Wild Wonders of Ancient Tamil Nadu- Animals in Sangam Literature

Wild Wonders of Ancient Tamil Nadu- Animals in                           Sangam Literature  

The life and economic status of ancient people were based on animals. Each of the five lands, namely Kurinji, Mullai, Marutham, Neythal and Palai, has a different animal as its theme. Not only Sangam literature but also archaeological evidence confirms this. In the Keezhadi excavations, bones of animals like ox, wild boar, Nilgai, goat and deer have been found. Similarly, deer horns have been found in most of the excavations. 

Its horns have been used to make artefacts and for medicine. Recently, a young archaeologist has discovered towns in Tamil Nadu named after deer. Some of the animals mentioned in Sangam literature are currently on the endangered list.
Animals help people during the Sangam period in everything from food, trade, hunting, transportation, and religion.

Some Highlights about Animals

1) The sound of a lizard was considered a good omen by the Tamils ​​of the Sangam period.

2) Children used to play by hunting with elephant tusks.

3) They used to eat turtle meat on a round plate made of elephant tusks.

4) A bear called Sitalai eats termite guts.

5) There is a bird with a voice that sounds like an elephant. It is called "Yanaiyam Kuruku".

6) There are references to Rahu-Ketu in the Sangam literature Purananutra.

7) The belief that a snake emits a ruby ​​is still prevalent in villages today, and there are references to it in literature.

Animals In Sangam Tamil Literature.

1) நவ்வி- மான் கன்று 

2) வெண் கோட்டான் 

3) களிறு-யானை 

4)  புரவி\பரி-குதிரை 

5)  வயப்புலி- வரிகளை கொண்ட புலி 

6)  மரையான்- மான் வகையை சார்ந்தது.

7) கழுதை- புல்லினம்

8) அத்திரி-கோவேறு கழுதை 

9) கராம்-முதலை 

10) மந்தி-ஆண் குரங்கு 

11)  முசு- பெண் குரங்கு 

12)  குறும்பூழ்-காடை 

13) எருவை-கழுகு \பருந்து 

14) ஞமலி-நாய் 

15) ஞிமிறு- தேனீ 

16) இருங்கிளை-கரடி 

17) வன் பறழ்- பெண் பன்றி 

18) கேழல் -ஆண் பன்றி 

19) நீர் நாய் 

20) முள்ளம்பன்றி

21) கவரி மான் 

22) கலை மான் 

23) காட்டு மஞ்சை-மயில் 

24) வள்ளுகிர் பறவை-குயில் 

25) சிறு வெண் காக்கை- கடற்கரை பகுதியில் வாழும்.

26) ஆமை 

27) கொடுவாய் உழுவை 

28) அலவன்-நண்டு 

29) கானக் கோழி- காட்டுக்கோழி 

30) வரையாடு- வருடை 

31) பொகுவல் பறவை.

32) வெருகு- காட்டு பூனை 

Endangered animals found in literature

LUTRA-நீர் நாய் 
There are references to “Lutra” in many literatures. But this water buffalo is currently an endangered species. Currently, they can be seen in wildlife sanctuaries and. The water buffalo is becoming extinct due to various reasons such as changing climate, low water levels, and hunting. The water buffalo, an important animal of the Marutha region, eats swordfish and spiny fish.

Quil (Coturnix coturnix)- காடை 
The “QUIL” is one of the Kurinji land birds. The people of that region hunt them and eat their meat. Hunting, climate change, etc. are the reasons for the extinction of this small bird.
These quails belong to the small bird species that live in the forests. Its meat is rich in protein.

Nilgiritragus hylocrius-வரையாடு 
The state animal of Tamil Nadu, the gaur, is also on the endangered animal list. It is mentioned as “Varudai” in Sangam literature. These animals are found in the Western Ghats.

Porcupine (Hystricomorpha)-முள்ளம்பன்றி
The Kurinji Nila people hunted and roasted its meat and ate it. This is also on the list of endangered animals.

Wild cat called Verugu (Felis Silvestris) காட்டு பூனை 
In Sangam literature, the wild cat is mentioned by the name “Verugu”. It looks like a leopard. This is also on the list of endangered animals.

Conclusion
Sangam literature is a treasure trove of information about the lives of the Tamil people. Many animals found in it are now endangered. This literature explains the relationship between humans and animals.




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