Naming conventions of ancient Tamil country
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Naming conventions of the
Tamilakam Tamiḻakam (Tamil: தமிழகம்; Malayalam: തമിഴകം), refers to the geographical region inhabited by the ancient Tamil people, covering the southernmost region of the Indian subcontinent. Tamilakam covered today's Tamil Nad ...
in the
Sangam literature The Sangam literature (Tamil: சங்க இலக்கியம், ''caṅka ilakkiyam'';) historically known as 'the poetry of the noble ones' (Tamil: சான்றோர் செய்யுள், ''Cāṉṟōr ceyyuḷ'') connotes ...
have been one of the foremost concerns of Tamilology. ''The Surnames of the Caṅkam Age: Literary & Tribal'', published in 1968 sought to offer one of the earliest treatments in this area.


Background

The Cankam literature is thematically divided into akam and puram. The poets worked under a convention of anonymity, not exposing the names of the heroes, heroines and friends in their poems, particularly in the former, in order to underline the universality of the feelings expressed in their poetry.


''Tolkappiyam'' classifications

The ''
Tolkāppiyam ''Tolkāppiyam'', also romanised as ''Tholkaappiyam'' ( ta, தொல்காப்பியம், ''lit.'' "ancient poem"), is the most ancient extant Tamil grammar text and the oldest extant long work of Tamil literature. The surviving manus ...
'' identifies ten categories of names. An̲n̲i Mirutalakumāri Tāmacu claims to have completely revealed the basis on which the Tamils adopted their names.


''Wilden'' classifications

Eva Wildern identifies four types of names found in the
Sangam literature The Sangam literature (Tamil: சங்க இலக்கியம், ''caṅka ilakkiyam'';) historically known as 'the poetry of the noble ones' (Tamil: சான்றோர் செய்யுள், ''Cāṉṟōr ceyyuḷ'') connotes ...
: proper names, proper names connected with a name of a place or a dynasty, proper names with epithets and imagery names. This convention was codified in the '' Tolkāppiyam''.


''Tantaipeyar''

This tradition involves firstly having the father's name followed by one's own name. This system was carried even into the medieval period. Examples include ''cēramān'', meaning "son of Chera" composed of ''cēra'' and ''makan'', or ''vēlmān'', meaning "son of Vel" composed of ''vēl'' and ''makan''.


Fives parts of a name

The convention is remains that dynastic name is followed by the proper name. However, in the case of distinguished persons, there may be up to five parts to it.
Parimelazhagar Parimelalhagar ( ta, பரிமேலழகர்) (), sometimes spelled Parimelazhagar, born Vanduvarai Perumal, was a Tamil poet and scholar known for his commentary on the ''Thirukkural''. He was the last among the canon of ten medieval c ...
(c. 13th century) codified the Classical-era conventions in his explanation of the correct name of Yanaikatchai Mantaran Cheral Irumporai as ''Kōccēramān Yāṇaikkaṭcēi Māntarañcēral Irumpoṛai''. ''Kō'' meaning 'king' signifying his official title; ''Cēramān'' is the dynastic name; ''Yāṇaikkat'' 'Elephant-eyed' is a distinctive feature; ''Cēi'' is the ''iyatpeyar'', or proper name; and ''Irumporai'' is an appellate. Another example is ''Malayamān Cōzhiya Ēnati Tirukkaṇṇan''. ''Malayamān'' is the dynastic name; ''Cōzhiya'', "of the
Chola Nadu Chola Nadu is a cultural region of the Tamil Nadu state in southern India. It encompasses the lower reaches of the Kaveri River and its delta, and formed the cultural homeland and political base of the Chola Dynasty which ruled large parts of S ...
; 'Ēnati" is the title of conferred by the King to the chief of the army in a ceremony known as ''Ēnatippatiyam''; and ''Tirukkaṇṇan'' is his ''iyatpeyar'', or proper name.


Dynastic name

Poets spoke to kings about the need for children for carrying on the family or dynastic name. The dynastic or family name acts as a prefix and occurs before the actual name.


Titles

Some titles such as 'Kō' meaning 'king' were acquired, while others were conferred by the King. Three titles particularly renowned were known as Etti, Enati and Kaviti. Talaikkoli, Peraiyan and Marayan are a few of the other titles bestowed to eminent personalities in consideration to their talents in particular fields.


See also

* Tamil naming conventions, for Tamil naming conventions in modern times


References


Bibliography

* * {{Names in world cultures
Tamil Tamil may refer to: * Tamils, an ethnic group native to India and some other parts of Asia **Sri Lankan Tamils, Tamil people native to Sri Lanka also called ilankai tamils **Tamil Malaysians, Tamil people native to Malaysia * Tamil language, nativ ...
Tamil history
Tamilakam Tamiḻakam (Tamil: தமிழகம்; Malayalam: തമിഴകം), refers to the geographical region inhabited by the ancient Tamil people, covering the southernmost region of the Indian subcontinent. Tamilakam covered today's Tamil Nad ...
Tamilakam