The content and form of Tamil Literature have undergone various changes since the Sangam period. Innumerable works have appeared in Tamil; these have been classified as Sittrilakkiyangal.

Pillaithamizh is a kind of Sittrilakkiyam. Literary works written prior to the 12th century A.D did manifest some of the characteristics of Pillaithamizh. But it was during the 12th century that it emerged as a popular literary form.

Childhood is THE phase of a man's life when unalloyed love is given and received. Hence, poets imagined their loved one as a child and composed songs. This became Pillaithamizh. Those taken up as subjects for song and praise were -- Gods, Goddesses, Saints, Philanthropists, Leaders and Teachers. The incidents relating to the childhood of these "children" were described by the poets. Hence the work was called "Pillaithamizh".

The first available work which could be categorised as Pillaithamizh is Kulothungan Pillaithamizh believed to have been composed by Ottakkooththar during the 12th century. Since then more than 300 works are supposed to have been composed in this form.

The most notable Pillaithamizh work is Madurai Meenakshiammai Pillaithamizh. composed by Kumaragurubarar. It delineates the greatness of Goddess Meenakshi of Madurai, and that of Saivism and Paandi Nadu. Kumaragurubarar lived in the 17th century. As a child, he could not speak till he was five. He was then blessed by Lord Muruga, who appeared in his dream and told him, நீ குருபரன் ஆகுக. Since then he was called Kumaragurubarar.

Kumaragurubarar undertook a pilgrimage (on foot) from Tiruchendur to the Himalayas. During this pilgrimage, he tried his best to propagate Saivism and the Tamil language. While staying at Varanasi, he breathed his last.

It was during the reign of the great king Thirumalai Naicker that this work was composed and released. Though there are more than 300 works in Pillaithamizh, Madurai Meenakshiammai Pillaithamizh is the most popular, because of its imaginative wealth, epic similes and rhythmic beauty. The poet has taken great pains to popularize Tamil and Saivism. Madurai is famous for the establishment of the Tamil Academy there, during the Sangam era. Hence, Madurai and Tamil have become almost synonymous.

Thus, Madurai Meenakshiammai Pillaithamizh brings out the greatness of Tamil, Saivism and Goddess Meenakshi.

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