திணை வழி காணலாகும் பண்டமாற்று முறை: Barter System as Seen Through the Thinai (Ecoregions)

Abstract

The ancient Tamils understood the fivefold division (Ainthinai) of the landscape and shaped their way of life accordingly. Sangam literature poems reveal that people organized their daily lives in harmony with their natural surroundings and environment. In Sangam literature, descriptions of nature do not exist in isolation; instead, human lifestyle is portrayed through the synthesis of Muthal (time and space), Karu (native flora, fauna, and elements), and Uri (human emotions and behaviors) as codified by Tholkappiyar. This reflects the environment-bound existence of ancient Tamils, serving as a treasury of life that illustrates how all human needs were fulfilled.

Keywords

• Barter System (Panda Maatru)
• Ecoregion / Landscape (Thinai)
• Paddy / Rice (Nel)
• Salt (Uppu)
• Elephant Tusk (Yaanai Thantham)