இலக்கியங்கள் சுட்டும் பனையின் சிறப்பு

The Significance of the Palmyra Palm as Highlighted in Tamil Literature

Abstract

This paper seeks to establish, through evidence from Sangam literature, that the palmyra palm has been a plant deeply intertwined with the everyday life, culture, and economy of the Tamil people (Varadharajan 45–52). The study explains the distinctive significance of the palmyra palm, its relationship with the people and the land during the Sangam period, and its long-standing status as a valuable economic crop. The various uses of the palmyra palm and its 34 identified varieties are also examined. The paper provides an extensive analysis of its uses not only as a source of food and medicine but also as a marker indicating the boundaries of settlements, along with the various useful products obtained from the palmyra palm. Furthermore, the lifespan of the palmyra palm and its ability to remain closely integrated with Tamil life are discussed. The paper also presents the traditional belief that palmyra palms help raise the groundwater level and highlights the understanding that, for this reason, earlier generations protected and cultivated palmyra palms near water bodies. It is intended to convey this traditional ecological knowledge to the younger generation of today.