Sangam, also called cankam, chankam, or shangam is the name given to the earliest available Tamil literature. It is between 300 BC and 300 AD that the Sangam age is considered to be roughly extended, although most of its work is believed to be composed between 100 CE and 250 CE.

• The period that came into existence in South India (the region lying to the south of rivers Krishna and Tungabhadra) from 3rd century BC to 3rd century AD is called the Sangam Period
• Here the word ‘Sangam’ refers to the association and thus, implies the association of Tamil poets who flourished in ancient southern India
• This particular period has been named after the Sangam academies that were established between the 3rd century B.C and 3 rd century A.D. that flourished under the rule of Madurai’s Pandya kings
• It is believed that Tamil Siddhar Agastyar has chaired the first Tamil Sangam in Madurai
• Eminent scholars used to assemble and also functioned as the board of censors at the Sangam academies
• The three chief Tamil Kingdoms of the Sangam period were the Cheras, the Cholas, and the Pandyas

Three Sangams in Ancient South India

As per Tamil legends, there were three sangams,  popularly known as Muchchangam, and these were held in ancient southern India.

• It is believed that the First Sangam took place at Madurai, which was attended by gods and legendary sages
• Kapadapuram was the place where the Second Sangam was held, and only Tolkappiyam survived from this
• It was again in Madurai where the Third Sangam was held

The Sangam Literature

The Sangam literary works comprise Tolkappiyam, Pattupattu, Pathinenkilkanakku, Ettuthogai, and two epics- Silappathikaram and Manimegalai. These Tamil literary works also act as the main archaeological evidence of the Sangam period. 

Sangam Literature- Tolkappiyam

Tolkappiyam was composed by Tolkappiyar and is considered the oldest extant Tamil literary work to date. Dated between the 4th and 5th century CE, the Tolkappiyam is work on grammar and also provides insights into the social life, human psychology, and political and economic conditions of that time. This particular Tamil work is divided into three sections, and each section is further classified into nine chapters. Tolkappiyam consists of 1612 sutras which are extensive in the range. The influence of Sanskrit on the Tamil work is peripheral and very little.

Third Tamil Sangam

The composition of the third Sangam is further classified into eight anthologies referred to as Ettuthokai or Ettuthokai, and the ten idylls are referred to as Pattuppattu.

Ettuthokai

The eight anthologies of Ettuthokai comprise the below-mentioned works:

• Natrinai
• Pathitrupathu
• Kalithogai
• Kurunthogai
• Ainkurunuru
• Paripadal
• Purananuru
• Ahanuru

Pattuppattu

The ten idylls of Pattuppattu comprise the following mentioned works:

• Sirupanarruppadai
• Madurai Kanji
• ThiruMurugatrupadai
• Perumbanarruppadai
• Mullaippattu
• Pattinappalai
• Malaipadukadam
• Porunararrupadai
• Nedunalvadai
• Kurinchi Pattu

The third Sangam mainly saw the pathinenkilkanakku, and they used to deal with moral values. The most important Tamil works among them included Thirukkural (also referred to as Kural), Palamoli (composed by Munrurai Araiyar), and Achara Kovai. When talking about Achara Kovai, it contains a description of the regular life of an orthodox Hindu and also showcases the influence of the Sanskrit Shastras. 

Sangam and Thirukkural

Thirukkural was authored by Thiruvalluvar, and it is known as the first Dravidian work that showcased ethics. It consists of 1330 couples and discusses love, epics, polity, and governance. Thirukkural has been already translated into different languages, including foreign ones. 

Sangam and Silappadikaram

Silappadikaram was authored by Ilango Adigal, who was supposed to be an ascetic prince and younger brother of Senguttuvan, the Cheran king. It composes a story revolving around an anklet, and the name also implies the tale of an anklet. In the story, Kannagi is a chief character who seeks revenge on the Pandya kingdom for wrongly putting her husband to death. The poem provides an insight into the contemporary society, values, polity, and social life of Tamil people.

Sangam and Manimekalai

Manimekalai was authored by Chithalai Chathanar and is a sequel to Silappadikaram. The main aim of the author was to propagate Buddhism in the southern part of India as the work espouses the values of Buddhism over other religions that were practised at that time.

The other sources that act as archaeological evidence of the Sangam Period are:

Other Sources 

• The Greek authors named Strabo, Ptolemy, Megasthenes, and Pliny have mentioned all commercial trade contacts which were built between the West and South India in their works
• The information about the Chera, Chola, and Pandya rulers of the southern Mauryan empire is also mentioned in the Ashokan inscriptions
• Hathigumpha inscription of Kharavela of Kalinga has also mentioned details about Tamil kingdoms

Conclusion

Sangam Eighteen Lesser Texts are the oldest Tamil literary work and is believed to be composed between 100 CE and 250 CE. This particular literature comprises Tolkappiyam, Pattupattu, Pathinenkilkanakku, Ettuthogai, and two epics- Silappathikaram and Manimegalai. The period in which Sangam literature was composed and extended is known as Sangam Period. It was in the 3rd century A.D. when the Sangam period slowly witnessed its decline. If you want to know more about Sangam literature, then do consider going through the above-mentioned article.