First Sangam

The First Sangam period (Tamil: முதற்சங்க பருவம், Muthaṟchanga paruvam ?) or the First Academy, also known as the Head Sangam period (Tamil: தலைச்சங்க பருவம், Thalaichanga paruvam ?), was a legendary period in the history of Ancient Tamilakam said to be the foremost of Tamil Sangams, known in the Tamil language as கூடல் (koodal) or 'gathering'. It is the first of three Tamil Sangams of Classical Tamil literature. While most historians accept the historicity of this literature, they also understand that some literary academies would have held Pandyan patronage.[1] This is not to be confused with the historical Third Sangam period which lasted roughly from 600 BCE to 300 CE.

Formation

It was said to be located in Then Madurai under the patronage of 89 Pandya kings,[2][3][4] during this period. It is said to have lasted for 4,440 years, and this would put the First Sangam between 9600 BCE to 5200 BCE.[5][6]

Some are of the opinion that Agastaya or Agathiyar was the head of the Thalaichangam. However, this is unlikely as the first mention of him is from Ptolemy and no Sangam work refers to him.[7] A more likely proposition is Lord Muruga (Kartikeya) being the head of the First Sangam as believed by others.[8] சிவன் (sivan) in Tamil means 'the red one'.[9]

Activity

Its function was to judge literary works and credit their worth. Later literary works like Iraiyanar Akaporul mention that 549 poets were members of it including Shiva, Murugan, Kuperan and seven Pandya kings.[10] And 16,149 authors attended the convocation. Its chief works were Perumparipadal, Mudukuruku, Mudunarai and Kalariyavirai. It used Agattiyam as its grammar.[11] There are no surviving works from this period.

Muranjiyur Mudinagar, a member of the first Tamil Sangam, is believed to have been a king of the Nagas in Jaffna.[12] Siddha medicine is said to have been practiced during the First Sangam,[13] and people "enjoyed mental and bodily health, respecting nature and living hygienically."[14]

Destruction

Iraiyanar Kalaviyal mentions a King Kadungon was the last ruler during the Talaiccankam. He is not to be confused with Kadungon who defeated the Kalabhras.[15] It was washed away in a sea-deluge. This led to the Middle Sangam period.

Preceded by
–		 First Sangam
4440 years[16]		 Succeeded by
Second Sangam
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See also

References
  1. Harman, William (1992). The sacred marriage of a Hindu goddess. Motilal Banarsidass.
  2. Kenneth Hurry, Alain Daniélou (2003). A brief history of India. Inner Traditions / Bear & Co.
  3. Sen, Sailendra Nath (1992). Ancient Indian History and Civilization. Motilal Banarsidass. p. 204.
  4. "Tamil Geographies: Cultural Constructions of Space and Place in South India", page 62, Martha Ann Selby, Indira Viswanathan Peterson, Suny Press
  5. S. Kunjithapatham, M. Arunachalam (1989). Musical tradition of Tamilnadu. International Society for the Investigation of Ancient Civilizations. p. 11.
  6. "Proceedings - Volume 1 of Proceedings: Edited by R. E. Asher, Vadasery Iyemperumal Subramoniam" page 184, R. E. Asher, Vadasery I. Subramoniam, Pennsylvania State University
  7. Saletore, Rajaram Narayan (1984). Encyclopaedia of Indian culture: Volume 4. Sterling Publishers.
  8. Journal of Indian history, Volume 38. Dept. of History, University of Kerala. 1960.
  9. Carpenter, Joseph Estlin (1921). Theism in medieval India: lectures delivered in Essex Hall, London. Williams & Norgate.
  10. Harman, William (1992). The sacred marriage of a Hindu goddess. Motilal Banarsidass.
  11. Iyengar, Sesha (1982). Dravidian India. Asian Educational Services.
  12. Pillay, Kolappa Pillay Kanakasabhapathi (1963). South India and Ceylon. University of Madras.
  13. Ca. Vē Cuppiramaṇiyan̲, Vē. Irā Mātavan̲ (1983). Heritage of the Tamils: Siddha medicine. International Institute of Tamil Studies.
  14. Weiss, Richard (2009). Recipes for immortality: medicine, religion, and community in South India. Oxford University Press.
  15. Piḷḷai, Es Vaiyāpurip (1988). Vaiyapuripillai's history of Tamil language and literature: from the beginning to 1000 A.D. New Century Book House.
  16. Daniélou, Alain (11 February 2003). A Brief History of India. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 9781594777943.
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