Agathinai Literary Theory in Tolkappiyam

Abstract

The Theory of the Tamil people and the theory of Tamil literature are intertwined with the agathinai and Agam traditions. Agam literature flourishes on the basis of love in Ainthinai. Seeing the proliferation of literary genres, the field of "Paatiyal" (Treatise on poetic composition) emerged in an attempt to define grammatical principles for literature. Although there are about 46 paatiyal books appearing in the Tamil world, there are only 10 paatiyal books which are available in their entirety today. Taking into account the ideas of Agathinai and Agathurai of Tolkappiyar and the views of Ilapuranar and Nachinarkiniyar, who interpreted them, the twelve pattiyals, the Venba paatiyal, the Navaneetha paatiyal, the Grammatical explanation-pattiyal, the Thonnool explanation, the Swaminatham, the Prabandha genealogy, the Prabandha deepikai, the Prabandha thirattu, and the Prabandha deepam are the types of literature created. On the basis of Agathinai and Agathurai, the grammatical principles for the literary categories such as Ainthinai Poetry, Kaikalai, Kovai, Venilmalai, Nayanappathu, Payodharappathu, Pukalchi Malai, Naamamalai, Perumakilchi Malai, Madal, Ulaamadal, Anuragamalai, Kurathipaattu, Mangala Vellai (Mangala Vallai) and Thoothu have been defined. The purpose of this article is to explain and illustrate these principles.