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LESSON - 4 History of Literature - 13th centuryA0 4134 பதின்மூன்றாம் நூற்றாண்டு
The growth of literature in the thirteenth century is the focus in this lesson. Literary works and their commentaries, grammatical works and their commentaries and the Saivite and Vaishnavite literature, besides பிரபந்தங்கள் are the significant works of this century.
The end of Chola reign in this century witnessed a fall in literary contribution of merit. However, one cannot but remember the singular status of நளவெண்பா.
The first unit mentions about சிவஞான போதம் and சிவஞான சித்தியார் under Saivite literature and நளவெண்பா under secular category. A beautiful commentary like பரிமேலழகர் உரை projected the great Thirukkural in all its hues of human life and its principles and precepts.
The second unit brings out the famous Tamil grammar நன்னூல், besides அகப்பொருள் விளக்கம், another grammatical treatise. Thus Tamil grammar is presented again in a new format for better understanding.
The third unit on religious literature deals with Vaishnavite contributors like பெரியவாச்சான் பிள்ளை and பின்பழகிய பெருமாள் ஜீயர். Jain works like அறநெறிச்சாரம் and யசோதர காவியம் came up during this period.
The fourth unit on Prabhanda literature deals with குலோத்துங்க சோழன் கோவை, தஞ்சைவாணன் கோவை and other works. Puranas and Vedanta writings include நம்பி திருவிளையாடல் and பரமார்த்த தரிசனம்.
Buddhist literature is obvious by its absence in the literary output of this century.
You will be happy to know something of the Saiva siddhantha philosopy in this lesson, through சிவஞான சிந்தியார் and சிவஞான போதம். Only during this era, such philosophical treatises appeared in Tamil for the first time. The evils of gambling are exposed in the great நளவெண்பா of this period. How a change of reigns affected literary growth can best be learnt through this lesson.
