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Books and videos to promote learning in the Tamil classical poetry and texts for inspirational, spiritual and philosophical studies.
Books and videos to promote learning in the Tamil classical poetry and texts for inspirational, spiritual and philosophical studies.
Includes literature ranging from the Sangam texts to the works of Nayanars and Alvars. Click each book and video to view and/or download.
Includes literature ranging from the Sangam texts to the works of Nayanars and Alvars. Click each book and video to view and/or download.
Tamil Sangam Literature and Epics
Tamil Sangam Literature and Epics
Click each book to view and download
Click each book to view and download
historically known as 'the poetry of the noble ones' connotes the ancient Tamil literature and is the earliest known literature of South India. The Tamil tradition and legends link it to three literary gatherings around Madurai and Kapāṭapuram (Pandyan capitals): the first over 4,440 years, the second over 3,700 years, and the third over 1,850 years before the start of the common era. Scholars consider this Tamil tradition-based chronology as ahistorical and mythical. Most scholars suggest the historical Sangam literature era spanned from c. 300 BCE to 300 CE, while others variously place this early classical Tamil literature period a bit later and more narrowly but all before 300 CE. The Sangam literature had fallen into oblivion for much of the second millennium of the common era, but were preserved by and rediscovered in the monasteries of Hinduism, particularly those related to Shaivism near Kumbhakonam, by the colonial era scholars in late 19th century. The Five Great Epics are five Tamil epics according to later Tamil literary tradition. They are Cilappatikāram, Manimekalai, Cīvaka Cintāmaṇi, Valayapathi and Kuṇṭalakēci. Three of the five great epics of Tamil literature are attributed to Tamil Jains. Cīvaka Cintāmaṇi, Cilappatikāram, and Valayapathi were written by Tamil Jains, while Manimekalai and Kuṇṭalakēci were authored by Buddhists. (www.wikipedia.org)
Tamil Sangam Literature and Epics
Tamil Sangam Literature and Epics
The Sangam literature is the historic evidence of indigenous literary developments in South India in parallel to Sanskrit, and the classical status of the Tamil language. The Sangam literature offers a window into some aspects of the ancient Tamil culture, secular and religious beliefs, and the people. These poems also allude to historical incidents, ancient Tamil kings, the effect of war on loved ones and households. The Pattinappalai poem in the Ten Idylls group, for example, paints a description of the Chola capital, the king Karikal, the life in a harbor city with ships and merchandise for seafaring trade, the dance troupes, the bards and artists, the worship of the Hindu god Murugan and the monasteries of Buddhism and Jainism. This Sangam era poem remained in the active memory and was significant to the Tamil people centuries later, as evidenced by its mention nearly 1,000 years later in the 11th- and 12th-century inscriptions and literary work. The Sangam literature embeds evidence of loan words from Sanskrit, suggesting on-going linguistic and literary collaboration between ancient Tamil Nadu and other parts of the Indian subcontinent. The 150 poems of Kalittokai – also from the Eight Anthologies group – mention Shiva, Murugan, various Pandava brothers of the Mahabharata, Kama, Krishna, goddesses such as Ganga, divine characters from classical love stories of India. (www.wikipedia.org)
Nayanar and Alvar : Bhakti Saints of South India - Concept, Ideas and Terms: Ugc Net History
Nayanar and Alvar : Bhakti Saints of South India - Concept, Ideas and Terms: Ugc Net History
The Nayanars and Alvars are occasionally called as Apostle, of Bhakti movement(South India). ... While Alvars were the saints associated with (Vishnu) , Nayanars were the Saints associated with (Shiva) devotees. While collection of Alvar poetry is Tirumurai, the similar for Nayanar poetry is Divya Prabandhan.
Alvars and Nayanars
Alvars and Nayanars
Bhakti divisions-vaishanvism and Shaivism or Saivism Tamil Bhakti movement under Alvars and Nayanars Bhakti literature; Tirumurai, nalayira divya prabhandham, Tevaram, Bhakti saints and poets : Appar, sundarar, Sambhandhar
Alvars and Nayanars in Hinduism - Indian Art and Culture for Civil Services
Alvars and Nayanars in Hinduism - Indian Art and Culture for Civil Services
Nayanars And Alvars
Nayanars And Alvars
Manimekalai: The ancient Buddhist Tamil epic, its relevance to psychiatry
Manimekalai: The ancient Buddhist Tamil epic, its relevance to psychiatry
This article refers to materials of psychiatric interest found in the Manimekalai written by the 2nd Century CE Buddhist poet Sathanar. From the early description of a wandering psychotic in the streets of Pukar, the ancient maritime capital of the Cholas it is opined that this description fits that of present-day schizophrenia. A drunkard making fun of a Jain monk and a cross-dressed individual are also found in the same streets. Manimekalai's request to the Chola king to convert the prison to a place of piety with Buddhist monks is mentioned. Lord Buddha's teachings on the compassionate way of life are presented.
Keywords: Buddhism, history, psychiatry, schizophrenia
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