Tamilmanam International Research Journal of Tamil Studies

Among the Sangam literary works, Purananuru, one of the Eight Anthologies (Ettuthokai), stands as a rare and invaluable literary treasure that vividly portrays the public life of the ancient Tamils. The poems in this work clearly articulate fundamental values of life such as war, polity, charity, moral conduct, self-respect, education, and humanism. This study examines the ethical principles of life presented by the poets of Purananuru under four major themes: the excellence of charity, the elevation of moral conduct, the nobility of kingship, and the self-respect of poets. The study concludes that Sangam-age Tamils did not regard material wealth as the ultimate goal of life; instead, this literary work firmly establishes that “living well oneself and enabling others to live well” was considered the highest ideal of life.