SYMA Quiz : What groups : Narrinai, Purananooru, Paripadal &.....

Srinivas Youngmens Association has been rendering service to the society with great commitment since 1977.  Besides our various other activities of Social service, annually we conduct Competition for School children and our Child Fest is quite popular among Schools and School students of Chennai city. 

This year on 27th Jan 2013, we conducted Drawing competitions at The Hindu High School, Triplicane whence close to 2000 students participated.  On 3rd Feb 2013, we conducted : Singing [Carnatic songs]; Singing [Film Songs]; General Knowledge Quiz; Instrumental Fusion, Dance and Fancy Dress. 

Over the years, the Quiz is being conducted by Yours Truly, fully assisted by N Rajaram and Sridhar Joshi [Brahma Associates].  Chennai has many avid quizzers…….. Quiz enthuses people with stirring Qs on many aspects including but not limited to Current Affairs, Occurrences, History, Geography, Local news, Politics, Science, GK, Sports with fair sprinking on Cricket and more.    Generally, there may not be much on Tamil and Tamil literature.  Here is one of the Qs asked by us [felt very happy when it was answered in a trice !!]

1.அகப்பொருள் பற்றிய நூல்கள்:  இப்பிரிவில்,

•           1.நற்றிணை (Narrinai)

•           2.குறுந்தொகை (Kurunthokai)

•           3.ஐங்குறுநூறு (Ainkurunooru)

•           4.கலித்தொகை (Kalithokai)

•           5.அகநானூறு (Agananooru)

2.புறப்பொருள் பற்றிய நூல்கள்:  இப்பிரிவில்,

•           1.பதிற்றுப்பத்து (Pathirruppattu)

•           2.புறநானூறு (Purananooru)

3.அகப்பொருள், புறப்பொருள் பற்றிய நூல்:  இப்பிரிவில்,

•           1.பரிபாடல் (Paripadal)

Perhaps if the Q had only listed out all those literary works without grouping them under 3 sub heads, it would have provided an easier clue – of asking of the collective name of ‘8 literary works’

The Answer is ‘Ettu Thogai’……….   These primarily are collection of songs written by many and compiled  ~ some reports have it that there are more than 500 whose works have been compiled together ~ some of them were not even contemporaries, belonged to different regions and different sects. 

While a collection known as ‘Pathinen Kizh kanakku’ is more popular, have read there is another grouping known as “ Pathinen mael kanakku” (Tamil: பதினெண்மேல்கணக்கு), collection of the oldest surviving Tamil Poetry. This collection is considered part of the Sangam Literature and dated approximately between 100 BCE and 200 CE. Patiṉeṇmēlkaṇakku, are  the eighteen major anthology series, contains: Ettuthokai, the eight anthologies, and Pattupattu. 

The Sangam period is ascribed to Great Pandyan rulers who were profusely interested in promoting the literature of Tamil language.  This grouping - ‘Ettuttokai’;  contains  5 under ‘Aham’ [Inside], 2 under ‘Puram’ [External] and 1 under both. Most of the  poems have been set to music and were recited n those days as devotional songs. In fact, this work is the first of its kind - devotional music - in Tamil Nadu.  The last of these, ‘Paripaadal’ explains at great length -  traits,  ways, style like the majestic gait of the horse (Pari=horse).

With regards – S. Sampathkumar

4th Feb 2013.