Tamilmanam Journal

Life in wedlock (Karpu) is the natural progression of a clandestine relationship (Kalavu). A secret love affair does not attain excellence unless it culminates in a formal marriage. Therefore, Tamil scholars emphasized the importance of the marriage ceremony. The concept of "chastity" (Karpu) as defined within the context of a clandestine relationship refers to the collective group of four great feminine virtues: Achcham (fear/shyness), Madam (innocence/simplicity), Naanam (modesty), and Payirppu (aversion to the unfamiliar). However, the "Karpu" mentioned in the grammar of marital life (Karpiyal) is different.The former is an innate quality that appears naturally in women; it is an attribute shared by the heroine, her friend (Thozhi), the foster mother (Sevili), and the biological mother (Nattray). The latter is not a mere personality trait, but a formal event conducted by elders for the couple. This is explained by the grammatical verse: "Karpu is defined as the act of a groom, eligible by tradition, accepting a bride through formal rituals (Karanam) when given away by those authorized to do so." From this, we can understand that in this context, Karpu is not cited as an internal quality but as a formal union. It further clarifies that while the "faultless vision of Karpu" mentioned in secret love (Kalavu) refers to a character trait, in this context, it refers specifically to the ceremonial event of marriage.