critically examine sangam age and it's achievement. ?100-150 words
Answers
Answer:
The period roughly between the 3rd century B.C. and 3rd century A.D. in South India (the area lying to the south of river Krishna and Tungabhadra) is known as Sangam Period.
It has been named after the Sangam academies held during that period that flourished under the royal patronage of the Pandya kings of Madurai.
At the sangams eminent scholars assembled and functioned as the board of censors and the choicest literature was rendered in the nature of anthologies.
These literary works were the earliest specimens of Dravidian literature.
According to the Tamil legends, there were three Sangams (Academy of Tamil poets) held in the ancient South India popularly called Muchchangam.
The First Sangam, is believed to be held at Madurai, attended by gods and legendary sages. No literary work of this Sangam is available.
The Second Sangam was held at Kapadapuram, only Tolkappiyam survives from this.
The Third Sangam was also held at Madurai. A few of these Tamil literary works have survived and are a useful sources to reconstruct the history of the Sangam period.
Sangam Literature: Major source giving details of Sangam Age
The Sangam literature includes Tolkappiyam, Ettutogai, Pattuppattu, Pathinenkilkanakku, and two epics named – Silappathikaram and Manimegalai .
Tolkappiyam was authored by Tolkappiyar and is considered the earliest of Tamil literary work. Though it is a work on Tamil grammar but it also provides insights on the political and socio-economic conditions of the time.
Ettutogai (Eight Anthologies) consist of eight works – Aingurunooru, Narrinai, Aganaooru, Purananooru, Kuruntogai, Kalittogai, Paripadal and Padirruppatu.
The Pattuppattu (Ten Idylls) consists of ten works – Thirumurugarruppadai, Porunararruppadai, Sirupanarruppadai, Perumpanarruppadai, Mullaippattu, Nedunalvadai, Maduraikkanji, Kurinjippatttu,Pattinappalai and Malaipadukadam.
Pathinenkilkanakku contains eighteen works about ethics and morals. The most important among these works is Tirukkural authored by Thiruvalluvar, the tamil great poet and philosopher.
The two epics Silappathikaram is written by Elango Adigal and Manimegalai by Sittalai Sattanar. They also provide valuable details about the Sangam society and polity.
Other Sources that give details about the Sangam Period are –
The Greek authors like Megasthenes, Strabo, Pliny and Ptolemy mentioning about commercial trade contacts between the West and South India.
The Ashokan inscriptions mentioned about the Chera, Chola and Pandya rulers to the south of Mauryan empire.
Hathigumpha inscription of Kharavela of Kalinga also has mention of Tamil kingdoms.
Political History of Sangam Period
South India, during the Sangam Age, was ruled by three dynasties-the Cheras, Cholas and Pandyas. The main source of information about these kingdoms is traced from the literary references of Sangam Period.
Cheras
The Cheras controlled the central and northern parts of Kerala and the Kongu region of Tamil Nadu.
Vanji was their capital and the ports of the west coast, Musiri and Tondi, were under their control.
The emblem of Cheras was “bow and arrow”.
The Pugalur inscription of the 1st century AD has reference to three generations of Chera rulers.
The Cheras owed its importance to trade with the Romans. They also built a temple of Augustus there.
The greatest ruler of Cheras was Senguttuvan, the Red Chera or the Good Chera, who belonged to the 2nd century A.D.
His military achievements have been chronicled in epic Silapathikaram, with details about his expedition to the Himalayas where he defeated many north Indian rulers.
Senguttuvan introduced the Pattini cult or the worship of Kannagi as the ideal wife in Tamil Nadu.
He was the first to send an embassy to China from South India.
Cholas
The Cholas controlled the central and northern parts of Tamil Nadu.
Their core area of rule was the Kaveri delta, later known as Cholamandalam.
Their capital was Uraiyur (near