cittaantarettinam Dr.S.Sundarabalu Assistant Professor Department of Linguistics Bharathiar University Coimbatore-46 India Sunder_balu@yahoo.co.in 9715769995

1. History of Tamil -Grammar
cittaantarettinam Dr.S.Sundarabalu
Assistant Professor
Department of Linguistics
Bharathiar University
Coimbatore-46
India
Sunder_balu@yahoo.co.in
9715769995

9. 5 Kural’s That Wont Touch Lips These are the 5 Thirukkural’s that wont touch lips.
310 இறந்தார் இறந்தார் அனையர் சிைத்னதத்
துறந்தார் துறந்தார் துனை
Iṟantār iṟantār aṉaiyar ciṉattait
Tuṟantār tuṟantār tuṇai
341 யாதைின் யாதைின் நீங்கியான் நநாதல்
அதைின் அதைின் இலன்
Yātaṉiṉ yātaṉiṉ nīṅkiyāṉ nōtal
Ataṉiṉ ataṉiṉ ilaṉ
489 எய்தற்கு அரியது இனயந்தக்கால் அந்நினலநய
சசய்தற்கு அரிய சசயல்
Eytaṟku ariyatu iyaintakkāl annilaiyē
Ceytaṟku ariya ceyal
1082 நநாக்கிைாள் நநாக்சகதிர் நநாக்குதல் தாக்கைங்கு
தானைக்சகாண் டன்ைது உனடத்து
Nōkkiṉāḷ nōkketir nōkkutal tākkaṇaṅku
Tāṉaikkoṇ ṭaṉṉatu uṭaittu
1296 தைிநய இருந்து நினைத்தக்கால் என்னைத்
திைிய இருந்ததுஎன் சநஞ்சு
Taṉiyē iruntu niṉaittakkāl eṉṉait
Tiṉiya iruntatu’eṉ neñcu
More than 20

10. • Tamilian civilisation formed the basis for Indian
civilisation. Tamilian culture spread all over India
according to S.A. Taylor and other researchers.
Tamilians from the south migrated north when
Kumari Kandam that is the southern tip of India was
eroded by the sea.
• These people settled around the banks of the Sindu
river and over the years were responsible for the
creation of Indus Valley civilisation according to
Heras, a christian priest, who did research about
that era.
• Tamilar>Tamilia>Tamila>Ithramila>Ithradida>Dravida

11. • The word Tamilar underwent many changes to
Dravidia as follows, Tamilar-Tamilia-Tamila-
Ithramila-Ithradida-Dravida, according to linguistic
researchers and hence, it can be seen that the
Sindu-Dravida civilasations was Tamilian civilisation.
• Indus valley civilisation is more or less 7000 years
old and there is documentary proof to show that it
is very advanced, people were well versed in
architecture, laying of roads, making clothes,
furniture, jewellery and tools. The Tamilians were
very knowledgeable in the arts, business, religion,
language and administration.

12. • Tamilians in the Sindu area spoke in olden Tamil
called Kodunth Tamil. When they migrated to other
parts of India, the language changed based on the
dialects of those areas. When people migrated to
different countries, their language further changed
as it was influenced by that country’s dialect.
• Linguistic researchers say that the north-dravidia
Tamil merged with languages from Sumeria, North
Africa and even Europe.

13. The Harappan language is not directly
attested and its affiliation is uncertain
since the Indus script is still
undeciphered. A relationship with the
Dravidian or Elamo-Dravidian language
family is favored by a section of
scholars.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indus_Valley_Civilization

14. Dravidianlanguages:distributionofDravidianlanguages

15. https://ta-in.facebook.com/notes/தமிழ்-tamil/

16. இலக்கணம்
1. சதால்காப்பியம்
2. புறப்சபாருள் செண்பாமானல
3. யாப்பருங்கலம்
4. யாப்பருங்கலக்காரினக
5. தண்டியலங்காரம்
6. நன்னூல்
7. நம்பி அகப்சபாருள் ெிளக்கம்
8. இனறயைார் அகப்சபாருள்
9. சதான்னூல் ெிளக்கம்
10. இலக்கை ெிளக்கம்
11. தமிழ்சநறி ெிளக்கம்
12. சிதம்பரப் பாட்டியல்
13. நெநீதப் பாட்டியல்
14. பன்ைிரு பாட்டியல்
15. ெ ீரநசாழியம்
16. இலக்கைக் சகாத்து
17. தமிழ் நூல்
18. முத்து ெ ீரியம்
19. சுொமி நாதம்
20. நநமிநாதம்
21. அறுெனக இலக்கைம்
22. மாறன் அலங்காரம்
1. Tolkaapiyam
2. Puraporul venpaamaalai
3. Yaaperun kalam
4. Yaaperunkalakaarikai
5. Tantialankaaram
6. Nannul
7. Nampiakapporul vilakkam
8. Iraiyanaar akappurul vilakkam
9. Thonnul vilakkam
10. Ilakkana vilakkam
11. Thamizneri vilakkam
12. Citamparappaatiyal
13. Navaniitam paattiyal
14. Pannirup paatiyal
15. Viirasoziyam
16. Ilakkanakkottu
17. Tamilnuul
18. Muttuviiriyam
19. Cuvaami naatam
20. Neeminaatam
21. Aruvakai ilakkanam
22. Maran alangaram

17. • Tamil has diglossia, which means that two forms of
the language coexist in the speech community. The
standard written and spoken variety of Tamil, called
centamiẓ ‘beautiful Tamil,’ is based on the classical
language of an earlier era and not on any of the
contemporary regional dialects.
• The many spoken varieties of Tamil are called
koṭuntamiẓ ‘crooked Tamil’ or ‘vulgar Tamil’ and are
not used in formal speech and writing. The
newspaper language and the language of political
speeches is centamiẓ. http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/171083/Dravidian-
languages/279620/Literary-languages?anchor=ref1012108

18. • The presence of Dravidian loanwords in the
Rigveda implies that Dravidian and Aryan
speakers were, by the time of its composition,
fused into one speech community in the great
Indo-Gangetic Plain, while independent
communities of Dravidian speakers had
moved to the periphery of the Indo-Aryan
area (Brahui in the northwest, Kurukh-Malto
in the east, and Gondi-Kui in the east and
central India).

19. • Notably, the most ancient forms of the Dravidian
languages are found in southern India, which was
not exposed to Sanskrit until the 5th century bce.
This suggests that the south was populated by the
speakers of the Dravidian languages even before
the entry of Aryans into India.

20. • History :Tolkappiyam is written by Tolkaapiyan
(also Tolkaapiyar). Panampaaranaar, a
schoolmate of him wrote a prologue on the
work of Tolkaappiyar while it was published
before the learned and his professor
Athangoottaasaan in a court of a king
Pandiyan (Nilam tharu thiruvin Pandian -
means - Pandia, the king extended his region)

21. • Tamil-speaking land was extended between
Veengadam (modern Tiruppathi) on the north and
ocean Kumari on the south.
• The spoken and written Tamil languages are the
sources of his work.
• He extends his study on phonetic letters, word-syntax
and the matter exposed there-on.
• He studied properly the culture of the language-people
and his ancestor‘s conventions and wrote his work of
'linguistic knowledge'.

22. • This work does not contain any objectionable point.
It has been published in the learned-court of the
'Nilantharu thiruvin Ne’diyoo’n. Atankoo’ttaasaan is
the name of his professor. This professor is a man of
balanced virtuous character.
• He is well-versed in four 'Vedas'. During his
presentation some raised-doubts of his professor
were cleared. The work is unambiguous. The author
of this work is well-versed in 'ainthiram'. He posses
sound knowledge on sea-grit word. Tholkaappiyan
is a renowned sage.

23. • Tolkappiyam is the earliest available work in Tamil.
It deals with the Tamil language. Having three
sections, the first two deal with language
(linguistics) and the third about the subject matters
referred to in Tamil literature, the behaviour of the
Tamils. Each section has been divided into nine
chapters. it has 1610 verses (nuuRpaas)

24. Tolkaapiyam
1. எழுத்ததிகாரம்-phonology & Morphophonimics
2. ச ால்லதிகாரம்-morphology, syntax & Semantics
3. ச ாருளதிகாரம்-Matters

25. I-எழுத்ததிகாரம் -phonology & Morphophonemic
1. நூன்மரபு- Grammatical convention of Phonemes
2. சமாழிமரபு-Word convention
3. பிறப்பியல்- Production of speech sounds
4. புைரியல்-Coalescence - morphophonemics
5. சதானகமரபு-Compounding convention
6. உருபியல்-Euphonic particles
7. உயிர் மயங்கியல்- vowel – coalescence
8. புள்ளி மயங்கியல்-Consonant coalescence
9. குற்றியலுகரப் புைரியல்-Shortened U coalescence

26. 1.நூன்மரபு- Grammatical convention of Phonemes
5.மூ அளபு இசைத்தல் ஓர் எழுத்து இன்றே
No letter (phoneme) will gave three measures.
7.கண்,இசை ,ந ொடி என் அவ்றே ைொத்திசை
நுண்ணிதின் உணர்ந்றதொர் கணட ஆறே
Time duration of phoneme :According to the view of those
who have understood accurately , one maattirai is the time
taken by the natural wink of the eyes (or) a snap of the
fingers

27. • 83. உந்தி முதலா முந்து ெளி நதான்றி,
தனலயினும் மிடற்றினும் சநஞ்சினும் நினலஇ,
பல்லும், இதழும், நாவும், மூக்கும்,
அண்ைமும், உளப்பட எண் முனற நினலயான்
உறுப்பு உற்று அனமய சநறிப்பட நாடி,
எல்லா எழுத்தும் சசால்லும் கானல,
பிறப்பின் ஆக்கம் நெறு நெறு இயல-
திறப்படத் சதரியும் காட்சியாை
3. ிறப் ியல்- Production of speech sounds

28. vGj;JfsJbghJg;gpwg;g[
ce;jp Kjyh Ke;Jtspnjhd;wpj;
1.jiyapDk; 2.kplw;wpDk; 3.be";rpDk; epiy,g;
1.gy;Yk; 2.,jGk; 3.eht[k; 4.f;Fk;
5.mz;zKk;csg;gl vz;Kiw(8) epiyahd;
cWg;g[w; wika bewpg;l eho
vy;yh btGj;J"; brhy;Y'; fhiyg;
gpwg;gpd; Mf;fk;ntWntwpay
jpwg;glj; bjhpa[';fhl;rp ahd.
28

29. Short Long
Front Central Back Front Central Back
Close
i u iː uː
இ உ ஈ ஊ
Mid
e o eː oː
எ ஒ ஏ ஓ
Open
a (ai) aː (aw)
அ ஐ ஆ ஒள
29

30. Labial
Dental Alveolar Retroflex Palatal Velar
Plosives
p (b) t̪ (d̪ ) ʈ (ɖ) tʃ (dʒ) k (ɡ)
த ட க
Nasal
m n̪ n ɳ ɲ ŋ
ம ந ன ண ஞ ங
Tap
ɾ̪
ர
Trill
r
ற
Central
approxima
nts
ʋ ɻ j
வ ழ ய
Lateral
approxima
nts
l̪ ɭ
ல ள
30

31. 102. எல்லா எழுத்தும் செளிப்படக் கிளந்து,
சசால்லிய பள்ளி எழுதரு ெளியின்
பிறப்சபாடு ெிடுெழி உறழ்ச்சி ொரத்து,
அகத்து எழு ெளி இனச அரில் தப நாடி,
அளபின் நகாடல் அந்தைர் மனறத்நத. உனர
அஃது இெண் நுெலாது எழுந்து புறத்து இனசக்கும்
சமய் சதரி ெளி இனச அளபு நுென்றிசிநை.
All the phonemes as the origin of air which starts
from the navel and the modifications when they
undergo before they come out as articulated
speech and of their quantity therein is clearly
investigated and given in the scriptures of the
antanar.
I have not discussed that here; I have discussed the
quantity measure of the phonemes that expresses
meaning.

32. Main branches of phonetics
1. Articulatory phonetics
2. Acoustics phonetics
3.Auditory Phonetics

34. Speech mechanism

35. II-ச ால்லதிகாரம் -morphology, syntax & Semantics
10.கிளெியாக்கம் –word formations
11.நெற்றுனமயியல்-Case system
12.நெற்றுனம மயங்கியல்-Case markers – interchanges
13.ெிளி மரபு-Vocative conventions
14.சபயரியல்-Nouns
15.ெினையியல்-Verbs
16.இனடயியல்-Bound morphemes
17.உரியியல்-Root morphemes
18.எச்செியல்-Residual components

36. 14.சபயரியல்-Nouns
640.எல்லொச் நைொல்லும் ந ொருள் குறித்தனறே.
All words designate (convey) meaning
18.எச்செியல்-Residual components
880.இயற்நைொல்,திரிநைொல்,திசைநைொல்,ேடநைொல் என்று அசனத்றத நைய்யுள் ஈட்டச்
நைொல்நல.
Four class of words : words used in poetry are of
four kinds:
1.iyarcol –native words
2.tiri col –variable words –derivative –indigenous words
3. ticai col – dialectical words – provincial words
4. vatacol –Sanskrit words – northern words

37. III-ச ாருளதிகாரம்-Matters
19.அகத்தினையியல் -Conduct of love affairs
20.புறத்தினையியல் -War and social life
21.களெியல் -Secret love
22.கற்பியல் -Chastity
23.சபாருளியல் -Residual matters
24.சமய்ப்பாட்டியல் -Physical manifestations
25.உெனமயியல் -Simile
26.சசய்யுளியல் -Literary compositions
27.மரபியல் -traditional conventions

38. The word porul is having many meaning
1. Meaning of a word
2. The sense
3. Signification
4. Property
5. Wealth
6. Riches(an abundance of money)
7. Money
8. Things
9. Substance
10. Matter
11. Store
12. Provision
13.Utensils(tools)
14.Truth
15.Reality
16.quality
17.Things of moment of important
18.Superiority
19.Gold
20.A child
21.Fruit of action
22.The four division of subjects
23.Inference from circumstances
24.Special quality
25.Disposition

39. • Out of which the following meaning are available in
Tolkapiyam
1. Word to word meaning
2. Things
3. Muthal ,karu, uri
4. Wealth
5. Aim
6. Happening
7. Marriage
8. Akaporul and purapporul
9. Matter
10.Concluding word
Hear porul means universal matter

40. 19.அகத்தினையியல் -Conduct of love affairs
Conduct of love affairs. There are seven types of love affairs ;
reciprocated love are five

41.  20.புறத்தினையியல் -War and social life
 7 Strategies of War in Tholkappiyam
1. சவட் ி [Veṭci] - the cattle war, the other side of union love (Kurinji
theme)
2. வஞ் ி [Vañci] - the territory war, the other side of endurance love
(Mullai theme)
3. உழிஞஞ [Uḻiñai] - the seize of fortress, the other side of sulking
love (Marutham theme)
4. தும்ஞ [Tumpai] - the attack on invader’s territory, the other side
of lamentation love (Neithal theme)
5. வாஞக [Vākai] - the exaltation of person’s behaviour, the other
side of separation love (Paalai theme)
6. காஞ் ி [Kāñci] - ephemeral nature of earthly existence, the other
side of deviant love (Perunthinai theme)
7. ாடாண் [Pāṭāṇ] – words of praising other’s attitudes, the other
side of unrequited love (Kaikkilai theme)

43. • 21.களவு இயல் -Secret love: The meeting of the eyes of the
hero and heroine is the evidence to determine that they
mutually understand each other , and the secret love begins.
The confidante is very helpful for their secret love.
1044.ந ருசைஉம் உைனும் ஆடு உ றைன
1044.quality of male: nobility and valiance are the quality of
male (this is universal)
1045. quality of female : it is said that timidity(Lacking self-confidence) ,
shyness, and credulity(trust) are the qualities of female generally.
அச்ைமும் ொணும் ைடனும் முந்துறுத்த
நிச்ைமும் ந ண் ொற்கு உரிய என் .

44. • 1046.happening of secret love: it is said that
1. amorousness (love desire- especially sexual love)
2. Uninterrupted thing love
3. Emaciation of the body (become extremely thin)
4. Expressing what should happen
5. Breaking the limit of modesty and propriety
6. Every object of sight reminding one of the feature of the other
7. Self-forgetfulness
8. Stupor (unconsciousness)
9. Death-like worry
These are the things which may happen in secrete love.
1046.happening of secret love: it is said that
வேட்கை ஒருதகை உள்ளுதல் மெலிதல்
ஆக்ைம் மெப்பல் நாணுேகை இறத்தல்
வநாக்குகேஎல்ைாம் அகேவே மபாறல்
ெறத்தல் ெேக்ைம் ொக்ைாடு என்று அச்
சிறப்புகைெறபின் அகே ைளவு என மொழிப
Who says that in the first

45. 22. கற்பு இயல் kaRpu iyal - on Chastity: Karpu
means marital faithfulness , chastity life of a house holder
after his union with a bride of his choice had been
approved by marriage ceremonies, Malabar jasmine, an
emblem of female Chastity , learning , study ,knowledge ,
meditation , workmanship , promise ,decision,
determination, etc. Here it denotes the chastity of the
heroine.

46. • Wedding Union
• The wedding ceremony is that , the hero who
comes from a worthy lineage , having the marriage
with the heroine by those who are legally entitled
to do so with the necessary ceremonies. -1088
• ந ொய்யும் ேழுவும் நதொன்றிய பின்னர்
அய்யர் யொத்தனர் கைணம் என் -1091
It is said that the marriage is solemnized (make
official) by the respected elders because of the
falsity and violate of trust cropped up (in the
society)

47. பூப்பின் புேப் ொடு ஈைொறு ொளும்
நீத்து அகன்று உசேயொர் என்ைனொர் புலேர்
ைத்சதயின் பிரிந்த கொசலயொன.1133
Scholars say that the hero does not keep of from
the heroine during the twelve days , since the day
of her menstruation even when he was parted and
living in the company of harlots (promiscuous
women)

48. • 23.ச ாருளியல் -Residual matters: The
monologue utterances of the hero and the heroine
are given here. All living beings in the universe are
after pleasure and it is their desire. Suggestive
meaning (iraicci) will appear besides the flora and
fauna of the land
எல்லொ உயிர்க்கும் இன் ம் என் து
தொன் அைர்ந்து ேரு உம் றைேற்ேொகும்-1169
All the living beings in the universe are after
pleasure and it is their desire.

49. It said that from sports and play the thirty two (32)emotions appear in exterior ; they
are sixteen (16)
24.சமய்ப் ாட்டியல்- Physical manifestations: physical
manifestations are universal. They are eight such as
1. Laughter
2. Crying
3. Disgust
4. Wonder
5. Fear
6. Pride
7. Anger and
8. Joy
சகறய அழுசக இளிேைல் ைருட்சக
அச்ைம் ந ருமிதம் நேகுளி உேசக என்று
அப் ொல் எட்றட நைப் ொடு என் -1197

50. manifest-emotions source-emotions source in Tamil verse
laughter
ridicule
childishness
stupidity
credulity
நனக
எள்ளல்
இளனம
நபனதனம
மடன்
3-248
grief
contempt
deprivation
decline in stature
indigence
அழுனக
இளிவு
இழவு
அனசவு
ெறுனம
3-249
disgust
decrepitude
sickness
vexation
incapability
இளிெரல்
மூப்பு
பிைி
ெருத்தம்
சமன்னம
3-250
wonder
novelty
hugeness
minuteness
transmutation
மருட்னக
புதுனம
சபருனம
சிறுனம
ஆக்கம்
3-251
fear
demonic beings
wild animals
thieves
country monarch
அச்சம்
அைங்கு
ெிலங்கு
கள்ெர்
தம் இனற
3-252
pride
learning
prowess
unsullied fame
munificence absolute
சபருமிதம்
கல்ெி
தறுகண்
புகழ்னம
சகானட
3-253
anger
cutting one's limbs
harming one's kin
inflicting pain and anguish
killing
செகுளி
உறுப்பனற
குடிநகாள்
அனல
சகானல || 3-254
joy
riches
mind's might
sexual union
play
உெனக
சசல்ெம்
புலன்
புைர்வு
ெினளயாட்டு
3-255

51. • 1207.emotions proper to the heroine – first stage :
புதுமுகம் புரிதல் , ந ொறிநுதல் வியர்தல்
கு யம் ைசேத்தல் , சிசதவு பிேர்க்கு இன்சைறயொடு
தகுமுசே ொன்றக ஒன்நேநன நைொழி -1207
1. Desiring to be seen (by the lover)
2. Sweating of the forehead
3. Concealing (hide)her loving smile
4. Keeping her off from others to conceal(hide) her
weakness
These are the first stage of four things which will
happen in the process of love making.

52. 1208. Second stage: it is said that
1.Spreading out the hair loosely
2.removing the ear ornaments
3. Adjusting the ornaments
4.Loosening and rearranging her dress. These four will be
stage of the heroine’s action
1209.Third stage: it is said that
1.Touching her waist ,and lower part of her stomach
2.Adjusting her apparel
3.Exhibiting the power of resistance without having it
4.Raising both hands. Theses four will be third stage of her
actions.

53. 25.உவஞமயியல்-Simile: Simile is common to all
world literatures. It is an universal things. There are
thirty –six particles of comparison. implied similes
are five.
26. சசய்யுளியல் -Literary compositions:
Literature is common to all languages in the world.
In Tamil there are 26+8=34 elements and they have
been explained clearly. They classify literature into
seven kinds which is universal.

54. 1. மரபியல் -traditional conventions:
Tolkapiyar deals about the origin of the world and
he clarifies the differences between living beings
from one sense in a beautiful manner

55. • 6 Senses in Tolkappiyam
• Senses are physiological capacities of organisms
that provide data for perception. It’s the describe
instincts that guide the living being throughout its
entire life.
• The senses and their operation, classification, and
theory are overlapping topics studied by a variety of
fields, most notably neuroscience, cognitive
psychology (or cognitive science), and philosophy
of perception.
• Many have attempted to classify the senses of
various living beings especially humans.

56. • It is interesting to know that this classification of
beings based on the numbers of senses, has been
found 3 millennium years ago by ancient Tamil
literature Tolkappiyam.
• Tolkappiyam classifies the living beings based on
the senses they use predominantly, in the section
called Marabiyal (Marabu – generally accepted
practices since old days, culture, tradition. Iyal –
Research work, Science). The poems in each called
Suthirams (Formula) describe about various aspects
of grammar, habitat, etc.

57. ஒன்று அறிவதுவவ உற்று அறிவதுவவ
இரண்டு அறிவதுவவ அதசனாடு நாவவ
மூன்று அறிவதுவவ அவற்சறாடு மூக்வக
நான்கு அறிவதுவவ அவற்சறாடு கண்வண
ஐந்து அறிவதுவவ அவற்சறாடு ச விவய
ஆறு அறிவதுவவ அவற்சறாடு மனவன
வநரிதின் உணர்ந்வதார் சநறிப் டுத்தினவர (சதால்காப் ியம் - ச ாருளதிகாரம்
571)
Ondru Arivathuve Uttru Arivathuve
Irandu Arivathuve Athanodu Naave
Mondru Arivathuve Avattrodu Mooke
Naangu Arivathuve Avattrodu Kanne
Ainthu Arivathuve Avattrodu Seviye
Aaru Arivathuve Avattrodu Manane
Nerithin Unarnthor Neripaduthinare (Tolkappiyam – Porulathigaram 571)

58. • Ondru, Irandu, Moondru, Naangu, Ainthu, Aaru : 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
respectively
• Arivathu : Know, feel, realise, sense
• Uttru : Touch, come into contact
• Athanodu : Along with some other thing (usually when the
number of objects is two)
• Avattrodu : Along with some other things (usually when the
number of objects is more than two)
• Naavu : Tongue, in this context, taste
• Mookku : Nose (for sense Smell)
• Kann : Eye (Sight)
• Sevi : Ear (Hearing)
• Manam : Mind
• Ner Ithu : The truth
• Unarnthor : Who realised the truth (Meignyanam-Divine Knowledge)
• Neripaduthinare : Classified and organised the life

59. • 1525.Destinctions of sense organs

60. • Full Meaning : beings with one sense are those that
have the sense of TOUCH. Beings with two senses are
those that have the sense of TASTE along with the
above. Beings with three senses, have sense of SMELL
in addition. Beings with four senses, have sense of
SIGHT, along with the above. Beings with five senses,
have sense of HEARING, in addition. The beings with six
senses, have a MIND, along with the above. The people
who have realised the truth of God through divine
knowledge have classified and organised the life
appropriately.

61. • Extrasensory perception (ESP), clairvoyance(future),
premonition, intuition are synonymous with sixth
sense perception ability. Tolkappiyam is said to be
the First in the world to describe the sixth sense
which related to external body parts.

63. • Tolkappiyam verses explanation above is truly an
amazing classification and proves that our Tamil
ancestors not only an expert in literature and
grammar, but obtained higher spiritual knowledge
that is progressively of more universal need and of
lasting importance in terms of a time span of
centuries.

64. • The way of life of ancient Tamils which was
associated with nature and worship practices
shown clearly in Tolkappiyam and other Sangam
Literatures. From the early origins, Tamils have
always gave priority to the belief in God. According
to another verse from Tolkappiyam under Karuporul
(culture of the people), God was prioritised first,
followed by food.

65. நிைண்டு nikandu- Thesaurus

66. 35 nikandus- Thesaurus
• The Tamil lexicography in the Tamil language took
its origin some three thousand years ago .
Tolkappiyam , the greatest books on Tamil grammar
which is considered as the first of the available old
Tamil books and as of three thousand years old
contain pages that tell the meaning of words
Etymology sollathikaram –

67. • What is a lexicon?
• If the words in a language are arranged
alphabetically and meaning are given to them in a
book, than it is called a dictionary
• The word akaraathi is a combination of the two
words akaram+aathakaram means a=k is augment
aathi means first . As we begin this with the letter a
this is called as akaraathi

68. • Nikantu is a Sanskrit words some are of opinion
that it is a Tamil word. Those who advocate this say
that Nikantu means “truth” and that the Tamil
word for happened nikaznthatu became nikantu.
• We often hear some people pronounce the word
niilam as nikaLam and the word niintathu as
nikandathu

69. • World ‘s first lexicon
• Though the assirian had books that gave meaning to
words even 3000 years ago like Tolkapiyam uriyiyal
in tamil , lexicons in the alphabetic order were first
written only in the 17th century in the west. The first
possible lexicon in the alphabetic order of the west
was writing only in 1612 A.D in the Italian language
• Akaraathi nikantu -1594 ad
• http://www.tamilvu.org/library/nationalized/pdf/Manaivarsundarashanmuganar/012.HISTORYOFTAMILLEXICOGRAPHY.pdf

73. World first lexicon
1. Akarathinikandu is first lexicon in the world
Pre songam periods
1. Tolkapiyam –uriyiyal – homonyms , synonyms,
group-names
Sangam periods
1. Nikandu-kalaik koottuthandu - Nikandu-kalaik
koottuthandanar- sangam period 300 –bc 300 ad

74. Post -Songam period up to -15th century
1. Aathi divaakaram - Aathi divaakaranar
2. Senthan dhivakaram – dhivakaranaar8th
3. Pikalanikandu-pinkalar- 8th
4. Cuudamani nikandu – 16th
5. Akarathinikandu 1594
6. Uricolnikandu 17th
7. Kayaathara nikandu 17th
8. Palporul suutamani nikandu17th
9. Kailaasanikandu cuutamani 17th
10. Bharathi dhiipam 17th
11. Asiriyanikandu 17th to 18
12. Arum porul vilakka nikandu 18th
13. Thokai nikandu 18th
14. Porolthokai nikandu 18th
15. Pothikai nikandu 18th
16. Naamathipa nikandu 19th

75. • Bingala nigandu (or) Pinkala nikandu (or) Pingala
nikandu (பிங்கல நிகண்டு) is a Tamil thesaurus
written by Bingala Munivar a follower of Dhivagara
Munivar who wrote the first Nigandu in Tamil
Language, the Dhivagara Nigandu and Senthan
Dhivagaram of 8th Century AD.
The Bingala nigandu has 10 sections. Its has
definitions for 14,700 words. Interesting
information about various classification of mankind,
gods, animals, birds, plants are found in this book.

76. • A thesaurus is a reference work that lists words
grouped together according to similarity of
meaning (containing synonyms and sometimes
antonyms), in contrast to a dictionary, which
contains definitions and pronunciations.