Hospitality Depicted in the "Aatrupadai" Literature

ஆற்றுப்படை நூல்கள் காட்டும் விருந்தோம்பல் திறம்

Abstract

Hospitality is an exemplary virtue unique to the Tamil people. It is the act of welcoming and treating guests who come seeking help with a pleasant demeanor. Sangam literature reveals that not only kings but also people born into high society and ordinary citizens excelled in hospitality during the Sangam period. Poets, bards, female dancers, and performers, known for their generosity, visited kings and, without directly asking for material things, highlighted their poverty through their unique talents, singing, and receiving gifts. The kings, as patrons, acknowledged the plight of the poets, praised them greatly, and bestowed gold, wealth, mountains, and jewels as gifts. These events are proclaimed in Sangam poems. Sangam period poets, in their "Aatrupadai" works, have highlighted various kings who excelled in hospitality by alleviating the suffering of poverty that plagued the lives of their fellow artists. This study explores the noble virtue of hospitality that has been prevalent among the people for two thousand years, as evidenced by Sangam literature, which serves as a mirror reflecting the lifestyle of ancient Tamils.Seeking generous and munificent kings, poets, bards, female dancers (Viraliyars), actors, and others would go to their palaces. Instead of simply pointing out their impoverished state, they would use their unique talents to sing and receive gifts. In the Porunararrupadai, they praised Karikal Peruvalathan, in the Sirupanarrupadai, Nalliyakkodan, in the Perumpanarrupadai, Thondaiman Ilandhirayan, and in the Koothararrupadai, Nannan. Therefore, this research abstract outlines the way in which kings hosted poets and others as guests and the generosity shown by hosting.