Sangam Literature – Significance, Time Period, UPSC Notes
By Balaji
Updated on: February 17th, 2023
Sangam Literature, popularly referred to as “the poetry of the noble ones,” depicts the oldest forms of the Tamil language and is the earliest studied literature of South India. The period of Sangam literature was approximately between 300 BC and 300 AD, but most literary works were created from 100 CE to 250 CE. This period’s three chief Tamil kingdoms were the Cholas, the Pandyas, and the Cheras. The complete details pertaining to the Sangam literature have been furnished here.
There are many meanings of Sangam, such as meeting, fraternity, gathering, and academy”. The ancient Tamil Siddhar Agastyar chaired the first Sangam of Tamil in Madurai. Sangam Literature is one of the leading sources for registering the early chronology of the old Tamil polity, including the kings, monarchs, poets, etc. This article orients everything about Sangam Literature, its classification, significance, and culture.
Table of content
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1. What is Sangam Literature?
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2. Classification of Sangam Age Literature
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3. What Are the Types of Sangam Literature?
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4. Tolkappiyam – 2nd Literature of Sangam Age
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5. Third Tamil Sangam
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6. Post-Sangam Period (200 CE – 600 CE)
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7. Significance of Sangam Literature in Ancient South India
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8. List of Sangam Literature Books
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9. Decline of Sangam Literature
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10. Sangam Literature UPSC
What is Sangam Literature?
The Sangam literature is known to be authored by 473 poets, out of which 102 were unknown. These poets arrived from distinct backgrounds; some belonged to royal families, and a few were even farmers. A minimum of 27 of the total poets were females.
Several poems under the Sangam age literature discussed Heroism and displayed great liveliness. They dealt exclusively with matters that were non-religious and lacked references to rich legends. Sidhar Agastya is known as the father of Sangam literature.
Classification of Sangam Age Literature
Sangam Literature has been categorized based on the composition, context, and interpretation period.
- The literature is split into two types: Akam and Puram.
- Akam poetry relates to the feelings and sentiments of romantic love, sexual connection, and sensuality.
- In contrast, Puram’s poetry focuses on exploits and courageous attainments in the setting of war and public life.
Given below are the details of every classification.
Sangam Literature Classification |
|
Based on Period of Composition |
Sangam Literature Details |
Patinenmelkanakku |
The most ancient Tamil poetry works formed 200 BCE to 100 BCE. |
Patinenkilkanakku |
Literary work formed between 100 CE and 500 CE, before the era of the Pallavas Group of 18 poetry manuscripts Primary works include Palamoli, Thirukkural, Naladiyar, etc. |
Based on the Context and Interpretation |
Sangam Literature Details |
Akam (Inner) |
Abstract conversation on human factors such as sexual connections, love, etc. |
Puram (outer) |
Experiences by human beings such as customs, ethics, heroism, social life, philanthropy, etc. |
Sangam Literature is divided into seven minor genres, called Tinai, which includes Akam and Puram. This genre is based on the terrain or location in which the poetry is created, which possesses the following.
Sangam Age Literature Classification |
|
Kurinci |
Mountainous regions |
Mullai |
Pastoral woods |
Marutam |
Riverine agricultural land |
Neytal |
Coastal regions |
Palai |
Arid regions |
In addition to the geography-based Tiṇais, the classifications used for Akam poetry are namely:
- Perunthinai – Unsuitable, big genre
- Kaikkilai – Badly-matched, one-sided
- Ain-tinai – Well-matched, mutual love.
Takanobu Takahashi commented that Puram poetry is straightforward as it utilizes names and locations. The Tiṇais about Puram poems were similar to Akam. Types are occasionally based on the activity listed below:
- Kanchi (Disaster)
- Vetchi (Cattle charge)
- Vanchi (Attack, training for war)
- Paataan (Burial hymn and praise)
- Vakai (Victory)
- Pothuviyal
- Tumpai (War)
- Karanthai
- Ulinai (Encirclement).
What Are the Types of Sangam Literature?
It is known that there are three types of Sangam Literature (Academy of Tamil poets) according to the legends of Tamil. These are recognized in old Southern India, commonly known as Muchchangam. The three types are:
- First Sangam – This was held at Madurai, accompanied by legendary scholars and divinities. There is no availability of literary work under this Sangam.
- Second Sangam – It was conducted at Kapadapuram, solely Tolkappiyam prevails from Second Sangam.
- Third Sangam – It was held at Madurai. This Sangam was a valuable source to rebuild the history of this era and consists of a few Tamil literary works.
Sangam |
Time Period |
Kingdom |
No. of Poets |
First |
4440 years |
Pandiya |
549 |
Second |
3700 years |
Pandiya |
1700 |
Third |
1850 years |
Pandiya |
Tolkappiyam – 2nd Literature of Sangam Age
The 2nd Sangam or Tolkappiyam literature work is the most ancient existent work of Tamil till now and was formed by Tolkappiyar. It was found between the 4th – 5th centuries CE.
- It provided details on human psychology, economic, political, and social circumstances during the Sangam period.
- It also explained Tamil grammar.
- Tolkappiyam has significantly less influence on Sanskrit in its literature work.
- The work includes a comprehensive range of 1612 Sutras.
- There are nine chapters in this work that are equally divided into three sections.
Third Tamil Sangam
The literature from the third Sangam period was classified and assembled in the tenth century CE into two classifications based on chronology.
- The principal origins of information for this Sangam age are archaeological sources, foreign accounts, and academic sources.
- The structure of the third Sangam is organized into eight anthologies known as Ettuthokai/Ettuttokoi and ten idylls known as Pattuppattu.
Ettuthokai – Eight Anthologies of Sangam Literature
Ettuthokai, also well-known as the Eight Anthologies, is a poetic work of Tamil that comprises part of the Eighteen Greater Texts anthology series of Sangam Literature. It includes the listed literary works.
Name |
Extant poems |
Number of poets |
Narrinai |
400 |
175 |
Kuruntokai |
402 |
205 |
Ainkurunuru |
499 |
5 |
Patirruppattu |
86 |
8 |
Paripatal |
33 |
13 |
Kalittokai |
150 |
5 |
Akananuru |
401 |
145 |
Purananuru |
398 |
157 |
Pattuppattu – The Ten Idylls
It was commonly spelled as Ten Idylls and is a classical poetic Tamil work in Sangam Literature. It contained Puram (public life and battle) poems with 100 and 800 lines. It includes the listed literary works.
Name |
Author of Sangam Literature |
Poem Lines |
Malaipatukatam |
Perunkaucikanar |
583 |
Kurincippattu |
Kapilar |
261 |
Perumpanarruppatai |
Uruttirankannaiyar |
500 |
Tirumurukarruppatai |
Nakkirar |
317 |
Netunalvatai |
Nakkirar |
188 |
Pattinappalai |
Uruttirankannanar |
301 |
Porunararruppatai |
Mutattamakkanniyar |
234 |
Mullaippattu |
Napputanar |
103 |
Cirupanarruppatai |
Nattattanar |
296 |
Maturaikkanci |
Mankuti Marutanar |
782 |
Post-Sangam Period (200 CE – 600 CE)
The era began in 200 CE and lasted till 600 CE. It is believed that Jain writers also authored five minor works. The post-Sangam period witnessed the composition of five big epics in Tamil:
- Jivaka Chintamani
- Valaiyapati
- Kundalakesi
- Manimekalai
- Silappadikaram.
Silappadikaram
Ilango Adigal composed this Sangam. The meaning of the term depicts the story of an anklet. The Author is considered stern-prince, and his elder brother was Cheran king Senguttuvan.
- The main character is Kannagi, who seeks revenge for her poorly killed husband from the Pandya empire.
- The poem gives a lot of understanding into modern Tamil culture, government, values, and social life of the people.
Manimekalai
Chithalai Chathanar, also known as Sattanar, composed this literature, a continuation of Silappadikaram. The principal objective of the Author was to grow Buddhism in South India as the work unites the faith of Buddhism over other theologies of the time.
Significance of Sangam Literature in Ancient South India
Sangam literature or poetry focused on individuals and culture. It is virtually only non-religious except for reference to numerous gods. The literature provided wisdom into diverse aspects of old Tamil society, individuals, and religious and non-religious beliefs.
- It constitutes evidence of Sanskrit loan words, indicating continuing academic and linguistic cooperation between ancient Tamil Nadu and other regions of the subcontinent of India.
- The Sangam literature offered recorded evidence of native literary evolution in Southern India, similar to Sanskrit literature and Tamil’s classical status.
- The existing mythological Sangams certify a group of scholars who influenced the life of old Tamil Nadu based on literacy, intellectual, cultural, and linguistic aspects.
List of Sangam Literature Books
The Sangam books collection contains 2381 poems in Tamil written by 473 poets, out of which many poets are still unidentified. Mentioned are some of the best books for Sangam Literature. These are available online on popular websites.
Sangam Literature Books |
Author |
The Interior Landscape, Love Poems from a Classical Tamil Anthology |
A.K. Ramanujam |
Tamil Heroic Poetry |
K. Kailasapathy |
Tamil Love Poetry – The Five Hundred Short Poems of Ainkurunuru (Translation of all the 500 poems) |
Martha Ann Selby |
The Four Hundred Songs of War and Wisdom |
George L. Hart and Hank Heifetz |
Tholkappiyam |
S. Ilakkuvanar |
Tamil Brahmi Inscriptions of the Sangam Age |
Iravatham Mahadevan |
The Smile of Murugan: On Tamil Literature of South India |
Kamil Zvelebil |
Poets of the Tamil Anthologies – Ancient Poems of Love and War |
George L. Hart |
Landscape and Poetry – A study of nature in Classical Tamil Poetry |
Xavier Thani Nayagam |
The Poems of Ancient Tamil – Their Milieu and Their Sanskrit Counterparts |
George L. Hart |
Decline of Sangam Literature
The decline of the Sangam age began at the end of the 3rd century AD. The Kalabhras inhabited the Tamil homeland after the Post-Sangam era between the span of 300 AD to 600 AD. The period witnessed was known as a dark side or interregnum by the ancient chroniclers.
Sangam Literature UPSC
Sangam literature UPSC topic is covered as the subject of Ancient History in the UPSC Syllabus. Every year at least 1 or 2 questions can be asked in the UPSC Prelims exam, so it is crucial to learn about Sangam Literature. Candidates can refer to the Ancient History Notes for UPSC to study for UPSC Prelims and Mains.
If preparing for the UPSC 2023 exam, aspirants must know full knowledge about the historical significance of the Sangam Age. Also, download the UPSC Previous Year Question Papers to practice questions from the topic.