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Evolution, Cultural Transformation, and Social Status of Dance in Tamil Literature: A Comparative Study across the Sangam, Epic, and Bhakti Eras
Subject area: Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities · Area of research: Tamil Literature
DOI: 10.64388/ire1724888
Abstract
This research evaluates the historical evolution and social perception of dance as reflected across the major eras of Tamil literature—the Sangam, Epic, and Bhakti periods. During the Sangam age, dance served primarily as a secular medium for expressing human emotions (such as joy, sorrow, and victory) and honoring victorious kings through wandering artists like paanan, virali, and kooththar. In the subsequent epic period, including the Minor Epics (Ainchiru Kaappiam), fine arts experienced social decline and stigmatization. However, literature from this period reveals crucial technical details about dance performance, architectural measurements of dance arenas (aadarangku), and the preservation of artistic nuances. With the advent of the Bhakti era under Pallava rule, dance underwent a paradigm shift: secular human emotions were reoriented toward religious devotion, elevating dance into a sacred medium of worship in temples. This paper analyzes how literary texts capture the changing status, technical rules, and philosophical reinterpretation of dance in Tamil society.
Keywords
Sangam literature; Bhakti movement; Tamil epics; Ainchiru Kaappiam; Silappadikaaram; Varichaandhi; Kanigai; Soolaamani; Devadasi tradition; cultural history of dance
References
[1] Ilango Adigal. (1988). Silappadikaaram (A. R. Ramachandran, Trans.). Thanjavur: Tamil University Press.
[2] Raghuraman, S. (2007). History of Tamizh’s dance (pp. 106–113). Chennai: Kovai Publisher.
[3] Sivathambi, K. (1981). Madhamum kavidaiyum [Religion and poetry]. Chennai: New Century Book House.
[4] Tirutakkatevar. (2002). Seevaka Chintaamani (U. V. Swaminatha Iyer, Ed.). Chennai: International Institute of Tamil Studies.
[5] Toluwamur Soolamani Pulavar. (1975). Soolaamani [with Neelakesi, Udhayana Kumara Kaaviyam and Yasodhara Kaaviyam, in the Ainchiru Kaappiam anthology]. Chennai: South India Saiva Siddhanta Works Publishing Society.
How to cite this paper
@article{1724888,
author = {Parameswaran Roshanth},
title = {Evolution, Cultural Transformation, and Social Status of Dance in Tamil Literature: A Comparative Study across the Sangam, Epic, and Bhakti Eras},
journal = {Iconic Research And Engineering Journals},
year = {2026},
volume = {10},
number = {5},
pages = {1584-1590},
issn = {2456-8880},
url = {https://www.irejournals.com/formatedpaper/1724888.pdf},
abstract = {This research evaluates the historical evolution and social perception of dance as reflected across the major eras of Tamil literature—the Sangam, Epic, and Bhakti periods. During the Sangam age, dance served primarily as a secular medium for expressing human emotions (such as joy, sorrow, and victory) and honoring victorious kings through wandering artists like paanan, virali, and kooththar. In the subsequent epic period, including the Minor Epics (Ainchiru Kaappiam), fine arts experienced social decline and stigmatization. However, literature from this period reveals crucial technical details about dance performance, architectural measurements of dance arenas (aadarangku), and the preservation of artistic nuances. With the advent of the Bhakti era under Pallava rule, dance underwent a paradigm shift: secular human emotions were reoriented toward religious devotion, elevating dance into a sacred medium of worship in temples. This paper analyzes how literary texts capture the changing status, technical rules, and philosophical reinterpretation of dance in Tamil society.},
keywords = {Sangam literature; Bhakti movement; Tamil epics; Ainchiru Kaappiam; Silappadikaaram; Varichaandhi; Kanigai; Soolaamani; Devadasi tradition; cultural history of dance},
month = {November},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.64388/ire1724888}
}