தொல்காப்பியச் செய்யுள் உறுப்புகள் ‘யாப்பு’ - ‘பொருள்’ என்னும் உறுப்புகளை மையமாக வைத்து

Centring on the Elements of Tolkappiyam Poetry : ‘Yappu’ and ‘Porul’

Abstract

Tolkappiyam identifies 34 types of elements in verse. Of these, the first 26 belong to isolated verses, while the remaining 8 pertain to continuous verses. P. Madhaiyan argues that poetry is the centre of the entire Tolkappiyam, and this study similarly aims to establish it as the core of material poetry. Commentators who followed Tolkappiyar offered various classification methods. This article also examines the approaches taken by specific commentators (Ilampuranar, Perasiriyar, Nachinarkiniyar, A. Sivalinganar, Ka. Vellaivaranar, Tamizannal, Sa. Balasundharam) and scholars (S.N. Kandhasamy, S.V. Shanmugam, T.P. Meenatchisundaranar, Indira Manual, Anni Thomas, K. Pazhanivelu, R. Sampath).

This paper focuses on verse and commentary related to Sound, Eight Feelings, Thina, and Sa. Balasundharam's analysis. Sound creates structure and meaning alike. It serves as a common factor across all examples. Sound, Eight Feelings, and Thina have been applied to the Marutha Kali. The Kali song features a natural bouncing sound. There are also attempts to derive explanations using measurements (alapedai). If we consider form and meaning as common elements, sound emerges as the primary force shaping both. Thus, sound and its meanings form the foundation of this study. Sound creates structure and meaning alike. The next step in this study is to explore how sound represents meaning.