The Sangam period is considered the most ancient and fertile era in the history of Tamil literature. The literary works of this period have deeply recorded various dimensions of human life, particularly the intricacies of psychological emotions. This research paper provides a comprehensive analysis by comparing emotional expressions, social relationships, the attitudes of women, the link between nature and mental states, valor, and ethics in Sangam poetry with modern psychological theories. Specifically, it explains how the Ainthinai (five landscapes) system and the Akam-Puram classification established in Tolkappiyam serve as frameworks reflecting the human mental structure.
The romantic bonds depicted in Akam poems are comparable to contemporary 'Attachment Theory' and 'Separation Anxiety'. Furthermore, Puram poems provide an understanding of 'Social Identity' and 'Leadership Psychology'. Through the lens of 'Ecopsychology', the paper deeply analyzes how nature functions as a symbol of human mental states and how the 'Aram'-based (ethical) lifestyle of the Sangam Tamils provided a foundation for mental well-being.