Ettuthokai

Ettuthokai, meaning "Eight Anthologies," is a foundational collection of ancient Tamil poetry from the Sangam period. It represents one half of Tamil classical literature, with the other half being Pathupattu (the Ten Idylls). The eight anthologies gather poems in two broad modes: Akam, which deals with intimate, emotional, and domestic themes, and Puram, which covers public life, war, ethics, and social affairs. Among the best known components are Akanānūṟu and Puranānūṟu, which have served as focal points for the internal and external strands of the corpus and illustrate a rich range of topics such as love, honor, governance, battle, and natural imagery.

Dating and authorship of Ettuthokai-era poetry are complex. Most verses are traditionally placed in the early centuries BCE to CE, though exact dates vary by work and scholars often note anonymous or uncertain authorship. The poems were originally transmitted orally and later compiled by scholars, with emphasis on distinctive Tamil metres and grammatical forms that illuminate early Tamil linguistic traditions.

Manuscripts and criticism: The Ettuthokai preserves a wide array of poetic voices and regional references, offering insights into the social structure, geography, and cultural practices of the Tamilakam landscape. Its verses contribute to the understanding of early Tamil prosody, imagery, and narrative style, and they have influenced subsequent Tamil poetry and literary theory.

Significance: As a core corpus of Sangam literature, Ettuthokai provides essential evidence for the language, society, and aesthetics of ancient Tamil life. It is frequently studied alongside Pathupattu to achieve a fuller picture of early Tamil literary culture.