Sangam Literature
• Sangam literally means congregation. It is an assemblage of poets. It happened during Pandya’s reign between 300 BC and 300 AD and mostly composed between 100 CE and 250 CE.
Three Sangams
• It concluded under the royal patronage of Pandya kings.
First Sangam: It happened in Madurai. All the work was destroyed in an arson.
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Second Sangam: It happened in Kapatpuram. Only a single work ‘Tolkappiyam’ written by Tolkappiar, which deals with grammar and poetics, has survived.
Third Sangam: It happened in Madurai. All the known Tamil classics belong to the third Sangam. It is classified as anthologies and epics. Of the anthologies, the three are important (i) ‘Pattupattu’ (ii) ‘Ettutogoi’ (eight collections), and (iii) ‘Padinenkikanakku’ (eighteen minor didactic poems).
• Ettuthogai and Pathupattu collections have about 2400 poems. These poems, varying in length from 3 to 800 lines, were composed by Panar, the wandering bards and Pulavar, the poets.
• The Eight Anthologies are 1. Natrinai; 2. Kurunthogai; Aingurunuru; 4. Patitruppathu; 5. Paripadal; 6.Kalithogai; 7. Akananuru; 8. Purananuru
Pathupattu (ten long songs): 1. Thirumurugatrupatai;
2. Porunaratrupatai;3. Sirupanatruppatai;
4. Perumpanatruppatai; 5. Mullaipattu; 6. Maduraikanchi; 7. Nedunalvadai; 8. Kurinjipattu; 9. Pattinappalai; 10. Malaipadukadam.
• Silppadikaram and Manimekalai are the two important epics useful for insights into cultural and religious history.
• Vattakirutal is a practice mentioned in Sangam poems which was a Tamil ritual of fasting till death
• Female Poets: Of the over 450 poets, about 30 poets are women. They composed more than 150 poems. The most prominent are Kaakkaipadiniyar, Kavarpendu, Kavarpendu, Nalveliyaar, Okkur Masaathiyar and Parimakalir.
• The Five Great Epics are-
• Civaka Cintamani, Cilappatikaram, and Valayapathi were written by Tamil Jains.
• Manimekalai and Kuntalakeci were authored by Buddhist
Sangam literature mentions
• It talks about Chera, Chola and Pandya kingdoms of the time.
• All three kingdoms wanted to subjugate lesser chieftains, hence war, raid and plunder were frequent leading to destruction of resources and manpower.
• It talks about Jains, Buddhists, Brahmins missionaries as well.
Post Sangam Literature
Patinen Kilkanakku texts, which are post-Sangam works, include eighteen texts, which mostly deal with ethics and moral codes. The most important of them are Thirukkural, and Naladiyar