Studies in South Indian Jainism

Author(s): M S Ramaswami Ayyangar, B Seshagiri Rao
Publisher: M S Ramaswami Ayyangar

Page 97

CHAPTER VI.
JAINS AND TAMIL LITERATURE.
In one of the earlier chapters, reference was made to the Jain contribution to South Indian learning and culture. The subject is so vast that an attempt is made now to indicate, only in rough outlines, the nature of such a contribution and its permanent influence.
Tamil
It is well known that, among the Dravidian Early tribes of South India, the Tamils were the first literature. to possess a literature. Unfortunately, most of the pre-Sangam works are either lost or not known to us. If they are available, we will be able to know something about the religion, the morals and the civilization of the pre-Sangam age in the Tamil land. Some of the earliest of Tamil poeras, however, give us a clue to understand the type of culture that must have prevailed in the country, long before the earliest Brahmin settlers under the leadership of sage Agastyar came to the Podiyil hill. Poems like Ahananuru and Purananuru which have been recently published show that the earliest tribes were a warlike race like the Germanic tribes. They loved war and adventurous life. Their literature, therefore, is full of references to their martial habits. A change in the tone of Tamil literature is noticed after the advent of the Aryans, among whom must be included the Buddhists and the Jains. Under the influence
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