சம்பந்தர், நாவுக்கரசர் பாடல்களில் தொல்காப்பிய முதற்பொருள்: ஓர் இலக்கிய மற்றும் இலக்கணப் பகுப்பாய்வு

Mutharporul of Tolkappiyam in the Hymns of Sambandar and Navukkarasar: A Literary and Grammatical Analysis

Abstract

In the history of Tamil literature, grammar and literature serve as two sides of the same coin. Specifically, the impact of the life principles laid down by Tolkappiyam—the world's oldest grammatical treatise—on later Bhakti literature is a subject of profound research. During the 7th century CE, when the Bhakti movement flourished in Tamil Nadu, the two great mentors, Thirugnanasambandhar and Thirunavukkarasar, revitalized Saivism through their Tevaram hymns. This article explores in detail how the natural descriptions and temporal records embedded in their songs align with the concept of 'Mutharporul' (Primary Subject Matter) as defined in the Porulathikaram of Tolkappiyam.

The research analyzes how the components of Mutharporul—namely Land (Nilam) and Time (Poluthu)—are documented in the Tevaram pathigams of Sambandar and Navukkarasar. Nature, which served as a backdrop for love and valor in Sangam literature, is transformed into a tool for praising Divine Grace in the Tevaram. The study identifies how the minor divisions of time (Sirupoluthu) such as Dawn (Vaikarai), Morning (Vidiyal), Midday (Nanpakal), Evening (Maalai), and Midnight (Yamam) are intertwined with ritualistic worship and divine vision. Furthermore, the characteristics of the five types of landscapes are mapped onto the sacred shrines (Thiruthalangal) of the Lord. By comparing literary data with grammatical rules, this paper establishes how the geographical and temporal thoughts of Tamils underwent a spiritual evolution during the Bhakti period.