The Contribution of the Ancient Tamils
to the Civilisation and Culture of the world |
K.D. THIRUNAVUKKARASU
|
Culture has been defined as the pusuit of perfection, which is the embodiment of sweetness and light. Culture reveals the various stag es in the "development of an individual, a group or class or of a whole society". Tamil culture, which is
one of the ancient cultures of the world, discloses some of the significant
characteristics of human mind and its longing for the liberation of mankind
from the trammels of death and destruction.
Scholars have given due
recognition to the role of Tamil culture in the formation of Indian
civilization. Dr. S.K. Chatterji remarks that "In culture, speaking of the
Indian way, one may say that over twelve annas (75 paise) in the rupee is of
non-Aryan origin".
In another context he
points out that the Dravidian is the most important of the non-Aryan elements
in the civilization of India; and the basic culture of India is certainly over
50% Dravidian although expressed in the main through the Aryan language.
The Dravidians were a
mighty race who could feel proud of a culture and civilization exclusively
their own and of great antiquity. Even after centuries of contact with the
Aryans, the Dravidians maintained to a considerable extent their independent
culture, which appears to have survived even today. This is strongly borne out
by the Sangam literature. The Sangam works, no doubt reveal some of the
cultural traits of the Aryans that have been assimilated into the fold of Tamil
culture. But one can trace the facets of the Culture of the Tamils which is
easily noticeable in the poems of the Sangam literature.
In the light of the
above obscrvations, a modest attempt is made to trace the significant aspects
of Tamil Culture that have enriched the heritage of the culture and
civilization of the world.
Five-fold division of
the Landscape :
The physical texture of
the ancient South Indian landscape with its mountains and rivers, and clearly
defined contours have induced the Tamils to divide the landscape on the basis
of geographical set up. The hilly tracts and the mountain regions are called
Kurinchi; the forest tracts are known as Mullai; the fertile regions of the
river-valleys are called Marutam; the littoral landscape of the seashores is
known as Neytal and the waste land and the sandy desert are called Palai. This
five fold division of the landscape gave an impetus to the development of Tamil
Culture. Modern Scientific developments have shown that the influence of
geography in determining the character and culture of a people could not be
ignored.
The Tamil culture
appears to have evoled in different shades and forms in these five-fold
regions, which ultimately, reached its high water-mark in the river valleys.
The division of the
landscape formed the basis for the ancient Tamil poetry which furnished its
apodictic illustration of its independent origin and development. Only in the
end of the 16th century, the Westerners have tried to classify the landscape
into 5 regions.
Home, the Sweet home :
The basic unit of the
ancient Tamil Society was the family. A gruoup of families constituted the
different stratas of the Tamil society. Hence, the Household life of the Tamil
people played a vital role in the development of Tamil culture. The pleasant
domestic life has been idealised and glorified as a supreme state in the life
of every human-being. Love and virtue are the essential qualities of the
householders and they are considered as the symbol and fruit of the family
life. Among all those (who strive for future happiness) he is greatest who
lead a happy family life. This life has been extolled as the greatest virtue
to be practised.
The better-half of the
man is acclaimed as the true partner in life who possesses all the wifely
virtues and spends according to the income of her husband5. An excellent wife
is a blessing to the home and that has bearing the good childern is its
precious ornament6. The wife has been extolled as the "Illuminator"
of the family.
The acquisition of
intelligent children has been considered as the greatest blessings in the life
of a man8. There are number of fascinating pictures of the sweet home in the
Sangam literature which bear ample testimony to the significance attached to
the family life.
The duties of the
domestic life have been portrayed in the following terms;
"Showering presents to the goodmen,
Honouring the ascetics and the righteous,
Entertaining guests, friends and relatives,
Are the sacred duties of the noble Householders".
Honouring the ascetics and the righteous,
Entertaining guests, friends and relatives,
Are the sacred duties of the noble Householders".
There seems to have been
a popular saying about the Tamils of the Sangam age, that those are the
fortunate parents, who won lasting fame in this as well as in the next world by
having a son; they are the most blessed.
These cherished ideals
of the sweet home reveals the eagerness and attachment of the ancient Tamils to
the house-hold life which has been called Illaram, i.e., righteous married
life.
One could not find a
parallel to this type of reverance and respect shown to the family life in any
other ancient civilizations of the world.
Hospitality :
The Tamils of the Sangam
age are well known for their love and affection to their brothern. From the
dawn of history, the Tamils have freely associated with the foreigners of far
and near. They have developed a sense of service towards them, which has been
called in Tamil as Viruntu Ompal i.e., hospitality. Even today, they practise
hospitality as a kind of virtue or an aspect of righteous living. Tiruvalluvar,
the great poet-philosopher of Tamilnadu pays tributes to the act of hospitality
in the following words:
"what for the wise toil and set up homes?
It is to feed the guest and help the strangers"
It is to feed the guest and help the strangers"
There is hardly any
reference to the act of hospitality as a sacred duty of the householder as it
was practised by the Tamils in any other countries of the ancient days.
Use of Flowers :
Ancient Tamils were
known for their love towards flowers. They said it with flowers not only in
love but also in war, in friendship, in hospitality and even in the relief of
poverty and want. When strangers passed through a village, they were offered
flowers as a sign of extending warm welcome to them. The bards adorned their
musical instruments with garlands of flowers.
Mullai, a variety of
jasmine has been considered as a symbol of chastity. Not only the girls and
married ladies adorned their hair do's with flowers but also the males used to
wear the strings of flowers in their tufts. Garlands and wreaths in various
forms and sizes were in use.
Care of the predominant
totemic symbols of the three royal dynasties of Tamilnadu was garlands made out
of a particular variety of flowers. The Cheras had the tender palmyra buds, the
Pandyas used neem flowers and the Cholas had a fascination for Atti (Mountain
ebony) flowers.
During the periods of
mourning and distress, flowers and garlands were not used by the Tamils. Widows
were prohibited from using the flowers as an adornment.
This healthy tradition
is followed even today. The Tamils yet revere flowers as an auspicious symbol
and as a token of love and affection.
Oil Bath :
Smearing the gingelly
oil from head to foot and then taking bath either in the cold or hot water has
become a custom among the Tamils.
Child birth was
considered ceremonially unclean in many parts of the world. But they were never
accustomed to purify the mother, from the pollution by performing a ceremonial
oil-bath. In the Sangam period, this type of ceremonial oil bath of the mother
was known as Neyyani mayakkam.
In the beginning and end
of solemn occasions, ancient Tamil people used to take oil baths. This custom
was prevalent among the Greeks and Romans who used olive oil for their
baths.
The practice of taking
oil bath was a widespread habit only among the Tamils, the Greeks and the
Romans of the ancient world. From this, we are inclined to think that the
climate of the Meditarranean and the tropical regions might have induced these
three nations to indulge in this custom to indulge in this custom to find
comfort and gratification in the heat of the scorching sun.
White attire :
Ancient Tamil people
wore white attire at the time of solemn occasions like starting from home to
the battle-fields and also for the birth day celebrations. The birth-day
celebration was known as the Vellani Vila.16 But in the Mediaeval Age, white
dress has been looked with an air of condescension and it has been treated as
an inauspicious dress in India, whereas in the Europe, it has gained
significance as a dress of dignity and decorum. It may be the result of
religious fends in India. A sect of Jains used to wear white-dress. So, it has
become a symbolic representation of a particular sect.
Sari and vetti :
Modern Indian women,
especially, the South Indian women can be easily identified from her novel mode
of dress i.e., from the sari, they usually wear. Now a days it has become a
fashion even among the ladies of Europe and america to be dressed with saris as
an evening dress. The men of South India, wear vetti or dhothi in a particular
form, which has also gained popularity among the people of the world.
But in the pre-historic
period, most probably in the Neolithic period, this type of dress for men and
women might have come into vogue among the Tamils.17 Gradually, this mode of
dress spread throughout India. After the advent of the Muslims in India, their
form of dress gained popularity in the North India. But it never became a
favourable dress in Tamilnadu. It has become a national dress of the Tamils
without any reservations even among the followers of alien religious
creeds.
Rice and Spices :
Classical writers like
Pliny, Ptolemy, the author of the Erythrean Sea and Strabo have recorded the
brisk maritime trade between Tamilnadu and the Western countries in the early
centuries of the Christian era.
In addition to pepper
and rice, the other important goods exported from the Malabar (Chera) coast in
great quantities were fine pearls, ivory, ginger, spikenard oil and gems. The
names of these luxurious goods have found a place in the vocabulary of the
Classical languagas as well as in the modern European languages.
One such word is arici
(rice), the staple food of Tamilnadu and China from olden days. This word has
found its way to Greece, where it was called Oryza. From this word, Oriza of
Latin, riz of the French, rice of the English, rizo of the Italian and arrez of
the Spanish have derived.
Another important
ingredient added to the dishes to prescive for a few days and to make them
delicious is Milaku which was called piperri in Greek, piper in Latin and
pepper in the modern European languages. This name appears to be corrupted form
of Pippili, the long pepper in Tamil. Latin authors especially make frequent
references to pepper. We can cite a significant example for this. Horace, with
much delight, is apprehensive of his book being taken away to wrap up spices
and pepper like impertinent writings which only deserve such a treatment.
Ginger was also exported
to the Western Countries. The people of Greece called it as zingiberi, and the
Romans as gingiber, coming naturally from the Tamil word Inchiver i.e., tho
root of the green ginger. The Roman physicians, Dioscurides praises it as a
good digestive and nice recipe and Auspicious records its frequent use as a
food. The names of the sandal wood and pearl of Tamilnadu are also derived
their names from Canthu and Paral in the Western countries.
Pearl Ornaments :
Ornaments made out of
pearls and with pearls were in great demand. There are some references to the
objections raised by the Roman Senators to restrict the import of pearls from
Damirike (Tamilakam), Which drained a large quantity of gold every year from their
country.
Auspicious things :
In the marriage and
other pleasant functions, we use vermilion and turmeric as auspicious symbols
and sacred objects. Besides this, we freely give, take and chew the betalleaves
on such occasions. These appear to be a legacy from our ancestors, which have found
a prominent place in the heritage of the world.
Irrigation Dams :
Tamils of the Sangam
period had a great attraction towards river vallies. They had their settlements
on the banks of the perennial rivers and established their important towns,
cities and capitals there. In harnessing the natural resources, they have made
Herculean attempts to control the floods and preserve the excess water for the
cultivation of crops throughout the year. They have constructed huge dams and
large lakes. Dravidians (Tamils) were responsible for the significant
achievenments of India in the art of constructing irrigational dams and canals
throughout India.
The observations of a
German researcher of Hydraulics deserve special mention here. "A very
highly astonishing discovery of recent research is the remains of irrigation
works in South East Africa" observes Dr. H.W. Flemming, and says that
"it wo'nt belong to the cultural influence of Egypt. The high culture of
the Indian Dravidians who were pushed South by the Indo-Germans had enough
initiative, once upon a time to penetrate into the South-East of Africa to
build magnificient irrigation works there."
There is a poem in
Purananuru, which expresses the appeal of a poet to the Pandya King
Neduncheliyan, the victor of Talaiyalankanam. The poet advises the king to construct
irrigation tanks wherever possible to help the peasants and to improve the
prosperity of the kingdom. This poem serves as an unfailing witness to the
irrigational works of the ancient Tamils.
Calendar :
It is very interesting
to note that "there are two, an ecclesiastical calendar and civil one. The
ecclesiastic calendar of the Tamils like other Asiatic calendars, including the
Telugu calendar is lunar. But the civil calendar is solar, truly and completely
solar and is not, like ours, an originally lunar calendar modified to fit the
solar year ....... it is unique, and that it aims at a degree of astronomical
accuracy and consistency beyond that of any other calendar in use.....it proves
the independence and continuous activity of Dravidian science in the past of
India, least exposed to non-Dravidian influences."22 This statement points
out the significance of the calendar adopted by the ancient Tamils.
Pattini Cult :
Pattini cult is one of
the significant features of Tamil culture, The deification of a 'chaste wife'
as the 'Goddess of chastity' originated in Tamilnadu during the Sangam age.
Kannaki, the heroine of the epic Silappatikaram has been deified as Pattini
Devi by Ilanko Adikal.
Deification of Kannaki
has brought in its wake, a train of legends and varied cults, in which Pattini
figures as one of the incarnations of the goddess Sakti of the Hindu religion.
This cult has found a congenial atmosphere to thrive in Sri Lanka at the end of
the Sangam age. There are many shrines to this deity in Ceylon. It is the only
female deity in the pantheon of divine beings worshipped next to Taya by the
Sinhalese.
Siva :
It has been claimed that
"the greatest gift of South India to Hinduism is God Siva".24 The Rig
Vedic Rudrs is an absolutely independent personality, even independent of Siva,
of the proto-Indian times. But an effort was made here to amalgamate the two
elements of Rudra and Siva-without however introducing the name of Siva. This
has been done by the addition of some more elements and attributes which have
been (more or less) originally considered as the qualities of Siva. Dilating on
this point, Dr. Karmarkar observes that "Rudra is the lord of the animals
and forms the point of linkage between the Vedic religion and the later Siva
worship. Siva in the Rig Veda means auspicious but it is not the name of a God;
the Rudra in Rig-Veda is a malignant cattle destroying deity".
Murukan :
The cult of Murukan goes
back to the pre-historic period in Tamilnadu. He was conceived as a territorial
deity of the Kurinchi region. He has been called as the God of youth and
beauty. Valli the daughter of Hunter's chief has been identified with one of
the mistress of Murukan. In the beginning of the Christian era, Murukan has
been transformed into Subramanya or Kartikeya in a new setting with the
assimilation of North Indian legends and beliefs.
Uma :
The consort of Lord Siva
and the female manifestation of his energy and power is known as Uma or Parvati.
In the tradition of the Tamils, she is known as Korravai. Scholars believe that
the expression Uma is only an Aryan rendering of the original Amma of the
Dravidian term".
Krishna, The Hero of the
Cowherds :
Even Mayon and Mal are
believed to be the old (pre-Aryan) Tamil names, subsequently identified with
the later Aryan God Vishnu. The earliest reference to the pastoral krishna
occurs only in the Tamil literature. His sweet heart Nappinnai, the the
proto-type of Radha of later period appears to be a maid of the pastoral people
of ancient Tamilnadu. The Krishna cult might have been carried to the North by
tribes of the Deccan like Abhiras.
Pucey or the Flower
offerings :
Pucey, the term in Tamil
implies the mode of worshipping the deity with flowers, This word has been
borrowed into Sanskrit as puja in the later Vedic period. This method of flower offerings to Gods
represents the practice of the Tamils from time immemorial. "Homa or the
fire ritual and puja, or the flower Ritual, represent two distinct words of
religious thought or conception. The flower ritual or the Puja is unknown to
the Vedic religion; their ritual is everywhere Homa.28 This categorical
expression of an Indologist clearly points out the indebtedness of the various
religious tenets to the Tamils which are following the flower offerings as a
form of worship.
Concept of Self
Surrender :
The concept of
self-surrender at the feet of God has been enunciated and elucidated in great
detail by the preceptors of Saiva and Vaishnava theology of later periods. In
no other religious tenets of India, as well as of the accident, we find such a
lofty ideal of relinquishing the worldly attachments and submit oneself at the
feet of the God to seek solace for the yearning heart.
Tiruvalluvar, the
illustrious sage and sear of Tamilnadu enunciates the doctrine of
self-surrender for the first time in ancient India. He instructs that
"those who find refuge at the great feet of Him who lives in the heart (of
the devotees) live eternally in Heaven". "To those who are united in the feet of
Him who is without desire or aversion, never experience sufferings". "They alone escape from sorrow who
surrender themselves at the feet of Him who is unique in every respects". "The stormy seas of wealth and sensual
pleasure cannot be traversed except by those who cling to the feet of the God
who is the ocean of Righteousness". "None can swim the great sea of births,
but those of who are united in the feet of God".
These verses have been
the main source for the exposition of the doctrine of self-surrender at the
feet of God in the Mediaeval period. No other religion except Christianity
advocates the doctrine of self-surrender at the feet of the Supreme Being, This
concept can be claimed as a significant contribution of the Tamils in the
sphere of philosophical speculations.
Muttamil :
Ancient Tamils included
the most popular Fine Arts viz., Music, Dance and Drama in their concept of
Muttamil. They have given equal importance to Music and Dance and treated them
in par with the Tamil language and literature. We could not find a parallel to
this concept of Fine Arts in any quarters of the world.
The musical instruments
like yal (lute), kulal (Flute) (not the Nagaswaram of this century) and Mulavu
(two-faced drum), the proto-type of modern mritankam are the most important
orchestra that enhanced the value of the melodious music of the ancient
Tamils.
Literature :
The Akam poems of the
Sangam age excells in form and theme as well as expression and elucidation of
the subtle ideas and the tender feelings of the lovers. They depict and glorify
only the life of the lovers who have succeeded in their love affair. When we
compare these Akam poems with the love poems of other countries, we find to our
surprise that they deal with the disappointment and desertion of lovers.
The moral philosophy of
the Tamils is enshrined in Tirukkural one of the great classics in Tamil. It is
the "masterpiece of Tamil literature and one of the highest and purest
expression of human thought". This great didactic work in Tamil reveals
the loftiest sentiments and the purest philosophy of life with equal power of
conception and expression of the Tamil genius. Tiruvalluvar, the author of this
work has been acclaimed as the "Bard of universal man"34 by Dr.G.U.
Pope, an eminent missionary of Great Britain.
Ethical Humanism :
Rene Grousset, one of
the outstanding scholars in the study of Eastern Civilizations calls Tamil
culture as the "Culture of a Tropical Greece" and Tamilnadu as a
"Greece before the time of Greece". He also points out that there is
a "basic relationship between the refinement of highly evolved ethical ideals
and basically popular sentiments of humanism of the Tamils". Then he
expresses that "This is one of the greatest contributions of the Tamils to
the world culture".
The ideal of "One
World" :
The supreme philosophy
of life as conceived by the Tamils is clearly expressed in one of the verses of
'Purananuru the ancient Tamil Classic:
"Every country is my country
Every man is my kinsman"
Every man is my kinsman"
In these lines, the
ancient Tamils have given vibrant expression to their "cherished ideal of
the One world and the universal brotherhood of Man". From this oft-quoted
epigram, one can infer that the Tamils have gone beyond the barriers of Class,
Community, Nation and Religion and embraced the whole humanity as their
brotheren. There is hardly any parallel to this anticipation of 'One-world ideal'
and the 'universal brotherhood of man' in ancient countries.
The major contributions
of various cultures and civilisations of the globe to the formation of
civilasation of mankind have been expressed in the following terms:
Glory that was Greece!
Grandeur that was Rome!
Splendour that was India!
Marvelous that was China!
Grandeur that was Rome!
Splendour that was India!
Marvelous that was China!
We can add to this list,
"Thrill that was Tamilnadu!" as a tribute.