Nalatiyar
Encyclopedia
Naaladiyar is a Tamil
poetic work of didactic nature belonging to the Pathinenkilkanakku
anthology of Tamil literature
. This belongs to the 'post Sangam period corresponding to between 100 – 500 CE. Naaladiyar contains 400 poems, each containing four lines. Every poem deals with morals and ethics, extolling righteous behaviour.
There is an old Tamil proverb praising naaladiyar, which says, Naaladiyar and Thirukkural are very good in expressing human thoughts just as the twigs of the banyan and the acacia trees are good in maintaining the teeth. (ஆலும் வேலும் பல்லுக்குறுதி, நாலும் இரண்டும் சொல்லுக்குறுதி).
and delivers the didactic messages that are characteristics of the period. Written by Nalatiyar stresses the transient nature of life and youth.
Naaladiyar is unique in the employment of similes, which help to teach the moral codes using simple examples from daily life. The poem below explains how a calf in a herd finds its mother properly, the results of bad deeds will reach the doer even in next birth.
பல்லாவுள் உய்த்து விடினும் குழக்கன்று
வல்லதாம் தாய்நாடிக் கொள்ளலைத்- தொல்லைப்
பழவினையும் அன்ன தகைத்தேதற் செய்த
கிழவனை நாடிக்கொளற்கு.
Tamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
poetic work of didactic nature belonging to the Pathinenkilkanakku
Pathinenkilkanakku
Pathinenkilkanakku is a collection of eighteen poetic works created during the 'post Sangam period' . The poems of this collection differ from the earlier works under the Pathinenmaelkanakku collection , which are the oldest surviving Tamil Poetry. The poems are written in the Venpa meter and are...
anthology of Tamil literature
Tamil literature
Tamil literature refers to the literature in the Tamil language. Tamil literature has a rich and long literary tradition spanning more than two thousand years. The oldest extant works show signs of maturity indicating an even longer period of evolution...
. This belongs to the 'post Sangam period corresponding to between 100 – 500 CE. Naaladiyar contains 400 poems, each containing four lines. Every poem deals with morals and ethics, extolling righteous behaviour.
There is an old Tamil proverb praising naaladiyar, which says, Naaladiyar and Thirukkural are very good in expressing human thoughts just as the twigs of the banyan and the acacia trees are good in maintaining the teeth. (ஆலும் வேலும் பல்லுக்குறுதி, நாலும் இரண்டும் சொல்லுக்குறுதி).
Didactic nature
Naaladiyar was composed by Jain monks, who flourished in the Tamil country during the reign of the KalabhrasKalabhras
The Kalabhras dynasty ruled over the entire Ancient Tamil country between the 3rd and the 6th century in an era of South Indian history called the Kalabhra interregnum. The Kalabhras displaced the kingdoms of the early Cholas, early Pandayan and Chera dynasties. Information about its origin and...
and delivers the didactic messages that are characteristics of the period. Written by Nalatiyar stresses the transient nature of life and youth.
Naaladiyar is unique in the employment of similes, which help to teach the moral codes using simple examples from daily life. The poem below explains how a calf in a herd finds its mother properly, the results of bad deeds will reach the doer even in next birth.
பல்லாவுள் உய்த்து விடினும் குழக்கன்று
வல்லதாம் தாய்நாடிக் கொள்ளலைத்- தொல்லைப்
பழவினையும் அன்ன தகைத்தேதற் செய்த
கிழவனை நாடிக்கொளற்கு.