Dravidian Literature contains works in four major Dravidian languages: Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, and Malayalam. Tamil is thought to be the oldest of these four languages, and it is said to be very close to Sanskrit, particularly in terms of grammar and word borrowing. The classical works, or Sangam literature, are the most well-known in Tamil. In this article, we will learn about important literary works in various Dravidian languages.

Tamil (Sangam) Literature

• 'Sangam' means a fraternity, and this literature was extremely popular among the general public.
• This literature is a collection of works that includes approximately 2381 poems attributed to 473 poets, as well as a corpus of literature written by 102 poets who remain anonymous.
• Men and women from various social classes were among the poets.
• The literary tradition was so popular that the period between 300 BC and 300 AD, when the majority of these were composed and compiled, is commonly referred to as the Sangam period.
• There are two major schools of Sangam literature:
  • Aham/agam – It is the 'inner field,' which focuses on the abstract discussion of human aspects such as love, sexual relations, and so on.
  • Puram – It is the 'outer field,' which discusses human experiences such as social life, ethics, valor, and customs, among other things.
• This literature is known as 'Sangam' because the kingdom of Pandya organized assemblies to which poets, bards, and writers from all over South India would flock.
• These gatherings were known as 'Sangamas,' and the literature produced during these gatherings was known as Sangam literature.
• Over a 600-700-year period, three Sangams were organized.

• It is also worth noting that in the extant Sangam literature, approximately 30,000 lines of poetry have been arranged in eight anthologies known as Ettuttokoi. It was further divided into:
  • Patinenkil Kanakku (eighteen lower collections) is the older and more historically significant group, and Pattupattu(the ten songs).
• Thiruvallurar, a well-known and revered Tamil saint contributed the 'Kural' to Sangam literature.
• Avvaiyar is another well-known female saint who contributed to Sangam literature.
• The Tolkappiyam was written to elaborate on the finer points of Tamil grammar and poetry.
• Like the twin Sanskrit epics, Ramayana and Mahabharata, Tamil has two major texts written in the sixth century AD, namely Silappadikaram (story of an anklet) written by Ilango Adigal.
• Manimekalai (the story of Manimekalai) is the second text written by Sattanar.
• These texts are about Tamil society and the economic and political changes that were taking place at the time.
• The final turning point occurred during the early medieval period when Vaishnava Bhakti sentiments began to pervade Tamil literature.
• Texts written between the seventh and twelfth centuries were primarily devotional.
• Several texts were written in Tamil-speaking regions by the twelve Alvars or saint poets who were immersed in God's devotion.
  • Andal, a woman, was one of the Alvar saints.
• The Nayanars, or those who sang Shaivism's praise, were another important Bhakti group.
• Aside from these, two major poets were known as Periya Puranam and Kambaramayanam were well-known in secular Tamil writing.

Malayalam Literature

• This language is most commonly spoken in Kerala and its surrounding areas.
• Although linguists argue that the language originated in the 11th century, it developed a corpus of literature rich enough to be called an independent language within a span of four hundred years.
• Kokasandisan and Bhasa Kautilya, a commentary on Arthashastra, are two major Malayalam works from the medieval period.
• Ramacharitam, an epic poem written by Cheeraman in the 13th century, is another significant literary work in Malayalam.
• Ezhuthachan, a staunch supporter of the Bhakti movement, is regarded as the father of Malayalam literature.

Telugu Literature

• Linguists believe Nannaya (11th century) was the first Telugu poet.
• Several great works have been written in Telugu, but they reached their pinnacle during the Vijayanagara period, also known as the golden age of Telugu literature.
• Nachana Somanatha, a well-known court poet of King Bukka I, composed one of the most successful works during this period, titled Uttaraharivamsam.
• Not only were court poets producing exceptional literature, but kings such as Krishnadevaraya (1509-1529) were also producing exceptional poetry titled Amuktamalyada.
• During Krishnadevaraya's reign, his court was attended by eight learned literary figures. They were known as ashtadiggajas.
• Some of them, in particular, deserve special attention:

Kannada Literature

• The first foray into Kannada literature was made by Jain scholars.
• The best example of a Jain-influenced text is Madhava's Dharmanathapurana, a biography of the fifteenth Tirthankara.
• Several other scholars, including Uritta Vilasa, wrote Dharma Parikshe about the Jain teachings of the time.
• Kavirajamarga, written by Nripatunga Amoghavarsha I in the tenth century, is one of the earliest recorded Kannada texts. He was also a Rashtrakuta king of great power.
• There were many great scholars in Kannada, but the 'ratnatraya' or 'three gems' were unparalleled. The ratnatraya was made up of three poets named - Pampa, Ponna, and Ranna.
• Pampa, also known as the "Father of Kannada," wrote two of his most famous works, Adipurana and Vikramarjuna Vijaya, in the tenth century.
• Pampa, known for his mastery of the rasa used in poetic compositions, was assigned to the court of Chalukya Arikesari.
• The second gem, Ponna, wrote a well-known treatise called Shanti Purana, and the third gem, Ranna, wrote Ajitanatha Purano. These two poets were attached to Rashtrakuta king Krishna III's court.
• Although Kannada became a full-fledged language by the tenth century, the growth of Kannada literature has been closely linked to the Vijayanagara empire's patronage.
• Sarvajna, who wrote tripadi, was given the title of people's poet.
• Even more remarkable is Honnamma, the first poetess of some renown in Kannada who wrote Hadibadeya Dharma (Duty of a Devout Wife).
• Other major works in Kannada literature include:

Conclusion

Dravidian languages, particularly Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, and Malayalam, have a rich literary legacy that has been passed down to us since the beginning of the Christian era. The antiquity of Tamil Sangam literature may extend even further back to a few centuries before the arrival of the Christian era. It was named after the Sangam academies that flourished during that period under the royal patronage of the Pandya kings of Madurai. Eminent scholars gathered at the sangams to serve as censors, and the best literature was rendered in the form of anthologies. These literary works were among the first examples of Dravidian literature.