Tamil Philosophy

Tamil Philosophy
Tamil Literature
Time Periods
Sangam literature
Post-Sangam Period
Medieval literature
Vijayanagar and Nayak period
Modern Period

Thiru Kural
- It is a book on secular philosophy
- It is part of the eighteen lesser texts of Sangam Literature
- All major Indian religions and sects, including Shiva Worshippers, Vishnu Worshippers, Jainism, and Buddhism, have greatly celebrated the Kural text, many of which incorporated Kural's teachings in both their religious and non-religious works, including the Silappathikaaram, Manimekalai, Tirumurai, Periya Puraanam, and Kamba Ramaayanam.

Tamil Literature

Time Periods

Sangam age
Post-Sangam period
- Didactic age
- Devotional period
- Narrative epics
Medieval literature
Vijayanagar and Nayak period
Modern era

Sangam literature

Sangam literature (சங்க இலக்கியம் / Sanga Ilakkiyam)
- Historically known as "Poetry of the Noble Ones" (சான்றோர் செய்யுள் / Sandror Seyyul)

Early Books

Agattiyam by Agattiyar (Agastya Muni) (Earliest non-extant book on Tamil grammar)
Tholkaappiyam by Tholkaappiyar (A student of Agattiyar) (Earliest extant book on Tamil grammar)

Themes

Akam (Inner / Love)
Puram (External / War, Public Life)
Aatru Padai (River Guide)

Metres

Akaval
Venpa

Eighteen Greater Texts (Pathinen Melkkanakku Noolgal)

Eight Collections / Ettu Thokai
- Ain Kuru Nooru (Five Short Hundred (Poems))
- Aka Naannooru (Inner (Love) Four Hundred (Poems)) / Nedunthokai (Long Collections)
- Pura Naannooru (External (Worldly) Four Hundred (Poems)) / Puram Paattu (External Songs)
- Kali Thokai (Kali (Metre) Collection)
- Kurun Thokai (Short Collection)
- Nar Thinai (Excellent Themes)
- Paripaadal (Paripaadal (Metre))
- Pathittru Pathu (Ten Tens)
Ten Lais / Pathu Paattu
- Thiru Muruka Aatru Padai (River Guide to Lord Muruga)
- Kurinchi Paattu (Mountain Song) / Perum Kurinchi (Great Mountain)
- Malai Padu Kadam (Footsteps of the Mountains) / Kuttara Aatru Padai (River Guide to Jolly Entertainers)
- Madurai Kaanchi (Reflection on Madurai)
- Mullai Paattu (Forest (Life) Song)
- Nedu Nal Vaadai (Long Pleasant Northern Wind)
- Pattina Paazhai (City Separation (of Love))
- Perump Paan Aatru Padai (River Guide to Perum Paanar (Bards who play large Lutes))
- Porunar Aatru Padai (River Guide to Porunar (War Bards))
- Siru Paana Aatru Padai (River Guide to Siru Paanar (Bards who play small Lutes))

Eighteen Lesser Texts (Pathinen Keezhkkanakku Noolgal)

Naal Adiyaar (Four Steppers (Quatrains)) / Naal Adi Naannooru (Four Step (Quatrain) Four Hundred)
Naal Mani Kadigai (Four o'clock)
Innaa Naarpatu (The Forty Dull Things)
- Includes four categories of harmful things one should avoid:
  - A beautiful but disloyal wife
  - The wealth of a miser
  - Alife under a tyrant
  - Beauty of a flower without fragrance
Iniyavai Naarpatu (The Forty Sweet Things)
- Includes four categories of things one should seek in life:
  - Learning even at the expense of begging
  - The advice of learned persons
  - Healthy children
  - Strength to not covet other's spouse.
Kaar Naarpatu (Cloudy Forty)
Kalavazhi Naarpatu (Field Way Forty)
Ain Thinai Aimpatu (Five Genre Fifty (Ten Each))
Thinai Mozhi Aimpatu (Language Specific Genre Fifty)
Ain Thinai Ezhupatu (Five Genre Seventy (Fourteen Each))
Tinnai Maalai Noor Aimpatu (Evening Porch One Hundred and Fifty)
Thiru Kural (The Great Kural (Couplet))
Thiri Katukam (Three Spices (Medicine))
- Sukku (Dry Ginger)
- Milaku (Pepper)
- Thippili (Indian Long Pepper)
Aachaara Kovai (Garland of Traditions)
Pazha Mozhi Naanooru (Old Sayings Four Hundred)
- The following poem uses the adage that it is impossible to straighten the tail of a dog, as it impossible to control the unchaste mind of a girl by throwing her in prison:
- நிறையான் மிகுகலா நேரிழை யாரைச்
சிறையான் அகப்படுத்தல் ஆகா - அறையோ
வருந்த வலிதினின் யாப்பினும் நாய்வால்
திருந்துதல் என்றுமே இல்.
- niraiyan mikukallā nērilai yāraic
ciraiyān akappațuttal ākā – araiyo
varunta valitinin yāppinum nāyvāl
tiruntutal enrumo il.
- 1) Women of unstable character, lacking self-control cannot be imprisoned; they will find their way out. Speak out if there is any! Tie a dog's tail tight with splinters to straighten it; Try hard but it can't be corrected.
- 2) Beautifully ornamented damsels that are not perfect in chastity. It is impossible to stop by trapping them in a prison-house! We challenge! Even if it were tied painfully and most strongly, a dog's tail shall never be straightened.
- 3) Even if the dog's tail be painfully bound hard, its crookedness will never straighten up. So too, it will not be possible to restrain (from evil acts) by watch such bejewelled women of beauty as do not have control over their senses. If any were to say it is possible to do so, I challenge them.
- 4) It is not possible to restrain within any bound those who are adorned by jewels (women), if they are devoid of good qualities - shall I say why? Is it possible by any pains or by binding it ever so tightly to keep a dog's tail straight? No (i.e. because it is contrary to its nature).
- Siru Pancha Moolam (Small Five Roots (of Medicinal Plants))
- Mutu Mozhi Kaanchi (Garland of Old Sayings)
- Elati (Cardamom)
- Kainnilai () and Innilai (House Life)

Bhakti Literature

Naalayira Divya Prabandham
Ramavataram
Tevaram
Tirumurai

Post-Sangam Period

Didactic age

Devotional period

Narrative epics

Medieval literature

The medieval period was the period of the Imperial Cholas when the entire south India was under a single administration. The period between the 11th and the 13th centuries, during which the Chola power was at its peak, there were relatively few foreign incursions and the life for the Tamil people was one of peace and prosperity.

Vijayanagar and Nayak period

The period from 1300 CE to 1650 was a period of constant change in the political situation of Tamil Nadu. The Tamil country was invaded by the armies of the Delhi Sultanate and raided the Pandya kingdom.

Modern Period

During the 18th and the 19th century Tamil Nadu witnessed some of the most profound changes in the political scene.