| Author | Iyyanarithanar |
|---|---|
| Language | Medieval Tamil |
| Subject | Tamil grammar |
| Genre | Poetry |
| Set in | 9th century CE |
| Publication place | India |
Purapporul Venbamaalai (Tamil:புறப்பொருள் வெண்பாமாலை) is a medieval Tamil text on the grammar of thepuram (lit. "external") genre of theTamil literature. Authored byIyyanarithanar, the work is dated to around the 9th century CE. It is one of the work for which the author himself has written an exegesis. The work is considered the only work on thepuram genre after theTolkappiyam. The work is extensively quoted by later scholars, including theIlampooranar (12th century),Nacchinarkkiniyar, and others.[1]
The work divides thepuram element into 12 parts, known asthinais. These thinais are grouped under three categories. Eachthinais is subdivided into various divisions calledthurais. Each thinai has a verse known assuthiram (lit. "formula") that summarizes all thethurais. There are 19 such suthirams in the work. Eachthurai has a couplet, called thekolu that explains the thurai. There are 342 such kolus (verses) in the work. The work is considered to be based on thePannirupadalam, an ancient work attributed to the 12 disciples of SageAgasthya.[1]
