LESSON - 3 History of Literature - 12th century - Part II

A0 4133 பன்னிரண்டாம் நூற்றாண்டு - இரண்டாம் பகுதி

    This lesson points to the appearance of literary and grammatical works of the later part of the twelfth century. ஒட்டக்கூத்தர் and ஒளவையார் belonged to this period. The great commentator அடியார்க்கு நல்லார் wrote a gloss on சிலப்பதிகாரம், which raises the status of this type of literature, namely, commentaries. Commentaries on the திவ்வியப் பிரபந்தம், and the stray verses glorifying the ஆழ்வார்கள் and others of Vaishnava cult are a significant contribution of this period. Prabhanda literature (பிரபந்த இலக்கியம்) continued to develop along with other minor kinds.

    In the first unit you learn about the writings of the two great poets ஒட்டக்கூத்தர் and ஒளவையார். The saiva siddhanta works of this era are of explanatory nature and are concerned with spiritual as well as social aspects of Tamil life of the past.

    The second unit deals with the commentary works highlighted by அடியார்க்குநல்லார். The great work of சிலப்பதிகாரம் has been presented by him with meaningful and significant explanatary notes.

    The third unit takes up Vaishnavite literature and deals with a few commentaries and individual poems.

    Prabhandha literature like கண்டனலங்காரம், சரசுவதி அந்தாதி and ஏரெழுபது appeared in this century. They are illustrated in the third unit.

    Other literary works dealt with in the fifth unit include the contribution of less known poets like கத்தியார் and ஓவாதகூத்தர்.

    Thus you will see that there is not much of a growth in Jaina literature during this period. Vaishnavism has been the main plank but with smaller contributions. Saiva siddhanta works like ஞானாமிர்தம் and திருக்களிற்றுப் பாடியார் are well known. However, the three great literary personalities like ஒட்டக்கூத்தர், ஒளவையார் and அடியார்க்குநல்லார் left their stamp of creation in this period. You will be able to understand even lesser grammatical works like நேமிநாதம் and வச்சணந்தி மாலை. Although not very great in the history of Tamil literature, this century is not without its significance.