ஐங்குறுநூற்றில் ‘தாய்க்கு உரைத்த பத்து’ காட்டும் நெய்தல் நில மனையறம்

Abstract

Sangam literature stands as a vital literary record of the life, culture, social relationships, and economic conditions of the ancient Tamil people. Among the Ettuthogai anthologies, the Neithal thinai poems of Ainkurunuru offer valuable insight into the inner (agam) life of the coastal community. In particular, the ten poems known as ‘Thaaikku Uraitha Pathu’ reveal aspects of the hero–heroine relationship, love, separation, waiting, betrothal, and marriage. This study examines the household ethics (manaiyaram) of the Neithal landscape as portrayed in these poems, situating them within the wider context of Tolkappiyam’s thinai theory and recent scholarship on Ainkurunuru. The study concludes that Neithal manaiyaram was structured on the interconnected values of love, responsibility, trust, and social recognition.