The Canon

இலக்கியங்கள் The Works

Every major text in the Tamil literary tradition — with full studies of their structure, grammar, political context, key poems from the TN syllabus, and their place in world literary history. Not summaries. Studies.

Tolkappiyam

தொல்காப்பியம்

Tolkappiyar The dating of Tolkappiyam is a subject of intense scholarly debate. While some scholars, like M. Srinivasa Iyengar, place it around the 4th century BCE, suggesting it predates Patanjali and even Vyasa's division of the Vedas, others, like Dr. U.V. Swaminatha Iyer, concur with the 4th century BCE. A consensus often points to approximately 500 BCE as a reasonable estimate for its composition. However, some theories propose an even earlier date, arguing it could not have been composed later than 1500 BCE, implying a much older literary tradition. Dr. Caldwell also noted that 'many centuries of literary culture must have preceded Tolkappiyam,' reinforcing the idea of its deep antiquity. Grammar treatise (இலக்கணம்) 1,612 sutras across three books
Pre-Sangam / Second Sangam
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Purananuru

புறநானூறு

Multiple poets (~150 named poets) ~1st century BCE – 3rd century CE (poems composed over several centuries) Anthology (தொகை) — puram (public/exterior) poetry 400 poems
Sangam Age
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Thirukkural

திருக்குறள்

Thiruvalluvar ~1st century CE (most accepted); range: 300 BCE–500 CE Didactic couplets (குறட்பா) 1,330 couplets in 133 chapters of 10 each
Post-Sangam
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Silappadikaram

சிலப்பதிகாரம்

Ilango Adigal ~2nd–5th century CE (debated; traditional: 2nd century CE) Epic (காப்பியம்) ~5,730 verses across 30 cantos; plus prose sections
Post-Sangam / Kalabhra Period
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Kurunthokai

குறுந்தொகை

Multiple Poets Circa 3rd century BCE to 3rd century CE Anthology of Akam Poetry 401 (excluding one lost poem)
Cankam kālam
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Naṟṟiṇai

நற்றிணை

Various Poets c. 100 BCE - 250 CE Akam Poetry 400
Cankam Age
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Akananuru

அகநானூறு

Multiple (Unknown compilers) Circa 1st century BCE - 3rd century CE Anthology of Akam (love) poetry 400
Cankam Literary Era
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Kurinjipattu

குறிஞ்சிப்பாட்டு

Kapilar c. 1st - 3rd Century CE (most scholars place it in the 2nd Century CE) Long Akam Poem (Idyll) 261 lines
Early Common Era
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Pattinapalai

பட்டினப்பாலை

Kadiyalur Uruttirankannanar Circa 2nd-3rd Century CE Panegyric Poem (Pattuppattu) 400 lines
Cankam Age
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Manimekalai

மணிமேகலை

Cīttalai Cāttaṉār Late 5th - Early 6th Century CE Epic Poem (Kāppiyam) 4755 lines
Early Medieval Tamil Literature
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Cīvaka Cintāmaṇi

சீவக சிந்தாமணி

Tiruttakkatēvar 9th-10th Century CE Epic poem (Mahākāvyam) Approx. 3145
Pallava-Chola Transition Period
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Naladiyar

நாலடியார்

Jain Munis (Samana Munivargal) C. 3rd-6th Century CE Didactic ethical treatise, collection of quatrains 400
C. 3rd-6th Century CE
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About This Study

Sources & Method

📚

Mu. Varadarajan

Tamil Ilakkiya Varalaru (Tamil Literary History) is the primary framework for periodization, context, and critical judgment throughout this site.

📜

Project Madurai

Every work page links directly to the full Tamil text on projectmadurai.org — a free, nonprofit digital archive of classical Tamil literature. No paywalls.

projectmadurai.org ↗
🎓

Tamil Virtual University

Academic lessons, commentary, and structured curriculum for every major work. Used for syllabus organization and scholarly commentary references.

tamilvu.org ↗
🏫

TN State Curriculum

Poems and excerpts are drawn from TN state board Tamil textbooks Std. 6–12 and standard UG/PG curriculum. Every poem is marked with its grade level.