Irayanar Kalaviyal (Tamil)

Email

Whatsapp

Facebook

Pinterest

Twitter

Copy link

Foreword The Tamils may be justly proud of the fact that Tamil has won the status of a Classical language, the status it richly deserves and should have got long, long ago. The Central Institute of Classical Tamil (CICT), established in Chennai, has mapped out various plans including preparation of definitive editions of forty-one Classical Tamil texts and translation of these works into English and other major European languages as well as into major Indian languages, and writing of a historical grammar of Tamil. Language being the autobiography of a people, our objective is to preserve and safeguard the invaluable treasure of the literary compositions in our language. If only we could delve into our past and recover the riches and wealth of the mighty treasure trove of Classical Tamil poetry, we will be amply rewarded by its lofty poetry, the poetry that strengthens and purifies the holiness of heart's affection and enlarges our imagination. Apart from these, reading the ancient Tamil texts such as Tolkappiyam, Ettuttokai, Pattuppattu and Tirukkural provides a foundation for scholarship for the present and in this sense provides enlightened education.

It is heartening to write this foreword to the series of publications being brought out by CICT, which I am sure, will do full justice to the masterpieces in Tamil without compromising on the quality of production. The Carikam corpus being a repository of our glorious culture, it behaves our present and future generations to study them and to convey their message and the vision of life embodied in them to the public at large. Let me, therefore, commend the series to the enlightened beings the world over.

Preface Iraiyanar Kalaviyal is a grammatical treatise dealing with the two forms of love and life in the akam stream of Tamil literature - kalavu and karpu.

As a centre for higher research in Classical Tamil studies, The Central Institute of Classical Tamil has been involved in the study, collation, consultation, and interpretation of the Classical Tamil Works to arrive at the original (authentic) version of these works. This has involved collecting available palm leaf manuscripts from across the world bringing in expertise. This edition of Iraiyanar Kalaviyal is a trailblazer in this genre, in that it is the definitive edition of this classic work. This text is the outcome after years of research and study. The manuscript logy division of Central Institute of Classical Tamil has put in a great effort in bringing out this volume which, as a precursor to similar works on the anvil, will be a singular contribution of the Central Institute of Classical Tamil to Tamil Literature and Tamil studies. Professor A. Damodaran's contribution in bringing out this edition can never be acknowledged enough.

The co-ordination by Professors K. Ramasamy, K.G. Venkataraman and Dr. K. Jayakumar; the expertise of Professors E. Sundaramoorthy, S.N. Kandasamy, P.R. Subramanian and Dr. S. Soundarapandian; the assistance of Messers M Maruthamuthu, G. Satish, G. Uthiradam, K Padmanabhan, M Nagarajan, S. Tamilselvan and M Thamaraichelvi; the technical assistance of Messers A. Murugaswaminathan, TG Arul Oil and typesetting by Thiru P. Sudhakaran have been invaluable in bringing the edition to print. Each of them has shown commitment beyond the call of duty to realize this edition. This combined effort deserves deep appreciation from the institute.

The foreword by the Humble Minister of State for Human Resource Development and Vice-Chairman of the Central Institute of Classical Tamil is a crowning glory to the first publication of the authentic edition of classical Tamil works. The CICT is committed to bring the other publications also at the earliest.

Book's Contents and Sample Pages