed arts. So temple is a place to nurture fine arts. Thevaram and Thiruvasagam were recited in Siva temples and Nalayira Divya Prabandham was recited in Vishnu temples. Thirumuraikal were recited in temples.
Temples were the places of shelter to people during rain, flood and storm. Social gatherings like marriages and festivals were held in temple halls. So it is learned that temples were acting like community shelter and council for social work.
The life of Tamil people was combined with temple only. Avvayar said that Praying in temple is very good (ஆலயம் தொழுவது சாலவும் நன்று) And the famous proverb tells that don’t live in a town where there is no temple. Through these temples spirituality and unity of people increased and through that humanity also bloomed.
Sculptures
Temples of Tamil Nadu are great examples of arts of sculptures. The idol of gods and goddesses, the sculptures in the pillars and concrete sculptures in the tomb are beautifully designed. There are also sculptures depicting scenes and stories from mythologies and epics. When we see the exports or smugglings of Panchuloga (Made of 5 metals) idols from India to foreign countries, we realize that details about sculptures and arts from ancient Tamil people is a treasure to future generation.
Paintings
It can be said that the art of paintings is older than the language. Even today one can see the usage of painting like letters in Japan and Chinese language. Ancient Tamil people used to paint in rocks and temples and nurtured it. They painted colourful paintings in the walls and ceilings of the temples. Through these paintings they depicted stories and scenes from mythology and epics. Even today we can see the paintings depicting Raja raja chozhan’s historical dramatic scenes in the Big temple of Tanjore. These colourful paintings are immortal and unchangeable by time and weather is appreciated even today.
Dance
Ancient Tamilians were excelled in Dance. Dance is a form of combination music and drama.Silappathikaram tells about varieties of drama. Dance gives visible happiness. Dance is the mood elevator for physical and mental exhaustion. There were stages for dances in ancient times. Women performed dances with the sound of anklets under the shade of trees, streets, temple halls, palaces and halls. “கை வழிக்கண்களும் கண்வழி மனமும் செல்லஆடுதலே” The eye follows the hands and heart follows the eyes is the secret nuance of dance.
The dancing girl is called ‘virali’. And dancing man is called ‘kuthan’ valikuthu , Lord Murugan’s kundrakuravai, Thirumal-vishnu’s aychiyar kuravai, Women dancing with joined hands and dance kuravaikuthu, thunungikutu, kuralaikuthu, are the various names of kuthu mentioned in literatures. Sivan’s kuthu is called thandavam. Saivites refers sivan as dancing god, ambalavanan, adal vallan Nataraja and worshipped him. Vaishnavites also refers thirumal as kannan who is playing flute and dances with gopikas.
In the temples of Tamil nadu so many girls were performed dances. We came to know through the stone inscriptions that these dancing girls performed dances from the stories of god and entertained the people and made them happy. There are sculptures of these dancing girls in temples. Tamil people are seeing god as a dancing king. The leg lifting posture of Nataraja is an excellent example of dancing art. It is not an overstatement if we say that Bharatnatyam is the best gift/contribution to Indian culture.
Festivals
Tamil people considered labour/work as their wealth and lived. And also they earned money from overseas and accumulated wealth. There was no scarcity of festivals in the life of happy people. They worshipped the gods belonged to their lands and celebrated festivals. They happily involved in the lively profession of farming. They worshipped Surya (Sun god) who is responsible for crops and rain and celebrated pongal festival.
In North India pongal festival is celebrated as Sankranti. Tamil Nadu is pioneer to Indian nation as they follow the Tamil tradition of worshipping. To thank river Kaveri which is responsible for cultivation, Tamil people worshipped and celebrated Adi 18 and prayed for the wellness of their houses and country.
Village sports
Sports and valiance were together in the life of ancient Tamil people. Wrestling and archery were considered as courageous sports. Girl child played ammanai and usal and male child played sitril, siruparai, siruther. Their way of playing together with unity improved their patriotism love for language.
Jallikkattu
Jallikkattu was one of the courageous sports of ancient Tamil
people. They called it ‘eruthazhuval’ in those days. They
tamed the uncontrollable bull and as a reward got woman for
marriage. This sport is still played during Pongal in Tamil
Nadu.
Indra festival
The people of Marutha landscape worshipped Indra, and they
wanted to be like Indra who enjoyed and spent life in
entertainment. So they celebrated Indra festival on the full
moon day of the spring season. On that day those who were
rich distributed food and materials . And many singing and
dancing programmes were held in many stages. Through
Silappathikaram we learned that this festival was celebrated
in excellence during Sangam era.
Other contributions
Tirukkural – The common divine book for the whole world
Thirukkural is the contribution of Tamil people.
Medicine – Sidha medicine was also contributed by Tamil people
Music – Tamil music is an example of cultured tamilians.
Ship building – They new about ship-building and technology.
Hospitality – Ancient Tamil people enjoyed attending guests.
Friendship – Ancient Tamil people treated friendship more
than their life. They said friendship is a sense of unity.
Love – According to ancient Tamils, love is affection.
Valour – Their way of life is full of valiance.
Honour – Ancient Tamil considered honour more than their
life. (மயிர் நீப்பின உயிர் வாைாக கவரிமான” )
Chastity – Women followed chastity more than divine
principle and attained fame. This chastity is Tamil people’s
one of the highest discipline.
Bharatnatyam – Bharatnatyam is ancient art of Tamil Nadu.
It is well acclaimed status in India and World. The
bharatnatya artists bring every emotions in their facial
expressions.
Pillared halls. 100 pillared hall, 100 pillared halls, musical
pillars are Tamil people’s contributions.
Hastam ( Hands posture)
The movements of hands is very important in bharatnatyam
and it is called hastham in sanskrit. Hands are called hastham
in sanskrit. In Tamil it is called ‘Mudra’. In bharatnatyam
Mudra is imortant for Adavu and abhinayam. To express the
situation and feelings through the movements of fingers and
hands are called hand mudra or hasthams. In bharatnatyam
hand postures are used to express feelings, sometimes with
single hand and sometimes with joining oth the hands.
Conclusion
Sangam literature divided internal life of people into 5 love
related parts. Explained about Gods and ways of worships of
Tamil people. Silappathikaram tells about Tamil people’s
governance, goodness of commerce/trade, religious beliefs,
personal character and stands as a historical document.
The notes of foreigners explained with proof about the
relations between Tamil people and foreign countries. It also
explained the ethics of personal behaviour for men and
women separately. Sangam literature reveals the hospitality of
Tamil people and about the 7 kadaiyezhu vallalgal.
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