குறுந்தொகையில் ஒப்பனைக் கலை: The Art of Adornment in Kuruntokai

Abstract

The art of adornment is one of the various forms of aesthetic art developed by the early Tamils. Sangam poets, while identifying and describing the hero and heroine, often referred to them through terms associated with ornaments, such as āyiḻai, cēyiḻai, and toṭioḷ. The ancient Tamils, who lived a life closely connected with nature, used flowers and leaves to adorn their hair, decorate their ears. They also wore ornaments made of gold and conch shells. Although the words kaṇṇi and kōtai generally refer to garlands, each term acquires a specific meaning according to the part of the body on which the garland is worn. A garland worn on the head is called kaṇṇi, whereas a garland worn on the chest is called kōtai. Similarlly, the term toti refers to a shoulder ornament when worn by a man and to a wrist ornament when worn by a woman. Sangam literature also demonstrates the subtle and nuanced use of different expressions to distinguish a woman’s hair from a man’s hair-(Ori). This article, entitled “The Art of Adornment in Kuruntokai”, is structured to reveal the aesthetic nuances of such expressions and to highlight the aesthetic sensibilities of the ancient Tamils.

Keywords

• Art of Adornment
• Aesthetic Art
• āyiḻai
• cēyiḻai
• Toṭiyōḷ
• Ōri
• Ear Ornament
• Wrist Ornament.