A Paripaadal Perspective on the Unique Identification of Pandiya Nadu Poets

Abstract

Paripadal is one of the texts of Sangam literature. Among the 13 poets who sang paripadal, the people of Pandiya Nadu have been singled out in this article. Everyone knows that Paripaadal is a Pandiya Nadu. In addition to Madurai, Vaiyai, Tiruparangunram, and Azagarkoil are found as hymns in this book. Its songs are sung on the topics of Vaiyai, Sevvel, and Thirumal. It is not possible to conclude that all the poets who sang were poets of Pandiya Nadu, as the scene of the song was in the Pandiya Nadu areas around Madurai. Some of the poets have sung the praises of the Pandiya region or the Pandiya king in allegorical and laudatory terms in the context of praising the Pandiya region or the Pandiya king in their songs. However, this structure is not found in the songs of some poets. They sing only what they have come to sing. In the songs sung by poets, knowingly or unknowingly, they write about their land, country, and king in a state of admiration and through metaphors. On the basis of this, it is possible to identify the teachers Nallanthuvanar, Ilamperuvazhuthiyar, Karumpillaipoothanar, Keeranthaiyar, Kundramboothanar, Nappannar, Nalvazhuthiyar, Nallazhisiyar, and Mayodakovanar as Pandiya Nadu poets. However, this is not the case in the verses of some of the poets, and the four poets, Kaduvan Ilaveinanar, Kesavanar, Nallasthanar, and Nallazhuniyar could not be distinguished as Pandiya folk.