பக்கம்:தமிழியல் கட்டுரைகள்.pdf/105

IV. THE CONCEPT OF INDIAN JNITY IN ANCIENT TAMIL LITERATURE The concept of Indian unity is as ancient as it is modern. A close study of ancient Tamil Literature, which is more than two thousand years old,” will convince any student of Indian culture that two great factors mainly contribute to the spirit of Indian unity among the ancient Tamils. One is the influence of geography, and the other is the influence of indigenous religions. Ancient Tamil Literature consists of Ten Idylls, the Eight Anthologies, the Twin Epics and some works in the collection of the Eighteen Minor Works.” In these, we find and unmistakable spirit of Indian unity felt and expressed by ancient Tamil poets quite naturally and with great sincerity. In ancient Tamil literature we find references to India in many places as ‘Navalan Tivu’ known in Sanskrit as ‘Jambādvipa’.8 The earliest references are found in Perum-panarruppatai,4 Maturaikkáñci,” and Pattinappālai,” three of the Ten idylls and Paripätal,” one of the Eight Anthologies. The statement of Katiyalir Uruthirafikannanār" that the Tamil king Tondaiman Ilanthirayan, patronised the wandering bards so as to keep his fame in the Nävalan Tivu free from decay shows that the concept of Indian unity was well known to ancient Tamil poets. In the Cañkam Anthologies and in the twin epics – Cilapatikāram and Manimékalai — ‘Nävalan Tivu' is described variously as ‘the very big island named after Näval trees’; ‘Nävalan Tivu, which is a beautiful cool garden,” “the big old island” and ‘the island where the Nāval trees that bear sweet fruits have grown high.” In Cilapatikāram” and Manimékalai,” frequent references are found about Nävalan Tivu. Chattanār, the author of Manimé