Citing extensively from ancient Sangam Tamil works and also the ancient Tamil grammar, this book establishes for the first time that Tamil attained Classical status by adopting Vedic and Sanskrit traditions, especially with the help of Brahmins in the formative stages, and demonstrates that it rapidly progressed as a result of borrowing. The gods worshipped by the ancient Tamils were Siva, Visnu as Krsna, Rama, Balarama, Kumara (Muruga), Indra, Varuna, Durga, Kali and others who were clearly the Vedic gods. The society was divided into Brahmanas, Ksatriyas, Vaisyas, Sudras and mixed castes. Most of the Tamils believed in the efficacy of Vedic religion in every field of Tamil life. They were guided by customs and manners prescribed in Vedic lore and performed Vedic offerings in their domestic life. All the kings like Ceras, Colas, Pandyas and the Velir chieftains, including the common man performed velvis. Most Tamil people including a section of Vellalars who were called “Uyarkuti” the upper castes, studied the Vedas and Vedangas. The fivefold division of the Tamil life as kurunci, mullai, marudam, neidal and palai are mentioned in Bharata’s Natya Sastra mentioned as kakhsyas division. The judicial administration was based on the principles of Dharma-sastra compiled by the Vedic rsis like, Yajnyavalkya, Vasista, Narada, Manu, Bhrahaspati and Parasara. The civic administration was organized as mentioned in the Vedic sabhas – village assemblies of elected representatives. The Tamil poetics as prescribed in Tolkappiyam was adopted from Sanskrit sources as for example phonetics, alankaras like upama etc. Further the earliest readable script Brahmi, it is shown here, was invented by Brahmins and hence called after them as Brahmi in the time of Asoka, in the Saraswati Valley. The Tamils followed the eight kinds of marriages and registration, specifically formulated by the Brahmanas. Eightfold marriage system is referred to by Tolkappiyam, in the karpiyal, the chapter on chastity. Disposal of the dead, funerary rituals, planting memorial stones etc are as stipulated in Sanskrit sutras and Agamic literature. The temple worship in ancient Tamilnatu followed the Agamic ritual treatises. The aesthetics of music, dance and literature and realization of rasas are based on Bharata’s Natya Sastra. The division of poetry as aham and puram are essentially based on dance tradition, as srngaram (aham) and exploits (puram) and were meant for aha-kuttu and pura-kuttu. It seems that like all other parts of India, where each region had its own dialect Tamil also had its own dialect, but with this difference that Tamil had an advanced dialect of its own which could assimilate incoming ideas quickly and flower into a beautiful classical language. It also shows the Tamil Kavyas were translated into Sanskirt. The Saiva Nayanmars and Vaisnava Alwars mentioned that they rendered the Vedas and their essence into Tamil. The book is truly a path breaking exposition that places Tamil and Sanskrit in proper historical and chronological perspective.

Mirror of Tamil and Sanskrit PDF

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