NATURAL EPICS

Classical Tamil literature is an example of language’s ‘umbilical cord’ relationship with nature

- A ANNAMALAI

We are now compelled to study our ancient traditions deeply to regain strength to fight the current environmental degradation. Our ancient society, tradition and culture, and languages were intensely nature conscious. Because of this, in ancient times development happened without damaging the environment much. In the mad rush for material progress, somewhere we lost our nature-sensitive tradition and culture. It led to the onslaught on mother Earth.

In this context, eco-literature highlights the environmental damages. In this sphere, the society also gets warning signals of the future shocks—the possible doom, if the trend is not halted.

Ancient Tamil tradition portrayed nature and realised its power. Nature is often portrayed as an entity outside the world of humans and external to the culture of the society. But since time immemorial, nature has been part of the construction of language and humanity’s initial words were closely associated with natural elements. Language has an “umbilical cord” relationship with nature and it is natural that literature, a by-product of language and intellect, has to closely portray nature either very outwardly or in subtle nuances.

Classical Tamil literature is an essential example of this notion. Various ancient marvels such as Tholkappiyam, Silappadhikaram, Manimekhalai and Pattupattu are grouped under Sangam literature. These have mentions of about five eco-zones, or thinai (meaning land, genre or type in Tamil poetics). The five thinais are: kurinji (mountainous regions), mullai (pastoral regions), marutham (riverine agricultural regions), neidhal (coastal regions) and palai (arid/desert regions). Each thinai used to have a special tree, an animal, a bird, a flower and a deity of her own. Thus, each