Akaṉānūṟu. Podia for Myths and Legends
Akaṉānūṟu. Podia for Myths and Legends
Author(s): Raju KalidosSubject(s): Philosophy, Language studies, Poetry, Philosophical Traditions, Aesthetics, Special Branches of Philosophy, Comparative Studies of Religion, Ancient Philosphy, Indian Philosophy, Translation Studies, History of Religion
Published by: Presa Universitara Clujeana
Keywords: Akaṉānūṟu; myths; legends; Caṅkam; Tamil bhakti literature;
Summary/Abstract: The Akaṉānūṟu, listed under the Caṅkam classical anthology, Eṭṭuttōkai, is a logical preamble to the Puṟaṉānūṟu. Akam (domestic environ) and Puṟam (beyond the home, exterior aṟam, righteous war) are keywords in Tamil literary tradition. In a work dealing with domestic behavior, evidences relating to myths and legends may be expected. Specialists in art history are naturally interested in myths. I have tried to show how akam is interlaced with pan-Indian mythologies adumbrated in the itihāsas and purāṇas, while retelling autochthonous cultures, and integrating the southern and the northern of the “Indian Asia”, cf. Tamiḻ-iṇppap pā […] vaṭa-moḻip-paṟṟāḷar “bliss offering Tamil poems, the lovers of the northern language (Sanskrit)” (PT 1.4). This is emotional integration. I guess mahākavi-Kāḷidāsa knew Tamil if Poykai Āḻvār was an expert in the Vedas (TI, 33 maṟai “Veda”, antiyāḷ “Gāyatrī”).
Journal: ROMANIAN JOURNAL OF INDIAN STUDIES
- Issue Year: 1/2020
- Issue No: 1
- Page Range: 71-104
- Page Count: 33
- Language: English
