The Educational Ideas of Avvaiyar in Later Moral Literature

Abstract

In the history of Tamil literature, the Sangam Dark Period is the period of the book of justice. The period, known as the Kalappirar period, dates from the 3rd century A.D. to the 6th century A.D. and produced eighteen books. Later jurisprudence literature sprang up after the 6th century A.D.  Avvaiyar was the most famous of the later literary books. He was a woman poet who lived at the end of the later Chola period. She is capable of singing moral ideas in such a way that they are easily etched in the minds of children. She has authored books like Vinayaka Agaval, Asathikkovai, and Gnanakural. She has also written books such as Aathisudi, Konrai Venthan, Moothurai, and Nalvazhi which are literary works of justice. The purpose of this article is to try to understand the ideas on education found in these books.