TheTamil Sangams (Tamil: சங்கம்caṅkam, Old Tamil 𑀘𑀗𑁆𑀓𑀫𑁆, from Sanskritsaṅgha) were three legendary gatherings of Tamil scholars and poets that, according to traditional Tamil accounts, occurred in the remote past. Scholars believe that these assemblies were originally known askooṭam or "gathering,"[1][2][3] which was also a name forMadurai. Three assemblies are described. The legend has it that the first two were held in cities since "taken by the sea", the first being called Kapatapuram, and the third was held in the present-day city ofMadurai.
| Sangam literature | ||||
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| Eighteen Greater Texts | ||||
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| Related topics | ||||
| Eighteen Lesser Texts | ||||
| Bhakti Literature | ||||
The historicalSangam period, alluding to the Sangam-legends,extended from roughly 300-200 BCE to 300 CE (early Chola period before the interregnum). In this period the earliest extant works ofTamil literature were written (also known asSangam literature), dealing with love, war, governance, trade and bereavement.[4][5] The nameSangam and the associated legends probably derive from a much later period.[6][7] "Sangam" is also known askoodal (Tamil: கூடல்) or "gathering".
An accurate chronological assessment of literary works has been rendered difficult due to lack of concrete scientific evidence to support conflicting claims.Undue reliance on the Sangam legends has thus culminated in controversial opinions or interpretations among scholars, confusion in the dates, names of authors, and doubts of even their existence in some cases. The earliest archaeological evidence connecting Madurai and the Sangams is the 10th centuryCinnamanur inscription of thePandyas.[8]
According to Tamil legends, there were three Sangams.
| Sangam | Time span | No. of Poets | no of king | Kingdom[9] | Books[9] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First | 4440 years[9] | 549[9] | 89 | ||
| Second | 3700 years[9] | 1700[9] | 59 | Tolkāppiyam (author - Tolkāppiyar)(legendary; extend version dated to 5th c. CE) | |
| Third | 1850 years[9] | 49 | Pandiya | covers entire corpus of Sangam Literature |
Nilakanta Sastri[10] observes that a sangam of Tamil poets flourished for a time inMadurai may well be a fact. But the facts regarding sangam have got mixed up with much fiction, making it difficult to draw reliable conclusions from them.Kamil Zvelebil,[11] finds a kernel of truth in them, suggesting that they may be based on one or more actual historical assemblies. Others reject the entire notion as not factual.[12] Nevertheless, legends of the Sangams played a significant role in inspiring political, social, and literary movements inTamil Nadu in the early 20th century.
Early literature from the pre-Pallava dynasty period does not contain any mention of the Sangam academies, although some early poems imply a connection between the city of Madurai, which later legends associate with the third Sangam, and Tamil literature and the cultivation of the language.[13] The earliest express references to the academies are found in the songs ofAppar andSampandar, Shaivite poets who lived in the 7th century.[14] The first full account of the legend is found in a commentary to theIraiyanar Akapporul by Nakkīrar (c. 7th/8th century CE).[15] Nakkīrar describes three "Sangams" (caṅkam) spanning thousands of years.[citation needed]
There are a number of other isolated references to the legend of academies at Madurai scattered through Shaivite and Vaishnavite devotional literature throughout later literature.[16] The next substantive references to the legend of the academies, however, appear in two significantly later works, namely, theThiruvilaiyadal Puranam of Perumpaṟṟapuliyūr Nambi, and the better-known work of the same title by Paranjothi Munivar.[17] These works describe a legend that deals mostly with the third Sangam at Madurai, and is so substantially different from that set out in Nakkirar's commentary that some authors such as Zvelebil speculate that it may be based on a different, and somewhat independent, tradition.[14]
In contemporary versions of the legend, the cities where the first two Sangams were held are said to have been located onKumari Kandam, a fabled lost continent, that lay to the South of mainland India, and which was described as the cradle ofTamil culture.[citation needed]
Kumari Kandam supposedly lay south of present-dayKanyakumari District and, according to these legends, was seized by the sea in a series of catastrophic floods.[18]
The First Sangam (Tamil: முதற்சங்க பருவம்,Muthaṟchanga paruvam) is also known as the First Academy, and as the Head Sangam (Tamil: தலைச்சங்க பருவம்,Thalaichanga paruvam).
The first Sangam (mutaṟcaṅkam) is described as having been held at "the Madurai which was submerged by the sea", or known among historians as Kapatapuram, lasted a total of 4400 years, and had 549 members, which supposedly included some gods of theHindu pantheon such asSiva,Kubera,Murugan andAgastya. A city was found submerged in Pondicherry and according to the location, has been popularly credited as being the site for the first Sangam, Kapatapuram. A total of 4449 poets are described as having composed songs for this Sangam. There were 89 Pandiya kings starting from Kaysina valudi to Kadungon were decedents and rulers of that period.[19]
It was said to be located inThen Madurai under the patronage of 89Pandya kings.[9][20][21] It is said to have lasted for 4,440 years, and this would put the First Sangam between 9600 BCE to 5200 BCE.[22][23]
Some are of the opinion thatAgathiyar was the head of the Head Sangam. However, this is unlikely as the first mention of him is fromPtolemy and noSangam work refers to him.[24] A more likely proposition isLord Muruga (Kartikeya) being the head of the First Sangam as believed by others.[25]
Its function was to judge literary works and credit their worth. Later literary works likeIraiyanar Akaporul mention that 549 poets were members of it includingShiva,Murugan,Kuperan and sevenPandya kings.[26] And 16,149 authors attended the convocation. Its chief works were Perumparipadal, Mudukuruku, Mudunarai and Kalariyavirai. It usedAgattiyam as its grammar.[27] There are no surviving works from this period.
Muranjiyur Mudinagar, a member of the first Tamil Sangam, is believed to have been a king of the Nagas in Jaffna.[28]Siddha medicine is said to have been practiced during the First Sangam,[29] and people "enjoyed mental and bodily health, respecting nature and living hygienically."[30]
Iraiyanar Kalaviyal mentions that a King Kadungon was the last ruler during the Talaiccankam. He is not to be confused withKadungon who defeated theKalabhras.[31] It was washed away in a sea-deluge. This led to theMiddle Sangam.[citation needed]
The Second Sangam (iṭaicaṅkam) is also known as the Middle Sangam (Tamil: இடை சங்கம்) and the Second Academy. It was convened inKapatapuram. This Sangam lasted for 3700 years and had 59 members, with 3700 poets participating. There were 59 Pandiya kings starting from Vendercceliyan to Mudattirumaran were decedents and rulers of that period.[32] This city was also submerged in sea.
The primary factors leading to the formation of the Middle Sangam was mentioned byIraiyanar, one of the authors ofKurunthogai, who mentions the kingdom of a King named Kandungon, the last ruler during theFirst Sangam. It was washed away in a sea-erosion. This led to the Second Sangam.
The second Sangam was convened inKapatapuram. This Sangam lasted for 3700 years and had 59 members, with 1700 poets participating. There were 59 Pandiya kings starting from Vendercceliyan to Mudattirumaran were decedents and rulers of that period. This city was also submerged in sea. Ramayana and Arthashastra of Kautalya corroborates the existence of a city named Kavatapuram. There is a reference to a South Indian place called Kavata by Sugriva in a verse which runs something like 'having reached Kavata suitable for Pandiya'. Kavata is also mentioned by Kautalya in Arthashastra. The grammar followed wasBudapuranam,Agattiyam,Tholkappiyam,Mapuranam andIsai Nunukkam. The poems attributed to second academy are Kali, Kurugu, Vendali and Viyalamalai Ahaval.
The third Sangam (kaṭaicaṅkam) was purportedly located in the current city ofMadurai and lasted for 1850 years. There were 49 Pandiya kings starting from Mudattirumaran (who came away from Kabadapuram to present Madurai) to Ukkirapperu Valudi were decedents and rulers of that period.[33] The academy had 49 members, and 449 poets are described as having participated in the Sangam.[34] The grammars followed were Agattiyam and Tholkappiyam. The poems composed were Kurunthogai, Netunthogai, Kurunthogai Nanooru, Narrinai Nanooru, Purananooru, Aingurunooru, Padirrupaatu, Kali, Paripaadal, Kuttu, Vari, Sirrisai and Perisai.[9][page needed]
There are a number of other isolated references to the legend of academies at Madurai scattered throughShaivite andVaishnavite devotional literature throughout later literature.
In Nambi's account, the 49 members of the third Sangam led by Kapilar, Paraṇar and Nakkīrar were great devotees ofShiva, numbered amongst the 63nayanars.[35] Nakkirar himself is said to have later headed the Sangam, and to have debatedShiva. The Sangam is described as having been held on the banks of the Pond of Golden Lotuses in theMeenakshi-Sundaresvarar Temple in Madurai.[36]
P. T. Srinivasa Iyengar,[37] in his book "History of Tamils" (in Chapter XVI on topic "Criticism of the legend",[38] writes that—
According toKamil Zvelebil, the assemblies may have been founded and patronised by the Pandian kings and functioning in three different capitals consecutively till the last sangam was set up inMadurai. Zvelebil argues that the appearance of the tradition in literary and epigraphical sources means that it cannot be dismissed as pure fiction.[13] He suggests that the Sangam legends are based on a historical "body of scholiasts and grammarians [that] 'sits' as a norm-giving, critical college of literary experts, and shifts its seat according to the geopolitical conditions of the Pandiyan kingdom."[39]
In 470 CE, aDravida Sangha was established inMadurai by aJain namedVajranandi.[40] During that time the Tamil region was ruled by theKalabhras dynasty. The Kalabhra rulers were followers of eitherBuddhism orJainism. TheDravida Sangha took much interest in the Tamil language and literature.[40]George L. Hart suggests that later legends about Tamil Sangams may have been based on the Jaina assembly.[41]
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