Epics in Imprints-1.pdf - Vivekananda Kendra Prakashan

Murugan, Arundhati were part of the daily
life of the Sangam Tamils. Birthday
celebrations, based on stars, the good and
evil effects of stars and planets, calculation
of time based on their movements find
treatment in Sangam poetry .
Methods of worship and festivals of
Sangam people deserve mention. Temples
were located centrally in villages. The
deities were of various shapes and forms,
depending upon the mental attitude of the
people who adored them. Various sweet-
smelling pastes, incenses, lamps, and
flowers, were carried for worship. Milk-
pudding, sacrificial offering of rice(havis)
were also taken to the temples. The open
air deities were also offered animals as
sacrifice. Havis, musical instruments,
going round the temples, offering various
articles to gods, promising offering to Gods
on successful realisation of the wishes of
devotees, combined to mark the religious
culture of the Sangam society.
Festivals attracted large crowds. They
were observed in the bright fortnight.
Taking the deity around the town was also
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known. Tirupati, Uraiyoor (Trichy) and
Koodal (Madurai) come in for special
description as places of festive gatherings.
Praying for children, adorning the child
with ornaments, birthday celebrations,
initiation of the child into education, were
part of the religious usage of the Sangam
Tamils. Young girls took vows and
observed penances (Pavai Nonbu). They
danced in groups (Kuravai). They either
chose their husbands or married the boys
selected by their parents. There was an
elaborate marriage ceremony. House-hold
deities were placated prior to a marriage
ritual. The bride was adorned with a thali-
(Mangala Sutra). Women lighted a lamp of
worship at Sunset. They also worshipped
the crescent moon. Hospitality and
festivities were accompanied by ritual gifts.
Omens were believed. Those who
renounced the world practiced penance.
In extreme cases some sat facing north
and fasted unto death. Widows observed
many vows. The dead bodies were given
ritualistic burial or cremation, the sons
offering water to the departed. At least a