சங்ககாலச் சமூகத்தில் கைம்பெண்கள்: ஒழுக்கம், ஒடுக்குமுறை மற்றும் வாழ்வியல் மாற்றங்கள் குறித்த ஒரு சமூக-வரலாற்று ஆய்வு

Widows in Sangam Society: A Socio-Historical Study on Morality, Oppression, and Lifestyle Changes

Abstract

Sangam literature serves as the primary historical documentation reflecting the lifestyle, culture, martial ethics, and moral codes of ancient Tamil society. Within these literary works, there is abundant internal evidence showing that women held unparalleled positions in education, valor, love, marriage, and the arts. However, another facet of this society was the tragic life of widows. Sangam poems meticulously record how widows were subjected to extremely rigid moral restrictions and social oppression. Practices such as Sati (self-immolation), Kaimmai Nonbu (the penance of widowhood), the shaving of hair, the shedding of ornaments, and strict dietary restrictions transformed the lives of widows into a form of long-term punishment. This article provides a detailed exploration—through Sangam verses—of how women were oppressed in the name of 'Chastity' (Karpu) during Tamil Nadu's transition from a matriarchal structure to a patriarchal, property-based society. It also examines the nuances of 'Paruthi Pendir' (women spinners), who represented the economic livelihood of widows. Furthermore, this study analyzes the sociological roots of these restrictions by comparing them with modern social research.