Naṉṉūl (Tamil:நன்னூல்) is a work onTamil grammar written by aJain ascetic[1]Pavananthi Munivar around 13th century CE.[2] It is the most significant work on Tamil grammar afterTolkāppiyam.[2] The work creditsWestern Ganga vassal kingSeeya Gangan ofKolar with patronising it.[3][4]
About 20 commentaries have been written on Nannūl up to 19th century CE.[1] Nannūl was divided into five sections:written language,spoken language,semantics, poetic language andrhetorical devices. The latter three sections have been lost, so only the parts on written and spoken language are extant today.[2]
In Tamil,nal means good andnūl meansbook, soNannūl meansgood book.[2]
...he was a resident of Janajapuram (ofKancivaram) and [...] was patronised by Seeyangagan of Kolar (Mysore). Since Seeyangagan ruled in 1178–1216 the period of the work is evident.
One of the Ganga kings, Seeya Gangan, a contemporary ofKulōttunga III got Bhavananti to compose present Tamil standard grammar Nannūl.
 | ThisDravidian languages-related article is astub. You can help Wikipedia byexpanding it. |